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BARBARA JO KIRSHBAUM 2009 AVON WALK FOR BREAST CANCER |
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May 2-3, 2009, Washington, DC, Avon, 3092 participants. $6.84m raised I have been home about 20 minutes! It is always better for me to write asap because that is when I am most inspired! So here goes! We arrived in DC on Thursday.....usually and customary routine. Because we were a little earlier than usual we met up with Teresa (Chicago) and Carolyn (Texas) for dinner (Both of them were part of Team California when I did my 100th walk in SD so they do have a special place in my heart). It was great to reconnect with my walker 'people' or as I was saying on the walk: my "peeps"! My plan was to sleep in the a.m. and then go down to registration on Fri. about 12:30. It actually worked out exactly like that. I then spent all day til 8 p.m. selling bracelets and all of Ronda's handmade crystal jewelry. It was good seeing Judy Cherry, since she was not in Houston, because she was doing an Avon Walk in the UK....how cool is that? I was exhausted, as per usual, when I went up to the room. Bob went to Arlington Cemetery while I was selling......he has a dear high school friend buried there and this weekend was the 10th anniversary of his death. Bob goes there every year to honor Alan and takes pictures and sends them to his wife Carol. His memory is a blessing.
I talked with Ben (29 yrs. old) and Jim (64 yrs. old) at the beginning. They actually live close to each other, but did not know each other. They had just met and had a lot in common. They were walking for the women in the lives. Ben was wearing a top fundraiser medal, which meant he had raised over $5000. How cool was that! I am always intrigued with men who are not walking with women......they are always so motivated. It was wonderful seeing Martha from San Francisco. She is a 4 yr. survivor and I met her her first year of walking. She is an incredible woman and it was a surprise to see her in DC. She will also be walking in SF this year with her team, the Life Savers. She has a really, really supportive family too and I think that over the years I have met all of the family. That is so special to me. Meg and Steve walked the whole route both days. Meg is fighting a long standing battle with cancer and to see them at closing ceremonies is a reminder of what this is all about. She is the reason we must continue to raise money. She is the hero with the guts and stamina and drive. She is the inspiration. She wept crossing the finish line.......another challenge conquered. Our hearts are with you as you continue in your fight. I saw Deb Wills and Linda. I met Deb in 2002 at the 1st SD walk. She is a many year survivor, and for the last 2 years she has been the top fundraiser in the DC walk. I am so proud of you, and it is an honor to be your friend. On Fri. I saw Allison Kelly. I met her last year, when she had no hair. This year she has short brown curly hair and just completed treatment on 4/16/09. She is absolutely amazing and I was thrilled to see her again. Allison, you look more than fabulous. On Sun. morning at breakfast, Teresa and I were sitting across from 2 young girls and a Mom. The girls are 16 y/o, and good friends. Sarah said that she has been wanting to do this for a long time......she has seen the ads in the subway......but had been too young. So she finally was old enough, and enlisted her friend Zaine, and her own Mom. They raised the money by many, many bake sales at school, and Mom took from her own savings to fund her own walk . I was so impressed by them, and they could not believe that I was doing my 102nd walk. They are our future. Go Sarah and Zaine! Kudos to Bob and his pink signs......every sign was placed in a plastic sleeve, and every sign had to be hung with special tape because of the rain. I thank you for every sign on behalf of every walker. I love you. You are the best. Thank you for reading my journal. Come back in 2 weeks......Avon Boston is next. Hugs,
Barbara Jo
Kirshbaum ONE HUNDRED+WALKS/ONE MILLION+DOLLARS |
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