Think PINK! 3-Day Breast Cancer Walk

A couple of weekends ago, I received sad news that my friend, and former hockey & defense partner, succumbed to her 6.5 year battle with cancer. I always looked forward to skating with Susie because she had the quirkiest sense of humor so I knew that I would be skating on a team with the funniest name. Pre and post game time in the locker room was always filled with laughter which would continue into the afternoon/evening at the closest bar or at her home that she shared with her husband, Jonah. We skated as "Dee" partners so many times and had so many laughs and conversations on the bench in between shifts. But, sadly, the one game I recall the most was one where she was feeling tired and worn down from her most recent round of steroid treatments and in between shifts we talked about her cancer and her treatment - what I remember most was the fear I saw in her eyes. At the time, Susie was battling brain cancer, but her initial diagnosis was breast cancer.

Today kicks off the 3-Day Breast Cancer Walk in Seattle. A total of 3000 participants will be covering 60 miles over the weekend and their fundraising efforts will primarily benefit the Susan G. Komen For The Cure. Over the summer and fall, similar walks were or will be held in 13 other cities in the U.S. Good luck to all the walkers this weekend!

I am putting together a team for next year's event in San Francisco (October 9 - 11, 2009) and I would like to dedicate my efforts to Susie and her family. Stay tuned for news and updates. If you would like to join me in my efforts as either a participant or a donor, just let me know.

Peace out, Susie, and remember, NEVER clear the puck up the middle and back off the blue line when your Dee partner decides to pinch (haha, like I always did/do)...thanks for covering my ass.