Every now and then something stops you in your tracks. A few months ago, we received an email that did just that. Her name was Candace and she was inquiring about a Just Because portrait session for herself. I was immediately intrigued when I read the background on her situation.
In January, she was coming out of a difficult relationship that just wasn’t working. Then, she got the news that her sister was diagnosed with a terminal brain tumor. She felt powerless and helpless. It was at that moment that she realized that she needed a change. She needed to do something to take care of herself, but also wanted it to be something that involved helping her sister. So, she signed to complete a triathlon, which is something she had always wanted to do. She selected one that raised money for cancer research through the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
She began fundraising for the event and training with a group of people who are all there with the same vision and goal because they had all been affected, in one way or another, by cancer. Those people, her teammates, helped her realize how powerful it was to work towards something that has so much reason and emotion behind it.
Candace described the training as spiritual and healing. Every morning when she was up training at 5:00am, she was driven by the thought of her sister, as well as her own personal experiences she was having throughout the training process. She was amazed at what she was able to accomplish, which was so much more than she had ever thought possible. Candace began what she described as a “lovely” relationship with her body and wanted to treat it well by giving it enough rest, the proper food and the right amount of hydration because of all that it was accomplishing for her every single day.
By the time the triathlon came in June, Candace had raised $1,600 and could easily call her teammates her friends. Seeing her sister there, cheering her on as she crossed the finish line, was an amazing feeling.
Her sister’s health at the moment is steady. She’s participating in a clinical trial at Duke and so far, her monthly MRIs have shown no re-growth of the tumor.
Candace said that this experience taught her how to create a good life for herself in body and mind. The triathlon was out of her comfort zone, which was intimidating, but she pushed through and in return, gained so much confidence. It taught her how to get out there and go after something you want, and that it is possible to make a difference in your life and the lives of others.
When we talked on the phone, I was even more drawn to her story and her strength. Candace wanted do a portrait session to celebrate her life and spirit. She wanted to remember how she turned a dark time in life into something beautiful and to document the happiness and contentment she has with life and herself at this point in time. When I met her for the first time, I felt like I had known her for years. She welcomed me with open arms and we chatted like we were old friends. Her spirit and happiness were not hard to capture because they simply radiated in every word she said.
Candace is currently training for the Olympic-distance Nation’s Triathlon which takes place in September in Washington, DC. She’s raised over $2,600 in preparation for the 1-mile swim, 25-mile bike ride and 10k run.
If you’re interested in learning more about Candace’s experience and fundraising efforts, please visit her personal site.
*Special thanks to Bradley & Jessica Allen (336.768.6195) for doing a beautiful job on Candace’s make-up and hair!
