My largest inspiration will always and forever remain my mom, who lost her battle with breast cancer on March 4, 2010. A date that a friend told me I should use to continue with my mission in finding a cure, raising awareness, and living each new day… MARCH FOURTH…

This will be my 13th Susan G Komen event. My 5th one as a walker (and having crewed 8 times). Each year is different in so many ways, but also the same in the most important way… everyone there is there to make a difference and to do their part in helping to find a cure and raise awareness.

I made a promise to my mom before she passed that I would keep on fighting in some way for a cure. I started off with a goal of just completing one event, and that would somehow fulfill my promise, and that I would just donate to organizations, but I could not give up personally in participating, so one event turned into two... and then the goal became, well when I raise $5,000.00 I will stop, then it was well when I raise $25K I will stop, okay when I do 10 events I will stop. Well, none of that seemed okay in my heart. So, as I begin preparing for my 13th event, I also begin approaching what is my personal ultimate goal of raising $50,000.00 for Susan G Komen; an organization that benefitted my mom and gave me more time with her through their trials and through their research.  What's next after I hit my $50K?  I will begin to help a local breast cancer organization and also do some work for organizations in memory of my dad.  But I will NEVER give up the fight towards finding a cure, that is a promise.

My mom was the most courageous person I will ever know.  I have her name and the word courage tattooed on my arm in Greek (her native language) along with a breast cancer ribbon so that I always carry her with me.  Also, I literally walk the last mile of the walk (or if I am a part of the crew, the last part of the day) in a pair of my mom's shoes that I have kept for the last 12 years.  It is so I can literally walk in her shoes and feel like she is right there taking every step with me.

Today, I ask you to help make a difference. Not for me, but rather for the universe… help make it possible for no child to lose a parent, no parent to lose a child, no husband to lose a wife or no one to lose a loved one to this horrible disease of breast cancer… help make a difference because you believe as I do that “Everyone Deserves a Lifetime”.