Cathy Miller

The 2015 3-Day Walk for the Cure is under the feet and the 12th since I first strapped on my walking shoes.

Mother Nature sure likes to play with this Old Lady Walking.

2015 was the hottest Walk my teammates and I walked in. With temperatures in the low 80s and the famous San Diego hills, water sprays were welcomed as we walked.

Then I returned to Boise. Snow started falling the night I arrived and the temperature in the low 30s has been steadily falling.

Check out this morning’s temperature.

But it’s all good. We raised $5.5 million for breast cancer research.

We had a smaller team this year. Just like the early years.

As always, we met so many fascinating people. One couple walking wore matching t-shirts. Hers had her name, Toni. Her husband’s shirt read Toni’s Tiger.

Turns out that has been his nickname since birth. Talk about a meant-to-be relationship.

Another walker sure gave this Old Lady Walking hope. She is 72 years of age, a still active school psychologist, and reported she was having a much better walk since she had her knee replacement.

Never underestimate the power of determination.

I put together this slideshow to share some of the great memories. If you have boomer eyes like mine, you can click on the link above the video to get a larger view at authorstream.

Thank you again to all of my contributors. You rock! I could not do this without you. I’m already signed up for next year so stay tuned.

Wishing you all happy holidays and a healthy 2016!

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Walk on.

Funny thing about the fight against breast cancer. You participate in what you think will be a single event and then – BAM.

You’re hooked.

That’s how the Susan G. Komen 3-Day Walk for the Cure started. I signed up for what I thought would be my only 3-Day, 60-Mile Walk and then – BAM.

In November, I am doing number twelve.

After moving to Boise in the latter part of 2009, I continued to go back to San Diego for the 3-Day Walk. I also found another event to participate in.

Each year, the local paper publishes its Idaho Statesman Pink Edition. That’s right. Cover-to-cover of pink paper. The paper invites residents to share their stories. The stories from survivors and families who lost loved ones are truly inspiring.

I submitted what I thought would be my only entry three years ago. You guessed it. I got hooked. The following is my 2015 entry.

Idaho Statesman Pink Edition

Cancer is not done yet, so neither am I

by Cathy Miller

The call was an unwelcome reminder. Crazy as it sounds, it is easy to take a 60-mile, three-day walk to fight breast cancer for granted. After all, I completed 11 walks, and the survivors I know continue to thrive.

Then I received the call. A friend I have known for 40 years called to tell me she has breast cancer. Once again, cancer has shown it is not done yet.

I started this journey with a similar call. Living in San Diego at the time, my mom called to tell me my sister, Terry, had been diagnosed with breast cancer. I felt so helpless. Up to that point, I did not personally know anyone with breast cancer. Now cancer had become very personal.

The Susan G. Komen 3-Day Walk first took place in my home city of San Diego in 2003. I signed up to walk what would become the first of many. I had not planned beyond the first. Then I met teammates, three of whom were breast cancer survivors. I heard all the stories, shared over three days of hills, laughter and tears. How could I walk away? Cancer was not done yet.

I moved to Boise in 2009 but continue to go back to San Diego every year to walk in another 60-mile walk. When I go back, I take vacation time the week before the walk and stay with my longtime friend, Linda.

Linda has generously contributed every year to the funds I need to raise to participate. She showers my teammates and I with small gifts, including our favorite pink bling lanyards that hold our credentials for the walk. We did not plan for her to participate in this very personal way. Linda was not supposed to get breast cancer.

That’s the nature of cancer. Just when you think you have it beat, cancer proves it is not done yet. Cancer becomes very personal. As I celebrate each year my sister and teammates are cancer-free, I must now add Linda’s name to those I wear on the walk . They include names of those battling this disease, survivors and those who sadly lost the battle.

Complacency about another walk is gone. The donning of pink is more than a fashion statement. Once again, the reason this 60-plus-year-old woman walks is made painfully clear. Cancer is not done yet and neither am I.

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Walk on.

I have always loved Fall.

• The artist’s splash of color
• The crisp, clean air
• Halloween

Yep, I love Halloween.

But another reason I love Fall is it signals I’m getting close to my next 3-Day Walk for the Cure.

Sounds nuts, doesn’t it? Someone who actually gets excited about walking 60 miles in 3 days. But if you have ever participated in this event, you get it.

Falling Into 3-Day

Falling into the 3-Day turns out to be a fairly accurate description of my journey.

I first laid eyes on 3-Day walkers back in 1999 when Avon was the event sponsor. I was living in the beautiful Channel Islands Harbor area of southern California. A sea of pink was making its way down the coast from Santa Barbara to Malibu.

I rolled down the window of my car and asked what they were walking for. At the time, I did not know anyone who had breast cancer. I am not sure why I felt such an immediate connection.

Promising myself I would join these walkers, I went on with my life. It wasn’t until I received word that my sister, Terry, was diagnosed with breast cancer that I finally got off my duff.

My first 3-Day Walk was in 2003 in my home town (then) of San Diego. It also was the first year and one of three cities where the Susan G. Komen organization took over the event.

I never planned beyond that first Walk. In November, I return to my beloved San Diego for Walk #12. I already signed up for Lucky #13 in 2016.

I guess you could say I just fell into the 3-Day pink web of “gotcha”.

I have not done this alone.

• I thank my loving, caring teammates – each of you have changed my life in a special way – you mean the world to me
• I thank my contributors – your generous support keeps this Old Lady Walking – in many more ways than simple fundraising
• I thank all the volunteers and crew – you make 60 miles seem like a party in the park
• I thank the people of San Diego – your welcoming cheers, hugs, smiles, and tears embrace all that is special about the 3-Day Walk

Just slightly over 60 days until I do it again – for the 12th time.

Walk on.

My contributors to the 3-Day Walk for the Cure are awesome. I’ve always known that.

Who else would put up with my groveling for contributions so this Old Lady Walking can keep walking 60 miles?

2015 tested the speed of sound. I have not raised the required minimum this fast since my corporate days when I benefited from corporate match programs.

Why We Walk

Before I even have Walk #12 under my feet, I’ve signed up for the 2016 Walk and Lucky #13.

As I shared in Cancer is Not Done Yet and Neither Am I, my long-time friend, Linda, underwent breast cancer surgery. She is still in the planning stages with her doctors regarding her course of treatment.

You can see Linda is not taking a passive stance. Does she rock the Wonder Woman character or what?

This year, in addition to all survivors and loved ones we lost, I walk for Linda’s speedy recovery. I know 2016’s Lucky #13 will celebrate Linda being cancer-free.

Walk on.

Fundraising Pay-it-Forward

Since 2015 fundraising is taken care of, I figured I would start on 2016. Some years are tougher than others to raise the required minimum. So I thought it’s never too early to start.

If you want a tax write-off for 2015, you can click this link to donate at my 2016 Personal Page or click on the Lucky #13 donation image in the sidebar.

Thank you again to all my generous contributors. You are the best. I could not do this without you.

Walk on.

Thank You Contributors!

• Ada Kersey
• Barbara Whitaker-Lewis
• Catherine Botello
• Chad Forester
• Cindy Simmons
• Debbie Ressler
• Dianne Wingfield
• Dyann Calder
• Harriet Rotter Bell
• Jackie Harris
• Jeffrey Friedli
• Joe & Elaine Conway
• John Kahle
• Judy Craig
• Julie Ewert
• Kathy Slothour
• Kim Lemon
• Laura Wiggins
• Laverne Richards
• Leigh Steere
• Lori Widmer
• Mitchell Allen
• Nicky Parry
• Randa Forrester
• Rosemary Lopez
• Sharon Hurley Hall
• Tammy Reed
• Terri Parsons
• Vicky Richards
• Vince Williams