Susan's Run

Our family participated in Susan's Run, which is hosted by the Susan M. Turley Foundation in order to raise funds for their Weekend Away Program. You can check out the foundation and see what they are all about in the link above. We have been lucky recipients of the Weekend Away when Derek was feeling well and we are so grateful for that opportunity to be together. Our family also started a fundraising team in Derek's honor called Derek's Baconators (you know, because of Derek's love for bacon). You can still donate to the cause here. We are so grateful for everyone who donated and thought about our family in the process. Our #30daysofderek campaign is still going on through the end of the week, of which you can read more about here. 

Here are some photos from Susan's Run:

Camden and I. Don't be scared, that's just my face.

Jason's Family

Tani's Family

Marlena's Family

Rochelle's Family, Doeshann, and Dad Beach

My mom, Catherine, and my step-dad, Jeff. 

Robin's Family

Derek's dad, Roland. 

Our rad shirts, thanks to Jason and Kami. 

Recipients of the One Weekend Away. Ignore hand shadow. 

The Kids Dash.

Camden looking super fly. 

The family. 

I am so grateful for everyone's willingness to help and fundraising efforts. What a great bunch of people who honored Derek lovingly on this day. 

What Cancer is Really Like

I posted this lovely final family photo (Derek is sleeping/drugged, not the other thing) on instagram and Facebook this past week on World Cancer Day to bring about some awareness of what it really looks like. Derek did a great job at hiding his suffering, so much so that his own family were not aware how bad it was until it was the end. I wanted people to see that cancer is more than a disease--that it effected more than just Derek's health. It upended our life, it changed our family, and it was the center of our everything. Nothing could be done or planned without taking it into consideration. In fact, cancer had been apart of our family before Camden was.

I also wanted people to see the faces of families they are helping when they donate to the Susan Mortensen Turley Foundation. 100% of all proceeds go to families, since the foundation has no overhead.

People commented that this was a beautifully sad photo. It was one that encompassed both the sadness at Derek's final moments but the love that we shared with each other. I agree. Still sucks though.