It’s been about a year since I have written about this, but it’s important so I am going to write about it again. Did you know that about 1 in 1000 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime? While survival rates by stage are typically the same as women fighting breast cancer, men’s breast cancer is typically discovered at later stages. So the reason that I walk is not just ti try and save the lives of women, it’s to try and save the lives of men. But even with that in mind, that’s not really the reason that I’m writing this post today.

With Father’s day just around the corner, it’s easy for us dads to think about having a nice relaxing day at home. If you are a dad, I would like for you to think about one other thing this Father’s day. Signing up to walk in the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure. I know that a lot of you may think that I am crazy to ask you to think about walking 60 miles on your day of rest. I know it seems counter to what the whole day is about, but I’d like you to think of it from a different angle.

I’m a dad and I have talked to several other dads to try and figure out what people generally think is their job as a dad. There were a lot of answers from providing for the family to helping to raise well balanced children to fixing things around the house. The thing that seemed almost universal to everyone I asked about this, whether they said it directly or it showed itself in another entry was this: a dad’s job is to protect his family. That includes everyone from his sons to his wife and daughters who have a much higher chance of being diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime (1 in 8).

I will tell you right now that this is the reason that I walk. I never put it in those words before, I always said that I walk because I don’t want my wife to go through breast cancer and because I don’t want my sons to be 1 in 1000 or have to watch someone the love go through chemo. What it all boils down to is that I walk in the 3-Day for the Cure and I raise all this money for a simple reason that every dad should understand. I do it to protect my family.

This year is my fifth year to walk in the 3-Day and I am always shocked at how few men that there are. Maybe the men see this as a women’s event. I’m here to tell you that it’s not just a women’s event. It’s an event for anyone who cares about trying to save someone’s life, even if it’s their own, especially if it’s for someone they love.

Maybe they think that, being a man, they will be an outsider for three days. Nothing could be further from the truth. I have to say that the people on the walk are the most welcoming people I have EVER met. If you don’t know anyone on the walk, it won’t be like that for long. Even if you don’t say anything people will introduce themselves and make themselves your friend. If you want to accelerate the process just hollar out, “I’m a first time walker and I’m here by myself!” You will have more friends than you know what to do with. I walk with a team, but I meet tons of people every year and many of them I keep in touch with after the event.

Please take a moment to think about joining the 3-Day for the Cure. Its really easy to register, just click here and select your city and you will be well on your way. If you don’t know anyone that’s walking, let me know and I would be happy to have you on my team in San Diego this year. Got some questions for a man that has walked? Click the contact button on this web site and I would be glad to answer what I can.

Lastly, I know that not everyone can do the walk either because of work obligations or physical restrictions (but don’t talk yourself into not doing it, I have seen eighty year old women complete all 60 miles!) and if this describes your situation, you can still protect your family. Donate to someone that you know that is participating in the walk. Don’t know someone? I would be honored if you would donate to my fund raising efforts. The point is that you can work to protect your family from breast cancer even if you can’t do the walk, but we would love to have you on the walk!

Have a happy Father’s day and I hope to see you out there on the walk, it really is a life changing experience!