Coming Together to Make a Difference

Saturday, September 19 Evansville, IN hosted a Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. The Race is nation wide event, hosted in various cities around the US. All the proceeds go to the Susan G. Komen breast cancer fund.

I decided to join the race in late August when arriving back at school. I had seen signs posted around the campus and thought I would ask our department if anyone wanted to walk with me. When I talked to our department I already knew several people were interested, however, I had no idea as many people wanted to be involved as there were. Our team consisted of twenty seven people from our theatre department. Every participant had to pay twenty five dollars to walk and then raise as much money as they wished after that.

When we arrived at the race on Saturday we were all overwhelmed by the enthusiasm and support of everyone around us. The community came together over the suffering and pain this cancer causes, and in doing so we were all made aware not only of the strength and courage of the individuals afflicted by this cancer but also of how a community can come together to make such an impact in the fight against breast cancer. It made me proud to know that I was a part of something that really can and does make a difference.

Although the fight is not over, we are winning. After being a part of something like this and seeing, firsthand, the spirit and the determination of so many people, there is no doubt that we will beat this cancer. Maybe not this year, maybe not next year, but it will happen. As long as people continue to have my mother's "GoFightWin" spirit and the support and enthusiasm I witnessed on Saturday, we will win. I realized on Saturday that "GoFightWin" is not just a cheer, it is an attitude. An attitude that I believe will not fail.

(Written by Lisa Kitchens)

Hey People! Here's Something Huge We Could Do!!

Just saw this on my facebook page. Registration is closed for this year (and it's a good thing 'cause I can't ride that far yet!)

But maybe we could try for next year -- or the year after?!!

I don't know all the details, but you can check it out at :

http://www.youngsurvival.org/tour_de_pink/index.html

Hmm. Sounds like fun, huh? ☺

Wondering

I'M WONDERING....

• if it's going to rain.


• what's for lunch.


• who's going to win today's Georgia/Oklahoma game.


• if there will be anybody we know at the 3-day walk.


• if we can really sleep comfortably in a pink 2-person tent.


• if the hot water in the 3-day showers will last until I get through.


• if the meals at the 3-day are as delicious as I think I need.


• if the 3-day is as amazing as the DVD makes it seem.


• But mostly I wonder if this is the year a cure will be found for breast cancer.

-lhk

Time to Learn the Cheer Everybody!!

Back in November, I posted a cheer set to the motions of a drill team routine I learned in high school. At that time, it was for Laura, who was beginning her journey into the world of cancer treatment.

Today, I'm re-posting that cheer for all of the GoFightWin! team to learn for the Breast Cancer 3-Day. Study the movements. Study the words (not hard). Put the movements and the words together so we can blow those 3-Day people away in October.

GoFightWin! team!!

She's So Excited...

Here's a note from Laura...to all of the GoFightWin team:

As I was putting this collage together and thinking about how much has happened since we started this venture, I couldn't help but get excited!

I have no idea whether or not I will be able to walk the whole 60 miles, but I've enjoyed every minute of trying! It's true, walking is not really my thing, but all of these people in all of these photos represent my incentive and my desire to just do it!

Some of these pictures show our supporters who think so much of the event that they get out and walk with us. I've had so much fun walking and talking and just being with everybody.

We are really getting closer to our goal. Now we have to make this last month PUSH to get the money and get physically and emotionally ready.

So to everybody I say: let's GO FIGHT WIN!!! I know we can!

Love,

Laura

P.S. I know the walk is about finding a cure, but I realized I've been walking (and will be walking) with the cures. It's all of y'all! I'm so amazed at what research and people have done and I just have to be thankful that, if I had to get breast cancer, at least I got it when so much has already been done. The thank you list is infinite!

Just a little at a time...

(Another blog entry NOT about Laura... It's for our 3-Day Team...GoFightWin!)

Some of you may know that in slightly more than 9 weeks, I'm gonna walk in the Breast Cancer 3-Day.

It's a big walk... 60 miles in 3 days. Lots of miles each of those days.

So, to get ready, I've been trying to follow the training plan as much as possible. It doesn't always work exactly like the plan, but I try to do what I can.

Yesterday, I thought I was supposed to do a 12 mile walk. So, I took the dog for the first 4 miles and then Harv and the girls met me at Starbucks, had a cup of coffee, and took the dog back home. I, on the other hand, continued to walk -- for eight more miles (Harv joined me for the last 2 1/2 miles).

I was sore. And tired. And, it turns out, when I looked on the training schedule, it was supposed to have been a 14 mile day. I was pretty proud of walking 12 miles and a little disappointed that I didn't follow the plan. I got over it. And, tried to pump myself up for a ten mile walk today.

This morning I didn't really want to walk. I was still sore from yesterday and I didn't want to have to wake up early. My nice neighbor walked with me for the first five miles. Then I came home, showered, changed my clothes and walked to and from church (the last five miles).

All along the way, I really didn't want to be walking. I enjoyed time with my neighbor and on the way to and from church I listened to good music, but I would have really enjoyed staying at home for my first cup of coffee and riding to and from church.

However!! On the way home, (my last 2 1/2 miles) I had a revelation...

There is a training plan to get my body and my mind ready. For each mile I don't want to walk, but do anyway, I gain a little more confidence... a little more, "I can do THIS." Because I walked 12 miles yesterday and 10 more miles today, it gives me the hope that I can walk the 15 miles that's comin' up at the end of this week.

And, it occurred to me that training for the 3-Day is a lot like life. Every time we do something --- even when we don't think we have it in us --- we get more and more prepared for the things that are ahead.

So! For those of you who may be training for the 3-Day, walk on!! It's gettin' you ready in lots of ways.

And, for those of you facing what seems to be an insurmountable task, do it a little at a time and each step will prepare you for what's ahead.

GoFightWin!

The Longest Walk Ever

This blog isn't really about me, but since we're now focusing on the 3-Day, I thought I'd share with you what my girls did for me...

I walked 12 miles today...which, so far, is my longest training walk yet.

The following photos show what greeted me when I got home.

Pretty sweet children, wouldn't you say?