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On July 8th and 9th 2005, nearly 40 cancer patients, and there families and friends, took part in the Maiden Voyage of Paddle for the Pink and All the Rest in one of the Three Voyager Canoes filled with balloons, song and energy at Paddlefest 2005. It was a day of recognition for those we have lost and a day of celebration for cancer survivors and what we have learned.
For me, it represented hope; something beyond the swirling mess of chemotherapy drugs that were raging through my body after learning that I had stage 2B Breast Cancer with lymph node involvement at the age of thirty-six.
It was a time when I reunited with a family I had not seen or spoken to in 6 years and friends just the same; and a time when I experienced a re-birth of my sprit and took on a willingness to look at life as it comes.
In the midst of all of the disaster that befell me when I became ill, I learned many important lessons. Perhaps the most important is the rewards that can be obtained simply by surrendering oneself to the things that cannot be changed, allowing oneself to dream of the ways to make a difference and then charting a course to making it come true.
I had no idea that this dream of a Pink Canoe, which arrived on my desk in the form of an e-mail/news release one December morning, would mean so much to so many people. But as I became more and more involved with making the dream come true, my heart healed and with it, my body followed. Even though I was diagnosed with a recurrence of breast cancer in January, I am alive and well and honored to be a part of the Pink Canoe Project in 2006.
The Pink Canoe, and all that it has come to represent, has the ability to help so many people who have been afflicted with the disease of Cancer. Fortunately, much of what is lost, much of the disillusionment one experiences from this devastating illness, can be a catalyst for positive change. People often call cancer a journey. I believe wholeheartedly that this is true.
For me, the journey began with the news release that my friend and business partner, Jim Thaxton sent to me when I was so very sick. It was about a 28 foot canoe, painted pink, and filled with breast cancer survivors.
Thanks to all of the wonderful people involved, that news release came to fruition with a weekend of song, tears, celebration, and hope. The brave cancer patients, as well as their friends and family have shared their stories with us so that the pink canoe became a floating memorial to those who suffered and died from breast cancer and a testimonial to those who continue to live to earn the title “survivor”.
I invite you to share the survivors’ journeys, short stories in their own words – words of inspiration, hope and celebration of the human spirit by following this link: Breast Cancer a Personal Journey.
I also invite you to send me the name(s) of loved ones to be added to the Pink Canoe for Paddlefest 2006. Email the names to Juliegopaddle@fuse.net
May you, through the union of Mother Earth and Father Sky, be blessed in all you do.
Happy Paddlin’,
Julie Heenan, Project Manager
Paddlin’ for the Pink and All the Rest
May 14, 2006
Post Script from webmaster - Julie’s cancer returned again in September 2006. The breast cancer has invaded her lung. She had surgery on November 16. Dr.Parks removed 25% of her lower left lung. He is confident that he was able to get all the cancer and there was no cancer found in the residual areas around the tumor. She is in a lot of pain and will be in the hospital for at least a week. She will begin another round of chemotherapy the end of this month. She asked that we extend her appreciation for everyone’s kindness and generosity.Your continued thoughts and prayers are deeply appreciated. Send cards to Julie Heenan, P.O. Box 85, Butler, KY 41006.
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