Getting Involved Early

Last weekend a long time friend Tracy Dart, and her team of walkers, set out on the Susan G. Komen 3 Day walk here in Seattle in support of Breast Cancer research.  Their team collectively raised over 40K dollars through dontations, sponsorships, etc!  Tracy is a 2-time survivor of Breast Cancer at just the age of 35.  Being a long time friend, and someone our age, this has hit home as we have see her attack this head on and be a huge advocate for a cure.

So, when the opportunity came up to support Tracy and her team, we decided to help..and we being the entire family.  During the fundraising phase over the summer, Maddie and Kenzie overheard details about the situation and wanted to lend a hand.  They used their skills and interest in making beaded bracelets to make a slew of pink bracelets to sell at our family garage sale.  Using materials we bought for them they, along with some friends, spent the time to make the bracelets for the sale.  The first go around generated over $100!  Later, at another fundraising event, they raised another $100.  It might not seem like a lot, but for these girls it was a fortune.  More importantly they felt like they were really helping and contributing.

Fast forward to last Saturday while Team Tracy was pounding the pavement on Day 2 of their walk.  We made the drive up to Everett to be at a cheering station for the team.  However, the station wasnt just for them, it was for the thousands of people walking.  Walker after walker came by, with smiles on their face (despite the pain of being on mile 30 of 60), genuinely appreciative that we would take the time to be there.  Right in the mix were our two girls, cheering, clapping and encouraging them to keep going.  It was right after I took this picutre that it hit me...

Here are our two little girls, cheering on these people that are raising money for a cure to one of the worst diseases out there facing women, breast cancer...this is for THEM.  It is because of what these walkers are doing TODAY that will give our two girls hope for a cure in the future.  While I am hopeful that a cure will be found a lot sooner, the reality is it that it likely wont be for sometime, and who will benefit from the things happening now? ...these two little girls!

Clearly I hope they can avoid this all together, but I know by getting them exposed this now, they will continue to aware...they will continue to support...the will continue to have hope.  Plus, if at some point in their life they become directly impacted by this disease, they will know that they can fight through it.  So, we are excited that they are getting involved at this early age and taking an interest in supporting the efforts that they will benefit from in the future.