5 Years has flown by!

Well, it is hard to believe that 5 years ago I was close to losing one of my best friends. Scarlet Lawrence Akins graduated to Heaven one day before her 28th birthday... every time I type this or even think about it, tears puddle in my eyes! I can't believe I type it sometimes..  She would have been 33 this coming Friday, August 5th. Scarlet was diagnosed with melanoma in April of 2006. She died 4 short months later. I thank God daily for placing such a sweet soul in my life. I owe it to her ( well and the Man upstairs) that I was able to meet the love of my life Chris Dawkins! I met him at Brookhaven Pub the night of Jody and Scarlet's wedding! Well.. I can't leave out Lauren H... she actually physically introduced me to Chris! What a sweet friend.. Now, back to the point of this story.. I get off on tangents ( it's genetic.. thanks mom)

Scarlet was one of those friends that everyone needs.. she would make you laugh when you were sad, be mad with you no matter what you were mad at! She would either lend a shoulder for you to cry on or hell.. she would break down and cry with you for no reason! She and I have a strong bond.. no one cries alone! She would make fun of herself and fun of you too, especially if you were doing something worthy of being made fun of! She was never afraid to be herself and for that, I am eternally grateful that God placed such a sweet friend in my life! I will never forget her and I will continue to strive and raise awareness for this awful disease that took her from this earth! She deserves it!!! If you take nothing from this than a sweet and sad story.. get your butt to the dermatologist!!!! I am not joking!! Everyone needs to go to the dermatologist once a year.. Melanoma Sucks and is an awful, painful, unforgiving, just plain horrific disease that shows no mercy! The other crazy thing about this junk is that it is preventable! Do your part!! Don't be a statistic.. there is virtually no survival rate from Stage 4 Melanoma!

There is also another way to band together and fight!! This year is our 5th annual PINT 5K.. Where did we get PINT.. well.. when Scarlet was sick.. she said well since I have melanoma.. I guess Pale is the New Tan!! She was so witty!! After her passing, we quickly came together to fight.. for her honor! The PINT 5K is just that, a 5K race.. it is held every year at the Ridgelake Loop close to Poplar and 240! Feel free to check out the website and register.. you don't have to run or walk.. just register and come hang out with us! http://www.pint5k.com/

We will be providing free skin screenings.. for the cost of registration $20, you get a t-shirt, awesome goodie bag, and a skin screening! The registration cost is cheaper than your co-pay! Now you have no excuse but to register! Do it peeps!!

Until Next Time....