Well, it is hard to believe that is already October. It is slowly cooling down outside. Football teams are getting deep into district play. Basketball coaches are starting to salivate at the thought of late nights at the gym and screeching whistles filling the air. As the pumpkins start to pop up on front porches and the leaves start their colorful change indicating the holidays are right around the corner, October also serves a reminder of the fight that is going on each and every day in some people’s lives.
October has been designated as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month – while this disease may not have affected you, chances are it has had a strong impact on a family member, a friend or a member of their family. According to the Susan G. Komen website, 192,370 new cases of breast cancer will be diagnoses in 2009. While the mortality rates for this disease continue to fall due to better awareness and screening methods, it is still imperative that funding and research continue to reach the ultimate goal of a cancer free world.
Last year I used this blog to tell the story of the Think Pink game between Central HS and Keller HS – that game raised over $12,000 to go to breast cancer research. Those two teams played the same game last night with the goal being $17,000 – well, they raised $20,000. Not able to travel to Keller for the game and donate to their fundraiser? Well, you’re in luck because I know exactly how you can help.
The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer 3 –Day walk is right around the corner. On November 6 – 8, thousands of walkers will set out from Plano to walk 60 miles to their eventual goal of Fair Park. 20 miles a day. Passing freeways, parks and hospitals. Sleeping in tents at night. All with one goal……to eliminate breast cancer. I have had the opportunity to work the 3-Day over the past two years and it has changed the way I think about the human spirit and what a true athlete is. These ladies and men sacrifice their bodies, the skin off the bottom of their feet and every ounce of strength they have to reach the final pit stop. Mothers, fathers, daughters, grandchildren, nieces, nephews…..the list goes on and on. Each one walking in the memory of a loved one who has passed away or been affected by breast cancer. Parents walking with the goal of their children never having to worry about the disease. One of my good friends, Jessica, is walking in the 3-Day……I have been following her journey of fund-raising and training on her website. Each year I see some of our colleagues in the athletic training profession who are out there walking for a family member or a good friend. Don’t know anyone walking? By the end of the 3 Day, you will have hundreds of new friends – I promise.
The 3–Day needs you. As Health Care professionals, you have the ability to impact more lives in a 3 day period then you might in a full year at your place of employment. There is a medical station set up at each pit stop where you will have the ability to stretch walkers, care for the worst blisters you have ever seen or simply patch a walker up just so they can make it to the next pit stop. All that is required of you is your time and your willingness to share a few minutes and hear the walker’s stories. There is nothing that has been more fulfilling in my professional career as watching the walkers march past you at the final march in – tears in their eyes, faces glowing and the triumph of helping reach that ultimate goal in their minds. Can't help out that weekend? The meidcal staff can alway use supplies to help care for the walkers.
To sign up as a volunteer, just log on to the following website. Pick a shift or two or spend the whole day, either way you will experience great rewards.
Contact Cindy Trowbridge (mailto:ctrowbridge@uta.edu) or Ted Perry (ted.perry@gpisd.org) if you have any questions. Ted, Cindy, Mike Stokic, Mike Pruitt, Tysha Beaty, Kelley Henderson, Betsy Nadler, and Lou Fincher will be there all three days. Hall of Famers Brian Conway and Ken Locker never miss out and even serve as the Sports Medicine official sponsors. Students from UT-Arlington and Texas Christian always come out in force too. My wife and I will be there, also – if at all possible, you should consider joining us.
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