Giving Back

All and all, I'd have to say this has been a pretty good week. After a bit of a rough start on Monday, I finished out the week feeling SO much better and even had the energy to go to the gym at work twice to ride the bike and do the elliptical. It felt amazingly good to be back in the gym again, even if I'm not allowed to do anything high impact just yet. My physiotherapist tells me my arm has been making gains in its range of motion, my hair is still attached to my head, and I have one more week of respite until round two of chemo. Life is good.

But what I'm most pleased about is that I was offered the opportunity at work to be the Honourary Team Captain for our Komen Global Race for the Cure Team. I've mentioned in earlier posts that I would love to be involved somehow with this year's race, and now I am. It's not like it's my team or anything, but I'm thrilled to be able to help with the fundraising campaign and be part of the committee that helps motivate people to join and, of course, donate. They asked if I would mind creating the official team page, including posting my picture, which will be sent to all staff and to our entire distribution list of ex-pats in the region. I figured having the big boss on the home page wouldn't hurt either, so I arranged a photo op to motivate the troops, to which he readily agreed. Being the vain person I am, I asked if we could do the photo asap before my hair falls out. Problem was, it was a crazy windy yesterday and we were out on the rooftop balcony. The wind is blowing my hair back with such force that I look nearly bald anyway! (Somehow the boss seems perfectly coiffed). It was a good thing I wasn't already in a wig or the cars would have been driving over it on Pennsylvania Avenue. 

On June 2nd, the day of the race, I will be in the midst of my fifth round of chemo, but I will make myself finish that race even if I have to change places with one of the kids in the stroller.  John and I signed up to walk, and plan on doing it with the kids, and I just want to take it all in at a leisurely pace and enjoy it. When you're running a 5K it's over in a heartbeat - there's such a throng of people to work through at the start and then you barely get a chance to look around before you're crossing the finish line.

So here's my pitch: If you're local, I'd love for you to join Team Canada and come walk/run the 5K with me, John and the kiddoes! (Use the discount code EARLYBIRD to get $5 off registration before April 13th). If you can't make it on June 2nd, or you're reading this from afar and aren't already a part of the race, I would really appreciate your support by going to the homepage and donating to the cause. You can click on my name and check out my personal page.  Every little bit helps! XOXO.