OCTOBER AWARENESS

Wrapping up my Breast Cancer awareness "Cookie Strong" event participation. Taken by PKSenagore October 2016. All rights reserved.

OCTOBER WILL SOON BE HERE;
​IT'S 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. You can 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 2017 Earned Runs bibs or REQUEST a set you can schedule and design YOUR OWN walk or run. You can also request Earned Runs large PINK RIBBON stickers (image) that will be sent free while supplies last. 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 less than three years ago, inspired this sticker. She underwent surgery and endured chemotherapy, ultimately triumphing over her cancer. This brave, strong young woman gathered her family and friends for a run/walk last October 2016, on the same day that she joined the American Cancer Society event in Santa Monica CA, but most were scattered across the country.
 
Under the banner name “Cookie Strong” Steph organized her personal event, “in spirit”, with all who wished to show support with the help of Earned Runs. She asked each person to request a set of four Earned Runs bibs and Breast Cancer Awareness PINK RIBBON* stickers. Many did so, and then posted pictures of their finish, wearing bibs, on the Earned Runs Facebook page.
 
She’s hoping to do the same in 2017.
 
You can find an event organized by a group like the ACS or design your own awareness or memorial run/walk with Earned Runs bibs and stickers. If each request includes a set of 4, there potentially are 3 extra bibs and stickers for participants.  This makes last-minute inclusions and invitations very simple and easy.  Consider involving the men in your life. Women sometimes forget that they also are “survivors” of this disease, and have struggled and experienced loss.
 
In 2016 my sister walked in California and I ran in Texas on the October Saturday that Steph gathered everyone for “Cookie Strong”.  We were supporting her AND remembering our own mother and aunt. 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 free 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 HAPPY!
  
*This particular color has been designated “charity pink” and the pink ribbon has come to symbolize the fight to cure breast cancer.  The Earned Runs sticker has space to write a name or message.
   
http://www.earned-runs.com/request-bibscontact.html
 
http://makingstrides.acsevents.org/site/TR/MakingStridesAgainstBreastCancer/MSABCCY17CA?fr_id=84629&pg=entry
 
https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/breast/statistics/index.htm
 

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