Yep! That's right. I turn 50 on June 20th. Some people don't look forward to that milestone, but I am embracing it with all of my being. It is an accomplishment more than worth celebrating! Growing up, it was Just me, my mom, and my brother Mike in the house. Mom was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 49, and passed away at 51. Mike was diagnosed with colon cancer at age 45 and passed away at 47. I decided years ago that if I made it to 50 without a cancer diagnosis, I wanted a big ass party! But now that I'm here, I want more than a party. I'm celebrating all year long, and that includes taking on the monumental task of walking all four 3-Day events. That's 240 miles, 12 days, and 4 cities and $9,200 to raise. Will it be hard? Absolutely! But the walking is the easy part. It's the raising of the funds that I need help with, and that's where you come in!

For those of you who contribute to my walks repeatedly, thank you so much. It truly does mean the world to me! For those of you who are new to my fundraising site, thank you as well, for even considering helping me out. Let me tell you about just a part of the reasons why I walk:

I walk for my mom, Gayle Hendrickson, who passed away after a 2 year battle with inflammatory breast cancer. She was 51. I was 22. The summer of 1997 Chad and I were married in a gazebo outside the nursing home where we had to move my mom the beginning of August. We were married August 30, 1997. Mom passed away on September 17th. We renewed our wedding vows, in the big church wedding that we had planned for 2 years, on September 20th. I truly believe that her passing was her way of making it to my big church wedding.

I walk for my Grandma, Elvina Olson, who passed away after two seperate battles with breast cancer.

I walk for my mom's only sister, my aunt, Jurene Wolfe, who is a breast cancer survivor.

I walk for my grandma's only sister, Jeanette Johnson, who was also a breast cancer survivor.

If you are paying attention, you realized that every woman in the past two generations of my family has had breast cancer. I am the only female in my family in my generation, and trust me, I am diligent in my screening!! If anyone has any questions on genetic testing, mammograms, or breast MRIs, feel free to contact me, and I'll tell you anything you want to know about my experiences!

I walk for my mother-in-law (who was actually more like a second mom to me) Mary Dorn, who survived both breast cancer and uterine cancer.

l walk for my husband's aunt, Phyllis Dorn, who passed from breast cancer before Chad and I met. She left behind an amazing husband, and eight amazing children whom I have always felt a special connection to due to our common history.

I walk for my team captain, Kathy Heins, who is a 2 time survivor, and embodies the true meaning of the word inspiration. Kathy credits her survival to early detection and technology funded in part by Susan G.

Komen.

I walk for past co-workers and survivors Ann Evenson and Barbara Weist.

I walk for my sister-in-law's mother, Kathy Morgan, a breast cancer survivor.

I walk for past team mates, Micki Madland and Tamara Evans, who both passed away from breast cancer

I walk for the friend of a fellow hockey mom who recently lost her battle.

And I walk for HOPE! For the hope that this list doesn't get longer. For the hope that my children won't have to walk in my memory, and for the hope for a cure!

Please support me as I commit to an incredible challenge. The Susan G. Komen 3-Day is a 20- 40- or 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 scan. It's not as hard as saying goodbye. And that's why I know I have to do this. That's why I commit. That's why I'm walking and why I'm raising money to end breast cancer forever.