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Hi Sweet Friends!!!!
Since Avon dissolved overnight in the dark without a trace, I have been really trying to put some thought into my purpose to support breast cancer and making sure I am putting my efforts in the right place. I am so excited to say after a few months of floundering and worrying, I have found an event and an organization to support.
I know about this group through a friend and also from my mother's personal battle with breast cancer. I am excited to participate in the awesome event and to start giving hands on time to help make a difference in someone's day to day through breast cancer. Yep, that's right! Your donations are going toward a ride to and from chemo, meals, house cleaning services and even pet care.
I have been involved with Breast Cancer fundraising for 5 years now and this makes year 6. 5 years ago I met a wonderful new mother as her lactation consultant. 3 weeks after her baby was born she was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer and soon I was helping her work through weaning in the physical and mental sense. We became friends and I signed on to walk the Avon walk for breast cancer. I unfortunately lost my friend Marijke just one year later. I have stayed committed over the years to raising money for support and research.
It quickly became part of my life and an important event to my family.
I had the privilege to work with another mother as her lactation consultant with both of her daughters over a few years and she was diagnosed in 2016. She is a survivor thanks to all the amazing medical care and support in Loudoun County. My Giglio sister, Catherine, lost her step sister Chrissy this past December after a very long battle with metastatic breast cancer. Catherine walked with me two years at Avon and personally understood the commitment to the walk and fundraising. Chrissy was one badass warrior and her fight will inspire me to walk, run and give support for as long as I can.
Then came my own irreplaceable mother who was also diagnosed in 2016. From every doctor's appointment, test result, surgery, middle of night potty break and showers with no humility........we fought her cancer as a family. It took all of us and her unwavering strength to recover. She did it and now here I am. Stronger, rougher in some ways and even more committed to breast cancer support.
My story keeps going.......sad right. So my sweet friend Linda was diagnosed in May 2017. She found out on my mom's last day of radiation. She texted me to share her news while I was away and literally I responded with the "F" word. (if you know me well, you know this is nothing new for me) Typically I am a bit more savy with my words but I had just fucking had it at this point. Do you see how long this list is. Linda's recovery is still a work in progress but her cancer is GONE!! See ya ! Outta here !! She is such a funny and caring woman who thinks of herself last as most of us do. Although her recovery has not progressed as she may have hoped she can see her light at the end of her tunnel. She will get there. I know she will. She didn't know this, but she was going to be my person to honor in my 2018 walk. Now, she will be my person to honor in my 5k run. Thanks for showing us what strength looks like Linda.
The Step sisters 5k and organization I hope will give me a new home to contribute to. A new hope for breast cancer warriors in my very own community.
You may have come to this page to donate....but you can walk/run too!! Donate, join our team or just come cheer us on. We can't fight cancer and support these women without your help. And by the way.....It's 3.2 miles NOT 39.3 like I used to do.
Thank you family and friends for your amazing and continued support of year 6 of kicking breast cancer's ass.
I love you all to pieces,
Dawn
