Joel and Craig Walk for a Cure.

In November of 2008 we closed the Agency for a long weekend in order to participate in the San Diego, Susan G. Koman, Breast Cancer 3-Day. Along with thousands of other men and women we walked 60 Miles over 3 days.

I first heard about the 3 Day in a radio commercial years ago. It was a time when a lot of my friends and family were either being diagnosed with or losing there battle to cancer. I felt helpless. I felt like there was nothing I could do. Then I heard the radio spot. It sounded exactly like what I needed- a purpose and a goal. I wanted it to be hard, I wanted to be in a community of people who were going through the same things I was. I wanted to feel like I was accomplishing something and making a difference. I walked the first 2 years solo but I wasn’t alone for long. The 3-Day is a giant moving community of outgoing people who care about others. You make friends very fast. By the end of the walk I think I had 30 new “moms”.

I noticed there was a serious shortage of men on this walk. Let me make this clear: Breast Cancer is not a “woman’s” disease; it’s a Human disease that affects us all. You find the cure for one form of cancer- you’re on the road to curing all forms. With that reasoning I set out to put together an all male team. We started with many well-intentioned men but ended up with just three of us actually walking: Joel Kordyak, Doug Downing and myself. Our team name was “Walking for Second Base” but since we all had grandmothers who had battled breast cancer we were soon renamed “Grandma’s Boys”. We made quite an impression that year- leading songs, making friends and keeping everyone around us motivated. Due to injury we were the last team to come into camp the 2nd night. They stopped the entertainment and dinner as thousands of walkers, volunteers and survivors got to their feet and cheered as we limped through the giant tent to raise the 3-Day flag at the far end. That was the end of Doug’s walk due to a sprained ankle and I was forced to stop the last day just miles from the finish. Luckily we were able to limp in at the end with everyone else.

Each walker is responsible for raising a minimum of $2,200 to help fund your walk and fight Breast Cancer. I started up the Breast Fest Concert Series to meet my goal. Every year we seem to have trouble with fund raising so we continue to ask for donations throughout the entire walk. This year we didn’t make our goal until I won a holiday poker tournament to cover the last of the expenses.

In 2008 our team name was simply “the Agency” (for obvious reasons). It was Joel’s 2nd walk and my 4th. We’re getting pretty good at it now- learning more songs, negotiating the route, pit stops and med tents and most importantly staying injury free. We even charmed our way into having our own tents.

The Breast Cancer 3-Day is an incredible journey filled with fun, emotion, and depth.  We look forward to it every year. Our hope is that one-day we won’t need to walk to cure breast cancer anymore and we’ll have to move onto another cause. We’re already talking about next year and we’d love for all of you to join us. You just have to follow a few rules 1. no whining 2. no complaining 3. you must keep an upbeat attitude at all times 4. you must participate in raptor tag to the best of your ability and 5. you must sing at the top of your lungs and play along when I lead a group of 40 walkers in laugh yoga.

We are very grateful to everyone who supported us for this event, both financially and emotionally. I know it sounds cliché but we literally could not have done it without you. -Craig Slike