During
the rally beforehand, speakers often breaking with emotion shared their reasons
for families running or walking to honor members lost to lung cancer along with
teams of ‘20 somethings’ rallying in support of a friend unable to attend while
battling for their life. …. The morning belonged to those who had been brought
together by loss or heroic struggles just to see this morning.
Listening
as a survivor I could not help but feel moments of wondering why am I so fortunate, or ‘survivor guilt’, and was tempted to slink into shadows however
a toxic/mucus green shirt emblazoned with survivor is not the best of
invisibility cloaks.
.jpg "Free To Breathe Lung Cancer 5K Run/Walk2012 Harrisburg Collage")
What was
important was that 440 people, yes mostly touched by the loss of someone
to lung cancer, came together and raised $34,000 to benefit "cutting-edge lung cancer research, educational programs for patients, advocates and healthcare professionals, and public awareness-raising programs"
If
anything with increased awareness, increased screening and earlier detection, hopefully my
odyssey will get crowded.
I have
never been a runner and lung cancer surgery did not miraculously turn me into
one. At 61 and a lung cancer survivor, I was however more than happy to finish
the 5K Walk with not only less lung but less than a handful of walkers ahead of
me.
by Patrick Leer
BLOGS:
Caregivingly Yours, MS Caregiver @ http://caregivinglyyours.blogspot.com/
My Lung Cancer Odyssey @ http://lung-cancer-survivor.blogspot.com/
health
lung cancer
harrisburg
pennsylvania
I think you did the walk in an excellent time, Patrick! WTG to all who participated! I hope it was a good time too to connect with others walking a similar road that you are traveling these days.
ReplyDeletebetty