There is one thing that has boggled my mind for years, an idea that I cannot quite wrap my mind around and that is the idea of suffering. I question why God would allow for so many people to endure such painful things. This realization first came to mind when my sister got sick and a whole new world was shown to my family and me. But when the cancer walk commenced yesterday, I was reminded of the fact that we are not alone in our suffering.

When I stepped onto the track, I walked on with two goals in mind. One, to complete twenty miles over the duration of the cancer walk. And two, to be certain I put my heart and soul into every lap for those who have suffered the fight. My sister has been fighting her AVM (Arteriovenous Malformation) for almost ten years now. We have seen the pain and suffering in her eyes. Since her stroke in 2012 we have watched her struggle to function at one hundred percent but she keeps fighting because that is who she is. Yesterday, I walked side by side with her and many other fighters who struggle just like she does.

The walk began with a very strong woman, whom I know personally, who kept fighting and finally conquered her battle with stage four breast cancer. She gave cancer the boot as we like to say. With her compassion and drive and hundreds of others, our small little community raised over 180,000 dollars for the Lamoille Area Cancer Network (LACN). It is people like her who make a difference in the world. Alongside her there were hundreds of other people who walked, donated, and contributed their time to touch the lives of cancer victims and survivors. Every person motivated each other to push past the pain and go another lap in honor of those who are now cancer free, still battling cancer, and in memory of those who have passed away. One little boy in particular was my ultimate motivator.

I started the walk on my own. I busted my butt trying to ensure I would finish the twentieth mile before the day was through. As I reached the five mile mark I was feeling the pain but this little boy reminded me that I could do it. We became each other’s cheerleaders. He would look up at me when I complained and say, “I believe in you. You can do this. We will be there for each other.” And he was. Together he and I walked almost every mile after that. The day was coming to a close and I only had one mile left and his father wanted him to watch the fireworks with him so I finished on my own. But it was okay because I just kept thinking to myself that I could do it. I could achieve my goals because no pain I was going through at that moment would ever add up to all the sufferings that cancer patients and my sister, Sayde have undergone. This taught me a few new lessons. First, with a little push along the way anything is possible. This sweet little body taught me that. Second, even though the struggle is hard and seems impossible, these cancer patients are examples of strong people who can endure anything and everything. Third, I am proud to be a part of a community like this, a community of people who work together and show each other compassion in their time of need.

Yesterday was quite the eye opener to me and I hope that it will open the eyes of others to the ultimate lesson I learned: suffering may seem unfair and unnecessary but it can also make you so much stronger. Thank you to all those who suffer for showing me that pain is not a weakness, it is a symbol of strength.