I have registered for the Susan G Komen 3-Day Breast Cancer Walk! I’m excited and terrified at the same time. I will join hundreds of other people walking 60 miles in 3 days to raise money to put an end to breast cancer - and, by extension, all of the other cancers that benefit from breast cancer research.

Why am I doing this?

I’m doing this for Michelle whose pain was dismissed by doctors for 6 months before it was discovered she had breast cancer that had so severely damaged her spine, she was 5 inches shorter - and in honor of her fight to see her beautiful daughters graduate high school.

I’m doing this for Pamela, who responsibly went in for her mammogram and two years later is preparing for her final Kadcyla infusion as I write this.

I’m doing this for Chris, who I met via a support group after we had mastectomies the same day and who is now facing the unknown again as she goes through the too long process of getting answers.

I’m doing this for Lindsey, who was busy battling breast cancer at an age when many women are planning weddings and babies.

I’m doing this for Sherry, who went in for a shoulder repair and came out with a diagnosis of breast cancer.

I’m doing this for Lisa, whose journey has been extended thanks to innumerable failed surgeries - and who is thriving after a 6 month reconstruction recovery.

I’m doing this for Nicky. Nicky who battled breast cancer the first time 6 years ago and who, when I met her to walk this morning, just had her port placed to face this again.

I’m doing this for Janet, for Karen, for Diane, for Carrie, for Nicole, for Christy, for Janelle . . .

AND I’m doing it because I’m healthy. I CAN do this. I can help make sure that life saving research that has helped all of these friends and me, and that has helped those many dear friends with other cancers for which treatment has been advanced thanks to breast cancer research, continues. And I can help make sure that this list of people has an end and someday we get to quit adding names to it. I can do something I’m both excited about - and terrified of - because there are far more terrifying things in the world.

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

Thank you for all of your love and good energy as I prepare for this endeavor!