My Experience with “The Walk for the Cure”
By Connie Moss

This past July, I went to visit my BFF's , Paula and Shelley, for a weekend getaway; they live in Oklahoma .  As we were sitting in the restaurant after church, we were talking about our "ailments", Shelley's being Breast Cancer, mine being Heart Disease... it was rather a solemn conversation, when all of sudden Shelley says, "Hey, you have the #1 disease that kills women and I have the #2 disease... high five!" And I lifted up my hands and we slapped them together... don't get me wrong, we weren't being comical about it, but it got us out of our "funk" and to talking a little more positive about it!   On the way home, I prayed for us and thought that I really want to make a difference where Heart Disease and Cancer were concerned... really help make people more aware.

That week I had a doctors appointment in which my Cardiologist "released" me to start exercising again (I had gained 50 pounds this year from my medications and lack of exercise).  Of course, I could not do anything too over the top, but enough to get my heart rate up... he suggested walking... so, my son, Phillip and I began walking 5 nights a week.  It's been over 6 weeks and we walk 3 miles a night! 

I had decided that I would pick at small organized "run/walk" and do it!  My friends in Oklahoma did the “Race for the Cure” in Oklahoma City , so, I got on the net and looked up when the “Race for the Cure” was here in Dallas ... October 20th!  That's it!  I will do this walk, not realizing what an impact it would make on my life!

I signed up on the Susan G. Komen - Dallas Website... you get a walkers/runners t-shirt and a t-shirt and ball cap for a Survivor of Cancer... since my BFF had already walked and had her own t-shirt, I have another wonderful friend (Sandi) who I have known for years at church, who is battling cancer RIGHT NOW!  I decided to give her the cap and t-shirt... she was so overwhelmed, I didn't expect her to react the way she did... I told her that I would be walking for her and a few other of my friends!

The night before the race, (Friday night), Sandi calls me and says that she is coming to the race to cheer me on... this was my first walk and I really did not know what to expect... I heard that we needed to be there early because the traffic would be horrible... so, I left at 6:00 AM and yes, the traffic was horrible... there were over 25,000 people there!

I called Sandi and her and her hubby met me at the Pepsi sign... she had already been crying from seeing all the people there... it's truly a sight to behold... people from all walks of life... young and old... moms, daughters, aunts, grandma's, cousins, nieces, etc... There were also people there walking for there friends and loved ones who had passed away... they had t-shirts on "In Memory Of....” it was heart wrenching!

Sandi got to eat breakfast with all the rest of the Survivors in the Survivor's Tent and she received a little ribbon to attach to her cap and they gave her a beautiful pink rose!

We met up with my group and began the walk at 8:00 AM... there were young and old, husbands and wives, people pushing strollers and carrying their kids on their shoulders, people walking with their dogs... it was one of the most proudest moments of my life!

There was a sweet, yet determined attitude among the crowd... there were people from all walks of life; husbands and wives, families, children, people with their pets… Cancer is no respecter of persons.   The walk was brisk and it was hard to keep up with everyone because like I said, everyone was determined that this was one race they were going to finish!

By the way, 3 miles is longer than what ya think! ha !  There was a moment there that I thought I was going to "poop out!", but it was all good!

After the walk, I sat in the Survivors Tent with Sandi and interviewed some of the ladies sitting with her... one lady had been cancer free for 35 years... Another one (18 years old) started chemo this past summer! 

Watching the "Walk of Fame" of all the Survivors who attended was the MOST emotional... there was not a dry eye around... all the pink shirts... all the beautiful women who have survived this horrible disease... it was the most incredible site to see!  I will never forget it and God willing; I will be walking every year from now on!

On the next page we have a list of friends and loved ones who have been touched by cancer… we call it “Tribute of Love” and it's our way of saying that we are praying for all of you and hoping for one day a CURE for cancer!