I can honestly not remember a time before I knew about breast cancer. My first funeral was when I was around 6 years old and it was my grandma on my dad's side. I remember family get togethers at my aunt Linda's house. She had the best pool!!! I also remember her arm always being swollen. Lymphedema, as a result of her mastectomy. I remember watching my aunt Betty put on wigs after she lost her hair from chemo. I watched an amazing nurse, Courtney, go from fierce to death in a year and she was younger than me!. All of these women lost their battle to breast cancer. I walk for them. 

I have also seen my cousin, Valerie (Aunt Linda's daughter), catch her breast cancer early because of BRCA testing. She is my age and although she had a mastectomy, she is still with her husband and her girls and doing amazing. I've seen my aunt Maruca (Linda and Betty's sister), survive and be able to spend time with her granddaughter. And our team captain, Jodi be a 9 year survivor who is committed to these walks and this cause. All of these women are alive today because of advances in breast cancer research. I walk for them.

I have lived in fear most of my life that I will get breast cancer, but advances such as my negative BRCA and yearly mammograms give me peace of mind. I walk for myself.