The Roll Call of Honor and Remembrance

When I decided to do the 3-day in 2004, it was to honor my first boss, Nancy McCord. Nancy died of breast cancer. Nancy was a Smithie and she had taught me so much during the years I worked for her. Once I left working for her, I never properly thanked her for all she had done for me, but moved forward with the impudence of youth. I walked in 2004  to pay my respects and repay my debt to Nancy.

As Ellie and I prepare for our walk in 2010, we have compiled a list of those people in whose honor and in whose memory we walk. These are brave women who fought the fear and devastation of breast cancer. Some of these women won their fight and have continued to live their lives with thankfulness and some of these women lost their fight and live on in our memories.

We are walking to honor these women and to help insure that someday we will all live in a world where the fear and ravages of breast cancer will no longer exist.

Roll Call of Honor

Kay Crawford * Betsy Boyle *

Irene Spielman Hodge* Angelique L’Amour *

Candace Eisner Strick * Rita Bodett *

Carol Kiser * Phyllis Frost *

Terry O’Shea

Roll Call of Remembrance

Kathy Hale * Sarah Greenspan Eisner *

Nancy McCord * Christina Figel *

Inge Frischer *

Honorary Walkers*

Barb Burg * Bobbie Isserman *

Elaine Shapiro

*supporters who struggle with their own health issues

Why Walk 60 Miles?

Sometimes it is good to take a moment and remember what the walking is all about. On a beautiful spring day it is easy to get out and walk and enjoy the sun, the fresh breeze and whiffs of roses and pink-blooming peonies. It is easy to feel strong and alive and stride along letting the miles roll by just enjoying life. But it is important to stop and remember that there are so many people who can’t do that anymore. So many women, and men, who lost their fight against breast cancer and they are no longer walking in the warm sun.

So, today, I want to stop and take a moment with you to remember. I know most everyone has someone they miss, they mourn. And so many of us know many people who have fought breast cancer and won as well. Ellie and I are walking for all of these people and we are walking so many more in the future will never have to know the fear, the pain and the loss. Please watch this video and join us as we remember…

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Blogging With Benefits

Working on this blog and preparing for the Big Walk has been a lot of fun and I have learned a lot. Obviously, I have learned a bit about blogging. Of course, Ellie learned to do this in 7th grade, but those of us who pre-date the digital age need to learn these new skills on our own. That can be a lot tougher. So, blogging skills have been a side benefit. Another major benefit has been hearing from people with whom I may not have been in touch for quite some time. Invariably, the people I hear from have their own stories to tell of friends and relatives who have battled breast cancer. Some have won their battles and, sadly,  others have not.

My first 3-Day breast cancer walk

In 2004 I did the 3-Day in New York. I decided to do the walk on the spur of the moment. I heard an ad on the radio and I just knew I wanted to be part of it. I wanted to do something which mattered. I heard the ad, ran inside and signed up. Afterward, I started to think about why it was important that I do this. I wanted to honor someone in my life who died of breast cancer and who had not been properly honored by me for the role she played in my life.

We’re walkin’ to fight breast cancer!

We have joined the Susan G. Komen 3-Day Walk to fight breast cancer. We are Jenny and Ellie, mother and daughter. We will walk sixty miles over the course of three days in DC this coming October. But before that we will be on a journey training together and fund-raising. We hope you will join us on our actual and virtual journey.