One obvious reason is my grandma Alice. She had cancer when I was very young. I grew up knowing she'd had surgery and that she wore a funny pad in her bra. But it's only been since I was an adult and now a mother that the weight of all that she went through is appreciated. I loved my grandmother dearly, and grew up conscious of the risks of breast cancer because of her, but I will walk for many more reasons than the fact of grandmothers losing a breast to cancer.
Let's see, I like supporting a good cause, defined partially as one whose fundraising supports rigorous basic and applied research. Women's issues are near and dear to my heart, having grown up exposed to all sorts of feminist causes and in a female-heavy household. I have a strong interest in public health and health-promoting practices. I myself could stand to lose a couple (dozen) pounds. I like to walk. I like to travel. I have known various women who've had breast cancer, including a woman who died when her daughters were just 11 and 12 years old.
And so here I am, signed up to walk 60 miles over three days. I attended a 3-Day kick off meeting last weekend, which gave me some ideas for fundraising. The first official training walks are beginning soon, 24 weeks ahead of the start. I've got my fitted shoes, special socks to try out (with toes!), and a schedule for increasing walk distance each week. I hope to find a training group near my home. In the meantime, my husband and 2-year old son have been pressed into duty.
Tomorrow I'm taking my own personal training walk, a nearly 7-mile jaunt to lunch. I'll have to leave home at 9am in order to be sure I make it there in time to meet my family (aka my ride home). I look forward to seeing the neighborhoods from a walker's rather than driver's pace. I am hoping it doesn't rain on me, but by the end I might be wishing for a cool shower. And in the end, if I don't snooze in my burrito I might just smile from ear to ear at my great start.
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