Why I Walk

Let me start off by giving you all a few statistics:

-Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer and is the leading cause of cancer death
among women worldwide.

-Nearly 1.4 million women are diagnosed with breast cancer globally each year.

-More than 458,000 people worldwide die from breast cancer each year.

-Somewhere in the world, a woman dies from breast cancer every 69 seconds.

-Over the last 25 years, breast cancer incidence rates have risen about 30 percent in westernized
countries, although incidence rates decreased in the U.S. from 1999-2006 in part due to lower
use of postmenopausal combined hormone use.
 
 
 
EVERY 69 SECONDS............A WOMAN DIES!!!
 
That very statement is a constant thought in my mind.   A woman dies and leaves behind a family.  Sometimes she is older and leaves behind a husband, children, and grandchildren.  And sometimes, that woman is young enough that she leaves behind her own small children.  IT BREAKS MY HEART!
 
I was lucky!  Sure I have 'down' days.  I still look in the mirror and the scars are very fresh.  On the 23 of this month, it will be 8 months since my bi-lateral mastectomy.  But despite the waves of pain that sometimes still come...I'm lucky!  I'M ALIVE.  My children still have their mother, my parents..their daughter, my siblings...their sister, and my husband...his wife.
 
I'd be lying if I said this walk isn't a whole lot about healing for me. IT IS!
 
But it's also about so much more.
 
It's about celebrating the lives of those who have gone before me, and continuing to honor their memory and fight.
 
And I am incredibly honored to be walking In Memory of Kendra McLean Kirsch.  As stated on my 3-Day site, I never got the honor of meeting Kendra.  Her mother and I go to the same church.  Glenda prayed for God to place His hand on me during my journey...just a few short months after losing her own daughter to the same disease.  The act of human kindness touched me so profoundly, and I am beyond words honored to be walking in Kendra's memory.
 
I'm also walking In Memory of Steph.  My aunt.  There's not a day that goes by that I don't wish she was still here with us....with her children and grandchildren.  I miss her terribly, but I have no doubt that she'll be with me during those three days.
 
I'm walking in hopes that the only thing my daughters ever know of this disease is the remembrance of what I went through.  I pray their bodies are never touched or scarred by it.
 
And I walk to show my gratitude for those who have walked beside me over the past 9 months.  I will walk to say 'Thank you'.
 
Each and every one of these training steps and those steps that I take during the 3-day have meaning and purpose just like the difficult ones I took during my treatment.
 
My steps won't cure cancer, but the money that is raised WILL!
 
Over the past 48 hours, 11 of my friends and family members have generously donated $655, putting my total donations at $1235.  I'm truly humbled and grateful.  I could not be doing this without each and every one of them.
 
If you would like to donate please visit my site at:  http://bit.ly/jcRnjl
 
EVERY DOLLAR COUNTS!

Casondra Walks

Woo-hoo!  Blogger has FINALLY let me log back on.  I was starting to have serious withdraws.  lol

I started training for my 3-Day about 10 days ago.  In that time, I've logged 45.2 miles.  Honestly, considering just 8 months ago I was preparing for a bi-lateral mastectomy, I can't believe I feel so good, or have been able to walk so much already.

For those of you on my Facebook, you'll be seeing post from Dailymile.com.  I don't always remember to post, but I'm trying to, so that all my supporters/sponsors can keep up on my training.

I've also somehow managed to get $835 in donations so far!  Isn't that AMAZING?! 

I am truly humbled by the amount of people who have shown their support in this journey I'm on.

If you would like to donate, please visit my site at:

http://www.the3day.org/site/TR/2011/AtlantaEvent2011?px=5969298&pg=personal&fr_id=1610

Every dollar counts, so please don't think, well, I am only about to give $5 or $1.  It all adds up and it goes to a GREAT cause.

For more information on where the money goes...visit: http://www.the3day.org/

I Hope You Dance

A picture and a note.

The loves of my life.

They are so innocent.

Full of life.

Trusting.

Loving.

I hope this world never strips them of that.

This song is so fitting with my wishes for them.

I hope you never lose your sense of wonder

You get your fill to eat

But always keep that hunger

May you never take one single breath for granted

God forbid love ever leave you empty handed

I hope you still feel small

When you stand by the ocean

Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens

Promise me you'll give faith a fighting chance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance

I hope you dance

I hope you dance

I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance

Never settle for the path of least resistance

Living might mean taking chances

But they're worth taking

Lovin' might be a mistake

But it's worth making

Don't let some hell bent heart

Leave you bitter

When you come close to selling out

Reconsider

Give the heavens above

More than just a passing glance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance

I hope you dance

(Time is a real and constant motion always)

I hope you dance

(Rolling us along)

I hope you dance

(Tell me who)

I hope you dance

(Wants to look back on their youth and wonder)

(Where those years have gone)

I hope you still feel small

When you stand by the ocean

Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens

Promise me you'll give faith a fighting chance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance

Dance

I hope you dance