Race for the Cure

Yesterday I got up before the sun even thought about rising...4:45am, jumped in the shower for some early morning rejuvenation, hoping the warm water would wake me enough to prepare me for the day. I finished my (not long enough) shower, dressed quickly in shorts and a pink t-shirt and my favorite walking shoes! I woke up Delaney and invited her to come along, she was tired yet willing to join me. She had no clue what we were doing or where we were going. But I got her ready and out the door we went. She asked questions along the way like, "mommy why are all the lights off at the stores" and "why isn't the sun up yet" and of coarse, "where are we going?" So I answered, I told her it was early, very early and we were going for a walk. We got to my moms to pick her and Wyatt, my nephew up for the walk. We drove in traffic, that's right traffic at 5:30 in the morning, to Union Station. We waited and waited for a place to park. Once we were parked we got the strollers out and ready for action, loaded with water and snacks and toys to last the morning. Then we walked to the main event area. I've never seen so many people in one place at one time. Finally we found registration. We paid our money and we signed up. We filled out our cards that read: "I'm walking in memory of PAM MOORE and MARY CLARE DOLLARD DINK. We were ready....or so I thought. We went out side and waited, and waited and waited some more! Then the microphone came on....The woman on the other end talked and reminded us what we were all really there for. Breast Cancer! She spoke of how we were walking for those who were here walking last year but have left this earth and are not able to walk this year. Then survivors came forward, some two and three time survivors, some 45 year survivors, some just 5 days cancer free. My eyes filled with tears, I'm here and all the traffic, early rising, parking issues, waiting, waiting and more waiting was WORTH IT. These men and women that have been effected by cancer to have to have early mornings, waiting, and the pain of the unknown. As I stood back and read the memory and celebration tags it hit me, just how many people are affected by cancer. Every name was different, some read sister, mother, my wonderful mother, dad, aunt....these are people's families. I am thankful to God every day that my family is healthy! I cherish our health and what we have. We walked 3.5 miles but my heart was willing to walk forever that day! I was pumped! In front of you, behind you all around everyone was walking or running for the same reason! It was all worth it! We'll be back next year with an actual team. I already have the words for our team shirts....Fighting the Fight one foot at a time! Do your part donate today!