Emery's Memories: 60 miles for a purpose

I went to Chicago to meet my mom at the finish line for the Breast Cancer 3 day. What an experience for me as a supporter, but much more so for my mom, as a walker. She has been diligently training for this since early this year, and raised $2300 for breast cancer research. Her team of 8 consisted of my aunt Brenda, my cousin Jessica, my aunt's sister Barb, her daughter Shannon, Barb's daughter in law Kim, and Jessica's 2 friends Kate and Heather. Their team name was Momma Grams--it was a mixture of mom's (the young ones) and grandma's (the oldies). Throughout the fundraing and the training walks, my mom was getting more excited as the time drew closer.

my mom and team after the walk- (L-R) Kate, Kim, Mom, Jessica, Brenda, Shannon, and Barb

She knew she was in for a challenge, and prepared and read all she could. 4 of the 8team members have done this walk in the past, so they helped her prepare as well. It's always good to hear from someone who has done this before.

Well her challenge turned into the hardest thing she has ever done, and has memories to last her a lifetime. She said the walk changed the way she thinks. More importantly it has done it's job and has raised awareness to her and to others.

1 in 8 women will get breast cancer and the statistics show that it can affect anyone, young or old, even men. She heard a story of a 11 yr old girl who got it, also many stories of the younger generation, one age 18, and many others in their 20-30's. It shows it's uglyness even in families with no history of breast cancer. It's something any one of us can get. "Everyone deserves a Lifetime", which is why they continue to do the walks, and the 1800 walkers plus crew in the Chicago 3 day, raised over $5 million to support breast cancer research. AWESOME !!

The final day was amazing to watch as all these walkers came across the finish line...... exhausted from the heat, from the blisters to the muscle strain and soreness, and even dehydration, many of them in tears as they accomplished something so great, putting their bodies through difficult and long days. Walking about 20 miles each day, one day in the rain, and the last 2 it was so hot and humid. All they kept thinking about was how people with the cancer had to suffer, survivors who got through the pain, and they could certainly endure sore feet, blisters, tiredness, sleeping in small 2 person tents, using port a potties all for the sake of maybe one day ridding the world of breast cancer. 60 miles for a purpose.

view of the finish line from where we were waiting

mom had crossed the finish line and gave the kids hugs

a family waiting for their "mom" with neat signs-- insiprational.

It was sheer determination for my mom. As they were running behind on Sunday, some decided to catch the bus to the last pit stop. ( there was a time limit to finish by). Wanting the team to finish together, my mom got on the bus thinking they all were getting on, and at the last minute, she found out 3 of her team decided to continue on.....my mom wanted to finish!! Miscommunication led to the 3 leaving and starting to walk ahead and my mom jumps off the bus, only to find out they had left already. So now she is left alone as 1/2 her team is off on the bus and the other half started to walk ahead. So she calls one of them on her cell phone and told them to wait for her at the next pit stop. She did double time walking to catch up so they wouldn't have to wait long. They all then walked the last 2 miles to the finish line at Soldier Field. My mom was shaking and happy all at once trying to explain what had happened, she was literally exhausted. Besides walking the entire 60 miles she did part of it at a pretty fast pace to catch up. Only her and 2 of her younger team mates (Kate and Kim) made it the entire 60 miles. Shannon had to catch a bus for a mile towards the end to catch up too, so minus 1 mile she made it pretty good too. My aunt Brenda got dehydrated on Sat. and had to have an IV put in at camp and then didn't make the start of the walk on Sunday morning, she stayed back to rest up and finished later. Heather had a ton of blisters, and couldn't walk much at all. For the most part the team stuck together and despite the struggles and challenges of it all, knew they were doing everything for the cause.

It's hard to describe what I saw and heard, it was emotional to say the least.
The kids were hot waiting for grandma to come, we did get there about 2-3 hours before she actually came, so it was hard waiting while enduring the heat, but everytime the kids or I started to complain, I reminded myself and them that grandma was walking a long ways in this heat and the many that have or had to deal with cancer. I think they got the jist of it, but it's hard to comprehend for them what grandma was actually doing and why. We found a shady spot to wait and watch, and just drank lots. They were happy to see her finally, and know that she had made it.

Lots of hugs and real emotional.

My mom has about 4 blisters, that made it difficult to walk, esp. after the walk was over, but within a few days those should be healing up. Her feet are pretty swollen, but there were many others who were worse off. SHE MADE IT !! What an accomplishment. I am so proud and glad I was there to witness some of what makes the Breast Cancer 3 day so awesome. I hope no one in my family has to ever deal with breast cancer. Please keep all the walkers and the Susan G Koman Breast Cancer 3 day in your thoughts and prayers, and who knows, she may do it again.( I may too, I was really affected by the support and outpouring of hope, commitment and determination.)

after the walk

my cousin Jessica (in the white shirt)

mom hugging her brother, Rick

Mom hugging Barb

mom after the walk-- your an inspiration to me no matter what you look like.
YOU LOOK AWESOME !!

I came across a blog from a woman who did the Chicago 3 day, she explained very well many of the experiences my mom had to a T.
Mom- I'm sure you can relate to her story. Take a few moments to read her blog by using the link below.
http://bethkujawski.blogspot.com/2009/08/3-day-day-after-chicago.html

some more pictures:
Closing Ceremony
the walkers in the middle-- one shoe off and raised in honor of the breast cancer surviors. WOW.