I think that this one fact speaks to how much Susan G. Komen For the Cure has done for global breast cancer initiatives:  When I talk with anyone about walking in the 3-Day for the Cure the conversation inevitably wraps up with the other person telling me, “Good luck on your race!”  The first couple of years that I did the 3-Day, I would hear that and almost feel like they didn’t understand the actual challenge that I was going through.  After all, it’s 60 miles!!  It’s not 5K.  I would still smile and say, “Oh, it’s not a race, it’s a walk.”

It’s been some time now and my thoughts about when someone wishes me a good race have significantly changed.  People that are close to me have now seen me say that it’s not a race that they now speak up and say it, but where I was a little put off by the remark before I’m now excited by it.

Walking 60 miles isn’t for everyone.  There, I said it.  I know that it takes a lot of commitment and time to dedicate yourself to train to walk 60 miles and then on top of it raise $2300.  With that being said, running 5K isn’t for everyone either.  I think I can safely say that I would rather walk 60 miles than 5K.  Maybe that’s stretching it a bit, but I’m not a runner and prefer walking almost any day.  So yes, I could walk on the race for the cure, but something in my head makes me say that it’s a race so I should be running so I chose to join on the 3-Day.  (Though I have walked in the Race for the Cure before)

Wow, we’ve been talking about a lot of walking, racing, running and other physical activities.  So much so that I may have confused myself with the last paragraph.  Let’s move on.

Maybe you see the names for some of these events with words like race and walk associated with them and think that you would rather not be involved because you are not an athlete.  Trust me, I was there.  When I signed up for my first 3-Day, I went from not walking at all for exercise to walking miles upon miles for training.  I’m not saying that this is something that you will jump at the opportunity to do, I’m saying I can see where you are coming from.  If you’re not wanting the physical exertion there are plenty of opportunities to get involved in the fight against breast cancer.

That’s one of the most wonderful things about events like the 3-Day and Race for the Cure.  There are so many different ways that you can be involved from little to massive involvement that regardless of your physical prowess or your fund raising skills, there is something that you can do to help out.  Heck, with the 3-Day alone, you can do anything from simply writing a letter to people while they are at the 3-Day camp to being at cheering stations to cheer the walkers on, there are people that are walker stalkers that follower the walkers while they are on their route, there are daily volunteers (that don’t have to camp, if you’re not a camper), there are walkers, crew and staff.  Just a HUGE amount of ways that you can get involved!

Ok, if you didn’t know this already, October is Breast Cancer Awareness month.  This month, I’m asking my readers to make a commitment to help end breast cancer.  If you’re not sure, then take a baby step.  I’m sure there are many walkers and crew that would love to get a letter at camp, even if they don’t know who you are.  Or another way to get involved that REALLY helps in the fight is to make a DONATION!  If you would like to get more involved, check out the following web sites, they both have a get involved section:

http://the3day.org -  The official 3-Day web site

http://komen.org – The official Susan G. Komen for the Cure web site

I’m going to close by repeating that even though when I first started on the 3-Day I felt the need to correct everyone to tell them it wasn’t a race, I’m actually encouraged by the fact that people know what Race for the Cure is.  So if you wish me good luck on my race, I will gladly say, “Thank you”