Today is the one year anniversary of this blog. I started writing because I wanted to do something, anything, to change the narrative surrounding breast cancer. October is a hard month for me as I was diagnosed in September 2013 and started treatment in October 2013. The complete disconnect between what I was experiencing and the big pink parade was overwhelming. Looking back What I didn’t know is the tip of the iceberg. Blogging was a way to share what I was learning and gave me a place to focus my anger.

This year I want to do more. I am taking a leap of faith and flying out to Washington DC for the Stage IV Stampede on October 13, 2016. I will be participating in the march and Die-In, then visiting our congressional leaders to advocate for more funding and support for metastatic breast cancer. I hope you will join me either in DC, at one of the regional events or by donating to one of the participating organizations – Metavivor, MetUP and Living Beyond Breast Cancer

I will also be writing about what I am learning as I prepare for the event, and about my experience in Washington. I have never been involved in politics and haven’t been to DC in years. I became a stay at home Mom in 2002 so my working “game face” is pretty rusty, though I’ve got the Mom raised eyebrow down pat and a pretty good “teacher stare”. Fortunately the organizers are providing information and classes to help me prepare and several friends from will be there with me. We will once again be Out Living It Together – another “Challenge By Choice”. I can’t wait!