Historically, I’ve not been drawn much to the color pink. However, there is one pink that I am consistently drawn to – the pink (ribbon) to support Breast Cancer.
In recent years I have participated in the American Cancer Society’s annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk as a way to show support. This year the Chicago walk is planned for Sunday, October 21st along the beautiful lakefront.
This is the third year that I’m joining in the Making Strides walk. In recent years, breast cancer has continued to creep closer and closer into my circle of family & friends.
I walk for my cousin, Ruth. In early 2004, Ruth was diagnosed with breast cancer and suddenly this disease crept into my family. Since her diagnosis she underwent sucessful treatment options and today is cancer free. I walk to honor Ruth’s courageous battle against this disease. I walk for her husband, Russ, who has been with her every step of the way. I walk for her kids, Nathan and Ellen, who have had to watch their mom in this battle.
I walk for my college roommate, Kelly. Since our college days, Kelly has had to watch her mom & sister battle breast cancer. I walk for her mother, Janet, who has battled through cancer and had to watch a daughter fight the same battle. I walk for her sister, Kim, who has most recently finished her treatments.
If you are here in Chicago, I’d love to have you join us for the walk on October 21st. It is a beautiful walk – the trees along the lakefront are normally full of radiant fall colors.
As I walk I will be wearing a pink scarf that I knit this month – each donor name will be attached to a pink ribbon to form a fringe so that each donor will be walking with me. After the walk, this scarf will be donated to a local breast cancer support group.
As a bonus for my blog donors, at the end of the walk, I will draw donor names for a couple of thank you gifts. What are the gifts? Think pink, think yarn.
Thank you for listening to the reasons why I think pink and why I am making strides. Together we can work towards a day when this disease will no longer creep into our circles of family and friends.
September 21, 2007 at 8:02 am
I walk…to support Robyn, a college friend who has her first chemotherapy treatment today. I walk to honor Jeanie, a friend’s mother who is like an aunt to me, who battled breast cancer 10 years ago and seems to be doing well. I walk to honor Lisa and Margie, both just very slightly older than me – in their upper-30’s, who have battled the disease and its effects over the past few years. Both women used their experiences to further the fight against breast cancer by becoming involved in local events.
This will be my 6th (I think! – or perhaps 7th?) year participating in the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer event. I hope you’ll walk with me.
September 25, 2007 at 8:43 am
This is the only pink I like too, Amy. Thanks for getting the word out and sharing this post.
September 26, 2007 at 10:11 am
Amy, you are one amazing woman. I wish I could be there to walk with you in person, but I guess I’m going to have to be there with you in spirit. But my name on your scarf chicka, and lets walk 😉
September 28, 2007 at 6:47 pm
HI Amy— How fun to read about the Making Strides walk you will be doing. I am honored to know that you are contributing to a cause obviously near and dear to our hearts. Thank you for doing this for me and the thousands of other people affected by breast cancer. We are gearing up for the Komen Race for the Cure this weekend, and I am hoping that some day we won’t be continuing to walk to ‘find a cure’ as it is way beyond time that a cure should have been found. Until then, everyone’s help with raising awareness, early detection and contributing to the research brings hope…..hope that no one else will have to endure the painfully devestating news and treatments required to keep cancer from taking our lives. I overheard a woman the other day make the comment about how she was ‘getting so tired of seeing everything with pink ribbons’…. that it was ”overkill.” She obviously hasn’t been affected on a personal level, and I hope that she never will. I couldn’t believe her comment. She obviously hasn’t had to explain to her 4 and 7 year old kids what cancer is and why bald headed mommy is too sick to do the simple things with them. Thanks again for walking and working towards finding a cure. Although cancer takes many things from a person, it also provides an opportunity to realize the most important things in your life and to know that every minute, every day and every opportunity you are given is truly a gift. Thank you— from Russ, Nathan, Ellen and myself— we appreciate what you are doing. On the back of my survivor shirt for the Komen Race, there is a saying that I think is so appropriate…. “I walk for those who have walked before me and for those who walk beside me.” Thank you, everyone, for walking beside me, too.