On October 16, 2009 our team of four women will be participating in The Breast Cancer 3-Day Walk in Philadelphia.  The Breast Cancer 3-Day Walk is a three day, 60 mile walk that raises money for breast cancer research.  Our team has the opportunity to blog our thoughts and experiences throughout our journey.  Each week one "mama" will be writing about her experiences leading up to the walk.  We call ourselves "Mamas with a Mission", and I am Mama 4.

Here I sit less than two weeks away from what I have been preparing for for over one year.....I'm not sure I'm physically ready, but I know I'm mentally ready.  As I have mentioned before, I had the opportunity and great privilege to complete The 3-Day two years ago with a team of my sorority sisters from Millersville University.  It was a life changing event, and I know that I am going to get so much more from the experience this time as well.  I am excited to experience every little bit of the three day walk as I did before (blisters, sore muscles and all!).  I am excited to watch my three very good friends experience this amazing journey for the first time.  And, I'm excited to see if my 32 year old body can do this again!

As our team gets closer and closer to the walk, we are consumed with whether we have all of our money raised (which we do, and we reached our $10,000 goal as well!), do we have all the supplies we will need, do we have the "right" sneakers, are we physicallly ready, etc, etc.  What I have to continue to remind myself is that this walk isn't about US.  It's about the thousands and thousands of families who have been affected, are being affected, and will be affected by this terrible disease. 

During the next two weeks as I continue to prepare for the walk, I will need to make sure that I continue to walk and prepare my body.  I will need to make sure that I have all of the supplies that I will need for the three days (rain or shine).  And, I will need to make sure that our team is organized and ready to go.

This has been an amazing year of raising money, spreading the word about The Breast Cancer 3-Day, training for the 60 miles, and becoming closer with three amazing moms who I am lucky enough to complete this walk with in two weeks.  I'm proud of myself, and I am proud of my team of four "mamas" from Lancaster.....we have achieved so much, and it is not over yet.

Here I come 60 miles!  I'm not sure I'm ready for you, but I'm determined to make this another experience to remember.  And, I'm determined to cross the finish line on the third day looking for my two little girls in the crowd, hoping and praying that they never have to walk in The 3-Day when they are older.