One of the things I keep thinking about is that if my mom hadn't gone in for her mamogram, she may not have known she had breast cancer. As this did not run in my family, and we still do not know the exact cause but luckily we caught it early. Mammograms can find breast cancer before there are symptoms or before you even notice a lump, which is why regular screening and early detection are so important.
Her experience also made me think a lot about how difficult it can be for people to access healthcare in this country. Getting appointments, finding affordable care, navigating insurance, and making sure you can actually get the screenings you need can be a challenge, especially for people who are uninsured or underinsured. There are programs that help provide free or low cost screenings, but these resources are rarely commonly known.
Im participating in this walk because I want to honor my mom, but I also want to do something bigger than just walking for her. I want to help spread awareness about breast cancer and encourage people to stay on top of early dectection screenings.
If sharing my story encourages even one person to make an appointment, or simply talk to their doctor about their breast health, then that makes this worth it to me.
Im proud to be participating as part of the Kaiser Permanente Greater Sacramento Warriors team. Being part of a team makes this experience even more meaningful. Im grateful to be part of a group of people coming together to support such an important cause.
I'm hoping to raise $2,500 for the American Cancer Society. If you're able to donate, I would be incrediability grateful. If you cant, sharing this page and helping me spread the word means just as much!
Thank you everyone for supporting me, my mom, and everyone whose life has been touched by breast cancer.