Such innocence...hopefully she can know a world without breast cancer.

Hi Everyone,

I couldn't help but share this lovely picture with you of my girlfriend, Alea's daughter, Rhea, from our tailgate last Sunday. It completely captured and affirmed the reason of why I am still so headstrong about the 3-Day Walk for the cure.

As I sat there in the grass with my two childhood friends and our own children, I couldn't help but think about how great it would be if they never had to worry about a cancer of any kind. Maybe the cure will come in the form of a vaccination of prevention. They already offer one that helps prevent some forms of cervical cancer. Isn't that just amazing if you think about where we were only five short years ago with cancer research? Scientists and researchers are making great strides every day to help us find the cure and prevention. I'm just delighted to say that I have had the chance to be a part of it!

I have more pictures from Sunday's tailgate that I will be posting as soon as I edit them and put them in a slide show through flickr.com. It wasn't the turnout we expected, but, for it to be a 100 degree day in a parking lot, we were shocked that those who did come out gave with big hearts. Thank you to those volunteers and donors. You are truly amazing and only confirm that we are in this for the long haul.

This Saturday, my co-captain, Jennifer, and I will walk our first 10 miles in an "official" training walk in downtown Atlanta. Please pray for us and the weather that we can bear the heat and that our feet will carry us without problems. I'm also excited to say that we will be attending the 3-Day Expo after the training to find out just what we need to be fully prepared for all sixty miles. We've put a lot of effort into getting to the walk; now we want to make sure we enjoy every minute of it (physically, that is....we know the experience will be wonderful!!).

Well, it's heading on midnight-thirty and it's off to bed I go. Tomorrow I am heading over to Kennesaw to be fitted for my new 3-day shoes at Big Peach Running Co.

I'll be in touch soon!
Mel