BARBARA JO KIRSHBAUM

2008 RACE FOR THE CURE

Puerto Rico.....Race for the Cure.....about 6000......Sun. 28, 2008

I am writing today......it is Sat. and though I won't be home until Mon. night, I have got to take a few moments to write about this experience. It has been so fast and furious here and I don't want to lose the feelings before I can write about them. Bob and I arrived in Puerto Rico on Wed. evening. We were invited here because my one corporate sponsor in CA has a corporate office in Puerto Rico. In Puerto Rico the company is called MMM (Medicare y Muchos Mas); they are a health organization for seniors. They are also one of the sponsors for the Race for the Cure, a Susan G. Komen for the Cure event. It is an event that is in its 3rd year in Puerto Rico. My role is to do some 'media' for MMM and the Race. We were picked up at the airport and taken to the Marriott hotel. Quite lovely and wonderful to be picked up at the airport, rather than our usual routine of figuring out how to get to the rental cars! We were then picked up early on Thursday morning by our host Myriam, who took us  from place to place. Oh, I forgot to say that when we arrived there was a huge bouquet in our room of antherium and some local sweets, alcohol, and cheeses. There were also 2 gift bags of MMM t-shirts, coffee mugs and water bottles. That was a wonderful reception and we had a room overlooking the pool and the ocean. We were so tired on Wed. that we
just ordered room service. OK, so Thursday morning we were up at 7 a.m. and Myriam picked us up at 9:00 and we were taken to Central Park for the photo shoot of me walking around the track. I was wearing my 'walking' clothes, my fanny pack, and my banner and my Breast CA 3Day shirt. Many pictures were taken. As soon as we were done with pictures there was a live interview by WAPA, a local TV station. I think it aired yesterday (I am not sure of that). I had Myriam, who is in Puerto Rico with MMM, and a woman from an outside public relations firm, the photographer, the interviewer and her cameramen. It was definitely having a lot of 'people' around! We were then taken to lunch by Myriam and Vivianette, another Puerto Rican representative from MMM. We went to Casita Blanca, a restaurant of the 60's. It was crowded and popular and definitely gave us a feel of old Puerto Rico. Well, who should walk in? The current governor, who is running for re-election. He was waving at everyone and my 'people' went over to him to tell him what I was doing. He came over to us to welcome us, and take pictures with us. We could not have planned that meeting!! My 'people' were definitely excited by that opportunity. We then took a tour of the MMM offices and met with Dr. Shinto, our friend from CA who made all of this happen. From there we went to Primera Hora, a local newspaper and did another photo shoot and I taped an interview with Lester Jimenez. I think everything went well. It is not that this is difficult, but it is so far 'out of the box' for me that it is just a different kind of feeling......not really stressful, but tiring in a different way than what I usually do. That article was in the paper on Friday......a full page article with a big picture. I can't understand any of it, but it was big!! When we were in the MMM office we were speaking to Ceceliana, who is also in public relations with them. She told me that her Mom is a 6 yr. survivor and told me her Mom's story.

She said that her Mom also took good care of herself, ate well, and exercised, but found the lump on a routine exam. She is one who had access to good and immediate health care. You know that I am always amazed at how the stories of breast cancer survivors touch me when I am not expecting them. We went back to our hotel, showered, changed and went to La Concho Hotel to their restaurant La Perla.  It was interesting architecturally, since the ceiling of the room looks like a conch shell. The dinner was very nice......much fancier than we normally eat and much, much later in the evening! We went back to our room and collapsed, needing to be up at 6 a.m. in the morning!  It rolled around really quick!! We had an interview with El Nuevo Dia, the large local newspaper. The interviewer was Ruth Moreno and we talked for what seemed like an hour. She will be doing a human interest story on me that will be printed 2 weeks after the walk. She was easy to talk with and very knowledgeable regarding health issues. We immediately left there and went to a magazine publishing office where they publish many magazines. I was interviewed by Teresita Hadrigh. She is doing an article that will print in 2 months. She had already been to my website and had 'done her research'. She had a list of specific questions typed out and she took her notes in long hand. It is a kick to watch how people record/write my responses. They always appear to use a form of shorthand that seems so brief, I always wonder how they get what I am saying with any accuracy. It is always fun to read things after......what I said, and what they got! After that interview there was some time so Myriam dropped us off at the local mall. I thought I would do some shopping, and find something special to bring home. But you know what? The stores were the same as every other mall in the USA and I didn't even go into one store. However, we did have lunch.....a baked potato was my safe choice.

In the afternoon we were taken to a Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure press conference. It was held at a newly renovated building that will be an adoption agency, that is an organization that the mayor's wife is involved with. She is also involved with the Race. The area was packed with people, and at least one photographer for every person! The mayors wife spoke while a survivor who has written a book and I were asked to stand and we were introduced and our stories briefly told. I had no idea that I was a 'celebrity' there, but there I was! Then there was a panel of women who spoke. One was a local soap opera star, Anna Maria Polo, an Attorney who lives in Florida and they call her the Puerto Rican Judge Judy. She is on channel 52 and I must check that out. She is a survivor and the most dynamic woman. When she spoke I did not understand much of what she said by her facial expressions and her hand movements, and the tone of her words, expressed so much. Also Adamarie Lopez, a soap opera star, and a 3 year survivor spoke and told her story in Spanish. She is an adorable young woman in her early 30's and definitely seems loved by the Puerto Rican people. I believe she is heading up the walk or it is dedicated to her or something like that. It was quite an experience to be a part of of this press conference.

Immediately after that we were driven to a local TV station for a live interview with Maria Maria. That lasted just a few minutes, but as we were leaving a woman came up to me to ask if I was a survivor. Her name is Becky and she is a survivor. She lost her Mother to breast cancer because there was not information about early detection and she was diagnosed late. My mission with every interview has been to remind everyone about early detection and to let them know that men get breast cancer also. I think I included that in every interview, but I don't know if they used it. By the time we got back to the hotel, it was time to change for dinner. We were taken to dinner at one of the most famous restaurants here. It was in the art museum and it was also quite fancy for our tastes, but I was able to get some salmon with no sauce! I was happy with that. We had dinner with Dr. Josefina Lopez, the medical director for MMM, and her husband. They had also invited 3 powerful, incredible women, all survivors, to join us. They are on the Susan G. Komen board here in Puerto Rico.  They shared their stories with us and we had a wonderful evening.........it was almost 11 by the time we got back to our hotel. My gosh, I have never experienced anything like this. Such fun.....And many moments of thinking..........how did this all happen? This has taken on a life of its own..............I am grateful to have the health and the opportunities for what has happened. What a week......this will be continued when I get back home.

Sunday Morning

Yesterday we were driven to the other side of the island, Ponce.  The island is 100 miles by 40 miles and it took 1 1/2 hrs. to drive. It was a beautiful drive though we were on freeway with tons of potholes and could use some CalTrans help! We were taken by the MMM medical director and had lunch at the Hilton Hotel. We certainly have been wined and dined! Dinner was at an exclusive Italian restaurant Il Perugino. We were aware of the 'pecking order' regarding table seating. We received the 2nd best table! There was someone more important. Bob and I thought it was pretty funny. The food was fabulous, and I was able to order seared ahi which did not have any sauce, so it felt safe! However, we came back to the hotel and went across the street for a Haagen Dazs ice cream, and the servings were very small, so I didn't feel as guilty (just a little bit!).

Today is the Race and I will finish writing when we return home tomorrow.

We were picked up by Myriam. She works for MMM in the public relations department, and has taken us all over and arranged everything. She really kept us on the move, but she was so sweet and kind and efficient. Anyway, she took us early to the Race for the Cure, because she wanted to introduce us at the MMM tent and in the survivor tent. At the MMM tent they had over 200 seniors who work out in a program sponsored by MMM called Patitas Caliente (Hot Legs). They have a trainer that comes to different areas daily and works with them, and they were at the Race in full force. It was fabulous. I was introduced to them, and some had already seen a clip of me on the TV or seen the article in the paper. We then went to the Survivor tent and I was also introduced there. Many came up to me to thank me, but aren't they the real heroes? Several told me their stories, and it was a wonderful experience. The actual walk was just a 5k and I was with Bob and Ceceliana from MMM. The most exciting thing was that their marketing team and made a huge banner carried by 2 of the Patitas Caliente's that had my tag line: I walk because I can't walk away (in English) and also it was translated into Spanish. I loved it! I took off from Bob and Ceceliana and finished in a little less than an hour. The walk was at 5 pm because it is so hot and humid during the day. It was still plenty hot and humid. We left right after the race and took Myriam to dinner. Then it started to pour. But there was no rain during the race.

I have just arrived home at 8:00pm and we have been traveling all day. It is nice to be home and I am looking forward to getting into my own cozy bed.

Thank you for reading this lengthy journal. Remember our mission is to raise awareness at every opportunity: annual mammograms, regular self exams, and reminders that men get breast cancer too.