Seattle Breast CA 3Day--Aug. 25-27, 2006--2600 walkers--$6.9

 

This walk was dedicated to our friend's son, Chris Wendle, from Kent, WA.  Chris is a 4 yr. survivor of leukemia.  It was an honor to carry his picture and be reminded that his fight has been greater than any blister or soreness I have ever experienced.

 

I cannot believe how 'fine' my body and feet feel after arriving home at 1 a.m. this morning after this walk!  It is 10 am on Mon. and I have already been to the gym to weight train.  Don't ask!  I didn't realize we would be arriving home so late when I made the appt. to be at the gym at 8 am, but I did it and feel great.

 

The week end started off by a visit to our friend's, the Wendle's, who we hadn't seen in over 30 yrs.!  We were treated to a lovely lunch and lots of gabbing about memories and talk about their son Chris to whom I dedicated this walk.

 

Everyone on the walk was complaining about the heat.  It was in the low 80's!  That was pretty funny to me since the weather here in CA today is predicted at over 100. I guess it is all about what you are used to----right?!

 

I must say this walk was quite challenging, because of the hills.  The first day there were lots of them, but they seemed pretty rolling to me--not too steep, though people were still complaining.  However, by day 2 and 3 there were several that were quite steep.  The 'Rocky' music helped! But you know what happens when you finally get to the top of a hill----you have to walk down and often that is harder on the joints, chins, toes, ankles etc, etc!!  So, the question that people always ask me--"was it a good walk?"--my answer is always based on finishing.  I finished--therefore it was a 'good' walk!  Actually, I can still say I have finished every walk, but I have enough sense to know that it might not always be possible.  Anyway,  it was a 'good' walk.

 

This walk did go through a few small communities, which is always my favorite part.  We walked through Redmond, Kirkland, and Bothell.  The community support was great.  There were many people handing out licorice, candy, popsicles, Gatorade, cookies and even carnations.  There were signs of welcome all over including pink ribbons.  The Redmond police dept. was  giving blue rubber bracelets with pink writing that said Cops for the Cure!  I wore my blue bracelet as did most walkers all week end. I have never seen support in that form from a police department (except the San Jose Police that crew the SF and SD walks) .  They also had 6 walkers on the event walking in honor of a colleague.  It was a privilege to talk with them at dinner and share some time.  Go Redmond police!

 

I saw many old friends:  Mike who walks all of the Avon events, and will soon be celebrating a birthday and 1000 walked miles for breast cancer ; George, the 74 yr. old, who is from MI whose family was there; William, the man that wears the kilt, boots and carries a back pack; Jeanne and Bill who crew trash at lunch; Mary, who I met last year at a bagel shop after the walk; several of the beautiful people who have e-mailed me through the year introduced themselves;  the Warming Hut Hotties from San Francisco who made beautiful flower pins for every walker and themselves wore their butterfly wings; Courtney, who sells fabulous breast cancer pins at Pinkwings.com; and many others, that as I am writing this the names do not come to mind (I am a little mushy brained 'the morning after'! To all of you, I thank you for saying hello and sharing some time.

 

I do want to mention about Don, who is walking in honor of his wife.  He likes to play with words so I told him if he had time he could e mail me with ideas for new pink signs.  The second morning he handed me 3 small sheets of paper with a dozen ideas!  I did get a kick out of that and may incorporate some of them!  Thanks Don.

 

One of the fun parts was at lunch on Fri., the crew captain, Kurt, asked if I would do an interview on the radio.  The radio station was set up at the lunch site so I did a live interview.  I  once did a phone interview that was broadcast, but this was different doing it face to face.  Thanks for that privilege of telling Seattle listeners about the walk and giving me an opportunity to remind them about self examinations and mammograms.  Thanks Kurt for arranging that.

 

I walked/talked with Lori from So. CA.  Congratulations on being a 5 yr. survivor.  You are so upbeat and it sounded like you enjoy life and are a great example for your children.  Thanks for sharing your story with me.

 

I talked with Pete.  His mother had breast cancer and his father had prostate cancer.  He spoke about himself and his family without even knowing I am a therapist!  He did this walk to 'give back'!.  It sounds like he has learned a lot about himself and it was a joy listening to that.  Thanks for being so open with me.  The hug was good too!

 

I spoke with Cindy and her sister.  She was diagnosed last year and was being treated until April.  So her training didn't start until then.  She owns a local Italian restaurant and had raised a lot of money.  Go Cindy!

 

I spoke with a 22 yr. old woman who has an 8 yr. old daughter.  She has gotten her life together and has just bought a home.  I was so impressed with her and the direction she is choosing for her life.

 

At closing ceremonies I was sitting under a tent with 100's of other walkers.  I was sitting listening to a woman talk about the woman who was doing so many walks and had raised so much money.  She had no idea I was sitting next to her, because we had never met.  It really was pretty funny.  This young woman had lost both her mom and dad just a year ago in their 50's.  She had just married and I certainly wish her happiness.

 

It seemed to me that I heard so many stories this walk, not just related to cancer. It is interesting what motivates people to push their limits as far as fund raising and as far as challenging their body.  It was a great walk and thank you Seattle.

 

Just a reminder to all of you reading this--don't forget your mammograms and regular self examinations and remind all of the women in your lives to do the same.