All in the Name of Boobies

Last Sunday, my Team Bloggers for Boobies teammates and I laced up our runners and participated in the CIBC Run for the Cure.  I am happy to report that as a team, we raised $2940 for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.



Team Bloggers for Boobies
Back row: Tracey, Lisa, Me, Naomi
Front row: Amber, Alexis, Wendy, Nicole, Ginger
Marilyn had to bow out, due to a bad cold and a hubby
who forced her (quite rightly) to put her health first.

I am also thrilled to tell you that I set some personal bests this year.  This was my fourth year running the race, and because of the generous donations of my friends, family, and colleagues (if you're reading this, thanks a million, my lovelies), I was able to raise $1095! 

And thanks to my friend Lisa, who was always about half a step ahead of me and set a perfect pace, I ran it faster than I ever have before.  We were on the same page from the word go, when we both plugged our music into our ears, put our heads down, and started pounding the pavement.  We clocked in at 30 minutes and some odd seconds.  I may have mentioned before that running isn't really my thing, so I'm pretty proud of that time.  But mainly, I just wanted to get it over with, and I knew if I slowed down or stopped, I would lose all motivation.

 

I love the feeling of being part of something so much bigger than me.  Joining a team contributed to that feeling.  And just being there, among the throngs of runners, joggers and walkers makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up and tears edge their way into the corners of my eyes.  This cause is so important to so many people.  If you're there, it's because you just get it.  And I am proud to have done my small part and contributed to the over $30 million raised across Canada on October 2nd.

I'm Not Really a Runner

I'm not really a runner.

But on October 2nd, I will strap on my running shoes, hit the play button on my iPod, and join thousands of other women and men in the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation's CIBC Run for the Cure. 

And when my feet hit the pavement, my thoughts will turn to the women in whose honour I am running. 

As my heart hammers, arms pump, sweat pours, and legs fill with lead, I will think about my mother's mother; my grandmother, who died of metastasized breast cancer at the age of sixty.

I will think about my dad's sister; my aunt, who is a survivor, and thankfully, has been cancer-free for many years. 

I will think about my dad's second wife; my step-mother, who finally succumbed to the disease after two long years and left behind a 16-year-old son, my brother.

I will think about my friend Kate, who is my age, mother to a doll-faced toddler and, I am positive, will soon be joining the list of breast cancer survivors.  She graciously, bravely, and honestly writes about her journey through the Big C at The Adventures of OBB.

These are the women who have inspired me to participate in the Run for the Cure, this year and in years past.

But as I run, my thoughts will turn to other women as well.  I will think about my mother, my sister, and myself.  Most of all, I will be thinking about my daughter.  I will be dreaming of her future, a future that includes a cure for breast cancer.  That is my wish for Lilah and her generation.

I'm not really a runner.

But on October 2nd, I will run for a cure.  And that will be enough.

On Running for the Cure

Last Sunday I participated in the CIBC Run for the Cure to raise money for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.  You may recall my post about why this cause is important to me.

As I joined the throngs walking towards the starting point of the run, I felt that familiar lump in my throat that I got the last time I did the run, years ago.  You know, that feeling of being part of something so much bigger than your everyday worries; something important yet bittersweet.  Standing in a crowd of thousands of people, it would be easy to feel anonymous, but this crowd felt like a community.  We were all there for the same purpose.  I was reminded of that each time I read the "I'm running for..." badge on a fellow runner's shirt, or spotted the pink t-shirt of a survivor.

Thanks to my running buddies, I managed to run the full 5km without wimping out partway through.  But I'm not going to lie, I really wanted to.  It was a case of mind over matter.  However, I think I've figured out why none of my pants fit.  I'm really not in very good shape.  Yes, I managed not to quit, but man were my legs sore for the next two to three days!  I guess the elliptical machine doesn't simulate running as closely as its proponents would have me believe!

Anyway, back to the important, higher-porpose-type stuff.  I am thrilled to report that the $1000 I was able to raise (thanks to my wonderful friends and family) was just a tiny drop in the bucket of the $33 million that was raised across Canada!