Marliss Barczak

Survivor

 

I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2000 and had a mastectomy, followed by chemotherapy and radiation. I was happy to be alive, but I hadn’t really celebrated my survivorship.

In 2004, I was invited to participate in the Komen Race for the Cure® at Meredith College in Raleigh, North Carolina. One of my daughters and my two sisters participated with me, and what an experience it was. I couldn’t believe it! Finally, I truly felt like a survivor.

This past June, I ran in my second Komen Race for the Cure®, along with 18,000 other participants, and it was as exciting as the first. There were 1,200 of us in pink that day and it was wonderful. After the battle, one needs to celebrate and this gives us that opportunity.

Thank you!