Ready for 2011?

Hi,

This September I'm going to walk 60 miles with about 3000 people in San Francisco to raise awareness and money in the fight against breast cancer.  We will each raise at least $2,300 and train for months to be ready.  Then very, very early on a Friday morning we will set out.  It will be an amazing experience, there will be laughing, crying, dancing, joking and lots of just plain talking.  I will make many new friends and hear many stories, some inspirational, many sad. After walking the first 20 miles we will be fed and entertained then camp in cute pink tents. We will all get up and do it two more days.  At the end we will have all stand together and raise a shoe to show that we walk for those who can't.  I promise you I will cry.

This is my third time walking and many people ask me why I walk, I don't have cancer. Well, I walk because I can. I have so many people in my life who have been hit by cancer, my mom, my sister-in-law, my aunt, my great-grandma, my friends, my ex. Most of them are survivors, a few lost the battle.  If we could find a way to cure or prevent cancer my son won't be saying the same thing when he is my age. So I am going to do what I can

• Breast Cancer Fact: Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer and is the leading cause of death among women worldwide.

Today the 5-year survival rate for all women diagnosed with breast cancer is 89 percent. This means that 89 out of every 100 women with breast cancer will survive for at least five years. Most will live a full life and never have a recurrence. Your chances of survival are better if the cancer is detected early, before it spreads to other parts of your body. In fact, when breast cancer is found early and confined to the breast, the 5-year survival rate is 98 percent. That is why it is so important to take steps to detect breast cancer in its earliest stages

With the help of the Susan G. Komen foundation more women around the world are getting checked earlier and lives are being saved.

Today I start my fundraising.  I need you to help me get to the $2,800 goal I've set. 
Go to http://www.the3day.org/goto/catesword  and click on the Donate button.  Together we can make a world without cancer.

I'm going to walk because I can't walk away.