Hi. I'm Linda. In the summer of 2012, I received the news that no woman ever wants to hear ... I had breast cancer. Needless to say that the next few years were not fun as surgery and chemo are not everything they're cracked up to be.
SHARSHERET BLOGS
fu2cancer.net
Thankfully, a decade and change later, I'm doing just great. I was fortunate to have good friends, family and doctors supporting me the whole time. So not wanting to take my good health for granted, I started working out and now have over 25 triathlons, plus a few half and full marathons under my belt!
An amazing non-profit close to my heart is Sharsheret, which helped me tackle one of the most difficult times in my life, and so, I have fundraised for them many times over the years. I hope you will consider making a donation as this simple gesture will support a great organization while helping women going through the same ordeal with programs and information and also by letting those women know that they are not alone. THANK YOU!
"SWIM – BIKE – RUN – REPEAT"
Posted by: Linda Harelick,
Team Sharsheret Triathlete and Sharsheret Program Participant on July 15, 2015
If someone had told me that one day I would run to spin class, spin, and then run three miles home, I would have thought them insane. Yet, that was just one training day of many in preparation for the 2015 NYC Triathlon. Three years ago, I was diagnosed with breast cancer and in addition to the typical fears, I thought I would lose the one thing that defines me - my vitality. Not in an athletic sense, but in the energy I brought to my work, my family, my life. It was an extremely difficult time, but with the support of wonderful friends & family and amazing organizations like Sharsheret, I was able to regain my good health and am now stronger than ever.
Along the way, it was not uncommon to hear from others that my situation was “not fair.” I was relatively young, I took care of myself, and I had so much more to accomplish. However, I came to understand that what’s really unfair is the person who is diagnosed with cancer and does not have a support system in place – no friends to lean on, no family to rally around, no resources to provide what’s needed – that’s not fair. So, as part of Team Sharsheret, I will swim in the Hudson, bike the West Side Highway, and run in Central Park not only as a personal victory over cancer, but to show other women going through the same ordeal that they are not alone.
"FROM SURVIVOR TO VICTOR"
Posted by: Linda Harelick on July 22, 2016
Four years ago I was diagnosed with breast cancer and two years ago I started my triathlon journey. Having barely any athletic experience, I decided to challenge myself with a humongous goal -- as if completing active treatment wasn’t enough of an accomplishment! For me, the survivor moniker did not feel right and I wanted to think of myself differently. I wanted to be victorious. So, I took swim lessons, joined an outdoor cycling group, and ran laps (to be honest, more of a jog/walk) and followed the on-line weekly training schedule courtesy of Team Sharsheret.
Along the way I learned that my insane goal and seemingly ridiculous training schedule, jaw-dropping to many of my friends, was an inspiration to women who had gone through similar health challenges. I realized that a goal I had set for myself, which could be considered a selfish act given the amount of time it was taking away from my family and friends, was also helping others to feel brave and strong and awesome! So, this year once again, I will jump in the Hudson, ride the West Side Highway, and run (jog/walk) in Central Park both as a cancer survivor and victor. And, when my body is saying “no way, I can't go on,” I will think of all the women who I have inspired and who have inspired me in return.
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