The 2014 National Race to End Women's Cancer

Miss Maryland 2014 Zereana Jess-Huff

On Sunday, November 2, I walked in the 2014 National Race to End Women's Cancer in Washington, DC. The MC for the event was the beautiful Miss Maryland 2014, Zereana Jess-Huff, an ovarian cancer survivor. She was an amazing speaker - she is obviously very passionate about gyn cancer awareness and care. The thing she said that I loved the most was "The war on breast cancer has been one... It's time to focus on other parts of our bodies... Our lady parts!" Obviously, ALL cancer is importan
t and needs awareness. But gyn cancer does not get the attention it so desperately needs.
In the US, Pap smears are not considered necessary by the CDC until a woman is 21. With HPV causing cervical cancer, that is just too late. While cervical cancer is considered to be slow growing, that is not always the case. Early detection is the best way to get effective treatment, and as minimal treatment as possible.
Camille Grammer also spoke. She is a recent survivor of endometrial cancer. Her positivity and encouragement were absolutely mind-blowing. She is the sweetest woman, and I'm honored for the chance to have met her.

Camille Grammer

The event was both a 5 k run and a 1 mile walk. Obviously, I picked the walk! My mother walked beside me the whole time. We cried off and on, for t
hose we have loved that were taken by cancer, for the survivors, which we both are, for those still fighting. And we cried tears of love and gratitude to be a part of this amazing, much needed event. My dad and my stepmother (another cancer survivor!!!) walked with us. My mom's best friend ran the 5k. And our family friend, Joe, who lost his wife to uterine cancer, came out as well.
Thanks to everyone who donated to my team, I raised $6,465.00, and was the second highest non-corporate fundraising team! It was so gratifying to see that I could make a difference. All donations go towards research for treatments and a cure, raising public awareness, and providing education about gyn cancers.

It was a bitterly cold and windy day, but it was a beautiful day. To see so many people out there, walking, running, hugging, laughing, crying - it was amazing. We were all connected by the horrible disease that is cancer, but that allowed us to be open to each other, for strangers to cease to exist. Cancer does not discriminate. It is an evil beast looking to take over your life. On Sunday, we were able to fight back, and say no more, this ends!






Oh, and next year, I'll be out walking in a teal tutu!









xoxo jennie