Before Bob died in May 2010, he asked me to continue with this mission of walking and raising money for the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer and the Susan G. Komen 3Day for the Cure. When I started this in 1998, it really was about me challenging my 60 year old body…..over the years my reasons for participating became greater…..walking for my daughters; walking for my 5 granddaughters; walking for the 1 million with undetected breast cancer; walking so we can have more than 2 million survivors; raising money for access to care; raising money for research; raising money to find the answers to breast cancer…..well, my reason now is because I hope that some of these answers will help treating/curing those with the kind of cancer that Bob had…..Over the years Bob’s behind the scenes participation became very important. My daughter’s and I created sayings that we printed on pink paper…..Bob’s self created job was putting up about 60 signs a day on the walk route to inspire and entertain the walkers…..Our children want to continue putting up signs as Bob’s legacy on Team California…..I will continue walking and fundraising…..Every dollar I raise and every step I take will be honoring Bob’s memory….He is my hero.

I am still deciding which walks I will participate in for 2011.  My personal goal is to walk in as many walks as I can, and to raise as much money as possible.  You can always check with ‘Follow My Progress’ as I formulate my calendar.

If you would like to join me in the drive towards the 2^nd million you may donate on line by clicking ‘donate’.

I wear a banner of ribbons on my back attached to my ‘camelback’ water system.  My sponsors’ names are on either a white or blue ribbon.  If you would like me to honor a special person, their names will be on pink ribbons. Please send me the names of those you would like me to honor.  I wear the banner with great pride and with a deep sense of responsibility to those I am honoring. 

I thank all of you for your personal support...your cards, emails, phone calls and prayers have helped to keep me focused and have helped to sustain me.

Love,

Barbara Jo

“I walk because I can’t walk away”

This is a nice article from everydayhealth.com.

Check out this piece that was shown on the CBS Evening News.