Many years ago I was sitting at my Son’s football practice. I had become friendly with one of the Moms through our sons. We had met years earlier, but we only really started to get to know each other through football. I notice this beautiful well put together woman had extremely ugly feet. Not necessarily ugly but blisters and toenails missing? Excuse me, I have to ask what is going on with your feet? She laughed and said, I just completed the Susan G. Komen 3day. My heart immediately began to race, this is something that I had always wanted to do. She began to tell me that she had walked for years but had been diagnosed with Stage 2 Breast Cancer, so this past walk was especially meaningful to her.. My response-You just walked 60 Miles and you have Cancer?-
I had always told myself in the past, I am too busy. I could never complete 60 miles in 3 days.. This was the push I needed-I was meant to meet Mary Beth Lampton.. I immediately went home and signed up. Over the course of training and fundraising we became extremely close, we shared our work obstacles, about our marriages and children all while she was undergoing surgeries, chemo, radiation and reconstruction. She had Cancer but she always seemed to be helping me and taking care of others.(?) Her smile, laughter and amazing outlook on life was contagious.
On 2012 we walked together the Michigan 3Day. It was absolutely life changing. The tears, laughter, pain and the emotional experience bonded us together FOREVER. After completing the Walk, we both decided- Let’s Crew next year.. I just wanted to be with her so of course I said, Yes. Months went by and we became ever closer. Birthdays, date night with our Husbands and our two sons become great friends.
Early November, I saw a post on Facebook from MB. “Well, it looks like I am walking this year”. I can remember my immediate reaction was to call her to yell- I was dialing I realized this was her way of telling us that the Cancer was back. I jumped in my car to be by her side. She was extremely positive and always wanted to be strong for those who were around her.. So Mary Beth and I signed up to walk again, positive that we would walk together for years to come.. We trained and spent time watching old movies and laughing- I remember a lot of laughing. She was the influence for getting introduced to P!NK. In retrospect, she was giving me her story to carry on what she had started.
My dear friend lost her battle with Cancer on May 15th, 2013 at the age of 39.- She supported the Susan G. Komen organization until her dying breath. She was passionate about the cure and believed the research that this organization does will not only find a cure for Breast Cancer but pave the road to end all Cancer. So, I will walk until I no longer am able to. 
This being my 14th consecutive year walking I have found some lifelong friends and “Sisters in Walking bonds” across the country. I have formed a team that has some of the most amazing women and who have become my champions and closest friends. Each of them walk knowing they have and Angel helping them get across the finish line. You meet people every day. It is important to pay attention to the ones who will change your life forever. MB, she was the ONE.