My name is Reed Stanly and this is my 6th year walking. I walk in memory of my wife Ellicia she passed away on new years in 2006. She was diagnosed when I was in Afghanistan, she was diagnosed on my daughters 3rd birthday and at that time she was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer. The only thing is they did not tell us it was stage 4, they didn't tell us that she was suppose to be dead in 4 weeks so we didn't know any better and we fought it and we got a whole other year and she got another year with her children and with me. She is just an amazing fighter and I continue to take my inspiration from her when I think I can't do anything, like even crutch the AVON Walk. She was amazing and she continues to give me inspiration even to this day. She passed away when she was 39 years old, no history of breast cancer, just a lesson that it can strike anyone, anytime, and anywhere. My butterfly tattoo is very special and is unique, it incorporates the breast cancer pink ribbon and the butterfly, my wife loved butterflies. But within the butterfly itself, the dots on the butterfly are in the shape of the constellation Orion, which we always used when were apart to look at together, to pull ourselves together wherever we were in the world. We were always looking at the same thing, so by having Orion on the butterfly she is always with me. Don't give up hope and don't give up the strength. And with every ounce of your fiber in your body fight till the en. But you can do it and you can show even through your struggles: cancer will not beat us, we will beat cancer. And just draw that strength, and know that you are not alone. There is, at these walks, thousands upon thousands of people who are walking all over the country , all over the world, you're not alone. Don't let cancer beat you because one day we will beat cancer.
