Missing: 13-year old Des Moines Girl

I will be the first to admit, Tiffany Speck could simply be a runaway.  But at just 13-years old, she is still in danger.  Even though I don't know her family, something about this girl feels personal and that's why I am posting it.  


I remember 13, it sucked.  My parents had split up a few years before, I was helping raise my two younger brothers, I got my curves before all of the other girls (and was made fun of for it) and I was depressed.  The last in that list was the hardest, because nobody put a name on it.  Instead I was sent to a psychologist who told me, "You are a rebellious brat who is trying to make things more difficult for your parents.  You are not special.  You should be drugged until you cooperate."  Nice. 


I don't know Tiffany's world.  Her life could be idyllic, she may have never had a blue thought.  On the other hand, even in the best of homes, you can sometimes feel alone.  And that loneliness can lead you down a path on which you may be too young to see the danger.  Personally, I am praying she's safe, tucked away at a friend's house that is great at keeping a secret.  Either way, let's find her.  Her picture and info are below.

13-year old Tiffany Speck

Tiffany Speck was last seen November 5th around 8:30 am on the corner of South Union and Kirkwood on the Southside of Des Moines, IA.

She was wearing a black sweatshirt with a McKee School logo on the left shoulder, jeans and grey sweater boots. Tiffany is 5’ 2”, 145 lbs., brown eyes, her hair is blond on top, brown on the bottom.

If you have any information on her please contact Detective Jeff Shannon at 515-237-1550 or the Des Moines Police at 515-283-4811. A witness reported seeing her coaxed into a red Cadillac after missing her school bus.

Yours in Health,

Kate

Race for the Cure - Des Moines 2010

My voice is gone.  I stood at the finish line of the Race for the Cure yesterday with the ladies from the Mercy Cancer Center.  We were cheering on the 25,000 heroes who were helping raise money and spirits in the fight again breast cancer.  I cheered loudly, used my clapper, gave high fives and was inspired.

Thousands of people streamed past me - women, men, children, dogs - all with one purpose, the eradication of a deadly disease.  A disease that will infect 1 in 8 women and 1 in 100 men and affect hundreds more who love those people.  With early detection it doesn't have to be a killer, but it still has to be battled - a team makes that easier.

And that's what you saw yesterday, team after team - Testes for Breasties, Amanda's Army, Team Fight Like a Girl and many other creative efforts put forth for a little fun in a sea of serious.  People walked and ran for victims who had lost their fight.  Women came in wheel chairs because they were too sick from chemo.  It wasn't a place to extol traditional physical beauty - many were bald from radiation, no make-up, one breast - instead it was beauty of spirit that caused cheers and claps.

I was moved, not only by the vast swath of pink that was moving in unison through downtown Des Moines, but by the power of love.  I was honored to be on the side of the street where survivors walked by in a special chute, just for them.  They smiled, they cried, they cheered, they hugged, they danced in pride - they made us all believe.

Thank you to Mercy Cancer Center for inviting us to be a part of the cheer section that welcomed everyone back to the capitol, it was wonderful, even if I have no voice to say it out loud. ;)

Yours in Health,
Kate