I was 7 years old when my Aunt Linda lost her battle to breast cancer. Having been so young, I don't remember much and I couldn't empathize with the struggle; what I do remember is looking at her laying in a hospital bed, hooked up to an oxygen tank in the middle of her living room and looking up to my mom and asking, "When do you think Aunt Linda will be able to take us to Navy Pier like she promised?" I didn't understand. My mom didn't know how to answer. And I didn't realize that a few days later, she'd be gone.
Get Well cards from my aunt's students draped the living room walls. My oldest cousin Peter was by Aunt Linda's side when breast cancer took her away. While that's about the extent of my memory regarding the dwindling days of her life, what I do remember and know is far more important. I remember my aunt for the crafty, creative projects she'd do with my sister and me. Whether it be appliqueing a shirt, or bejeweling my new shoes for kindergarten, she was the best at that. I remember her taking me to see Beauty and the Beast on Ice as she had a love for all things Disney and a bigger love for all things family. I remember her for the mother she was to my two amazing cousins, Kevin and Peter, who are now unbelievable parents themselves, shadowing my aunt's footsteps. I remember her for the best friend and older sister she was for my mom.
I also remember that just two years ago, my Aunt Elizabeth faced the same battle. Strong headed and hearted, you probably would have never known. In my early twenties, I understood much better this time around... but not really. I didn't know nor fully understand the pain and exhaustion my aunt was going through. But that's not what my aunt would want attached to her name. Instead, she's a staple in her community with her personal pet business; she's a genius when it comes to anything dog related; she's a fabulous cook and host, a well-read teacher, and one of the hardest workers I know always on the go. And she's a warrior against breast cancer.
There are always statistics and studies shared about the number of people a disease is affecting, or an improvement in medicine. There are thousands of life-threatening diseases and luckily, ten fold that number of volunteers and advocates raising money to find cures. I don't sit here and write this to say my cause trumps any other, nor do I say this disease is by far the worse. I also won't sit here and promise that your donation WILL find the cure to breast cancer.
Instead, I will say that had it not been for breast cancer, my aunt would have been there to see her two sons marry two great catches, Mel and Heather. Aunt Linda would now be wearing a "World's Best Grandma" sweatshirt for her five beautiful grandkids and would have welcomed the eldest, Riley, of those grandkids home from Europe just last week. Had it not been for breast cancer, my best friend and role model, my mother, wouldn't have lost her best friend.
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| Cousins Mel & Heather, baby Noah, me & momma |
I've said this before, but there are PLENTY of days that I dread my training. While I love the "sport" (...or hobby/activity for all you "running isn't a sport and neither is tennis type of people"), there are days after work I'd rather do a happy hour with friends. While running brings me clarity of mind and stress, at times the aches and pains I get from it are what causes that stress. But it's not about "those days"; it's about the bigger picture. When I tell friends, acquaintances, strangers at bars, what I'm doing, I get a variety of reactions. Many people find it "cool", "crazy" and I've even had one stranger say I'm the most interesting person he's ever met because of it. (I'm still not sure if that was meant as a good thing). But inevitably, they always follow it up with a "why?" Why am I doing this? Why am I running 13 half marathons in 13 months?
In my first post, I said I had no idea why. I correlated it to the countless spontaneous decisions I've made in recent years. I've given numerous answers ranging from "it seemed like a good idea at the time", "It's my news years resolution", "It took my mind off of my heartless ex", "It keeps me in shape", "It lets me see parts of the country I might've never otherwise visited", "I don't know, I didn't want to do another full marathon, so I wanted to do a half...well, 13 of them" to "I constantly want to challenge myself", "It's just one of those once in a lifetime things I wanted to do", "I don't like things that come easy to me so why not?". While all those responses have held their truth at some point during this process, those reasons aren't what gets me out on the path, even in 95 degree weather as my body screams "f*&$ you", 4 days a week, clocking over 40 miles in that duration. Those reasons are not going to give me that unbelievable feeling of accomplishment come next February in Jacksonville, FL. Perhaps some of those reasons GOT me going, but they are not what KEEP me going. Running for a purpose...for something far greater than me...for someone far more exceptional...for a cause with so much meaning is what makes it worth hitting the pavement every week. Selfishly, I do love the challenge and the betterment it's given my life. But I've run for myself for 12 years and have never felt the passion and commitment I've felt these past 6 months of this process. I am running for a reason, for my aunts. And for all the other survivors and fighters, mothers, daughters, husbands, sons, uncles and friends that have been touched by breast cancer.
So as I wrap this up, I'll leave you with this: Coworkers and family members have told me I should set up a Paypal account and have my readers and "fans" donate to fund my journey. While my average race costs me about $500 (after registration, flight, gas, hotel, meals, etc.), I am blessed and fortunate enough to be able to fund myself. I don't need nor want the money. So instead, I'm raising money for the National Marathon to Finish Breast Cancer (my first and final race of this journey in Jacksonville Beach). The patients and families need it far more than I ever will. My goal is to raise $2,620 by February 12, 2012 for my final race. (A marathon is 26.2 miles...so I figured in true Jenna form I'd do a little play on numbers). I ask you that if you think what I'm doing is cool, crazy, interesting, asinine, ridiculous, marvelous...or if you have an aunt, mother, sister, friend, you donate. If I can get the half of my Facebook friends that I actually know to donate just $5 (that's the cost of ONE beer, people), I'll have just about reached my goal. If one beer is too much to ask, I request $1. Anything and everything helps.
If I hit my goal, I'm going to do something really super cool. I'm not sure what yet, as my brain doesn't function thinking that far in advance. I'll let you know. But please, just donate. Not even for me, but so 5 adorable grandkids can meet their grandma. And so one mother doesn't have to miss her best friend. Here is the link to my fundraising page: http://donate.breastcancermarathon.com/2012Marathon/JennaDunkleRuns And thanks so much...it truly means the world to me and keeps me running.
Here is a link to an article that was written about my journey in my local newspaper a couple months back. It'll give you a little more about my story and the link to the donation page can also be found at the bottom of that article: http://triblocal.com/elmhurst/community/stories/2011/05/america-runs-on-dunkle/
P.S. I promised I'd let you know where I was headed for my July race. Have you ever heard of Portland...Michigan? Great, neither have I, but I'm going there next weekend for my first small town race. And it's going to be awesome...and hilarious.
And guess who's coming with me? My best friend, Mary E. Sarcastic blunder to come next post, promise.
