Komen Race for the Cure 2012

I'm finally getting around to writing about my second 5k.  I think i have procrastinated on starting this one because I can figure out what I want to say.
There's too much to say.
Yes, it was my second 5k in my monthly series of 5ks.  Yes, I got my best time ever.  Yes, I ran the whole thing without stopping.
But those things all paled in comparison to the experience with my friends and the fact that I'm still running for my Daddy.

My sweet, precious, faithful friend Cathy is battling breast cancer.  She is only 34 - too young!  She has 2 small children - too busy, too needed.
We are blessed to have a small group of families that we share our lives with.  There are about 10 families that meet every Sunday evening to pray, eat, and let the little kids play.  The women in this group are particularly close.  I don't even know how it happened - it's just God.  And thank God for each other.  We call ourselves Cathy's Chemosabes :)

As a group, we've been doing whatever we can think of to support our friend.  One lady has organized the meals that are provided, especially on the days following each treatment.  We all gathered in Cathy's basement to decorate for her daughter's birthday party when Cathy didnt' have the energy to do it on her own.  We've worn pink, made ribbons, and prayed on our knees for her healing.

This past Saturday, we joined together to show our support at the North Central Alabama Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure.

Leading up to the race, we've had Pink Sales at church to raise money for out team.  We raised over $1,300!  That's enough for several mammograms for uninsured and under-insured women.

Pink Sale at church

Before the race started, there was a Survivor Parade.  All of the women, and men, who are battling or have battled breast cancer gathered in their hot pink shirts and paraded to the starting line.  Many were smiling and high fiving the crowd.  Others were so emotional that they couldn't hold back the tears.  It was the same for us in the crowd - not many dry eyes watching those brave warriors in pink!  Just as the parade started, we looked up to see our girl Cathy right in front!  She was smiling SO BIG!  She had just met her BC pen pal and was walking arm in arm with her.  So precious!

There were over 15,000 people there for the race and several other supporters there.  What a crowd!  We somehow got most of our group together for the start of the race.  Most of the runners started towards the front and the rest of us gathered around the block.  I wanted to start with Cathy, but I started running at the starting line.

And I kept running.

I ran uphill, downhill, around turns, between people, past people, to the finish line!!!

Once I crossed the line, I got my bottle of water, did a little happy dance, and called my friends who were still walking.  I re-entered the race and found my people.

Here they come!

We completed the last few blocks all together and crossed the finish line with Cathy!

Look at that smile!!!!

The first finish line of many that we will cross by her side!  She's the one doing the work, but we will be with her the whole way!

Silly girls with the PINK Sheriff's car.

I love this picture!

Love you, Cathy!

Supporting a Friend with Breast Cancer

Recently, a very good friend from my small group at church was diagnosed with breast cancer.  Of course, the rest of her friends and I are desperate to be as supportive as possible.  Several of us helped them unpack as they were moving into a new house at the time of her diagnosis.  We've all been supplying meals and many of us went wig shopping with her.  We are also getting a team together for the Race for the Cure in October.
Here is another small (but prayer is BIG) thing we are doing.  I wanted to share because I know girlfriends walk through this together often.  Feel free to copy all of this!
They have had several visitors bringing food and doing what they can to help out.  We wanted to provide a way for each person to leave with a reminder.  So, we put together a basket with pink ribbons ready to wear and scripture cards with specific ways to pray on the back.

Here are some of the scriptures we used with the prayer request that matches:

What a privilege to be able to walk with my friend through a hard time.  And what an honor to be among these other very godly women who are walking with her.  I'm so thankful to know these ladies!