Race For The Cure

On Sunday, I walked for the first time in the Susan G. Komen Race For The Cure with "Team Margie." It was a fabulous day with some fabulous people! I was surrounded by so much love, I didn't even know what to do with myself. :) It was an honor, to say the least, to have my name attached to such an amazing foundation. I am proud to announce we raised over $18,000 and came in first place for the largest friends and family team with just over 200 people!

I arrived to the event an hour-and-a-half before the race began to personally thank each person who came out, but there was just no way. Everywhere I turned I saw a Team Margie shirt. I was so excited and happy to be surrounded by so many of my family, friends and fellow survivors. :) I had to wear my sunglasses all morning to hide the tears that seemed to be a constant in my eyes. Every person at this race knows someone who has been affected in some way by breast cancer or who is suffering from it right now. It was such an emotional feeling to see all these people come together in the battle against breast cancer.

The best part of the day was getting to the finish line and seeing most of my team waiting there to cross with me! Wow is all I can say. These people are really something else! I'm getting teary eyed just writing about this. I AM ONE LUCKY GIRL!

A HUGE thank you to our team captain, Janette Connelly, for her hard work and countless hours to make this event so amazing! I also want to thank my very talented cousin Melissa Ceja for creating our team shirts. Thank you to everyone who came out to not only support me but all the women and men who have been affected by breast cancer!!!!!!!!

Lastly, I wanted to share a few important facts about breast cancer and why the Susan G. Komen Foundation is so important in our fight against breast cancer.

·         75 percent of net funds raised are invested locally in breast health education, screening and treatment support

 ·         One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime.

·         Every 69 seconds, someone, somewhere in the world, dies of breast cancer.

·         Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among U.S. women ages 40 to 59.

·         About 2.5 million breast cancer survivors are alive in U.S. today.

·         Early detection is the key to survival; the five-year survival rate, when caught early before it spreads beyond the breast, is 98 percent. Thirty years ago is was 74 percent.

·         Three simple steps for early detection:  1) regular mammograms, 2) clinical breast exams, and 3) breast self-awareness.

·         The greatest risk factors for breast cancer are being female and growing older.

·         Breast cancer knows no boundary, be it age, gender, socio-economic status or geographic location.

·         Washington state has one of the highest breast cancer incidence rates in the country.

·         $150 can fund a lifesaving mammogram through Komen’s community grants program.