Penguin Stories: I Wear Pink For My Mom…

Four years ago, my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. What a terrifying thought for our family. My mom endured weekly chemotherapy for one year, followed by radiation for six weeks before being declared cancer-free.

I can’t imagine how she survived that year. She worked through her cancer as a pediatric nurse. She was brave when she lost her hair. She was brave when she lost her eyebrows and eyelashes. She was brave when she suffered from nerve pains and chemotherapy pains. She was brave all around.

Yesterday, Saturday May 8, was the Race for the Cure in Salt Lake City or, as Emma calls it, “The Celebration of Pink.” She and I walked again this year and we could not have had a better time. Standing at the starting line, holding my daughter’s hand, hearing the announcers state that over 18000 people registered to walk, and having Melissa Ethridge’s song, “I Run For Life” play as the race starts, I can’t help but walk with a lump in my throat.

I love walking in the walk and seeing the teams of people who walk in support, such as “Sgt. Survivor” and her team, “Lt. Funbags,” and “Major Mammogram” or “Save Second Base” or “Christie’s Rack Pack,” “Cruising for Coconuts.” You catch my drift. But equally eye catching are the ones in memory of those who lost their fight with breast cancer. Those touch my heart, because it could have been my mom. It could have been (or could still be) any of us.

That’s why I wear pink. While we are walking, I talk to Emma about why we walk. She does remember when grandma lost her hair. We walk in support of her, in celebration of her, and for love of her. We walk because we are women and we care!