THE KICKOFF

Well, its April 23, 2010. My wife's birthday is 2 days away. Our training has been going on - 5 miles here and there, you know the beat. I walked and trained last year, but I do not think you can ever train enough. I feel like I am in better shape this year than a year ago, but walk, walk, walk,and then we will walk some more.
Sunday is our kickoff for selling breast cancer items in front of department stores (with permission of course). 90% chance of rain. Not a good way to start. At least no snow!!! Our casino bus trip is planned - hopefully that will be a great success.
My last blog was called "WHY WE WALK". What we are about to do is go to that realization again. Remember 1 in 8 women will get breast cancer some time in their life. My wife is fine now, but remember 1 in 8. Talk to people. How many people do you know that have been touched by this horrid disease. Selling items to raise money for the
3-day only inspires me to do more.
Last year on Sunday during the walk, a woman in her mid 30's aproached us and thanked us for walking. We stopped to talk to her for a moment. She said her friend walked in it last year(2008). She was 38 years old. She then said her funeral was the day before. I went silent.
I think the Susan g. Komen 3-day walk is like a big shoulder. You have 1000+ people there to support not only the ones that are walking, but most importantly the ones that can't. I realy believe that it does lift up the spirits of breast cancer patients to know that someone does care.
Yes, I am a man, and there is not a lot of men who walk, but I am proud to wear a shirt that says "REAL MEN WEAR PINK"!! Not only do I want to support my wife, I want to help. By me walking 60 miles, or being out in the rain selling items to raise money for the walk,if I can influence 1 woman to get a mammogram that would not have scheduled one, then it was a great day. One thing I learned with breast cancer, EARLY DETECTION INCREASES YOUR CHANCES OF SURVIVAL, so don't take that chance.
Let's make breast cancer a thing of the past.

Thanks,
Michael