I still am not sure if I have digested everything we experienced this weekend, but here is my attempt to capture the spirit.
I knew it would be really emotional but I think I was under prepared for how much my heart would ache for the people we have lost. Especially with so many people yearning for a loved one's smile or laugh just one more time. It was definitely moving when the banners came in bearing simple titles like, Mother,Aunt, Sister, Friend. I think this was a lot harder for Amy and I as well because we couldn't participate with Jessica as we had planned, because she was injured and is preparing for another surgery. The fact that she's still dealing with ripples from this became more evident this weekend. I will say that the last thing she probably needed was sore feet and blisters!! :)
I would have loved for her to meet some of the amazing survivors whose spirit filled the National Mall and carried us all when our feet hurt to the next mile marker. It was truly a life changing moment when thousands of people took off a shoe and held it in the air as these remarkable women filled the center of the ceremony. I think we all felt like a shoe was the least we could raise to them, but it was significant in it's own humble way! The reality was that yes 40 women stood in front of us as conquerors but so many were on our minds who gave cancer everything they had and it still wasn't enough.
This weekend was a test for many and a tutorial for others. Some learned that walking 60 miles was achievable and might have only called it a slight challenge. Others felt the pain in their feet and knew it would be a long three days. I personally was surprised at how much your emotions played a part in the physicality of it all. On Day 2 I was really struggling, my feet were killing me, my back hurt from sleeping on the ground and I was getting really annoyed that this walk was all UPhill.. and someone asked me who the beautiful woman on my shirt was. Instantly it was like someone smacked me in the back of the head and I remembered why I was doing this. Because women die EVERY day from breast cancer. In fact I knew two amazing women who had to leave their husbands, children, sisters, brothers and many countless other relatives behind all because of breast cancer. Blisters heal, pain goes away, and eventually the 60 miles would end, but they are still gone. All I can do now is fight for the women who are here NOW.
Thank you all for supporting us and helping us join in the fight against breast cancer. The Washington DC 3-day for the Cure raised 5.1 million dollars for breast cancer research and preventative care. THANK YOU!!!!
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Reflection
I still am not sure if I have digested everything we experienced this weekend, but here is my attempt to capture the spirit.
I knew it would be really emotional but I think I was under prepared for how much my heart would ache for the people we have lost. Especially with so many people yearning for a loved one's smile or laugh just one more time. It was definitely moving when the banners came in bearing simple titles like, Mother,Aunt, Sister, Friend. I think this was a lot harder for Amy and I as well because we couldn't participate with Jessica as we had planned, because she was injured and is preparing for another surgery. The fact that she's still dealing with ripples from this became more evident this weekend. I will say that the last thing she probably needed was sore feet and blisters!! :)
I would have loved for her to meet some of the amazing survivors whose spirit filled the National Mall and carried us all when our feet hurt to the next mile marker. It was truly a life changing moment when thousands of people took off a shoe and held it in the air as these remarkable women filled the center of the ceremony. I think we all felt like a shoe was the least we could raise to them, but it was significant in it's own humble way! The reality was that yes 40 women stood in front of us as conquerors but so many were on our minds who gave cancer everything they had and it still wasn't enough.
This weekend was a test for many and a tutorial for others. Some learned that walking 60 miles was achievable and might have only called it a slight challenge. Others felt the pain in their feet and knew it would be a long three days. I personally was surprised at how much your emotions played a part in the physicality of it all. On Day 2 I was really struggling, my feet were killing me, my back hurt from sleeping on the ground and I was getting really annoyed that this walk was all UPhill.. and someone asked me who the beautiful woman on my shirt was. Instantly it was like someone smacked me in the back of the head and I remembered why I was doing this. Because women die EVERY day from breast cancer. In fact I knew two amazing women who had to leave their husbands, children, sisters, brothers and many countless other relatives behind all because of breast cancer. Blisters heal, pain goes away, and eventually the 60 miles would end, but they are still gone. All I can do now is fight for the women who are here NOW.
Thank you all for supporting us and helping us join in the fight against breast cancer. The Washington DC 3-day for the Cure raised 5.1 million dollars for breast cancer research and preventative care. THANK YOU!!!!
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