Hello!

I have officially been involved with Susan G. Komen since 2011.  Once again this year, my Husband and our Son (Philly's Youth Corp 2016, Michigan YC 2017, Philly YC 2018, and Philly Walker 2019) will be joining me on this Boston Event Support team and as One Day Walkers on Sunday. Our Daughter (2011, 2012 & 2013 Philly Youth Corp, Philly walker 2016 with Philly YC Alumni, Michigan Walker 2017, Philly Walker 2018, honorary Philly Medical team member 2019, Boston Camp/Hotel 2019, Youth Corp leader 2022, Medical team 2024) will be wearing Red Shirt again as a member of the Medical team!!!   

We became involved with Susan G. Komen a few years after my mom was diagnosed with Inflammatory Breast Cancer in 2006.  My brothers saw a commercial on TV about Komen and both said "we can do that".  They made some phone calls and in 2008 they became members of the Route Safety Team.  The Tutu Brothers have been on Route Safety since 2008:  in Philly from 2008-2019, Michigan, Chicago, DC, Atlanta, and Boston and even walked in San Diego (walking was a one and done deal for them!).  They also rode their bicycles for Avon 39 and still continue to ride for the Overnight/Suicide Awareness Walk.

But back to why we crew and walk:  our mom was asked to participate in a clinical trial for Inflammatory Breast Cancer after she was diagnosed in 2006.  It was funded by Komen!  Long before we knew of Komen, walkers and crew members raised funds that supported that trial.  That trial gave us FIVE more years with our mom/mother-in-law/Nana.  Before that trial, she had 1% chance of surviving.  Because of Komen, the Walkers, and the Crew; we had five years of memory making.   Danielle was 6 and David had just turned 2 when my mom was first diagnosed.  She passed in 2011.  Danielle was 10 and David - he was old enough to now remember his Nana.  She passed in April 2011; our Dad passed away 10 months later of a broken heart.  Our Pink Family never left us.  At our Mom's, and later our Dad's, memorial service our little church was filled to capacity.  Our Pink family came from all over the country to support us.

Why do we Walk and Crew - because Walkers and Crew members long before us, gave us the gift of TIME; because everyone deserves the chance to make more memories and because we know firsthand the power of Komen and their support!  Not one of us wanted to join this "club".  But this Big, Beautiful Pink Bubble has embraced us and every single person who has entered.  Lifelong friendships have formed across the nation: Facebook, Facetime and text messages bridge the gaps between events.  Somehow this Pink Family knows just when we need a text or a card or a phone call....I think that our mom and dad, besides sending us dimes, send messages to our friends to let them know we need a virtual hug. 

Please support me as I commit to an incredible challenge. The Susan G. Komen 3-Day is a 60 mile walk over the course of three days. It will be hard, but it’s not as hard as breast cancer. It’s not as hard as chemo. It’s not as hard as getting bad news at your latest mammogram/scan. It’s not as hard as saying goodbye way too soon.  And that is why I know I have to do this.  Because thousands of women and men walked the miles and raised the money to support clinical studies, provide mammograms, help patients get to their appointment, etc.  That is why I’m crewing and walking and why I am raising money – to end breast cancer forever and give everyone a lifetime of memories.