Race for the Cure--Why My Friend Walks

Breast cancer has affected so many people’s lives. Hundreds of thousands of people have been diagnosed, so odds are you know someone who the disease has affected. I do, and I walk the Race for the Cure in celebration of her beating the disease. My co-worker walks in remembrance of not one, not two, not three, but four close family members who fought a brilliant battle with the disease but passed away. Bill is a jovial person, excited about the Race for the Cure. You’ll see that in the video. But when he talks about those he lost, it’s a moment I won’t forget. Please remember to do your self exams and get your mammograms. Once you’re clear, find a way to help the effort to find a cure.

Race for the Cure 2009: Why I Walk

This past weekend, I helped raise money for a cause that’s dear to my heart: the fight against breast cancer. A group of friends and colleagues walked with me in the Race for the Cure. I walk for two reasons. My mother fought the disease and beat it! She’s been cancer free for about a decade now. It truly is something to celebrate! It’s easy to write a couple of lines about what an amazing thing that is. In reality, it took many years of rehabilitation, doctor visits, radiation treatments, mammograms, surgery, heartache, and physical and mental pain to get to this place. She did it all with a grace and poise that’s indescribable--something I greatly admire. Let’s put this feat into perspective. More than 40,000 people who are diagnosed with breast cancer die every year, according to the American Cancer Society. If you need a point of reference, that would basically wipe out everyone who walked in the Race for the Cure last weekend. Take a look at the video. The streets full of people would be empty, desolate, not one person left. That’s a pretty powerful visual representation of how devastating this disease is. I, for one, have vowed to fight! What will you do? Part two of the story: my personal scare with a lump. That’s in an upcoming post.



CHECK OUT THE PHOTOS TOO ON FLICKR
http://www.flickr.com/photos/momsonthego/

Tweet Tweet

Hey, Moms & Women on the Go founder, Executive Producer Bridgt Foster, will be sending tweets during the Komen Indy Race for the Cure--a terrific event! Check out the mention on Fox59.com. Just go to http://www.fox59.com/pages/newslinks and click on "Race for the Cure tomorrow - follow the tweets". It's still not too late to join the fight against breast cancer. You can sign up at packet pickup tomorrow morning. Go to www.komenindy.org to find out more.

2009 KOMEN INDY RACE FOR THE CURE IS SATURDAY, APRIL 18

Six days and counting until the 2009 Komen Indy Race for the Cure. It’s not too late to sign up and help raise money to find a cure for breast cancer. I can’t tell you how many amazing people I’ve met over the years that I’ve done this event! The experience is so moving, and what you’re doing to help the survivors and victims of this terrible disease is priceless. Check out this video of one of the races I attended.

Breast Cancer: There’s a Cure, and We’ll Find it!

I met a woman who is a breast cancer survivor who devoted her life to helping find a cure for the millions women who will be or already have been diagnosed with the disease, including her own daughter. This mother works with the Indiana University Department of Medicine, and she says researchers are making great strides in the fight against breast cancer. Today, I’d like to introduce you to Barbara Fetta.

A Breast Cancer Survivor’s Story: Turning Pain into a Positive

I’ve met quite a few breast cancer survivors, and I asked them all the same question: what would you say to someone who is going through what you’ve been through, someone who just learned they have cancer? All of the answers were fantastic, but one really stayed with me. Sheila Hebenstreit says there is something positive to learn from having breast cancer. So here it is. Here’s what Sheila learned as only she can explain it.

A Survivor's Story: Whatever it Takes to Live

Breast cancer forces you to make decisions--decisions you never dreamed of ever having to think about. Some of the women I’ve had the honor of meeting knew whatever conclusion they reached, it would change their lives forever. But one survivor said it best: “whatever it takes to save your life, I say do it.” Here’s Nancy Yvonne Milton’s story as only she can tell it.

Reality Check

This morning, I got upset over something so very trivial. Then I logged on to an internet job site that also covers news. I noticed an obit that shook me to my core. It was for a television news anchor who lost her battle with breast cancer yesterday. All of sudden everything that bothered me this week--everything that consumed my thoughts: all the worries I had about covering the election, feeling sad about my boss taking a new job, wondering what his departure meant for me, pondering if I should throw my hat into the ring for the promotion. I was totally consumed with my own issues that seemed so monumental. Then I read the article and watched the video about Heather Pick’s war with breast cancer which included two battles. I read about her two children and her husband who will now go on without her. I read about how she helped others and made her battle very public in hopes of inspiring others to fight. All of my issues felt so small. I forgot whatever I was angry about and decided instead her family had the right to be angry, upset, sad--whatever they felt like. Cancer had come like a thief and stole their loved one away from them. Heather Pick was just 38 years old. While she made her battle very public, sharing it with her viewing audience, many others who share her battle you will never hear about, but she represents them all. Here’s Heather’s story.

http://www.wbns.com/live/content/station/stories/2008/11/07/heather_pick.html?sid=102

Live Election Results for Women on the Go (WOGO)

Election 2008: We are witnessing the next pages that will be added to history books around the world. This 2008 Presidential election has gotten people interested in politics who didn’t care before. It’s gotten people to register to vote who have never cast a ballot before in their lives. It’s ignited a fire in people’s bellies like I’ve never seen before. We are now ticking down the final days, hours, and minutes before we know if Senator John McCain or Senator Barack Obama will be the next President of the United States. Women on the Go and CBS News are bringing you live election returns, updated every 60 seconds.

NEWS VS. ENTERTAINMENT

The lines between news and entertainment are even more blurry these days. “D.L Hughley Breaks the News” debuted on CNN Saturday night. Yes, I did say CNN. I watched the entire thing, and all I could think of was: “This should really be on Comedy Central.” Is CNN really the place for comedians to be talking about pimps, b!@#$%s, and thongs? Should CNN really be using its experts and reporters to appear on a less-than-successful knock-off of Comedy Central’s fake newscast the Daily Show. Doesn’t that affect the journalist’s credibility and CNN‘S for that matter? Meantime, news is breaking about anchor and reporter Anne Presley dying of her injuries after being attacked, and all the National news stations are in non-news programming, including CNN. Oh wait, CNN just broke in with a 15 second update on it! Great thanks! I am a journalist, and I would have to say yes, we put some things in the show that are just fun to know--water cooler stories, but this--to me as a journalist--takes us a few steps back. Agree/disagree? Let me know.