These words jolted me out of my complacency. I’m behind in my training and fundraising for this year’s 3-Day Walk. I hit the $100K fundraising milestone in 2023 and proudly defaced the sign in camp when I wrote my name in white marker. Last year, I couldn’t wait to see my name actually printed on the sign. But this year, there were some other things going on, and it felt like more than I could tackle. Maybe I should give my generous donors a break. Couldn’t I wait a year to see my name in print again?

I have a friend undergoing treatment for aggressive breast cancer now, and it is brutal for her. She wrote these words last week, and it was like an electrical jolt to my system. “I want to quit.” I’m sure I’ve thought (or said) those same words while training or walking 60 miles. I’m lucky; when my wonky knee says it’s had enough, I can catch a sweep van and leapfrog along the route. I can quit if I want to.

She does not have that option.

In fact, right after she posted that, she wrote, “I’ll keep going.”

And so, here I am. Determined to keep going. If she’s not quitting, I’m not quitting. I asked her if I could tell her story for my 3-Day fundraising, and she said this:  “Sweetheart, use my mess to be the message. Use my name, my age, my date of birth. Use it all because everybody has a story and use my name.”

So, lovely Sharon, this is for you. This walk is for all the women and men in treatment and for their families and friends and for all the healthcare professionals and caregivers and researchers and buyers of wreaths and bringers of sunflowers, who make a choice every day to keep going. This is for all those donors who helped me raise more than $100,000 to help Komen continue their life-saving work and who, hopefully, will help me keep going.

Someone asked me recently what big organizations I reached out to for donations to get to $100,000. I said there weren’t any. We’ve done this together, you and I. One commitment to changing the world, one dollar, one step, one mile, one breakthrough at a time. And I am grateful for it all.

Can I count on your help again this year? Just click the pink DONATE NOW button to make your donation. I’m way behind schedule, so please don’t delay. I have a lot of miles to make up (literally and figuratively). Help me out by sharing my story and Sharon’s with your friends. Share my link; share this letter. Let’s give hope to all those in treatment so they know that we will not give up. Thanks for your generosity.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.