Julie's 5K-A-Day for Waldenstrom's

Friday, March 13, 2020 - this was the day I first heard the word, "cancer," in reference to my own body. A lot was going on in the world that day - COVID-19 was on everyone else's mind. Cancer was on mine. 

A few weeks, and many tests and procedures later, I would learn that I had Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia, a very rare form of non-Hodgkins' lymphoma for which there is no cure. By April, I was doing my first round of chemotherapy, having had a chest port installed and a bone marrow biopsy to confirm the diagnosis. 

I'm fortunate to live in a medical research mecca. Fortunate to have good health insurance. Fortunate to have an incredible team of family and friends, a brilliant medical team, and an employer who continues to support my health journey. All that, and a very successful four rounds of chemo aside, I would love to be able to say that WM has a cure. There are amazing minds working on this very thing, and what they need most of all is funding to continue their work. And so every year, the International Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia Foundation hosts a walk - internationally - to raise money to support research towards better treatment, and, eventually, a cure. I owe the IWMF a debt of gratitude that I'm happy to put both my fundraising skills and my perfectly capable legs to work paying. So, I'm joining some others in walking 5k - a - day the entire month of September to 1) raise awareness about this very rare disease and 2) raise money to fight it. 

I ask for money for a living y'all. I can assure you that when it's my own wellbeing on the line, I will not hesitate. :) 

Locals, I'll walk most weekday mornings at Seneca, after I drop my amazing daughter at school. And I'm hoping to walk weekends, especially when it cools off, at the Parklands or Cherokee. Join me one day! Meanwhile - I'd be more than grateful for your financial support friends. Truly - it means everything. 

Cancer has taught me alot. More than anything, it's taught me that hope is real. And that life is better done together. <3 

Towards a cure....