Lauren Larocque
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
By: The Weekend

"Christmas, December 2007 my Mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. I remember overhearing the conversation and crying on the phone to my best friend. I cried myself to sleep for days, scared of what the future was going to bring. It broke my heart to see her so scared and upset. She didn't deserve to go through so much pain. No one deserves to."

I have not yet discovered my purpose in life or where I am going. Many roads and paths have been traveled and numerous memories have been made along the way. Some I have chosen to forget, others have helped me become who I am today.

Christmas, December 2007 my Mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. I remember overhearing the conversation and crying on the phone to my best friend. I cried myself to sleep for days, scared of what the future was going to bring. I couldn't tell anyone, I wasn't even supposed to know. My mother didn't tell my sister and I until after New Year’s, not wanting to ruin our Christmas. Watching my mother tell my sister and I, was like watching my world cave in. It broke my heart to see her so scared and upset. She didn't deserve to go through so much pain. No one deserves to.

Things picked up fast after my sister and I received the news. She had her surgery in February and within the month started her chemotherapy. She's had her good and bad days; thankfully more good than bad and I am proud to say that on July 4th, 2008 she successfully received her last treatment of chemotherapy. Once the month of September came around she completed three weeks of radiation.

On November 6th 2008 my mother received the news that she had successfully completed all of her treatments and was now a breast cancer survivor. I couldn't be more proud of how she handled herself and of how strong she was, not only for herself but for the people around her.

I walked and completed my first Weekend to End Breast Cancer at the age of sixteen in 2008. I walked again in 2009 and 2010. The Weekend is one of the most amazing events I have ever experienced. I am proud to say that now, at the age of nineteen, I will be walking in my fourth Weekend on June 4th and 5th 2011 alongside the extraordinary team Saving Our Ta-Ta's.

The Ta-Ta's are one amazing team, a team I am proud to be part of. They are the people that keep me going throughout the whole walk, with their high energy and determination. Not once during the Weekend do I ever feel alone. No Ta-Ta walks alone! Two unbelievable people who keep the team motivated, running and who have forever changed my life are Carl and Shelly. These two people have shown and taught me so much in the very small amount of time I have known them. To Carl and Shelly I am forever grateful; you will always be an important part of my life.

My whole family and best friend (who is without a doubt the cheese to my macaroni) have been there to see me cross every finish line and are my motivation. There is no better feeling than crossing that finish line, with hundreds of people cheering, crying and laughing with one goal in mind; to be the end to ALL women's cancers.

I will continue to walk in the Weekend to End Women's Cancers until a cure has been found. I will walk for my mother, my inspiration. Without her I would be lost. She is my everything. I will walk for other family members and friends who have been recently diagnosed. I will walk for those close to us who we have lost, especially Velma Rushton. And I will walk for all those suffering. It is an uphill battle all the way, but it is a battle that can be won.

How will you raise your hand when they call your name?

"We weren't born to follow, come on and get up off your knees,
When life is a bitter pill to swallow, you've got to hang onto what you believe.
Believe that the sun will shine tomorrow."

Lauren Larocque, Ottawa Walker

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