A year ago next weekend, your aunt Leah and I participated in the San Diego Breast Cancer 3-Day Walk benefiting Susan G. Komen for the Cure. I was 12 weeks pregnant with you and had to get special permission from my doctor to participate.
The Breast Cancer 3-Day is an amazing 60-mile journey that helps mothers, sisters, spouses and friends get one step closer to a world without breast cancer. It is three very inspirational, very grueling, very powerful days and it was my pleasure to be a part of it.
Together, Leah and I raised over $5000 and were two among almost 4000 walkers (597 were men!). The money we raised helped to save lives.
I had walked in the event previously in 2001, so I had a a pretty good idea of what to expect…muscle aches and pains, blisters between your toes, long lines for the showers that were in trucks?!, cold nights on the hard ground in bright pink tents as far as your eye could see, entire neighborhoods urging you to take one more step by clapping and providing entertainment and snacks as you walked by and lots of heartfelt emotion.
Nothing could compare though to walking with my sister. She had every ailment in the book; from blisters and sore muscles to a strange rash all over her feet and ankles and the wrong size sports bra, but she never let any of it get her down and all the while making me laugh mile after mile after mile. It was one of the best weekends we have spent together.
This weekend, Leah is serving as a volunteer crew member in the Phoenix 3-Day Walk and I am very proud of her. We were both so motivated by the cheering and enthusiastic staff along the route as walkers, that I know having gone through it, she’ll be great being on the other side. I can’t wait to hear about her experience. Way to go, Leah!
The best is yet to be and I’m thankful that I still don’t know anyone that has had breast cancer!
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Good for you Tonya….there is something special about the 3 day isn't there! my mom and I are going this weekend to walk, we have participated in 5 of these!! I still haven't raised all my money (been really hard this year) but we are walking anyway!! thanks for supporting breast cancer!
Thanks for the props on here! Crewing was such a great experience and I am so happy that I did it! Maybe I'll crew and walk every other year. I really felt all the love from the walkers this year. They are sooo appreciative and know all the work and energy that goes into crewing. I look forward to walking with you next year in SF!