Ellyn Davidson’s Weblog

If you are considering walking with us next year, check out this video for some inspiration. I found it on YouTube. I love that they caught the Ta Ta Breast Cancer cheering section pretty close to the beginning(notice the little guy in the Tie-Dye and the man in the pink shirt on the phone) I also love that they caught my reunion with my daughter who was at overnight camp for four weeks before the walk. Enjoy the video–it’s just a little taste of what the Breast Cancer 3-Day is all about.

Since we got back from the walk, I’ve had lots of people tell me they are walking 2010 and our team is up to 5 members in the past week.  I love my friend Pam’s post “Why you should seriously consider walking the 3-Day”.  She does such a great job of summing it up and I couldn’t agree more.  Pam and I met when she was diagnosed with breast cancer 6 months after me.  We’ve been friends ever since and although we don’t see each other often; the breast cancer bond has formed a unique friendship.  Our other breast cancer friend, Missy is also part of Pam’s team.  In Pam’s blog, she mentions that Nancy’s Naughty Nockers (NNN) now changed to No More Naughty Nockers has raised over $200,000 in three years—that’s a ton of money in this fight.  I am also proud to say that Ta Ta Breast Cancer has raised $160,000 in two years.

In 2010, we’ve formed another goal.  NNN and Ta Ta Breast Cancer, while remaining separate teams, are forming a bit of strategic alliance orchestrated by Pam’s husband Bill and me.  We’ve decided that the two teams together are going to raise $250,000 in 2010.  We’ll support and help promote each other’s fundraisers.  So come on, enough waiting, join the 3-Day and let’s start working towards this unbelievable goal.  If you join now, you can save $35 by entering POWER10 in the coupon code area.  We can’t wait to see you at the 2010 walk.

Pam, Missy, Ellyn 2009 3-Day

I walked with 24 other amazing women of Ta Ta Breast Cancer—I met 5 of them for the first time on Friday morning.

Others, I met during training walks. Some were acquaintances prior to the walk. And some others are the people nearest and dearest to me—my mom, my aunt, my sister-in-law and some of my best and oldest friends. Sharing this experience together takes all of these relationships to a much deeper level.

If you have ever thought of walking the Breast Cancer 3-Day (now called the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the cure) but just didn’t think you could do it, trust me, you can. If you live in Michigan, join us next year. If you are in another state, grab some friends and don’t wait another day to sign up. If you can’t walk, crew or volunteer. You will thank me later.

We have to do this for so many reasons. But I think 5-year old Samantha Dubin summed it up so well when she returned from a cheering section and said to her brother Josh.

 ”The women are walking now, so they will save my boobs later.”

Today is exactly two years since my breast cancer diagnosis.  Looking back, it’s hard to believe how much my world would change with one phone call. 

I will never forget that first night.  It feels like a lifetime ago, yet I remember so many details of the night.  I remember exactly where I was standing in my closet as Dr. Kestenberg told me they found cancer.  I remember telling my mom they found cancer and hearing a voice I’d never heard before (and one I hope to never hear again).  I remember calling my good friend who was anxiously awaiting my phone call with the results of my biopsy.  I remember trying to figure out if I was in the midst of a bad dream.  And I remember thinking that maybe, just maybe, they were wrong.  Despite all these vivid memories—surgeries, treatment and life without hair feels like a lifetime ago.  And that’s a great feeling. 

So today on my two year anniversary, I invite you to share a virtual toast with me.  A toast to survivorship, a toast to cures and a toast to a world without breast cancer.