Run For the W

I generally feel pretty good about aging. I feel pretty good about being 49…almost 50. I feel good. #fitover40. So I can’t believe that It’s been almost 20 years since I decided to run my first marathon. Twenty years since my youngest sister was diagnosed with Cancer. And next May I will be celebrating my 20th wedding anniversary.

I have told very few people that I have signed up, for the Houston (Half) Marathon because I am not running or training like I used to, which will make this race one of the hardest of my life. And let’s be real, the Turkey Trot did not go well this year, although it was a lot of fun!

I decided to run for a reason this year and support B.I.G. LOVE Cancer Care for a couple of very meaningful reasons.

Twenty years ago, my youngest sister was diagnosed with Leukemia, and it was then that I decided to run my first marathon and fundraise in her honor. I seriously can't believe it's been 20 years. I know what it's like to have a family member in treatment. I also know what it's like to have a family member in treatment over Christmas and what it's like to have the support of friends, family, and perfect strangers.

My sister, Erika, was in high school when she was diagnosed, and I was engaged to be married. I had planned my wedding for our family to escape cancer and head to the beach for a week, but cancer had other plans. The week before my wedding, after completing my first marathon, my sister had an adverse reaction to her chemo, experiencing temporary paralysis, and could not travel to our wedding in North Carolina. My Aunt stayed with her in the hospital while my parents flew down for 48 hours on donated miles donated by members of their church. I will be forever grateful for their generosity and that my sister is healthy today.

This past summer, we lost a very special cancer warrior named William. The fundraising will go directly to the W Fund, which was set up in his memory. I will be thinking of William and everyone who continues to LOVE him every step of the way.

Thank you so much for supporting B.I.G. Love to help ease the childhood cancer journey. When you donate as a part of Chevron Houston Marathon's Run for a Reason program, you are helping provide a warm meal, a child's favorite toy, a parent's sign of relief. You are helping provide comfort during the hardest of times. We truly love you BIG!

November 29th & 30th, I will be donating $1 for every Beautycounter holiday set purchased to the W Fund at Big Love Cancer Care. To place an order click on the link below!