Breast Cancer 3-Day

How humble am I after this experience? I wasn't exactly sure what I was getting myself into until we arrived at Southfork Ranch Friday morning at 6:30 am. There were thousands of people all decked out in various shades of pink, some with feathers, some with crowns, some with no hair from chemo. The sheer numbers were staggering. The determination of everyone in that crowd could bring you to your knees. While most were women, there were a handful of men who took on the journey to honor the women in their lives who suffered from breast cancer.

Four marines who walked carrying 45 pounds of full gear

As we started walking, it was an adventure, smiles on faces, cheering as we went. As the first day wore on and muscles begin to ache, some smiles faded, but the cheering continued as people lined the streets to cheer us on. If you couldn't walk anymore, the SAG bus would come along and either pick you up and take you to the next pit stop or yell words of encouragement.

SAG bus

This was by far the most difficult thing I have ever done - both physically and emotionally. It strips you down to bare bones, who you are. No make-up, no flushing toilets, no comfy bed, just you, your thoughts and the folks on the sidelines cheering you on with tears in their eyes. At one point, we were walking a car stopped and a women came running towards us. I simply thought she saw someone she knew and was coming to give them a hug and words of encouragement. She didn't know any of us - she was a survivor and with tears, unbelievable gratitude and raw emotion in her voice told all of us thank you, she had no nipples, but she was alive. Another lady was at EVERY cheering station with a sign that said her right breast thanked us. Their were little boys with signs, "Thank you for walking for my mom", "Real men were pink", "Fight like a Girl". There were little girls with signs, "Thank you from me". While I walked to honor my mother-in-law and my cousin Kay, both survivors, I also walked to honor and support the family members who become the support group for the victims of this disease. It affects more than just the person who received the diagnosis and I am proud of the contribution I made to help stomp out this disease.

My team - The Rack Starz - raised over $9,000. Team members: Cousin Mendy, Cousin Stacy, Stacy's husband Charles and our not official member Jill (she was walking alone, so we adopted her).

We laughed alot, we cried together, we made fun of Charles (who by the way, didn't get a single blister), but we persevered together as a team. And let me tell you, should you ever need someone on your side, I highly suggest you pick a Parks girl (our maiden name) we never give up.

Home Sweet Home

I managed to walk all 21 miles the first day and still walked into camp with a smile even though my pinkie toe was twice it's size due to the blister.

After Day 1 - Scuba sign for "I am Ok" Day 2, it was cold getting started at 6:50 in the morning, but we marched on. Shortly after lunch, my right foot was hurting - hurting bad. It got to a point where I had to make the decision do I continue and risk injury (remember I got a stress fracture in my left foot in January doing some over zealous training) or take the Sag bus and get myself checked out. While it was disappointing, I wouldn't complete all 60 miles, I didn't embark on this journey to hurt myself but to help find a cure for a disease, so I stepped to the side, tears running down my face and crossed my arms over my head (the signal to the Sag bus you can't go on). My team members cheered me on and shouted words of encouragement and I promised to rest and would see how I felt at the next Pit stop. I didn't make too many more steps that day. At camp, I went to see Medical who said I did have some swelling and they Red Tagged me (which means I couldn't walk at all anymore) and told me to put ice on it for the evening and stay off my feet - they would re-evaluate in the morning. When I checked in with Tony, I was sobbing. I wanted to finish every step of this journey and was so disappointed there was a chance I wouldn't be able to continue. The next morning, Medical opened at 6:00 am, I was in line at 5:00 am. My foot hurt ----BAD, but I was determined to get my card back and cheer my team on. Without my card, I couldn't even ride the Sag bus, I would simply be bused straight to lunch and would miss all the morning pit stops and cheering stations. I told the trainer it still hurt, but not as bad. I also told her I really wanted to cheer on my team and walk across the finish line with them and that I would not try to be a hero. She gave me back my card and I rode the bus to Pit stop 2 and waited for my team. While waiting, I cheered on the other walkers as they came in and stretched - trying to warm up my very cold and sore muscles in 4o degree weather. My team arrived, doctored up some blisters and off we went. I walked for about 2 miles, and Sag'ed it to lunch which turned out to be a good thing as I was able to get lunch for my team. By the time, they arrived, having already walked 9 miles that morning, the line for food was over an hour long. They were able to walk in, sit down, take off shoes and look at the miserable condition off their feet (except for Charles - whose, stinky, sweaty boy feet evidently don't get blisters). After lunch, I took of with the team. It was slow going at first, as my muscles were tight and sore and screaming, but after a couple of miles, everything started to settle in, even my foot. The longer I walked, the faster the pace. At one point, I was out walking my team members, which I hadn't done all weekend. I have no idea where the energy came from, or the ability, but I was moving. I did stop and wait to keep everyone together - afterall, Mendy, Stacy, Charles and Jill had already walked over 10 more miles than me. I am very proud of them. As the finish line got closer, my pace got quicker. Once it was in sights, the five of us, held hands and crossed that finish line together. Mendy and I crying, Stacy and Charles laughing at us. It was an amazing accomplishment and I am very proud of my family. Their perseverance, determination and unyielding support makes me very proud to call them family and friend.

All in all, I walked 48 of the 60 miles. Not bad for a first timer - yes, I do intend on doing it again. It is a cause I believe - if a cure can be found for breast cancer, think of what it can do for other cancers as well.

I cannot end the post without thanking some folks for their support. All of the folks who donated to help me raise my $2200. Through the foundation, it costs $5.00 for a mammogram. Think about how many lives your donation could save? I also have to thank Charles' parents who volunteered at the 3-day. When we arrived at camp on Friday, they had already pitched our tents (decorated with ballons and Pink ribbons with our names) for us, so we could just relax. They were there to go fetch Ibuprofen and what ever other necessaties we had forgotten & they took down our tents for us on Sunday morning. It was nice to have their smiling faces and words of encouragement every day.

While I am nursing huge blisters, sore feet and aching muscles, I can't wait to do it again.