Supporting someone you love while they face chemotherapy and a mastectomy makes you feel helpless. In an effort to do SOMETHING, employee Kathleen Miyatake started looking for a way to support her mom while she faced treatment and surgeries.
“I wanted to show her how proud I am of her and to honor her surviving breast cancer,” Kathleen said. “I researched several organizations and went to an introductory meeting for the Susan G. Komen 3-Day and while the presentation was great, it was meeting the other walkers that convinced me. I signed up on the spot without knowing another walker.”
The 3-Day is a 60-mile walk for women and men who want to make a personal difference in the fight to end breast cancer. Funds raised impact breast cancer research and community-based breast health and education programs. This year’s Bay Area walk is in San Francisco this upcoming September, and since joining the walk, Kathleen has formed the “K&K” team – walking with her friend Karen whose mother was also diagnosed with breast cancer.
Kathleen is training hard for the event – walking, jogging, playing tennis and hiking as much as 3 times a day (well, 3 times a day on the weekends anyway!). She is happy—and surprised— to report that she is up to 13 miles and is keeping up with the virtual trainer that she uses to prepare her for the walk.
Most exciting to Kathleen is that her mother is flying out from Virginia to cheer her on and volunteer at the race. She can’t wait to stand beside her during the opening and closing ceremonies (yes, she’s packing Kleenex!).
To donate to Kathleen’s walk, visit her donation site – she is required to raise a minimum of $2300 before the big day, and is not quite half way there!
