Greetings,
I hope that this finds you doing "all right". We are still in difficult global times, and I wish you peace and strength to continue to endure this hard reality that we are living in today. I can’t believe that it’s already April-but it's most definitely April.
I was looking back on when I sent out my last Western MA Mother’s Day Half Marathon fundraising request for Cancer Connection in 2021 (hint-it was the DAY BEFORE THE RACE), and I'm feeling better about myself in 2022. So there! I’m “winning”-whatever that means!!! I’m sure that something is burning on the stove so the “winning” is always relative-always. But, back to today.
My Mom, Kathy Tetreault would have been 71 years old today (April 3rd). She died when she was just 45 years old. I just can’t believe that it’s been 25 years. She is often a dream to me, something that I created in my head that isn’t real anymore. I have a hard time remembering her at all some days. I think that’s the saddest part about losing her-to not be able to recall someone who was and still is so important to you. Time is a healer but it’s also an eraser.
The Western MA Mother's Day Half Marathon is deeply important to me because of my Mom’s cancer diagnosis in 1995 and her subsequent death in 1997 when I was a senior in high school. Cancer Connection was not around when my family was struggling with this, but it is now and has been a tremendous resource for thousands of patients and caregivers throughout the state. Her illness was devastating to our family then and remains a guiding experience for my life now. For better or worse her illness due to Stage IV Ovarian Cancer and her ultimate death shaped the person that I am today and without that experience I highly doubt that I would be who you see before you now.
You all have heard that Cancer Sucks and while it TOTALLY does for the human whose body is suffering under its weight, I also want you to know that it REALLY SUCKS for the care givers and supportive network that the person dealing with the illness has. Cancer Connection looks at the individual and the ripple effect to their family, friends, and community and does a great job at holding space for all of them, FOR FREE. Free programs that help to fill the cracks that have emerged in the fabric of a life so that everyone can be stronger to fight, to love, to care, and to continue. There is a saying to put the oxygen mask on yourself first, it's true, without you being all right, you can't possibly show up for others.
During these unprecedented times, please help me support this cause. No donation is too small. Thank you for supporting me! Without you I am not as strong, have limited capacity, and am only one human. Together when we combine forces, we are unstoppable. Thank you for making me feel invincible. Say a little prayer for me on May 8th as I lace up my sneaks and put them to the road in honor of Cancer Survivors/Patients/Support Teams, Judi Fleming, Julie Brewster, and my Mom Kathy.
https://www.pledgereg.com/4073/tarabrewster
May the road rise to meet you and the wind be at your back.
In gratitude and love,
Tara