Coming into the home stretch, I’m walking 3 -5 times a week, 4 – 6 miles. A week ago Sunday I did 8 miles. This week I did 4 miles of hills in Breakheart in the drizzling rain. I figured a little rain training would be good… just in case. Thanks much to Marcia at Silver Clay for last Friday’s fundraiser! We had a great crowd and Marcia donated $120 to my walk. I have reached the $1,800 needed to walk, and I am nearly at my personal goal of $2,400. Today I’m at $2,315. (And... just as I am about to push the "publish" button on this post, I see that I am at $2,401!!! Thanks for the push over the top, Wendy!)
My walking partner, Amy Buckley, is training hard. She will be walking 39 miles over the two days and is inspiring me as she walks 14 miles or more a few times a week. Amy’s mom survived breast cancer several years ago. Our husbands and kids are making plans for which “Cheering Stations” to go to during the walk. Recently, Amy’s 8-year-old little girl told her, “Mommy, I’m so proud of you. You are walking to help women you don’t even know.”
Last week, I cleaned out the breast cancer corner tucked away in our bedroom. I had been putting it off for over two years. I threw out all the literature on getting through chemo, side effects of treatment, etc. Held onto the wig receipt and the outline of the study I’m participating in. Plus, laughed and cried over all the cards and gifts many of you sent.
A couple pictures hit home: ones of my brother in Iowa with his little girl on the 4-wheeler and of my nephew, who also lives in Iowa. My niece was one when I was diagnosed; I didn’t see her toddling around at two. She jumped from baby to little girl in the year I went through treatment. In the other picture, my nephew was bald – he shaved his head when I was going through chemo.
Finally, there was the card that then 6-year-old Will had given me. It was a musical card and he had overlaid it with his own drawings. On the inside, he had written, “Good job at chemo, Mom.”
Cool kids.