Race for the Cure

Some things in life leave you speechless. This past weekend I took my own advice and headed to downtown SLC to photograph our local Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure event. Like millions of others, breast cancer is a disease that has affected my life personally. In the spring of 2008, a few weeks before my wedding, my mother shared the news that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer. It was one of those moments in life that totally took me by surprise. How could my mother–the kindest, most loving and amazing woman I know–have to battle something so terrible? And why now, during a time of joy for our family? Hearing the news was a scary moment that I’ll never forget. Three years later my mother is doing fine and her journey has brought all of us closer together. After two rounds of chemo/radiation it appears the battle has been won.

Although photojournalism is not something I’m normally drawn to or hired for, my personal connection to this disease spawned an interest in the event. I had no real objective–just a strong desire to pick up my camera and see where the day would take me. A few moments before the race started emotion took over. In that moment I was taken back to the evening my mother called to tell me of her news and diagnosis. All of it came flooding back as I stood there looking at the sea of 20,000 people. I couldn’t help but wonder how many of those people where in similar shoes? How many of them were just diagonised or lost someone they loved to such a terrible disease? I just stood there watching unable to lift my camera, taking it all in–husbands and wives, mothers and their children, sisters and brothers, and best friends all affected in some way. It was clear cancer does not discriminate.

As the morning progressed my somber mood quickly changed to one of joy and at times even pride. The event proved my personal belief that adversity and tragedy brings out the best in people. The amount of love, support and positive energy was astounding. Life and the human spirit never cease to amaze me.

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