A pre-dawn attack on cancer
While most mothers will be enjoying a sleep-in and breakfast in bed this coming Sunday, I will be joining seven friends in a pre-dawn trek to the city to take part in the annual Mother’s Day Classic to raise money for breast cancer research.
We all have different reasons for deciding to forgo a day of spoiling in favour of walking 7.2 kilometres in what is promising to be cold and windy weather.
For one, it is in memory of her mum, who died 13 years ago. For another it is to support her sister, currently going through treatment.
For me, it is for two aunts who died more than 20 years ago. And for my cousin’s gorgeous partner who was healthy one day, and dead a few weeks later following a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.
And for my dad. Who died more than four years ago, on January 4, 2005, just 11 weeks after we learnt he had metastatic stomach cancer and eight weeks after his second grandchild – my daughter – was born.
You might ask what on earth this has to do with Black Coffee Communication, freelancing, business writing or anything of the other things I bang on about here.
And the answer is – everything.
Not long after my dad died, a good friend’s 18-month old son began chemotherapy for a tumor the size of an adult’s fist. In such a tiny body.
These two events coming on top of each other were life-changing. Although I had been dreaming about running my own freelance writing business since I can remember, I had never had the guts to chuck in the comfort of a weekly pay check – and the sick leave, annual leave and other perks than come with it. I always figured I would do it “someday”, but someday was convenient.
Eventually, we are all confronted with our own mortality – and I think it often comes with the death of a parent.
There is never a really convenient time to throw caution to the wind, but I did not want to live a life of regrets, of “what ifs?” So I shut my eyes and I jumped. I have no regrets and Black Coffee Communication continues to go from strength to strength. Sure, I am not earning what I once was, but I am able to juggle family commitments with a business – and don’t have to bang my head against the brick wall of bureaucracy quite so often.
So in a way, cancer is the reason I now enjoy the freedom, flexibility (and occasional headache) of forging my own path.
But that doesn’t mean I owe cancer anything. Hell no!
I am going in the Mother’s Day Classic to do my little bit to kick cancer to the curb. That bitch has taken away far too many people that I love.
So, and here’s the blatant plug, I would love you to help me raise money for vital research into breast cancer by sponsoring me.
Till next time
Nicole