Race for the Cure a day of remembrance
Reckling is a sophomore law, politics and society major and can be reached at sarah.reckling@drake.edu
The Susan B. Komen Race for the Cure is a very inspirational walk that millions of survivors, loved ones, husbands, current patients and wives take every year. To me it is more than a walk, but a day to reconcile with those that have gone through the struggles of cancer every day. It is a day that it is socially acceptable for you to walk up to just about anyone during this time and ask them what their story is. Everyone has a story, some worse than others. Regardless, each story is being told on this day.
I had told my story to many of those who passed me by on the walk, curiously wondering why I was there. My story is dedicated every year in the memory of my mom. Every day not having her here to smile at me is a struggle, and to tell me that everything will be alright in the future. However, to imagine her being alive and suffering with a destructible disease forces me to be very thankful that wherever she may be, it is a much better life than the one she would be forced to go through with cancer.
This walk is not a time of sadness for me but more of a celebration of why I stand together with many in support of finding a cure for this disease. Going to chemotherapy everyday with my mom was the most dreaded thing by her and I. However, the endless waits to receive treatment were eye-opening. Women, men and children sometimes wait hours to receive treatment due to how many people are being diagnosed with all kinds of cancer each and every day. My cousin and uncle have also recently been diagnosed very unexpectedly.
Cancer can occur to frankly anyone, as my mom had witnessed this fact and gives reason why taking extra care of your body is such an important factor. Even though cancer may be genetic and hard to bypass, eating healthy, exercising and partaking in a healthy lifestyle is crucial.
Participating in the Race for the Cure has been wonderful to say the least. Every year I love to hear that fewer and fewer stories saying that someone they know are being diagnosed with cancer. The support for all kinds of diseases should spread to every household, but the spread of this disease needs to end. This race is another way of spreading the word about how others and myself can prevent and spread the knowledge of what breast cancer and other cancers are. Initially everyone assumes that a woman’s breast(s) are removed, and she undergoes treatment when diagnosed with breast cancer. However, it is such an emotionally and physically drenching time that I cannot even describe in words.
The time and effort needed for a cancer patient to survive is overwhelming, as I have witnessed, but they deserve this day to say, “Hey, I really did it.” The tears and joy that is seen at this race is one of the reasons, if not the best reason, why I always participate. All of those undergoing cancer themselves, or struggling to live in memory of a loved one deserve a life, endless love and everlasting health. I can only hope that one day, it will never have to be an issue because a cure will be found once and for all.