CURE

1) a means of healing or restoring to health; remedy
2) a method or course of remedial treatment, as for disease
3) successful remedial treatment; restoration to health
4) a means of correcting or relieving anything that is troublesome or detrimental: to seek a cure for inflation

This past Sunday I ran 1,311 stairs in 14 minutes and 30 seconds. Insane? Yes! But worth every hard-to-breathe, legs-ready-to-give-out moment as I participated in an event that is VERY near and dear to my heart. 

For those of you who are unfamiliar, the BIG CLIMB (Seattle) is one of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's biggest fundraising events every year. The event itself is a stair climb up the Columbia Tower - the tallest skyscraper in downtown Seattle. There are 69 flights of stairs, 1,311 steps, and 788 feet of vertical elevation. This year registration sold out within a matter of weeks, as approximately 6,000 participants gathered in the fight against blood cancers.

Last year my sister and I created "Team Uncle Tiger" in honor of my uncle who was celebrating his first year in remission from leukemia. (Side note: "Uncle Tiger" received his nickname via three-year-old Shannon, as he was wearing a Lacoste polo which obviously meant he was MY Uncle Tiger...needless to say it stuck!) The first time we participated we chose to do the "climbing" side, where the goal is simply to make it to the top. We thought that would be a good place to start. Despite the physical challenge of climbing 69 flights of stairs, you are supported by all those around you as you work your way to the top -- together. When I reached the top (in about 16 minutes and 30 seconds, of course I still timed myself), I was overcome with a rush of happy endorphins which prompted me to announce "let's do the racing side next year!"... Although I knew it would be more challenging on the timed side, I reminded myself that it would pale in comparison to what blood cancer patients, like my Uncle Tiger, go through.

(Additional side note: I will be completely honest -- I believe that no amount of training truly makes the BIG CLIMB any easier. It is simply extremely physically demanding. To prepare, my teammates and I (and supportive friends) would go out to the Howe Street stairs, the longest consecutive set of stairs in the Seattle area. I challenge you to get out and try it! You will get an amazing workout and enjoy a stunning view from the top.)

But this year in addition to the physical rigor, the racing side takes some major mental stamina. Last year on the climbing side, we were sent up in twos which allowed for some comradery as you motivate each other. But the racing side staggers entry one at a time...with most people listening to their headphones -- the combination of those two factors leaves the only motivation in your mind. 

At around floor 34, I was ready to throw in the towel. I started too fast and I was really struggling with my breathing (if you run enough stairs, you will become fast friends with "the hack"). But then I remembered that I had a poster made for my uncle and I had yet to see it. With each set of stairs I checked the upcoming wall to see my Uncle Tiger smiling at me...over and over...the more floors I passed without seeing his poster, the more excited I became because"they must have put him at the top!" Once you have ten floors left they have a poster of countdowns for you. With five floors to go you can hear the music from the observatory. At three floors to go I started to run! Finishing at 14 minutes and 30 seconds (proudly just thirty seconds slower than Sebastian). 

You are probably wondering about that poster that motivated me to keep pushing? Well, I never saw it. Turns out it was around floor 49 (thankfully my teammates saw it and snapped a quick picture with it), and I had missed it altogether. In the end, the point really wasn't about seeing the poster. I was being motivated by my love for my Uncle Tiger. If he could beat leukemia -- I could run 1,311 stairs. 

I get all weepy just thinking about how thankful I am that my Uncle is in remission and how proud I am of my team (raising almost $2,000). In fact, I probably cried three times the day of the event. But regardless of how thankful I am or how blessed we are that my uncle was able to find a perfect bone marrow match -- no progress can be made in the success stories of others without funds for research. 

Without funds, there is no research. Without research, there is no cure.

I will continue to participate in the BIG CLIMB (and other LLS events) and I will continue to help raise funds with for this VERY worthy cause. I want to hear more stories of success, like my Uncle Tiger's.

CLIMB. CONQUER. CURE.