Walking With New Balance

Lace Up Collection #860

I have had an interesting last two weeks that's for sure. As you are all well aware, I am participating in the Susan G. Komen Race for a Cure in September here in Michigan. I have created a team "Angie's Angels" and we now have 28 team members walking with me and my husband. I have been utilizing the SGK website, sending out emails to my team members to keep everyone updated and to keep in touch.  Unknown to me, because I missed the information in the news letter, the week of August 8th through the 12th, was a contest. The first 10 people to send out 20 or more emails would win a free pair of New Balance tennis shoes courtesy of New Balance and Susan G. Komen. I "accidently" won! Although I believe there are no accidents, just my God doing what He does best.

I received a certificate in the mail with 5 pairs of shoes to choose from in the "Lace Up" category. "Lace Up" are clothing and shoes made for Susan G. Komen with a percentage of sales going to breast cancer awareness. They all have the pink ribbon and have pink accents!

When returning my certificate to New Balance, I sent a thank you card and a folded business card which tells my story. These cards are what my team will be handing out the day of the race. We want to bring awareness of my story. (Cancer doesn't care if your not over 40. Get checked or check yourself today!) I didn't know why I put that card in there at the time, but now I think I do.

Since I have already done a photo shoot with W. Michigan's Susan G. Komen, I believe my name is fresh to those on staff. Then with sending in my story to New Balance, my name must have come up again. Before I knew it, I was receiving a letter from the Executive Director of SGK, asking if I would accept the "Honorary Team New Balance Award" for 2011. I am being honored as the survivor of the year for my community! I was in shock and very much honored. I do not believe I deserve this anymore than any other woman in my community dealing with what I have gone through and in some cases, much worse. I sometimes beat myself up because I didn't have to endure radiation and chemotherapy like those other strong women I will be walking with in September.  But then I take a step back and realize I can show there is hope of a new future for breast cancer survivors. Surgery, reconstruction, a pill for five years, and boom I'm done!

So on September 17th, I will be at the packet pickup kick off event accepting this awesome honor. Putting together the words of thank you is going to be one of the hardest things I've done so far. Honestly, surgery you just sleep through, pain you just pray through, and when crying you lean on someone else.

New Balance is also hooking me up with clothing for the walk. I am so looking forward to working with this company for 2011! I will post pictures and hopefully some video of this amazing event.

Thank you to my readers for your loyalty and your support.

From my heart to yours, ~Angie Christine