FYI – walking 39.3 miles in 2 days for the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer PLUS camping overnight in horrendous storms is HARD. But not as hard as being diagnosed with breast cancer, I bet. I never would have made the whole distance if it weren’t for my incredibly driven walking partners — and they felt the same way.
I was never raised as a real team player. As most of us that are over 50, girls didn’t play team sports. (I don’t consider being in the same gym class a “team” — though the common embarrassment of having to wear gymsuits did offer some kind of bond….) Didn’t belong to a sorority, didn’t even have a big family, so I never felt much like a joiner. But what a great team to join.
Every 3 minutes, someone in America is diagnosed with breast cancer. Women and men, young and old. So much of the $7.7M we raised is going toward research for a simple breast cancer test (bye, bye mammograms!), for less expensive treatments, gene research and other breakthroughs being conducted by Chicagoland doctors and hospitals. The rest is going for diagnosis and treatment for uninsured and low income people so they have access to the good care most of us have.
To all of you who honked while we walk – THANK YOU! We loved waving back – and if you noticed our 2-handed wave, that’s “applause” in sign language – and an important gesture to keep our hands and fingers from swelling into little sausages.
To all of you who walked – THANK YOU! I’m proud to be part of this “sorority” of selfless people who lived their commitment.
To all of you who donated or supported the walkers in any way – THANK YOU! We couldn’t have done it without you.
To all of you brave women and men who have or had cancer – THANK YOU! For keeping hope alive and being the strong inspirations you are.
Many of the walkers write who they’re walking for on signs on their backs. There were many powerful images and statements. But one of our favorites (outside of some hysterical boob jokes) was “I’m walking so the only pink ribbons my daughter will wear are for her hair.” Wahoo!
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