Race For Life and My Amazing Sister!

On Wednesday 11 May 2011, as regulars to my blog will know, Erin had a bilateral mastectomy and breast reconstruction. I was so relieved to hear that the surgery was successful, and Erin went home from the hospital on Saturday 14 May.

The next week, I proudly took part in Race for Life for Cancer Research UK here in Birmingham along with hundreds and hundreds of other women. I didn't do it with anyone (although David went with me for moral support), I just wanted to do it.

On my first lap of Cannon Hill Park, I took a picture to post on Facebook so everyone could see one of the goals I set for myself:




I had to beat the girl in the banana costume.

But amazingly, while I was on Facebook, after spending so much time reading the signs on everyone else's backs at Race for Life saying why they were participating, this popped up from Erin: "Run Forrest run!"

Okay, cute. But there was more:

"God is so good!!! We got great news at the Oncologist today. The pathologist report came back & only showed .4cm of preinvassive cancer cells in all the breast tissue they took out last week (meaning they were not invassive cells & had not broken out of the nucleus & spread)."

What a positive message to carry me on the next 4.75K of my run! Alright ... My walk.

I did have a bigger goal than just beating the girl in the banana costume (who, I can confirm) finished at least ten minutes behind me). I wanted my unfit overweight self to finish in under an hour. Easy for Paula Radcliffe but this is me we're talking about.

I did it in 51 minutes 48 seconds!







My achievement is nothing compared to Erin's. Mine was a hill to get over. Not even a hill. I might as well have walked over a sleeping policeman. (Translation for Americans: speed bump.)

Erin not only fought hard against her cancer, but eleven days post surgery, in Texas she took part in the Survivor's Lap at Relay for Life.




I have one hell of a sister.



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