Race for the Cure

So I'm sure this will be a topic that you will find has either affected you via someone in your family, a friend or a coworker or acquaintance.  Breast Cancer.  It's a sick sick disease like is all cancers.  Think about it for a second, do you know anyone who has been affected?  

I have two people in my life affected.  First in June of 2008 I got a call from my mother.  She called to let me know that my aunt, her sister, had a lump found.  She was going to go have a lumpectmy and then treatments.  Now my family is really close, my aunt, uncle and cousins grew up about 2 blocks away from us.  It's not like a normal aunt, almost like a second mom.  Never had I had anyone related to me so close be affected by cancer.  It got to me pretty good that evening.  More so it affected my younger cousin.  We are like brothers, we work together, and I would consider him my best friend.  That next day we went to lunch and chatted for a bit.  Not really about his mom, but other things to keep his mind off it.  A week later she had surgery, the lump removed.  All was good.  I thought.

One Sunday later in August, my mom showed up out of the blue and pulled into the driveway.  I was out in the yard doing work, shocked to see her there.  She came up on the deck, we talked our normal small talk.  Then said we need to go inside and talk.  The kids were napping.  She sat on the recliner and said, "I have breast cancer."  It hit me again.  This time a little harder, like a Louisville slugger.   In shock I asked how.  She said she missed an exam being so busy at work and went back and said they found a lump.  

A few weeks later we are sitting in the Ames Hospital.  In a small area of the waiting room is my dad, me, my brother, sis-in-law and our old minister and a family friend.  The 3+ hours seemed longer.  We sat and talked small talk.  My dad got on to economy and politics.  We all kind of followed along.  The doctor came in to give an update and said the mastectomy went good, and everything was going great.  Will never forget what my dad said after that, "thanks doc, i just want my babe back"  I never heard my dad call my mom babe.  After surgery we went to see my mom and she got a room.  She was up and more talkative than my dad.  I stayed in a hotel that night with my dad, he was out at 8pm.  All things after that went great, treatments good, and my mom is healthy with no signs of cancer.

Last year was the first year I did Race for the Cure.  27,000 people in downtown Des Moines.  It's AMAZING.  People finish and some haven't even started.  Like Last year, I have a team in honor of my mom and aunt. I have a goal of $500 dollars to raise and am on my way there.  I'm not hear asking for money.  I know everything in the economy is tight, but I think this is a cause that needs awareness and to be brought up!  I won't be able to do the Race this year due to a previous engagement I had planned already, but I'm signed up as a Pink Ribbon Runner (someone who wants to give but can't be there on the 23rd)

If you are interested in donating 5 bucks, 10 bucks or anything click here.  If not, please do what you can to bring awareness of this disease.  And remember FIGHT LIKE A GIRL!