One of the adjectives used most often to describe Cathy Youngling is "inspiring."
After watching her pump up more than a thousand pink-clad and red-eyed walkers just as the sun was rising Friday morning, I have to agree Youngling is motivational. She's not the only source of inspiration, of course. Everyone, from the winged supporters to the walkers to everyone who came out and cheered, added to the incredible feeling that working together, we can beat all forms of cancer.
Walking in the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life was just as emotional. It felt like something I had to do with a full heart to support everyone who was, at the same time, supporting me.
Thank you to everyone who has dedicated yourself to raising awareness about cancer and to helping us fight cancer.
Roughly 1,200 walkers joined in the 60-mile trek from Corte Madera through San Francisco for the Susan G Komen 3-Day for the Cure over the weekend and raised $2.4 million, according to Youngling.
Each walker commits to walk 60 miles over three days and raise a minimum of $2,300. The organization says 75 percent of all net proceeds from the Susan G Komen 3 Day goes to research to end breast cancer and 25 percent goes toward education and support.
Mill Valley's Youngling, who helped lead the way during the Bay Area walk, has also committed herself to joining the San Diego Susan G Komen walk in November. She is a 17-year breast cancer survivor.
Donations are still being accepted. For more information contact Cathy Youngling.
For more information on cancer and carcinoid cancer, consider these sites:
Caring for Carcinoid Foundation
Carcinoid Cancer Awareness Network
Stanford Medicine Cancer Institute
Cedars-Sinai Hospital, Los Angeles
University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland
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