20th Anniversary Race for the Cure in LR - October 19, 2013

~~The Gayla Pink Apple~~

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month!

Ladies, do monthly self exams and get a mammogram!!!

Another successful Susan G Komen Race for the Cure in downtown Little Rock today.  What fabulous people we have in Arkansas, to turn out in such a big way for the Race for the Cure.  Today was the 20th anniversary race in Little Rock.

Today's Official Photo of me :-)



I love this sign - Little Rock definitely ROCKS the Komen Race for the Cure 5K!

My neighbor and friend, Linda; and me, today!

I woke up this morning to the noise of rain falling consistently.  Oh NO, it's raining!  Do I go anyway?  I did - and oh, how I am glad I did.  The rain stopped and it was a perfectly beautiful day.

I'm always in awe of the many many thousands of people walking and / or running the event in support of breast cancer research and our continued efforts in working towards finding a cure for breast cancer.  

Photos from today...

Me --- Before the Run/Walk

After --- Me and my pink shoes and all the beads thrown from the crowd!

L to R:  My neighbor, Linda, and me

Me --- Survivor carpet entrance... I'm an 8 yr. survivor!

My gear -- I am Bib Proud!

I have participated in this event each year since 2005, when I walked my first SGKomen event, bald, just two weeks after my last chemotherapy session.  I AM BIB PROUD!!   I have NEVER participated in this great event without being a REGISTERED participant.  I know many people fail to register, and participate anyway - I am proudly not one of them. 

I signed the survivor pink wall last Wednesday at the Race Space



Excited to add my signature again this year to the 2013 Survivor Pink Wall of signatures at the Race Space! The lei around my neck (above photo) is because last Wednesday this bubbly lady walks up and asked what day it was? If you replied "hump day" you got lei 'd and a cookie! :-)   Cute, I think!

Pink breast cancer ribbon made of iron by my brother-in-law

My sister's husband made this pink breast cancer ribbon of iron.  They display it in their yard, during the month of October, in my honor.  I love it and what a special honorarium.

A huge beautiful arrangement of fresh cut pink flowers from a dear friend! 

A wonderful gesture of celebration and inspiration to me.

The card which came with the flowers!

The Pink Ring

Yesterday, I had lunch with my dear 86 year old friend of 30 plus years.  After we were seated at our table, Virginia reaches in her purse and hands me this ring.  She says "this is not a valuable ring, but it is the first ring I bought myself as an adult - it's pink, and I want you to have it in honor of your Susan G Komen race tomorrow, and to honor you as a survivor."  I'm lost for words except to say I love it beyond words. 

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I'll leave you with a little walk down memory lane with photos from previous Race for the Cure events...

2012...

Last year - 2012 Central Park, NYC, Race for the Cure

Memorabilia from the NYC run in Central Park

Blair - 2012 - SGKomen - Central Park - NYC

Central Park - SGKomen Race for the Cure - NYC

2012 Central Park, New York City, with Blair

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2011...

October 2011 Train for the Cure - War Memorial Stadium

Photo by SGKomen Foundation Photographer

Training Group at War Memorial
(yes, I'm in there)

SGKomen Race for the Cure - 2011 

Group at the starting line!

Me - 2nd row center in my pink shirt and pink survivor cap!

This was my first year to actually RUN the event

instead of walk it!   

2011 - Little Rock - with my Sam - my cheerleader!

Sam is my favorite guy from my old Fitness Center. 

He greeted me at the fitness center many many mornings - telling me, yes, you CAN run,  all you do is put one foot in front of the other and train!  I love this young man.  I call him my adopted son.    No doubt in my mind, I am a runner today because I met Sam!

October 2011 - Little Rock - with my sister! 
She was my 'rock' during my chemo days!

Little Rock Race for the Cure 5K

Pasta Party Wine Bottle by Susan G Komen Foundation;

Survivor hard hat from Survivor Parade!

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2010...

A sweet lady, Vicky, wears my name on her back!

Survivor signatures on the SURVIVOR WALL - 2010

"5 yr. Mark"

I walked the Race for the Cure in 2010 with my best friend from high school, Gena. I am so sorry I don't have a photo of us! We took one with my phone but I've since changed phones and lost it.    :-(

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2009...

2009 - Little Rock with my sister, Vickie

2009 - Little Rock - with a friend before the walk

2009 - Little Rock

2009 - Survivor Parade - silliness

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 2008 - I couldn't find any pictures from '08

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2007...
Arkansas State Capitol, Bureau of Legislative Research girls (survivors.)  The powers at be purchased us pink feather boas to wear.  We had to turn them back in after the Komen race - the following year they would give them back to us to wear again. 

2007 - Little Rock - State Capitol Pink Boa girls: Margie, Gayla, and Janice!

We had so many feathers on us we look like BIG birds indeed!  I hated those feathers (and still do.) 

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2006...

Blair and I walked together in 2006!

Blair and Me - 2006 - Little Rock

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2005...

The Tapley Foursome...

L to R:  Natalie, Me, Vickie, and Blair - 2005 - Little Rock

The Tapley Foursome are: my daughter, Blair; me; AND my sister, Vickie; and her daughter, Natalie.

 

I call this my infamous SGKomen year.  The no hair - two weeks out of chemo - first year to walk the 5K.  Basically, little memory of the day.  Frankly, I hate the picture.  My body had just been pumped full of poison and I felt like sh-t and looked like it, too!  I thought I'd die before my feet crossed that finish line.  I just wanted to go home! 

2005 - during chemo - my wigs - powering on day by day!

At my desk getting ready for a legislative committee meeting.

Not a Komen pic - one of the few pic I have during 2005 - my chemo/wig days!

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I'll end with one of my favorite Susan G Komen photos from 2006...

Survivor and Co-Survivor Photo by Susan G Komen Foundation - 2006

Blair and me - My wig days and one of my favorite photos with my daughter.

The Komen Foundation took survivor and co-survivor photos and put them on posters for decorations at the pasta party.  I am wearing pink boxing gloves - the pink you see in the forefront of the picture.  The theme in 2006  was "Live for Today, Fight for Tomorrow."  This is the photo used of Blair and me!

 

Pink is beautiful,

Gayla