Dear Friends and Family,
I'm so excited this will be my 3rd walk! As most of you know, I was diagnosed with Stage 1, Mucinous Invasive Ductal Carcinoma one week before my walk last year. Quite a blow! The breast surgeon told me I had probably had it for over a year, which means I had it during my first walk in 2015. Almost seems to explain what drew me to this walk in the first place without knowing. I had no hesitation that I wanted to go to Santa Barbara and do the walk even though my head was all over the place. It actually turned out to be a great support system for me. So many of the walkers are Breast Cancer Survivors. They told me that once you are diagnosed, you are a survivor. I walked strong and did enough research on blister prevention, that I didn't get even one blister! We were 1900 strong and raised $4.6 million.
I feel like I have great purpose in this walk now. I know what it's like to be told "you have breast cancer". Those are words I never thought I'd hear. What people don't realize is that once all of the physical treatment is done, you're still left with the emotional and mental part of it. I felt like a robot going through treatment. You just get up everyday and do what you're supposed to do. Once treatment is over is when you begin to realize what you went through and that you actually did have cancer. It took a long time to process what had happened. Then you wonder if you did the right thing in treatment. It isn't just a disease. It is mind, body, and soul. You feel like you may be free of cancer, but you'll never be free from cancer.
I have started fundraising again for September 9-10, 2017. In order to do the walk, I have to raise a minimum of $1800. In the past 2 years, I have raised $4784. I'm so proud of my sponsors. Without them, I couldn't do it. The donations go directly to the Avon Foundation and go to work immediately serving breast cancer patients and their families in five specific breast cancer areas; scientific research, screening and diagnosis, access to treatment, support services, and awareness and education. All donations raised by Avon 39ers are managed by the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade (ABCC), a 501(c)(3) public charity that funds a comprehensive network of programs and services. The ABCC places a special emphasis on reaching the medically under-served, including low-income, elderly and minority individuals and those who are under-insured.
This past year, I was given a pink t-shirt when I finished and got to walk in at the end of closing ceremonies with the rest of the survivors. It really wasn't where I wanted to be, but the support of the other women pulled me through. Two women took each hand and walked next to me. They knew I was newly diagnosed.
The dollars you pledge will put food on the table of a breast cancer patient and her or his family. They will enable access to mammograms and medicine, fuel research, and save lives. I'm walking with thousands of other 39ers across the country. There are 7 cities where this walk is held. We're banding together in solidarity and have one goal; to take breast cancer down. So many sisters, mothers and friends that have been lost. We see a world without breast cancer for our daughters, nieces, and grandchildren. Avon 39 is a force of change that can't be stopped. By supporting me with any donation amount, you're a part of it. Thank you for reading my letter!
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I'm so excited this will be my 3rd walk! As most of you know, I was diagnosed with Stage 1, Mucinous Invasive Ductal Carcinoma one week before my walk last year. Quite a blow! The breast surgeon told me I had probably had it for over a year, which means I had it during my first walk in 2015. Almost seems to explain what drew me to this walk in the first place without knowing. I had no hesitation that I wanted to go to Santa Barbara and do the walk even though my head was all over the place. It actually turned out to be a great support system for me. So many of the walkers are Breast Cancer Survivors. They told me that once you are diagnosed, you are a survivor. I walked strong and did enough research on blister prevention, that I didn't get even one blister! We were 1900 strong and raised $4.6 million.
I feel like I have great purpose in this walk now. I know what it's like to be told "you have breast cancer". Those are words I never thought I'd hear. What people don't realize is that once all of the physical treatment is done, you're still left with the emotional and mental part of it. I felt like a robot going through treatment. You just get up everyday and do what you're supposed to do. Once treatment is over is when you begin to realize what you went through and that you actually did have cancer. It took a long time to process what had happened. Then you wonder if you did the right thing in treatment. It isn't just a disease. It is mind, body, and soul. You feel like you may be free of cancer, but you'll never be free from cancer.
I have started fundraising again for September 9-10, 2017. In order to do the walk, I have to raise a minimum of $1800. In the past 2 years, I have raised $4784. I'm so proud of my sponsors. Without them, I couldn't do it. The donations go directly to the Avon Foundation and go to work immediately serving breast cancer patients and their families in five specific breast cancer areas; scientific research, screening and diagnosis, access to treatment, support services, and awareness and education. All donations raised by Avon 39ers are managed by the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade (ABCC), a 501(c)(3) public charity that funds a comprehensive network of programs and services. The ABCC places a special emphasis on reaching the medically under-served, including low-income, elderly and minority individuals and those who are under-insured.
This past year, I was given a pink t-shirt when I finished and got to walk in at the end of closing ceremonies with the rest of the survivors. It really wasn't where I wanted to be, but the support of the other women pulled me through. Two women took each hand and walked next to me. They knew I was newly diagnosed.
The dollars you pledge will put food on the table of a breast cancer patient and her or his family. They will enable access to mammograms and medicine, fuel research, and save lives. I'm walking with thousands of other 39ers across the country. There are 7 cities where this walk is held. We're banding together in solidarity and have one goal; to take breast cancer down. So many sisters, mothers and friends that have been lost. We see a world without breast cancer for our daughters, nieces, and grandchildren. Avon 39 is a force of change that can't be stopped. By supporting me with any donation amount, you're a part of it. Thank you for reading my letter!
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