Team Tiara

My reason for walking

My cousin, Kathy, was diagnosed with cancer when she was only 28 years old.  She vowed to live so her kids would know their mom.  She had a young daughter and 18 month old twins at the time.  She was a fighter and she loved God.  For these reasons she fought the good fight.  So her kids would know her and so that she could tell as many people as she could about the saving grace of Jesus.

On July 17, 2007, when she was only 35 years old, she chose to not survive by machines anymore and instead to walk where angels trod.  We had to say goodbye, long before we were ready.

After coming home from her funeral, I sat in my office with my best friend Amy.  I was just wishing for a way to continue the fight that Kathy had begun but could not finish.  That is when Amy found the Breast Cancer 3Day.  I had never heard of it before.  And for a period of about 5 minutes I thought she was crazy to want to do this with me.  Then we logged on and signed up.

We had about 8 weeks to train and to fundraise.  I was totally out of shape.  But I thought that if Kathy could fight so bravely, I could walk 60 miles.  And I did.  I walked every step.  Not that it should matter, but I know that for me it does.

Cissa and Amy Team Tiara 2008

To give a full picture story of my 3Day journey I have to add in here about Team Talent.  This is how I like to tell the story:

The Wednesday before that first 3Day all the walkers got an email telling us about an opportunity to interview to be a part of the 2008 3Day PSA campaign.  If selected, it would require me to be gone the weekend right after the 3Day so I ran the idea past my husband.  He said if I could find someone to watch the kids that it was fine with him.  Thursday morning, before I even had a chance to call, Amy had sent me an email attached to that 3Day email telling me that she thought I should do it and that she would watch my kids.

So after that first very long day of walking, I walked the extra mile (literally) to interview for the PSA.  I was one of only a few who got to interview for Rex, the artistic director of the campaign.  He seemed to like me, but I knew everyone had a story just like mine.  The next day I actually got to walk with Rex for a while and tell him more of my story.  Day 3, we had already had closing ceremonies and I was climbing out of a port-a-potty for the last time that year when the other person I had interviewed with greeted me by name and stopped to talk to me for a couple of minutes.  At that point, Amy was sure I was getting to go to LA, but I still didn’t know.

The following Wednesday I got the call, “would you like to come? ” Friday I was on a plane to Los Angeles.  There I met the most beautiful group of people.  A bond was formed that I do not think can ever be broken.  We dubbed ourselves “Team Talent” because of the forms we were asked to sign, and made our own little mark on each other’s hearts.

Team Talent

2008: I walked for Kathy again, but I also walked for Stephanie.  She was such a precious part of Team Talent and she is missed by all who knew her.  She finished her battle with Breast Cancer in April of 2008.  She too fought bravely and her smile is one that will not be forgotten.

2009: This year I add a person and a group to my list of those I walk for.  First is Ed, another member of Team Talent.  We lost Ed this year very suddenly and so I walk for him because he walked for his beautiful wife Sherry.  I am also walking prayerfully for all the doctors and scientists who are constantly searching for a way to end the deadliness of cancer.  We know that cancer lives in all of us, but it does not have to affect us, and I know that someday the answer will be found.

My story is just one of thousands, but it is mine.  I walk because I have children.  I walk because I have friends.  I walk because there are perfect strangers out there who will get a deadly cancer if the answer is not found.  I walk because I love people with everything in me.  I walk because Kathy, and Stephanie, and Ed cannot walk anymore.  This is part of my legacy, and I walk with Joy.