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Every year for the past seven years I have either run or walked the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in Indianapolis. It is an unbelievable event. Even more than the money that is raised, I am impacted each year by the stories that I encounter. When you see a child wearing a picture of his mother with the words “In Memory of Mommy” written on it, you can’t help but be moved. And for every picture or story like that, there is another woman wearing a big pink boa and celebrating her recovery. The crowd is filled with stories of both hope and sorrow, which makes it all the more important to me that I involve my family.
In years past, I have done the race myself while my family played games and waited for me at the finish line. My kids have begged me to participate, but I always selfishly wanted that time to run by myself and reflect. This year will be the first year that the whole Sunshine Family participates. My 9-year-old, Jillian, will be running with me. My husband, Kevin, and my 7-year-old, Cassie, will be walking it. I want my family to understand not only that this cause is important to me but also why it should be important to them.
We have joined a team that will be supporting a teacher from the girls’ school who was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. I’m not sure that my girls even know it yet, but we will talk about it when the race gets closer. I’m not asking for my friends to donate, but if this is a cause that you believe in as strongly as I do, I ask that you consider participating in some way–in Indianapolis or in any of the other races across the country. If you are an HPE parent, please consider joining Susi’s Spring Peepers for Mrs. Murphy.