I will start this by saying I am not an avid hiker. Knowing that I do not often trek with a pack or trek many miles day after day, I put a lot of importance on training for Alaska. Six days of trekking is no easy feat. My training for the August climb started in February. From the beginning of training, I wanted to get to a point where I felt confident in my abilities, and I also want to be an encouragement for our team when they need it most. I am painfully aware of my body’s limitations, but on that same note, I am excited to push them. I do enjoy being active and being outdoors, and I love the wonder of new scenery!

Preparation for me has looked like a great deal of strength training, walking, hiking and cardio. It’s always hot in Texas, so that has been a hurdle for outdoor training, but I suppose we have to adapt! While training my body, I have simultaneously trained my mind to let go of the fears I may have to take on this new challenge. I always remind myself of one thing: I GET to do this. This is not something I have to do, or I’m forced to do. This is something I am lucky and blessed to get to do.

When my body is sore and tired from training or working out, I always think of my mother, an angel in every sense of the word. She fought multiple myeloma bravely and graciously. Nearing the end of her life she was unable to do very basic things. She lost her ability to walk, to hold a spoon, to brush her hair. When I am exhausted from training, I tell myself, “If she can endure that, I can endure this.” Preparing my mindset in this way is just as important, if not more so, than preparing my muscles and joints. I still look to her for strength and inspiration, and she never disappoints.

I’m feeling more confident after sticking to training and being disciplined in that aspect. Embarking on such an incredible trek with a truly inspirational team has been a great motivator for me. I pull from their experiences, their strength and their encouragement. I am also so proud to be part of such an important mission. My hopes and prayers are to see a cure for multiple myeloma and the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation is leading the way in that research. Taking this trek means more than a life changing experience for me, it could mean a life SAVING experience for so many others.