As I begin thinking about my participation in the fight against breast cancer for the 16th year, I can hardly believe that number....16 years.....who would have thought that when I began this challenge in 1998 that it would become a long term commitment, that it would be about walking 6500 miles.....that it would be about having completed 133 long distance walks.....but more importantly, who would have thought that I would raise over $1.5 million dollars (I am now shooting for $1.6 million)!.....I am sure there is not one of my donors who supported this effort in those early years who  thought "I think I will become a benefactor in the fight against breast cancer"......but that is exactly what has happened...so many of you truly have become serious benefactors and philanthropists..... 

My reasons for continuing to do participate have not really changed, but there are more and more reasons.....this began as a physical challenge.....could I walk 60 miles at age 60.....could my participation help my daughters and granddaughters......could my participation raise a significant amount of money......could the research that my money raised be helpful  for treating other cancers, like esophageal gastric cancer that has metastasized to the liver;  and though I cannot say definitively yes to all of these questions I am quite certain that it has.....my husband Bob, who died from that kind of cancer in 2010 thought that it would be helpful......he asked me to keep walking and fundraising with that hope.....I continue to honor his memory with every step I walk and every dollar I raise...

If you would like to be one of my donors for 2013 you may donate on line by clicking 'make a donation....though as of this writing I have not decided exactly which walks I will be doing (to be decided), donations can already be made.....you can check back and 'follow my progress' to see which walks I will be participating in....also, I write a 'journal' after each walk which is also available on this website....

I wear a banner of ribbons on my back attached to my camelbak water system.....my sponsors' names are on a white or blue ribbon....if you would like me to honor a special person, their names will be on a pink ribbon...please send me the names of those you would like me to honor....I wear the banner, which usually is as tall as I am, with great pride and with a deep sense of responsibility to those I am honoring...

I thank all of my breast cancer network of friends for all of your support.....you are all the best!

Love,

Barbara Jo

 

Barbara Jo Kirshbaum
"I walk because I can't walk away"
www.bjkcounselor.com
ONE HUNDRED+WALKS/ONE MILLION+DOLLARS