Why I'm doing this

I've been struggling for months with how to explain why I am participating in the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure. To stress to friends and family why I have chosen to train for months in order to walk 60 miles for charity and raise money for a wonderful cause. Finally, I've found the words.

Kevin and I have been dating more than two and a half years and we have seen each other through many difficult times. But when Kevin called me and said, "My mother has breast cancer," I was, for the first time in my life, speechless.

What do you say to your boyfriend when he calls with such terrible news? I asked for any information he had and I prayed the right words would come. We talked about what the doctors told his mom and what would happen next.

This was last December. She has had surgery and is undergoing chemotherapy and, although there have been a few setbacks, she is doing well.

The week we found out that Carol was sick, I felt helpless and afraid - I am a fixer, but I couldn't fix her. I don't have a lot of money, and I can't find a cure for cancer, but I found out that there was something that I could do to help. I saw an ad for the Susan G. Komen event and decided that spending 6 months training for the 60-day walk was the least I could do.

There are times when the training is tough - when my feet and ankles hurt so badly I can barely stand it, but then I think about Carol and the sickness she feels after each round of chemotherapy. I think about Kevin and the desolation in his voice as he said those fateful words, "My mother has breast cancer."

I think about others who have heard those words, or said those words, and I find a new stride. I keep walking and praying that someday we can beat this terrible, terrible illness.

It's been tough to fit fundraising and training into my schedule but I'm doing the best I can. Finals set me back a bit, but now that summer is here, I'm back to my training regimen.

I'll be honest, I feel uncomfortable sharing Carol and Kevin's story. Kevin didn't tell many people, and if you are his friend, this is probably news to you. He isn't comfortable with the attention, but it's important that his friends know what he's been dealing with this year. He knows that I have written this and am sharing it.

The Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure is only 3 months away and I am walking in Carol's name. To do so, I need to raise $2300. It's important to me that I represent Carol and Kevin to the best of my abilities and I need your help.

You can support them and the cause by making a donation. Just go to The3Day.org, click Donate Now, and enter my name to search for my personal fundraising page.

Thank you!