Remembering

So many of us in the Komen community have met on an event and become close friends all brought together by our fight for the Cure. We have similar stories: our mom or aunt or grandmother have been affected by breast cancer. We are walking so our future generations can know the C-word as CURE not as a diagnosis. I've met a handful of survivors who are around my age including Bridget. Each one touching my life in a unique way and reminding me to stop taking life granted. While Bridget and I never physically met, I felt like I knew her through her honest and eloquently written blog. I read of her clinical trails, milestones, the good news to the decision to freeze her eggs for the future, the events that no twenty-something should have to decide. She was going to beat the odds she was originally given, and make it to her 30th birthday.  I vowed to walk for Bridget and every woman and man, because we all deserve a lifetime.

In December, Bridget asked us never to forget her. I don't think anyone can forget Bridget and her dedication and fight for the Cure. She made an impact on our lives and her legacy will continue.

“We cannot know healing without knowing sickness. We cannot know peace without knowing anxiety. We cannot know light without experiencing darkness. And we cannot believe in the redeeming work of God without seeing the brokenness he is at work in.” – Katie Blackburn

Hi April! Lets Fundraise!

Hi Friends!

I started writing a blog post in February and March, and I never hit publish. Some days just do not have enough hours in the day for me to get everything done! I did want to make a couple updates. The first on my promise I made in December. I've made several donations Susan G. Komen 3-day walkers, Saint Baldricks, Relay For Life, and The National Kidney Foundation, each donation I thought about Bridget. She has been on my mind a lot lately as well.

The second, I finally wrote my 2013 fundraising letter. Since, my previous fundraising letters have been the most popular blog posts, here you go!


Dear Support Crew,

I am coming to you again in hopes that you will join me in the fight to Cure Breast Cancer.

In October, I will take part in my sixth Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure event. I had such incredible experiences in Atlanta and Chicago 3-Day events in 2012 that I am preparing for a new city for 2013 - Tampa! Some of you may remember my first 3-day event in 2008, where I celebrated my 25^th birthday on the final day of the walk. It is hard to believe that I will be celebrating my 30^th birthday during the walk this year. I won’t be celebrating alone either, because my close friends and my mom will be by my side as we walk to end breast cancer. 

I walk because I believe that no man or woman should have to have a cancer diagnosis. I walk because my mom continues to be cancer free and for our good friend Toni to never have to endure another diagnosis or treatment again. Every 69 seconds, somewhere in the world a woman dies from Breast Cancer, and I walk to change this. I walk so that we can live in a cancer free world and our future generations can study about cancer instead of live in a world with cancer. I believe in Susan G. Komen for the Cure and the many advances they have sponsored for the past 30 years. I know for a fact that without Susan G. Komen many of the drug therapies and treatments would not have been an available treatment plan for my mom, Toni and many others. I am Pro-Cure, walking for those who cannot, and I will continue walking until we have a day when cancer is obsolete.

Some may think that spending a monumental birthday exhausted, sweaty, blistered, sleeping in a tent, and showering in a truck may not be the most glamorous, but I can't imagine it any other way. My decision to spend my birthday in Tampa walking will bring awareness to and raise research funds for breast cancer and will guarantee more birthdays for others. So many of you have generously donated to over the years, and I ask for you to please consider donating again this time around. I am only 11% of the way and I ask for you to consider sharing this experience with me by making a donation in honor or in memory or in honor of a cancer survivor or birthday. 

Please follow the link below to visit my personal fundraising web page. Also, remember that many companies will match your donation. To see a list of companies that match donations, click here. Thanks for all of your support. I'm very lucky to have a Support Crew like you in my life!

Love,
Crystal 

It's not much, but its what I can do.

It has been a while since I have visited this blog. In fact, the Susan G. Komen 3-day for the Cure 2012 'season' has ended, and I have failed to blog about my two experiences. As normal, life got in the way. 

But the real reason on why I am here today... It comes with a heavy heavy heart. Several years ago I was introduced to Bridget Spence on a Susan G. Komen promotional dvd. I had my own personal reasons for walking and supporting the fight for the cure, but Bridget gave me another reason. I have followed Bridget's journey, the ups and the downs, the tears and the celebrations. I have kept her in my prayers and every training walk to the 3-day event her name has been with me. I've often visited her blog, just to make sure I didn't miss an update. My heart was heavy when I read the most recent post. I sat in my living room letting her words sink in and become a reality. 

I'm not sure if Bridget is aware of the army that she has behind her. There is one thing I do know: this army will not back down. As soon as I hit publish on this blog, I will make my first donation of many in honor of Bridget to a walker or crew member for the 3-day event series. The first donation is for an inspiring man, who provided me the inspiration to do this. I know that it’s not much, but it’s what I can do to honor one amazing and inspiring woman who I will never forget.

Social Media at its Worst

In case you were wondering, my bra is pink, I like my purse on the chair, my shoe size is 7, I'm zero weeks, and I'm always craving heath bars. Now, when are we going to talk about the real issue, CANCER?

Its that time of year, again, where mysterious facebook status start to pop up leaving people questioning. Last year, there was a little bit of national attention from women posting the color of their bra as their facebook status. Then later in the year, we started to see "I like it on the floor." Translation, another message was sent around to women to post, where they like to put their purse. Another example, posting your shoe size, and most recently fictionally posting about how many weeks pregnant you are and the type candy you are craving. When the first post started about posting of bra colors, I did not participate and took the attitude, if it reminded one woman to do her monthly self breast exam, why not? But more recently, I have been unable to figure out how posting a status without definition will raise any kind of awareness about Breast Cancer.

When I first saw any of these trends, do you know what I did? I didn't think about Breast Cancer. Wasn't that supposedly the point of all of the aforementioned trends? There has not been one mention of cancer in any ones status, but isn't the point education for awareness? I have no problem with non-traditional marketing to get a message across, but what kind of message are we providing here? This "campaign" has provided little if any awareness and no monetary contribution to research that will find the cure or recognition to survivors. 

I believe that we will find the cure for cancer in my life time, and if you haven't noticed this is my passion! I want to be part of this movement, because I believe wholeheartedly that I can make a difference. Sunday evening, I saw one too many of my friends posting about a fake pregnancy and the candy they were craving. I updated my facebook status to the following:

Seriously people, fake pregnancies and candy have nothing to do with Breast Cancer Awareness. If you want to do something, how about making a donation to a cause or sign up to actually do a walk for the cause. Here are a few suggestions, and when you make that donation or sign up, we can talk. http://www.the3day.org/, ww5.komen.org or http://makingstrides.acsevents.org/

Immediately, I had friends on my side and even re-posting my status. Thankfully, I realized that I'm not the only one who feels this way. One friend even took it to the next step, and immediately made a donation. Not only did she make a donation, but she made the following post:

My birthday is a few days away and Breast Cancer Awareness Month is just around the corner. For my half-way-to-50 present this year, I'd love it if everyone could donate to Crystal Elster's team for this year's Atlanta 3-Day for the Cure! There's a 'Donations' link on her blog: http://3daycrystal.blogspot.com/. Whether $5 or $500, it all helps!! ♥

I was taken aback and even shed a few tears. I have not seen or talked to Alicia since college and she left for the Peace Corps. We've just been those typical facebook friends! Her kindness and belief in the cause helped spread the word to her 600+ facebook friends was truly amazing. Thank you Alicia for making a difference and spreading the word!

If I have not convinced you of anything, you obviously have not read Bridgets story. Maybe facebook status should trend to how many months of chemo/radiation you've had to endure, the drugs you've had to take, your side effects, and even more importantly, the celebration of being a survivor. Education & Awareness, People, pass it on.

A journey you should know about...

If I didn't have a personal connection to take a stand against breast cancer, reading Bridget's story would be all I needed. I first talked about Bridget a few months ago when I volunteered for a 3-Day Get Started Meeting. The info session introduced to two new personal stories this year, that got my attention. One of those stories was about Bridget, a 27 year old woman who has been battling metastatic breast cancer since she was 21. Bridget and I are the same age. Cancer does not age discriminate. Cancer does not discriminate, period. She has no family history of breast cancer, and makes me ask, why her? Why not me? This could be me or any one of my friends.

I hadn't seen Bridget around much in the blog-twitter-sphere in the past months, and last week I found out why. A Huge Blow. I read Bridget's blog Friday night with tears in my eyes. Bridges blog, is a blog that needs to be read and publicized. Friends, I walk for my grandmother, my mom, for Toni, for my sisters, for our future and Bridget. This year and for the future, Bridget's name will be added to my pack. Hugs to you Bridget, and many thoughts and prayers coming your way.

If you didn't click the links above, add Bridget's blog to your reader and your thoughts:

http://mybiggirlpants.blogspot.com/

Get Started=Success

I would consider tonight's get started meeting a great success! Everyone that was in attendance is now part of the 3-Day family! What a good feeling! 

Tonight's presentation was by Karen Odell, who was fabulous! I can't wait to see her again in the next two weeks! The presentation was a little different than last year. I always get teary eyed when I hear and see the Komen radio and TV commercials, but tonight, it was beyond teary eyed. We were (virtually) introduced to Bridget. Bridget and I are the same age and even got married around the same time. However, Bridget found out she had stage 4 metastatic breast cancer when she was 21 years old. Metastatic means, the cancer is spreading throughout your body and over time becomes resistant to drug therapy. Metastatic breast cancer has a less than 20% five year survival rate. Bridget has no family history of the disease. Cancer does not discriminate.

Bridget has a blog called, My Big Girl Pants. Aspiring, does not even begin to describe Bridget. If you don't have time to read her blog, at least read why she walks. I don't think anyone could say it better.

 

Bridget, we are all walking with you and for you.