OCTOBER 2018: CONSIDER ORGANIZING A BREAST CANCER AWARENESS EVENT

OCTOBER IS BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH The American Cancer Society (ACS) sponsors “Making Strides Against Breast Cancer” walks throughout the country during this month. You can participate whether you’re solo, bring your own friends and family, or join in spirit with someone who is in an event far away. Run or walk. Regardless, in each instance you will be surrounded by a multitude of caring people taking action to fight this disease, support a survivor, or remember a loved one. 
 
If you have 2018 Earned Runs bibs you can schedule and design YOUR OWN walk or run. Thus, if you are unable to make one of the ACS Making Strides organized events, you can assemble people “together” to walk for your personal cause.  Participants may gather in the same place or simultaneously at multiple, different, distant locations on a date and time that will be determined by you. 
 
A very young breast cancer survivor, Stephanie, who was 25 years old at the time of her diagnosis, inspired Earned Runs' focus on this cause. She underwent surgery and endured chemotherapy, ultimately triumphing over her cancer. Each year this brave and strong young woman gathers family and friends for a run/walk on the same day that she will join the American Cancer Society event in Santa Monica CA. Some will walk side by side with her in California. Those scattered across the country will walk or run in spirit in their own locations.
 
You can find an event sponsored by a group like the ACS or organize your own awareness or memorial run/walk with Earned Runs bibs. If you have received a set of 4, there potentially are 3 extra bibs for additional participants.  This makes last-minute inclusions and invitations very simple and easy.  If you haven't done so yet, submit a request for this purpose or urge others to do so.
 
Consider involving the MEN in your life too! Women sometimes forget that they also are “survivors” of this disease, and have struggled when the diagnosis of breast cancer was made in a woman close to them.  Husbands, brothers, fathers, sons, and friends experience loss, and feel grief and sadness when women they love deal with it.
 
In 2016 my sister walked in California and I ran in Texas on the October Saturday that Steph gathered everyone.  We were supporting her AND remembering our own mother and aunt. We continue to remember Mom each October. The malignancy is so common in women that many of us have one or more beloved family members or friends for whom we can make this effort. 

Donation to charity may or may not be a required component of certain events. Earned Runs promotes a spirit of GENEROSITY for runners using our bibs. The donation of a small portion of the usual race registration fee is a kind gesture that is easy to accomplish online.
 
Go Stephanie!!! 
 
RUN & MOVE HAPPY!
 
http://www.earned-runs.com/request-bibscontact.html
 
http://makingstrides.acsevents.org/site/TR/MakingStridesAgainstBreastCancer/MSABCCY18WER?fr_id=89712&pg=entry&_ga=2.70471248.1101347973.1537366822-627029583.1537366822
 
https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/breast/statistics/index.htm