WHY I'M WALKING THIS YEAR -TAMPA BAY '08

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Tina's Team
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by Carl E. Benson II

I'm walking for my amazing, incredible, beautiful wife, Tina.

I'm walking for your wife, mother, lover, girlfriend, daughter, and sister.

I’m walking because, if the last two year's walks are any indication, Breast Cancer mostly affects really nice people.

I'm walking for your aunt, who died from Breast Cancer years ago, and for your niece who will be diagnosed years from now.

I'm walking not only for the one out of eight women who will be diagnosed with breast cancer, but also for the other seven.

I'm walking for Red Sox fans AND Yankees fans.

I'm walking for my amazing, incredible, beautiful wife, Tina.

I'm walking for Joan Kennedy, Carly Simon, Edie Falco, Kitten Natividad, and all notable survivors. I'm also walking for all the unknown survivors.

I'm walking for every victim claimed, and to stem the tide.

I’m walking for every cough, pain, bruise, ache, sneeze, and shiver.

I'm walking for the woman who talked to her doctor the other day. The day that she first heard the 'c-word' and she thought her life ended. If I could talk to her for ten minutes I could convince her that it didn’t end, it just changed.

I'm walking for mammograms, cat scans, pet scans, x-rays, biopsies, blood pressure cuffs, stethoscopes, visiting nurses, for every woman who’s been wheeled around a hospital with a needle sticking out of her boob.

I'm walking for Drs. Knight, Sureddi, Woo, Sabbath, and Hyson. And for every other professional who helped us cope with Breast Cancer, regardless of title or salary. I'm sorry I can't remember all of your names but I'm still walking for you.

I'm walking for my amazing, incredible, beautiful wife, Tina.

And I'm walking for Kristi-Lynn, Kate, Jay, Ken, Shaunna, Kevin, Scott, NG, and all the children of Breast Cancer.

I'm walking for cops, lawyers, governors, doctors, athletes, factory workers, porn stars, actresses, accountants, preachers, and welfare mothers.

I'm walking against a disease that doesn't discriminate and could give a crap about race, religion, social standing or how much money you make.

I'm walking for my amazing, incredible, beautiful wife, Tina.

I’m walking even if you can’t.

I'm walking for Cathy, NG's mom and sister, Dawn’s step-mom, Pat, Andi, Marge, Chemo Dawn, Scott's mother, and every woman I know who have Breast Cancer. I'm also walking for all the women I don't know.

I'm walking for the 40,000 women who are killed by Breast Cancer every year and for the millions who are not.

I'm walking for every woman who just had a mammogram and is waiting for the results.

I'm walking because thousands of others will and because millions of others won't.

I'm walking for my amazing, incredible, beautiful wife, Tina.

I'm walking because a journey of a thousand miles (or sixty) begins with a single step.

I'm walking because shaving my head didn't help at all.

I'm walking because three years isn’t long enough.

I'm walking for two white cats, for the Therapy Dog at the Leever Center, and for Big Guy (it has nothing to do with him, I just know how much you miss him).

I'm walking for my amazing, incredible, beautiful wife, Tina.

I'm walking for every woman who had a mastectomy, implants, reconstruction, tissue expanders, wears prosthetics and who just
doesn't care that they're gone.

I'm walking for the cops at the cross walks, The Pink Angels, for everyone in the medical tents, for the mess crew, that guy who walked the last quarter mile with me, and for every one else associated with this sublime event.

I'm walking because from behind, I still can't tell you had a mastectomy, and that's MUCH MORE than a very funny joke.

I’m walking for the girl with no legs, the lady who fell down, those two girls who walked the last mile with me, South Jersey Girls for Boobs, the transsexual pirate, and all the other wonderful people we walked with the last two years.

I'm walking for every woman who kicked Breast Cancer's ass and for every woman who fought the good fight. You didn't lose; you helped the rest win.

I'm walking because it's the least I can do and it beats the crap out of sitting for hours in medical waiting rooms.

I'm walking because the term 'Cancer Free' is still music to my ears.

I'm walking with you for the third straight year, but I plan on walking with (and for) you for the rest of my life.

I'm walking for Ann and Kaffrin. I can't tell you how relieved we were it cam back negative!

I'm walking because one day, three years ago, a terrible thought popped into my head while I was driving home from work and I failed to hold back the tears.

I'm walking because I promised myself I would protect you from harm and I failed. There was nothing I could do against this and I'm sorry. I'm walking for every other man who's ever felt this way.

I'm walking for everyone who's told me how Breast Cancer has affected their life since it’s affected mine.

I’m walking because there’s never a line at the Men’s showers (sorry ladies!)

I'm walking for my amazing, incredible, beautiful wife, Tina.

I’m walking because blisters, hot spots, sprained knees, cramps, shin splints, and smelly feet are a small price to pay.

I'm walking because Cancer sucks. It doesn't just suck, it really, really sucks.

I'm walking for every man who felt as supremely helpless as I did.

I'm walking for Brian, Bill, Rod, Paul, Bobby, Jason, Steve, and all men who love someone affected by this terrible disease.

I'm walking because no matter how dated it may seem, when we get married, we take vows to protect you. Sometimes we can't.

I'm walking so that your daughter won't have to.

I'm walking because four out of five odds aren't good enough.

I'm walking because my face is almost all-better.

I'm walking for my amazing, incredible, beautiful wife, Tina.

I'm walking because when you were diagnosed, I told you 'Every Step of the Way'. Turns out I really meant it quite literally and now I get to show you.

I'm walking because when Breast Cancer enters your life it hits like a ton of bricks.

I'm walking because I don't know what else to do.

I'm walking to the ends of the Earth and the Gates of Hell if I have to.

I'm walking because when I married you, like it or not, I also married Breast Cancer.

And lest I forget, I'm walking for my beautiful, amazing wife Tina.

Will you walk with us?

Can we walk for you?

Will you support us?

To see more of my Breast Cancer Awareness Artwork, go here:
http://pinkribbonprints.deviantart.com/

To see why I walked in Boston, 06, go here:
http://pinkribbonprints.deviantart.com/art/Why-I-m-Walking-Boston-06-83626099

To see why I walked in Philly, 07, go here:
http://pinkribbonprints.deviantart.com/art/Why-I-m-Walking-Philly-07-83626457

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