Race For the Cure

This morning Shaun, Kori and I walked and ran in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. Portland is one of the top 3 events in the country in terms of attendance and they were expecting 45,000 people today. Not bad for a town of 600K people!!!

Shaun ran the timed 5K race in a little over 26 minutes (she thinks). She will have her unofficial time by 5pm tonight. She really is a stud and I'm very proud of her. She worked hard preparing. After she ran her 5K, she met Kori and I and we walked the 5K with our friends and neighbors from the Pink Pearls. The Pink Pearls, sponsored by Hoyt Realty Group, is a social and philanthropic group of neighbors and friends. Hoyt Realty hosted several fund raising social events and raffled off a pink bicycle (which I didn't win in spite of buying 75 tickets!) this morning at a delicious brunch after the race. Thanks to Marilyn Anderson and her team at Hoyt Realty for creating this opportunity for us to come together for good causes and to meet our neighbors.

It's always gratifying to participate in this event. It's heart warming to watch the breast cancer survivors walk through their special lane at the finish line. The costumes are always interesting. Shaun and Kori customized our standard-issue t-shirts with fancy trim, belts, hoods, yokes, darts, and whatever else they could think of! Participants wear signs and ribbons honoring those they know who have had or do have breast cancer. One lady carried a big sign that said "Boobs for Obama"!

As we walked, we were mindful of our friends who have battled breast cancer. Ella, Rebecca, Linda, Leslie, Diana, Nancy, Dotty, Isabel and others.....your spirits and determination encourage us daily.

It's also a day to remember what a difference just one person can make. Susan G. Komen's sister, Nancy Brinker, started this event to honor "Suzy's" memory, educate women, and to work for a cure. Look what the "power of one" has become!