The Sisterchicks ran the race for the 3rd year in a row. Although the emotion of the Race for the Cure isn’t as new to me, it is still as real. There are still women dying of breast cancer. I HATE CANCER. There were thousands of people at the race last Saturday wearing pink shirts, tutus and tiaras—all to honor the strong women in their lives who have been diagnosed with breast cancer.
The first two minutes I was there, I wasn’t really thinking of those women. All I was looking at were the shirts. Who had cute ones? Which ones had funny slogans (uh…breast friends forever…)? Did any of them look cooler than ours?
Then I saw a man with a homemade puffy paint monstrosity of a shirt. And I kinda rolled my eyes at him.
Until.
I saw his young elementary aged son behind him. Also wearing a puffy painted shirt that read:
I MISS YOU, MOM.
And I pictured him and his dad at Wal-Mart picking out puffy paint and buying white tshirts. The dad realizing how important it would be to do something to honor his wife and the mother of his child. The little boy working his hardest to make a beautiful shirt to honor his mom. His father, realizing how different the shirt would have turned out had his wife been there to help.
This is why we run.
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{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
Twitter: localmandi
May 14, 2009 at 7:11 am
I missed that … definitely would have made me cry. I agree, it’s easy to get caught up in the traffic, the shirts, the loot & brunch but then something like that hits you. The “survivor walk” through the balloons always gets me too!!
Side note: LOVE that picture of us!!
Why did you have to go and make me cry first thing in the morning
? What a touching story, and I’m sure there are many more.
Great picture of your team!
awww, that is so heartbreaking.
good for you & the walk! Great photo!
I am with Cynthia, why did you have to make me cry before breakfast. How sad. I can’t imagine the little boy growing up without his mom.
Toni
Yeah, thanks, I cried, too!
My mom had breast cancer 4 years ago (happy ending).
Our race is in June – we wear the standard shirts but yours is very cute!
Twitter: givingupperfect
May 14, 2009 at 9:39 am
And…now I’m crying.
I’ve worked for two health charities, both of which hold fundraising walks. I know how much the events mean, and these things get me every time.
I love to participate in those walks. My sister is a breast cancer survivor for about 15-16 years now! I love to go and walk with her and read all the names of the survivors!
Twitter: brandiofbham
May 14, 2009 at 12:52 pm
*sniff*
The shirts get me EVERY time!
Thanks for making me cry in front of my students!!! (don’t ask why I was reading your blog while I’m at school… that’s another story for another day)
Oh my goodness, this made me cry!
Doggoneit, you’re making me cry! stop it!
Twitter: kathill
May 14, 2009 at 8:38 pm
Tears streaming.
Love the pic!
I ran the race year before last (and plan to run it again this year). There were several people around me that had shirts dedicated to their mom or wife. I could not keep from crying!
Oh goodness, that made me cry. I hate cancer too. I really hate cancer.
You had me at, “As I pictured the dad at Walmart…”
Great thoughts.
God bless-
Amanda
I love the picture. Good for you all doing this each year. I hope to do the race for the cure this August…if I can get into shape by then. Breast cancer has touched my Grandmother… she’s been in remission for years and years…she is one of the lucky ones.
Nell
SheSnaps.com
Wow, very sad.
A girl from our church (or lady …) who had a baby just a few months ago took him to dr. yesterday because his tummy was swollen. He was diagnosed with cancer.
I hate cancer too.
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