3-Day Walk for the Cure

You would think as I prepare for 3-Day Walk #12, it would be old hat by now. Far from it.

My contributors – some who have been there since my first step in 2003 – never cease to amaze and humble me.

They generously contribute and share their stories of loved ones they lost or those who battle cancer.

And that’s the thing. It is the rare exception when I encounter a person who does not know someone touched by cancer.

When I started this journey, no family members were diagnosed with cancer. Then that changed.

Family First

If you’ve read my story, you know my personal connection to the 3-Day Walk for the Cure.

My sister, Terry, received a diagnosis of breast cancer. Some unexplored connection to the 60-mile walk, coupled with my sister’s diagnosis, was all the motivation I needed to finally participate.

After my first Walk in 2003, I was hooked.

I met teammate, Sue, (a breast cancer survivor) on that first Walk. The following year, another teammate, Penny, was diagnosed with breast cancer. A few years later, Martina, another breast cancer survivor, joined our team. Suddenly, loved ones with cancer surrounded me. For my teammates are family, too.

Around the same time, my beloved Aunt Mitzi, was diagnosed with lung cancer.

Aunt Mitzi

As I write this, today is the eighth anniversary of my aunt’s passing from lung cancer. Her death is such a void.

Aunt Mitzi was the cool aunt. The one you wanted your friends to meet.

Few people lived life with more laughs, love, and generosity. Aunt Mitzi did things like sending Christmas cards through a special post office to get a North Pole stamp. Or one for Valentine’s Day (her favorite holiday).

And when she discovered Halloween was my favorite holiday, she sent a special collection of Halloween witches I still cherish today.

My dad passed in 2007. Aunt Mitzi and my mom were supposed to travel the world together. Cancer was not in the plans.

I took Mom to Maui in May of 2007. My dad’s birthday is May 2 and I knew the first one would be incredibly difficult for her. Aunt Mitzi insisted Mom go and enjoy Maui.

My aunt passed on May 4. If I know my aunt (and I am sure I do), she held on so she would not die on my dad’s birthday. She hung on as long as she could. We had one more day on our trip but we flew home, then on to Chicago for my aunt’s funeral.

Cancer does that. It does not discriminate. It does not care about plans. It touches families and lives.

Is it any wonder I cannot walk away from the 3-Day Walk for the Cure?

Walk on.

In 2015, the Susan G. Komen Walk for the Cure celebrates 12 years of sponsoring the 3-Day, 60-Mile Walk.

The organization started in 2003, and so did this walker. Who knew I would be celebrating a dozen years of Walks?

The best part is I get to celebrate it with my teammates.

A Dozen Reasons

In celebration of our dozen years, I came up with a dozen reasons I am thankful for the 3-Day Walk.

1. For my sister and all survivors – I am thankful my sister, Terry, has been a survivor even longer than I have been walking. I am thankful for all survivors (including three of my teammates) who get to live their life to the fullest.
2. For those we lost – We honor all those we lost to cancer, like my beloved Aunt Mitzi. We remember you. We cherish you. You are the reason we walk.
3. For my teammates – I am thankful to my teammates for the laughter, the tears, the sharing, and most of all, your love. You mean the world to me.
4. For the crew and volunteers – Your endless support and mile-after-mile of smiles, high-fives, and hugs make 60 miles seem like a walk in the park. Thank you.
5. For San Diego residents and supporters – Even in the monsoon of 2010, San Diego residents and supporters braved the elements to be there when we needed a cheer most. You mean more than you will ever know.
6. For my health – The 3-Day Walk shattered all my excuses for not getting healthy again when I left my corporate days behind. What started out as training for the 3-Day became a regular routine of walking.
7. For all my contributors – You humble me with your generosity. Some of you have stuck with me from that first step in 2003.  I could never do this without you and I am so grateful for your generous spirit.
8. For those willing to share their story – When you share your story, you let others know they are not alone. No one battling cancer should be alone. No survivor with that whispering fear during remission should be alone. No person touched in any way by cancer should be alone. Know you are not. We do not need to know your name – but would be happy to – we but share our hope.
9. For virgin walkers –Like our newest teammate, Holly, and all of us who took that first step. The 3-Day has a way of hooking you. You may never do another Walk but you will never forget.
10. For the road warriors – For walkers who walked every Walk in the days that meant 14 Walks. 60 Miles/3 Days Times 14 = 840 Miles/42 Days. Unbelievable. And many did it over again – and again.
11. For an endless supply of t-shirts – I will never have the need to buy a t-shirt again – even though pink is not my favorite color.
12. For discovering the secret to blister-free feet – It took me to 2006 to discover MBTs. Now I panic as my 12th Walk nears and the blister-busting sandals are in short supply. I tweeted to Abeo to convert their rocker shoes (R.O.C.) into sandals. Please answer my prayers.

If you would like to follow as I prepare this old body for another 3-Day Walk, sign up using the form in the sidebar. Pray to the No Blisters gods for me.

Walk on!

Another 3-Day Walk is under my feet and I am happy to report they are feet without blisters.

It was another stupendous 3-Day, 60-Mile Walk for the Cure.

• We had a new teammate, Holly, who fit right in with our crazy bunch
• Early morning rain was chased away before the start of Day 1
• And we enjoyed 3 glorious days of San Diego weather

I came back home to tons of work and my annual cold. Now, how could that happen?

• Maybe 2,400 San Diego walkers
• 300-plus crew members
• Packed airplanes

So, I’m a bit slow in sharing some of the pictures from this year’s Walk.

I created a short video of some of the highlights.

• We raised $7 million for breast cancer research!
• Thank you to all of my contributors!
• I could not do this without you!

Enjoy your holidays.

3-Day Walk 2014

Walk on!

Next week I leave for my beloved San Diego.

For those of you who don’t know, I lived in San Diego for nearly 20 years.

It was there I experienced my first 3-Day Walk for the Cure − way back in 2003.

I will be participating in my 11th Walk with my fabulous team.

As we have been finalizing travel details, I find myself getting more and more excited. Let me tell you why.

3-Day Walk #11

I often wonder what it is about this event that will not let go.

My initial motivation was fueled by my sister’s diagnosis of breast cancer. I am happy to report that Terry is still going strong as a long-time breast cancer survivor.

But even before Terry’s diagnosis, I marveled at walkers from the then Avon 3-Day Walk going down the coast of California. I kept promising myself I would try it, although at the time I didn’t know anyone who had breast cancer.

When I finally got my rear off the couch, I figured I would do the Walk once. Silly girl.

Walked Straight into my Heart

I shared the story of my first encounter with the women who would later become my teammates.

The connection had a cosmic, meant-to-be feel about it.

Words cannot express what these wonderful women have meant to me. I cannot imagine my life without them.They have all made me a better person. Each one walked straight into my heart.

The biggest reason I get excited every year to do another Walk is the knowledge we are going to be together again.

I love you, ladies.

The Challenge Continues

It’s rather funny to me that in the last few years, the Walks have gotten easier. Lord, I hope I haven’t jinxed myself.

Despite passing the age of 60, I have remained free of some of the earlier troubles.

• Blisters galore plagued me until I found my MBTs
• Lost toenails had me banishing closed shoes forever
• I breathe much easier on hills – heck I actually get up those hills – since I lost the tons of weight corporate life packed on

But let’s face it. It’s still 60 miles. In 3 days.

The challenge still exists. Last year, I challenged myself to walk up Torrey Pines without stopping.

See the hill behind this sign? That’s Torrey Pines.

• It goes up and up
• And on an on

I had asthma as a teenager and always had to take a breather about half way up. Usually to pick up a lung.

Last year I made it in one fell swoop. No stopping!

Ah, little victories.

The Cause

If you are like me, you know too many people affected by cancer.

• Those we’ve lost like my dear Aunt Mitzi who had lung cancer
• All the survivors like my sister, Terry, and teammates, Sue, Martina, and Penny
• And the friends and families of the survivors and those lost to cancer

The good news is – my list of names of survivors gets longer.

As I told teammate and survivor, Penny, I will do this as long as this 60-plus-year-old body permits me to. And when it won’t, I’ll volunteer.

Pray to the great No Blisters gods for me!

Walk on!

The Idaho Statesman continues its tribute to Breast Cancer Awareness Month with its annual pink edition.

Last year, I accepted their invitation to submit an article.

It became My Story at this site.

I had not planned on writing a second one this year.

I am extremely busy with work. Furiously working to be done before I participate in my 11th 3-Day, 60-Mile Walk for the Cure next month.

So I admit I was a bit surprised when in the early morning hours of the paper’s deadline, I found myself writing another article for the pink edition.

Like the 3-Day Walk, I cannot walk away. There are some things in life you simply make time for.

Pink Edition: When Life Deals You Cancer, Walk On

by Cathy Miller

Cancer has a way of putting all else in perspective. It is the uninvited guest whispering in your ear. You want to do all you can to silence the sound before it silences you.

As I prepare to walk my 11th 3-day, 60-mile Walk for the Cure, I reflect on why I cannot walk away. If you had told me at my first walk in 2003 that I would still be strapping on my walking sandals and donning all things pink to walk 60 miles, I would have thought you crazy.

Yet here I am. Fast approaching age 63 and still walking.

My first step was to honor my sister, Terry, a breast cancer survivor. I am happy to report she is still going strong. Along my journey, I became a part of a fabulous team of women, three of whom are breast cancer survivors.

Another teammate and I were diagnosed with skin cancer. I admit I feel like a bit of an impostor when I see what others have gone through with chemotherapy and the loss of hair.

This year, eight of our 15 team members will meet once again to walk those 60 miles next month in San Diego. Penny, one of our team’s breast cancer survivors (she wasn’t when we started), marvels at those of us who continue to walk, even though we never had breast cancer. Yet Penny walks. And our other two survivors, Sue and Martina, walk. Every year.

Really, Penny? How can I walk away?

I remember the second year, when I looked for my new teammates I met on that first walk. We had parted ways, promising to walk again the following year.

In those days, I was a road warrior for work. Somewhere along the way, I lost Penny’s contact information. But I was not worried. I’d see Penny and Sue at the next walk. But they were not there.

I could not imagine what happened. Penny and Sue had walked past years when another organization sponsored the walk. Shortly after the completion of my second walk, I had my answer.

I received a call from a client. I had given her my business card with Penny’s contact information on the back. My boomer brain had struck again. I was thrilled to have it back. I sent Penny a Christmas card and expressed how much I missed them at the walk.

Penny replied to my card with one of her own and a message that rocked me. The reason Penny did not walk? Penny, who started walking just in support of others, had herself developed breast cancer.

We have walked every walk since. We share our stories and hear others in return. Like a family of five sisters, who all but one have been diagnosed with breast cancer. Or the mother with breast cancer, confined to a wheelchair, who got up to dance with her son at his wedding. Then passed away 72 hours later.

So many stories of incredible strength, perseverance, and most of all, love. Yes, cancer has a way of putting all else in perspective. Penny recently shared her family’s mantra. Whatever life hands you, it ain’t cancer. Walk on.

Walk on!