Whenever my family gets together, I find myself thinking about my mother's oncologist.

A handful of years and many good check-ups after my mom's fight with breast cancer. Some part of me still automatically thanks the doctors who saved her life and continue to give us the gift of being together. Because of the excellent care that my mom received and the fact that her cancer was detected early, we are still a family.  My mom would have died at age 51 if early detection technology, advanced surgery, and chemotherapy had not been available to her.  Instead, myfamily has been given years of love, friendship, and adventure together.

My mom faced breast cancer with incredible bravery, humor, and heart. With my brother off at college, it was just the two of us at home, and there was a lot of laughter as we navigated a year of surgeries and treatment. Amazingly, my mom managed to cultivate something positive out of her illness: we became more inventive cooks as we took her doctor’s advice and incorporated more organic and natural foods into our diet; we spent time together watching old movies and took a vacation to the beach. When my mom was healthy again, she finally started traveling abroad something she’d talked and dreamed about since I was young.

That is why I am running the Portland Half Marathon for the Komen Foundation and for my mom: I can’t imagine a better way to honor the spirit with which she fought breast cancer than to do something active, challenging, and fun. I am elated to support the research efforts that enabled my mom to fight breast cancer and will arm women around the world to do the same. I am equally excited to be running as part of the Komen Team in celebration of the power and strength of women fighting for their health, and changing their lives in the process.