I’d like to take a moment to step away from my usual subject matter and talk about something very near and dear to my heart… Breasts. Now, they’re near and dear to my heart because I have a pair, and because I don’t think the female form would be complete without them. Since this is a blog with a largely male audience, there’s a pretty good chance that you’re also fond of breasts, though probably for different reasons, which we won’t be exploring today.
Are Breasts an Endangered Species?
So why are we talking about breasts, if we won’t be showing you any, and if we won’t be talking about why you love them? Simply put, they’re being threatened. Breast cancer is sweeping not just the nation, but the world. It is endangering the busts of women everywhere, and it must be stopped. This is a cause that Ford itself can get behind.
From left: Emily, Heather, Karen not pictured: Tina
You’re probably wondering why you should care, and how you could possibly help. It’s no secret that the automotive world is dominated by men. We forget sometimes that all of those men are firmly connected to women. No matter who you are, you have a mother. There’s a good chance that you also have a sister, or a girlfriend or wife, or a niece, or an aunt, or a friend who is a woman. The unfortunate, frightening fact is that any of them might have to do battle with breast cancer in their lifetimes. If that’s not an argument that moves you, consider that 1 out of every 100 cases of breast cancer is diagnosed in a man. While this cancer prefers women, it will still attack men.
Knowing all this, some of AmericanMuscle’s fine lady employees have stepped up to battle breast cancer the best way they can. AmericanMuscle employees are fielding a team for the Susan G. Komen 3 Day for the Cure. Heather Moulden, who brings you Q&A With Heather and works as a Customer Service Team Lead, Karen Baum, who is another amazing Customer Service Team Lead and very much involved in the local Mustang community are half of this awesome foursome. Tina Bauman, who is on the front lines of our customer service staff and is also heavily involved with local Mustang clubs, and I, your faithful blogger, round out the team. We’ve signed on to raise $9,500 and to walk 60 miles in the span of 3 days. This is a big promise, and we’re taking it very seriously. Though the walk isn’t until October, we’ve begun training for the walk and raising funds.
Why are we walking?
AMStanger/Emily
AMStanger/Emily – Two of my family members have fought breast cancer and won. I’m walking to make sure that they won’t have to fight it a second time, and to ensure that the rest of our family won’t ever have to fight like they have. I’m walking because, even though I’m not a breast cancer survivor myself, I’ve been through the testing and the worry and the fear of a battle against your own body. When I was my most vulnerable, my family and friends surrounded me with love and support, and showed me the difference that so much positivity can make when you’re healing. This is a way for me to give some of that love and support back to those who need it.
1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer, and those odds are terrible. The idea that my sisters, my family, and my friends are facing those odds scares me more than I can say. The idea that one day, my children might face those same odds is unacceptable. So I’m doing what I can to make a difference. Sure, I’m one small person. But I’m one small person who’s working with thousands of other like-minded small people.
Heather
Heather - I made the decision to do the 3-Day in January, after losing a family friend to breast cancer. She was one of the most amazing people I have ever known. Despite fighting breast cancer for more than 5 years, she was unfailingly optimistic and maintained her sense of humor through everything. It was devastating to see such an inspiring person dragged down by a disease that even the world’s smartest, most qualified doctors and scientists could not fight.
After her death, simply donating wasn’t enough for me. I wanted to get involved and (as cheesy as it sounds) really make a difference. Breast cancer is a terrible disease, but the 3-Day is more than that – this is bigger than breast cancer. If they can find a cure for breast cancer, they’ll be able to find a cure for other cancers. So I’m not just walking in memory of a friend, or in honor of her family, I’m walking so that one day we’ll be able to say “Remember when there wasn’t a cure?”.
Karen
Karen - Many people have questioned why I would want to do this. Walking twenty miles each day, getting blisters on my feet, touring porta-potties along the way, no hair dryer, sleeping in a tent each night, etc. Well, there are many reasons why I would do this! Without a cure, one person will die of breast cancer every 13 minutes in the United States. Every 3 minutes, someone will be affected by a breast cancer diagnosis. We are uniting with thousands for the Susan G. Komen 3-day Walk for the Cure. It is a weekend of hope, honoring lives lost, celebrating survivors, promoting breast cancer research and helping bring breast cancer care to those who so desperately need it. I was also inspired to endure this 60 mile walk for other reasons.
I belong to a local Mustang club. Anyone that belongs to one knows that the club members become extended family members. I came to know Mary, the wife of a member in the club. You would never have known she battled breast cancer. Such an upbeat personality, she seemed so strong and full of life. One day her husband was joking about Mary’s wigs, putting a positive spin on how some nights he didn’t know if he was going home to a redhead or a blond!! This was when I learned about Mary’s battle. I understood why it was so important for him to attend car shows that raised breast cancer awareness. In June, Mary will have been cancer free for 2 years. As she puts it, the battle is still ongoing, for she is required to take pills for the next few years. I’m a first time walker. If Mary can survive the battle against breast cancer, then I can easily survive a 60 mile walk in 3 days! The worst I may suffer is wobbly knees and maybe blisters, but last I checked, that didn’t require chemo to treat. I look forward to crossing that finish line in October, and even more to the day when we find a cure!
Tina Bauman -When asked why I am doing the 3 Day for A Cure Walk, my answer is simply why not? Dedicating my mind, body and soul for a 3-day walk is a small price to pay and something I can do to help. This is a disease that can, may, or has affected every woman in the world. It doesn’t matter if you are a mother, daughter, grandmother, wife, sister or a friend. There is no way to control who gets or who does not get breast cancer.
There is one thing that everyone can control and that is the contributions that go to the research to finding a cure for breast cancer. This foundation is one of the many ways to find a cure. I know several people who have had close calls, who are fighting the battle, who have fought the battle and who have lost the battle. All of the procedures, treatments and emotions are very hard on the person and their family and friends. Just knowing that some day, this small amount of my time can help find a Cure and make this all go away is well worth it.
Help us save breasts around the world!
We’re at the very beginning of our training schedule right now. Before we even make it to the 3-Day event, we’ll have walked over 500 miles in preparation, each. Between the four of us, that’s more than 2,000 miles. It’s a huge commitment, but we’re ready to step up. You can find out more about our progress and our motivation or make a donation, by going to the official 3-Day web page and searching for team American Muscle.
About AMStanger
