In life you can really count the most memorable times in your life on one hand. In my life I count my marriage and temple sealing to Travis, the birth of our children, being diagnosed with breast cancer, the death of my mother and participating in my first 3-day breast cancer walk in Scottsdale, AZ. It is really hard to sum up the feelings that I experienced over the past weekend while walking sixty miles over three days, but I'll try.
First, I was
humbled. I saw 1700 fellow walkers who had sacrificed time, money, and sore bodies to help find a cure for me and the 176,000 women who will be diagnosed in the US this year and 40,000 women that will loose their fight.
Second, I was
energized. I was surround by Arizona firefighters, cub scouts, brownie scouts, girl scouts and school children, and MANY Arizonians. They cheered us on. They passed out candy, water bottles, otterpops, and stickers.
Third, I was
amazed. I couldn't believe how many regular people lined the streets of Gilbert, Tempe, Phoenix and Scottsdale to thank us for walking. What? I was thanking them for supporting us and telling us we could do it. They wheeled out coolers with water bottles, gatorade, candy, and lined the streets to give us encouragement.
Fourth, I was
heartbroken. Three times throughout the three different days, we were greeted with hugs, homemade pins with roses, and a business card with two women who were sisters who had died at age 37 and 44. The people who were greeting us were their parents. Two loving parents who lost both their young daughters to this crappy disease. They were so grateful for us walking! My heart aches for their family and for all of those who have lost someone to this disease.
Fifth, I was
pampered. Our team received 10 minute chair massages on the second night and it was heavenly. A "3 day angel" set up our pink tent for us. A volunteer carried my food tray on the first night from the buffet to the food tent. I had a lovely private mobile shower to shower in. My heel spur was totally bugging me after the first night, so I went to the medical tent and a super nice NP re wrapped my feet so that my heel wouldn't take the brunt of each step. She was an angel.
Sixth, I was
empowered. At opening ceremony we got to write who we were walking for. I wrote for my team, I wrote one for my daughter, Lauren. My sister-in-law wrote one for me, Jules Vern. We listened to the chairwoman fromm the 3-day walk's Philanthropic Foundation speak to us. She told us to picture who we were walking for every time it was tough and hard out on our walk. She talked about the good the AZ 3-day event would do. We heard 6 personal "stories" of why they were walking . I related to most of them.
Seventh,
LOL. I saw so much to laugh about. Costumes, men in pink camouflage, pink curly wigs, many many pink bras, fake boobs, clever t-shirts, hats, bumper stickers, Harleys, makeup, and tent decorations.
Eighth, I am
confident about a cure. With the Komen organization, 1700 fellow 3-day AZ walkers, 4.1 million dollars raised in the AZ 2009 3-day event, millions of dollars going to research, LOVE, and a new passionate 3-day walker, I'm confident we are just a few years away from stomping this disease into the ground.
Ray Quinney & Nebeker WALKERS!!!!
Ninth, I was
speechless. During closing ceremonies at the Scottsdale Stadium,organizers had all the survivors who completed the 3-day, walk into the stadium together. A hush fell on the crowd. The speaker spoke amazing an incredible things about OUR journey through breast cancer and what we might feel. knees bent down and the other walkers held up a shoe and held it above their heads. This is how the walkers honor the walkers who are survivors. Tears just rolled freely from my eyes.
Tenth, I am
incredibly grateful for everyone's generosity and charity. Every person I know made a donation whether towards my fund raising goal, yard sale items, help with plane tickets, t-shirt designs, airline tickets, treats, walking DVD, guest house for our team, team t-shirts, shoes, dinner at Pei Wei in AZ from a stranger, kind words, prayers and thoughts about my poor feet that have been troubled with heel spurs (I walked all 60 miles by the way!), and finally lots of "atta girls".
Finally,
I AM LOVED. This one will be long. From the very first day I decided to participated in the 3-day walk I knew who I wanted to walk with. I wanted to be with my family and who ever wanted to join us. My sister in law Tracie signed up right away. Shari, my sister followed. Angie joined next followed by Deb. I was loved. Each of us had to fund raise $ 2,300 to walk. I received incredible support from many donors to my walk, my sister and Angie. I couldn't have done it with out all their help. I had much help with our Yard Sale for the Cure from my Aunts and cousins and friends. I received cute cards, cute pink gifts, a Komen Christmas ornament, a last minute one-way plane ticket to AZ when my buddy pass didn't fly, and lots of things I'm forgetting. I had a dedicated walking buddy, Tracie, my sister-in law. She signed up before she was pregnant, but never missed a beat. Tracie and I walked miles around the Day Break Lake, the District, 106th South, and the Oquirrh Mountain Temple. I love her dearly and don't know what I do with out her. I have had lots of walking buddies including the gals I walk with in the morning (Jesica, Amee and Shanna) and on long walks, Tiffany, and Alison. It is amazing to have so many people being willing to walk with me nearly every long walk. A mother-in-law who traveled with us and met us at every rest stop along the way to cheer us on, and take pictures. Finally, I am MOST loved by Travis and my children. I spent a lot of time away from home training and my cute husband never complained. He just cheered me on and welcomed me home with pink roses and a endearing card. My children walked with me on shorter walks, drew pictures, and painted a welcome home sign and tied up pink balloons. I am loved and love everyone right back!
When I think about my 3-day experience, the thing I want to remember the most was the sweet spirit that encompassed us. There was NO negativity. Everyone was so kind and helpful. Smiles abounded; kind words were showered everywhere you went. Hope and optimism filled the air. I will always treasure this experience!
