This past Sunday I had the opportunity to walk in the CIBC Run for a Cure with my whole family and new friends.
If you are new to my blog, feel free to read more about my story. I would like to share some pics from this wonderful morning.
Thank you #TeamYMC!
Thank you to those who donate time and/or money to find a cure. It can happen in my daughters lifetime.
In 1998 I got the call that stopped my world, my young sister has cancer. After all the losses we have had in our family, this one ripped my heart out. Ever since our mom died when we were kids the word CANCER loomed above our shoulders. As the oldest sibling I was convinced it would be me next. Biology had another idea.
After a year of sleepless nights, chemo and many, many appointments she was clear! The relief was impalpable. So in 1999 I became more aware of my own health. I also wanted to find a way to give back to the universe. To have my best girlfriend alive and well filled my days with gratitude.
One day I was in the CIBC bank for work. I spied a brochure for the CIBC Run for The Cure. Immediately I knew what I had to do. I registered and began fundraising. I traveled alone on the sky train full of emotion, when I saw the other women and kids wearing the Run shirt and clearly going to the same stop as I was. When I got to the Start line the tears fell fast. I was overwhelmed with the feeling that I was not alone. Cancer has affected a lot of people.
I dared myself to do the 5K. It took me a long time between walking and running. I saw the finish line and sprinted to it. As I crossed there were cheers. I thought that was odd. I did not know anyone here. This community of Cancer Warriors is warm and accepting. We are all here for a reason.
Years passed and my husband, sister and her husband joined me. I was honored and proud of the money we raised to help more families like ours. The motivation is that what if the next dollar raised helps to cure the evil disease. The answer is no one knows. We do need to find a cure so families can stop losing loved ones.
When I became a mom the desire for my girls to not have the same fate of losing a mom too soon made me bring them along to the runs. With the stroller we can walk/run, and this year we have joined a team. Please consider giving up one coffee and donate. You never know if the next dollar can save your family.
Thank you.
This year I have the pleasure joining the wonderful Yummy Mummy Club team with my family on September 30th, 2012 . #TeamYMC. Please donate here. Thank you.
The sun feels warm and comforting
on my back. My hands hold the stroller that carries my sleeping two-year-old
daughter. To my left is my husband holding the hand of our five-year-old
daughter. To her left stands my best girlfriend-my sister.
We are waiting for the countdown to
begin the CIBC Run for a Cure with the other two thousand participants. The
goose pimples that are marching up and down my arm are making me weepy. I have participated in the Run since 1999-the
first year my sister won her battle with cancer. It was just me then running. Now
my husband, with our daughters, and her and her husband walk/run. This year she
won again the ugly cancer that took our mom. Our daughters didn’t get to know
their grandma.
For me, this year also is hard to
celebrate. In mere days I will turn 38, the age my mom died. Today being at a
Breast Cancer run means so much more. I run for my mom, my grandmas, my sister
and my daughters. It is because of the participation and donations by millions
of people that there could be a cure in 2020. My daughters will see on the
evening news one day that there is a cure.
We walk together and march over the
finish line hand-in-hand. No one is really alone battling cancer. It is
everyone standing next to each other to kick cancer in the balls!
Thank you #RunForACure and
everyone.
In spirit of Breast Cancer Awareness, when I miss my mom I put on her opal dinner ring and see that she is with me always.
#cancersucks. Please let my girls see a cure in their lifetime. I miss my mom and grandmas.
.
I am entering my 12th year fundraising for Breast Cancer through the CIBC Run For A Cure..
My mom died at the age of 38. I am now 36 with 2 young daughters. I am petrified that I will have the same fate.
In efforts to squash that fear, I opened up my journals and changed names to protect my near and dear.
All donations I recieve through my personal donation page will go to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation at : http://bit.ly/bL1lD3
I will send you my ebook. Letters To My Dead Mother for free until Sept 30,2010.
For every donation of $50.00 I will mail you a hard copy of the book.
Please email me : danielle@justdworld.com to claim your free book!
For a preview or order on your own: http://www.blurb.com/books/1546852
Thank you to Jacki Yovanoff from Yo Books (@JackiYo) my dear friend for Book Designing the book.
Danielle Christopher 