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Saturday, May 28, 2011

Why I am walking week - Day 7 the wrap up...

Well I would like to thank those of you who shared you experiences, thoughts, and feelings for my blog project this week.  I would also like to thank those who shared by reading it.  It was meaningful for me to share with everyone the reasons I am walking again this year.

I am going to finish off the week with another chance for those of you who haven't donated yet to do so for this wonderful foundation that isn't just about finding a cure but making life better for those with breast cancer as well!


As many of you know, last year I walked 60 miles in the Susan G. Komen 3 Day for the Cure, for the 1st time.  Many of you helped me on my journey by donating, and I was able to raise over $2,800 towards finding a cure for breast cancer. Those who have seen my slideshow, heard me talk about it, or read my blog know how much this experience meant to me.  How I believe it changed me, and how I loved being a part of something bigger than myself.  But is that it?  Am I done my part now?  Was that enough?

I don't know.  Have they found a cure for breast cancer yet? 

I learned a lot from researching breast cancer, from listening to stories from inspiring women with this disease.  I learned that 1 in 8 women in the U.S. will be diagnosed in their lifetime.  I learned that the biggest risk factors are being a woman and getting older.  But I think the hardest fact to swallow is the one stated in the picture below; a picture I took on my 60 mile walk, a picture that gives me goose bumps every time I read it.


Every 3 minutes in this country, another woman is diagnosed with breast cancer.  

That means that in the time it took to microwave 2 hot pockets for my kids, a family’s whole life dramatically changed.  In the 6 minutes it took me to get a load of laundry together and throw it in the wash, 2 women receive the news that they were praying with all their souls that they wouldn’t have to hear from their doctor after their biopsy was performed.  In the 10 minutes it took waiting for my morning coffee to brew: a single mom wonders who will care for her kids while she’s getting treatments and how is she going to pay her bills while she’s out of work, another woman cries trying to figure out how to tell her husband that her cancer is back again, and a 3rd  woman takes a deep breath, lifts her chin, and asks the doctor what she needs to do next.

How could I not continue the fight against breast cancer?  So again in  Sept. 2011, I will be leading a new team of women who share my passion for making this a world without breast cancer.  And how long after we find a cure will it be till we end ALL cancer, forever?

Walking at full speed, it would take me about 950 minutes to walk 60 miles.  The 60 miles of the 3 Day will actually take a lot longer than that because I need to stop and stretch, refill my water bottles, eat snacks and visit those beautiful porta-potties.  So, it will take me around 1500 minutes of walking.  And in those 1500 minutes, 500 more people will be diagnosed with breast cancer in this country.  But in those same 1500 minutes, the money that my feet helped to raise will help to change the face of this disease. 

I am trying to raise $2,300, so each minute that I will walk is worth 1 ½ more dollars towards this cause.  1 ½ dollars might not sound like much, but those dollars really do add up.  Each minute that I walk, I will be walking with thousands of other people, so my dollars are matched by all those other dollars.

My minutes, multiplied by the thousands of 3 Day walkers and crew in Washington DC in September and in 15 cities this year, will lead the fight to change the statistics. It will be a celebration of hope, and a celebration of all the survivors, like my wonderful Mom, who lived through being part of that dreaded statistic.  A celebration of the wonderful memories we have of loved ones like my dear friend Tanya, who have lost their battle.  Please help me change these statistics by making a donation to the Susan G. Komen 3 Day for the cure on my behalf.

Every 3 minutes another reason to walk.  That may be true, but it is also true that there are also thousands of us all across the country walking towards a different future.  We all get to decide which minutes of our lives count.  Make your minutes count.

I fully understand that each of us have our own commitments, so if you find yourself unable to support me with a donation, please support me with your thoughts and prayers. Please share this letter and help make your friends and family's minutes count too.  Thank you for taking the time to read this, and thank you for your support.  

 Sincerely,
Melanie Finkner

To donate, visit our team page and goto one of my teammates who have worked so hard and are getting close to meeting their minimum.  I wish to walk arm in arm with them across the 60 mile finish line to closing ceremonies!!!

2 comments:

  1. Great post with some very powerful imagery!

    ~ Kristen

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  2. Can I just say... I was with you when you first saw that sign and I remember the small "Gasp" that came from you when you first read it. Your blog today left me in tears & reminded me of all the reasons & more why I do all I do too. I BELIEVE that we met not by CHANCE, but for a REASON... No matter how much distance spans between us, I know that you are with me every step as I am with you. Keep Going, Have Fun & Keep Inspiring everyone you meet! XoXo

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