Seattle Breast Cancer 3-Day 2009 Highlights

The Seattle 3-Day is done. A huge project, over nine months in the making, is completed. My blisters are healing, aching muscles are beginning to relax, and I’m back out walking with my dogs again (albeit, somewhat gingerly). When I made the decision to take on the 3-Day with all that goes with it–training, fundraising, and completing the event–my motivation was to give purpose and meaning to logging the miles I cover with my dogs. I had no idea just how meaningful this event would become. Here are a few highlights (with more details to come in later posts).

There were roughly 2,200 walkers at this year’s event. Among the participants:

• A young firefighter who lost his mom to breast cancer last year–he and his fellow firefighters walked the event in uniform
• A pregnant mom walking the event in honor of her unborn daughter
• A cancer survivor who went through a double-mastectomy
• Women mourning the loss of their sisters
• Men walking in honor of their wives
• Trever McGhee who has taken on walking all 45 3-Day events around the country this year (to support him in his quest–he's already raised over $13,000 and needs much more to finish his journey–donate here).

We were supported by a phenomenal group of volunteers who crewed, fed, massaged, and treated our hurties. They took care of every aspect of the event from putting up our tents with us, helping us cross busy intersections safely, and giving us hugs of encouragement when we needed them most. Our all-volunteer medical crew was made up of doctors, nurses, physical therapists, and EMTs. The nurse that treated my blisters on the morning of the third day is currently undergoing chemo for breast cancer yet she was there, tenderly taking care of us all the same.

Hundreds of local people came out to cheer us on. We passed through neighborhoods decorated in pink ribbons and balloons. Moms and their kids passed out homemade rice crispy treats–that were colored pink. People baked cookies, brought out candy, ran their sprinklers so we could douse ourselves and cool off. They cheered, they prayed, they encouraged and thanked us everywhere we went. Two guys on motorcycles pulled off the road to shake my hand and thank me for walking. Highway workers gave us thumbs up and told us, “Good job!” Truckers blew their horns in support. The love and support was beyond imagining.

I made more friends than I can count, including “The Colonel,” Joe, who kept me going on day two when my feet were hurting so badly. My tentmate, Barbara, a breast cancer survivor, whose hospitality was boundless. Carolyn, a veteran of nearly 50 3-day events, who hails from Olla, Louisiana, only a few miles from where I grew up.

And then there was you. Thank you for your encouragement and support. I could not have done this without you. Because of your generous donations, we helped the Seattle 3-Day raise a total of over $5.5 million dollars for the fight against breast cancer.

The 3-Day was a life-changing event for me. I am altered by this experience in ways I can’t fully comprehend. It dominates my dreams and inspires my future. And yes, I am already planning to walk it again in 2010.