Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the thousands of participants for the Susan G. Komen gatherings around the country have taken on a new format. This year the theme is “Walk Where You Are.” Although we’re not meeting in person with thousands of others, the yearly fundraiser is alive and well, raising money for research, treatments, education, financial assistance, and more.
With our group of more than 50 close family and friends, we met and walked within Marbella Country Club in San Juan Capistrano, California. I’m happy to report that our efforts raised more than $8,000.
Raised Doing the Walk
I’ve been participating in a yearly Komen race/walk for exactly 30 years now. My 5 grandkids have been raised doing the walk, on foot or in their strollers. So, last year during the pandemic, when my 11-year-old granddaughter approached me and asked, “Nana, what are we going to do without the ‘Big Komen Walk’?” I thought for a moment and said, this is a no brainer—we’ll have our own walk. We had 27 participants, and others who made very generous donations. And this year we did this again, with more people participating.
I have my youngest of 3 daughters to thank for getting our family and friends involved with the Komen walk. She had a project for a college class, so she signed us up, and we joined the Komen Race for the Cure back in 1991.
Taking Better Care
Fifteen years ago, my dearest friend and next-door neighbor succumbed to breast cancer. She fought long and hard, but cancer took her from us prematurely. She inspired me to take better care of myself. Each year since her passing, we walk in her memory. Then, 9 years ago, I was diagnosed with breast cancer during my annual mammogram. It was caught early thanks to routine screening, for which I’m very grateful.
A Mammogram Gift
Considering how busy we all are with our various responsibilities, the best way for me to stay current with the screening mammograms is to schedule them as a birthday gift—to myself.
With 3 daughters and 3 granddaughters, setting a good example to follow is my legacy to them. We’ve each been given only one body to care for, and it’s our responsibility to keep it healthy. My message to all women: “Get those mammograms; they’ll make all the difference in your quality of life.”
