Race for the Cure

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."

this bible verse from timothy appeared on the back of my cheerleaders t-shirts for race for the cure this weekend. when thinking about what to put on the t-shirts i came across this verse and thought there couldn't be a more perfect verse for the occasion.

we are trying to make participating in the run an annual thing within our cheerleading program. breast cancer is something that affects everyone, but it is especially close to our hearts. not only has my mother been inflicted with this disease, but one of my cheerleaders lost her mother as a result of this cancer. while the girls were all smiles for the most part, there were still plenty of emotions hanging in the air that day. they announced that there was over 12,000 people registered to run that day. the mass of humanity that poured out that morning was enough to make anyone begin to get misty. as i began to look around at the survivors tent, i began to feel truly overwhelmed with thankfulness that my mother is a survivor and yet consumed with sorrow for this young teenage girl next to me who's mother wasn't.

i decided to run in the race this year, which was a feat itself. i am not a runner and needless to say my body is still telling me all about it today. nevertheless it was something i really wanted to do. as i was moving along and quickly growing weary, i just kept chanting that bible verse over and over through my head. then i would think about mom and then silently pray that it would never be my daughter running in this race for me. after about a mile and a half i was almost completely exhausted when i got an extra special boost. as i approached a church i began hearing a familiar and comforting voice. shane and about 40 of his cheerleaders were on the side walk cheering the runners on. as i approached shane began yelling words of encouragement directly at me and his girls all cheered really loud. i can not tell you what that did for my soul. coming to the end of the race was probably the worst part. i could see the finish line and yet everything in my body was screaming for me to stop. again, i began rattling off all the names of the women i knew had been struck by this disease and again i chanted the verse. even though i felt sick and weary after the race, inside it was one of the best feelings i have had in a long time, and again the emotions flooded in.

my mother is so precious to me and i did this for her first and foremost, however, we must realize that all women are precious and together we must fight this disease for our grandmothers, mothers, girlfriends, daughters, ourselves...all women. i just encourage all those who are either battling the disease themselves, or dealing with a loved one who is, to fight the good fight, finish the race and keep the faith. God is mighty to save.

peace and love.