Leah and I have spent several weekends this past month hiking among the big trees and listening to the sounds of spring snowmelt making its way down from the high country of the Olympic Mountains. We’ve been on a favorite trail that follows the course of the Big Quilcene River.Leah is walking for more than the simple enjoyment of being in nature, or the desire to get some exercise. She has committed to do a 3-day, 60-mile walk this summer, a fund-raiser to fight breast cancer. It’s been impressive to watch her dedication in preparing for this walk, and inspiring to see the outpouring of support she has received. We’re finding that nearly everyone we know has had some kind of experience with breast cancer, either personally or through a friend or relative. Leah had an aunt and several cousins who have died of breast cancer, and she has several other cousins who have had the disease and survived.
Recently I was chatting with one of my wedding photography clients. I can’t remember what we were talking about but somehow I casually mentioned that Leah and I enjoy hiking, and that Leah also does miles and miles of daily walking as preparation for the 3-day, 60-mile event. Several days later a card arrived in our mailbox from my client, who wrote about her own treatment for breast cancer (I’d been unaware of that) and that she wanted to make a donation and offer encouragement for Leah’s walk. It’s amazing and hopeful to see cards like that arrive--one card, then two, then more.
Hopeful is good.
A cure would be better.
(More information on the 3-Day Walk can be found at: the3day.org)
