The Gayla Pink Apple Blog
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I Just Love Love Love Pink!
A Sea of Pink Day in Downtown Little Rock
Susan G Komen 5K Race for the Cure
October 20, 2012
Little Rock, Arkansas
Big deal getting that pink ribbon on my cheek!
Last year's photo - October 2011
Little Rock has one of the largest Susan G Komen 5K events, nationwide per capita, with some 40,000 plus women participating. Downtown Little Rock is a sea of pink and the atmosphere is breathtakingly fabulous. The route is shoulder-to-shoulder lined with music, bands, cheerleaders, civic groups, and supporters of all types.
As a breast cancer survivor, the Susan G Komen Foundation, Arkansas Affiliate, holds a dear place in my heart. For the past several years, I've participated in this great event representing myself - but also for all the ladies in those pink shirts - the ladies fighting breast cancer today - as well as the ones who have lost their battle.
I walked my first Susan G Komen Race for the Cure Event in 2005 just a couple weeks out of chemotherapy - bald - and thought I'd die before my feet crossed the finish line. Going through breast cancer is not something I talk of often - not because I don't want to, or don't like to talk about it, but it is one of the most difficult and challenging times in ones life. There are few words that can really describe the journey - you can truly only understand if you have walked in those shoes. It is somewhat of a roller coaster - up and down emotionally - up and down physically - up and down spiritually. Then, it's kind of like a cocktail - shaken & strained, stirred, or on the rocks. When you've had all you can take you hit bottom and get back up as soon as you can.
Surviving breast cancer was kind of a rebirth. I am most definitely not the same person I was before breast cancer. In the past, when I would hear someone say that, I didn't know what they meant. I now look at life completely different. This, too, is difficult to describe. There is a calm - a peace - an unshaken - unstirred - and grounding to your being - easy to prioritize the important things in life! Having said that, there is not a single day that passes that I don't think about "it."
I had plans to participate in today's event in Little Rock, but hit a bit of bad luck, and wasn't able to do it. I tried for two or three days to ignore not feeling well- being a little under the weather. I guess I thought it would go away. Not the case! Unfortunately, I didn't win the battle, and as disappointing as it was for me, I decided to go with the smart thing to do and sit out. This is the first time since 2005 I haven't been able to participate. Hopefully, with a little luck, I'll be back next year.
Surviving breast cancer was kind of a rebirth. I am most definitely not the same person I was before breast cancer. In the past, when I would hear someone say that, I didn't know what they meant. I now look at life completely different. This, too, is difficult to describe. There is a calm - a peace - an unshaken - unstirred - and grounding to your being - easy to prioritize the important things in life! Having said that, there is not a single day that passes that I don't think about "it."
I had plans to participate in today's event in Little Rock, but hit a bit of bad luck, and wasn't able to do it. I tried for two or three days to ignore not feeling well- being a little under the weather. I guess I thought it would go away. Not the case! Unfortunately, I didn't win the battle, and as disappointing as it was for me, I decided to go with the smart thing to do and sit out. This is the first time since 2005 I haven't been able to participate. Hopefully, with a little luck, I'll be back next year.
I ran the Susan G Komen Race in Central Park, NYC, last month while spending time with my daughter. That will have to take care of my 2012 check list.
September 9, 2012, Central Park, NYC
Susan G Komen Greater New York 5K
I love a Sea of Pink,
Gayla
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