BARBARA JO KIRSHBAUM

2004 AVON WALK FOR BREAST CANCER
Avon Chicago-June 5-6, 2004

2400 walkers----raised 6.3 million---walked 44.5 miles

I think that I have mention that my new concise way of evaluating these events is this: if my body and feet come through relatively unscathed, then the walk was a great success. So-------------the walk was a great success! I do continually feel amazed at how much the body (my body!) can endure. I have never done a day of these events without experiencing anxiety ahead of time as to whether or not I will actually be able 'do it'. So it just is amazing the body can take such a beating and still be ok. I do feel it most in my hip joints, my hamstrings and the soles of my feet. This route was great but the walk was mostly on sidewalk, which is particularly hard on the feet. Last night mine felt like I beat them to death with a stick!

The route began at Soldiers Field in downtown Chicago and the Village campsite was near west Rogers Park. That area was a few minutes from where Bob and I lived when we were first married. The street names made me feel very sentimental.

Even the weather this weekend cooperated even though the predictions for the weekend had me prepared for anything!

I sold bracelets and realized that I do that so that I can meet many more people. So, who were a few of people I met?

On Saturday I spent almost the whole afternoon with Lenore, who was walking for her best friend who recently passed away from cancer. We had a lot in common and talked each other through the very long afternoon and the most tiring part of the event. I never ran into her again on. I spent a few minutes with Pamela. She is one of 7 sisters. Three have already died from breast cancer; one is a survivor in CA and she is a 2-time survivor. I don't think I have heard of a family that has been through all of that with siblings. I wanted to talk more with her, but I lost her at the port-a-potties! When I came into the holding area to get my T-shirt, the young woman who gave it to me I had met last year. Debbie is a survivor and was happy that she had given out 2 survivor t-shirts to men because she lost her Father to breast cancer. I look forward to seeing her again in August. When I was at the airport waiting for my flight home a young woman came over to me and just touched my arm and said "thank you" and started to walk away. As she did, I called to her and asked if she was a survivor. With tears in her eyes she said "no" but that her mother was a 2-time survivor. With tears in my eyes, I was again reminded why I am doing this and of my tag says: "I walk because I can't walk away"

Thanks to all of the people I met and shared a connection with. You have all touched my heart.