So, I am a little behind on the updates. Sorry about that. I could say that it is because we are SUPER busy but that has become the norm so I can’t blame it in that. Um, let me think, I walked the 3Day a few weeks ago. That is a good excuse. Let’s use that one for now. Here are the pictures if you would like to check them out. I am still waiting on pitcutres from my team members. I will let you know when I have added more. There are a few great ones that I am waiting for. The walk was amazing as it was last year.
Here are my stats:
Completed miles: 52
Blisters: 2
Trips to the med tents: 0
Showers taken in a mobile trailer: 2
Conversations about boobies: Lots
Tears shed: Lots More
Total Amount raised: $6.5 million
Total number of walkers: 2,200,
The feeling that I made a difference: Indescribable.
This year was different than last so it is hard to say which one was harder. I trained harder this year so that helped me out tons. But the walk was not about me. It was about having power. Power of numbers, Power of people, Power that a difference can be made, Power of believing the there can be a world without breast cancer.
Everyone had very powerful stories about how their lives were touched by the strong hand of breast cancer. I read a story by a CNN writer who walked in Atlanta this year. She wrote about her journey during the walk. If you know anything about the 3Day you know it truly is a journey. Anyway, she said that she didn’t have a story to tell. Her life had not been touched by breast cancer she walked because she wanted to be a part of something big. She felt guilty that she hadn’t lost someone or gone through treatment herself. Now, I don’t know anyone directly that has breast cancer. so I could relate to her story. Do I feel guilty about that? No. Did I feel a little uncomfortable telling my non-story to someone who lost their mother or sister to breast cancer? A little. But I walked so that I won’t have a story. I don’t want to wait until it attacks someone that I love to do something.
On the walk we met long term survivors, newly diagnosed individuals and even some terminally ill individuals who are making their last efforts at creating a hope and a future for the next generation. Two of the walkers wore shirts that had a picture of very sweet kids on it. On the bottom it said. “We walk because they (the kids) will never hug their Grandmother.” It made my heart ache for those mothers walking for their kids. I know that they were walking in honor of their mother but also for themselves. They have those kids counting on them to help stop this disease.
There were two cheering stations each day. I think that they had them very well placed. When the day was getting long and we needed a little push there was a cheering station near. It was amazing how people cheering you on can make you feel like you can do anything. Like walk a few more miles. At one of the stations there was a lady with a sign that read, “My Mom would have thanked you.” One of my team members gave her a hug. What else can you do after reading that? My favorite cheering was Saturday morning. Branden and Garrett were there with our friends Kara, Chris and their little boy who is one of Garrett’s friends Aaron and Josh, Marietta’s boyfriend. The boys had been very busy getting ready to see us. Branden had the idea to make t-shirts. So Josh came up with a snappy slogan and they put it on the shirts. It read, “Bras aren’t the only supporters of Boobies” and yes, even Garrett had one on. Branden also thought it would be nice if we wore corsages so Josh made everyone on our team beautiful corsages and we wore them with pride the rest of the day. It was great to have a visual of the support that we had back home. Seeing my boys gave me a huge boost to get through the day. I loved it.
It was hard to get through it but I met all of my personal goals along the walk. I told my team early on that I wanted to complete a few things. I wanted to walk through all of the cheering stations, walk into camp everyday, walk out of camp everyday and walk into closing ceremonies. Whatever happened in between I was fine with. I met all of my goals. I would have liked to walk all 60 miles but I didn’t want to kill myself. Looking at my list you may not think it would be that hard to do. Some of my team members listened to their bodies and stopped walking and were not able to complete the list. I commend them for knowing when to stop. The most important thing was that we finished as a team and walked into closing together.
I was fortunate enough not to get injured and have to go to the medical tent. But others did not have the same good luck that I had. The look on their faces was heartbreaking. Knowing what those ladies went through to prepare for the walk is unreal. They thought they did everything right but their bodies told them otherwise. They were crushed. They felt like they had let their supporters down. Yes, the important thing is that we raised the money, we get that. But it is also personal. We want to walk for those who can not. We want to walk for each person that gave us money that went to our fundraisers. Can you imagine raising the money, training and then twisting your ankle and being told you can’t continue? It brings tears to my eyes thinking about it. We put ourselves through a lot during the walk. We know that walking won’t find a cure, the money will. We know that walking won’t bring back the millions that have lost their lives to breast cancer but it will generate faith and hope for the families that have lost someone.
I was looking in the newspaper and ended up on the obituary section. I saw a picture of a beautiful young woman that caught my eye. I read on, she died at the age of 34 from breast cancer. She was diagnosed at 30. She left behind a loving husband and 2 young children, a boy and a girl. I look at that and think that could be me and it scares me. I said a prayer for her and her family. She is one of the people that we all walked for and didn’t even know her.
I am not going to walk next year. I need a year off to concentrate on my family. I am going to miss it. I was already talking about how much I am going to miss it while walking this year. I will however be one of the many walker stalkers that follow the walkers along and cheer my heart out for them.
I held each of you in my heart as I walked. I walked for all, so hopefully you won’t have a story to tell either.
Hopefully the next few days will go as smoothly. 
