5 years ago a group of 6 women decided to form Team Babs to walk in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer in Boston. This team Rachel Schade, Amy Foster, Lauren Whyte, Jen Bogue, Becky Cooke and of course BABS, Mick Simmons, raised money to help fund Breast Cancer Research. Well after all our training and walking Babs has successfully beaten Breast Cancer.
Then this past fall we got the news that we were going to have another mountain to climb, Mom was diagnosed with Esophageal Cancer. This cancer was a lot more intrusive then her breast cancer and after Chemo, Radiation and a Esophojectomy our mother the fighter is working on gaining back her strength, the whole time radiating her typical Mick attitude.
With this new challenge my brother Tom decided it was time to bring back TEAM BABS (Team Babs 2.0 if you will), and again raise money, this time to help research all cancers, as we learned the hard way that cancer does not always like to go away without a fight.
A more invasive cancer = a more aggressive event... The New York City Marathon.
Team Babs has new faces to take on this challenge, Tom "you da bomb" Simmons, Katherine "Bear Claw" Simmons, and Julie "Sushi"Rahill. These three members will be training all summer getting ready for the November Race.
This blog is where you can watch them train, listen to their stories, learn about Fundraisers, get updates on mom, order cool TEAM BABS gear, and much much more.
All of you who have been touched in some way by our mom are part of a lucky society. Anyone who has met her, experienced one of her hugs, her chocolate chip cookies, her smiles and her friendship are better because of it. Our mom has overcome a lot, these speed bumps never slow her down or dim her outlook on life. She is a glass half full and look on the bright side type of woman. A woman, and a mom, that everyday I strive to be like.
Check back regularly. We will have a link where you can buy TEAM BABS gear to help donate to the cause, i will be posting "runner profiles", you will be able to link to the runners fundraising pages, and read updates by all the runners, and all four Simmons' kids.
LIVE STRONG - GO TEAM BABS!!
