The 2010 New York Avon Walk for Breast Cancer is history. What an inspiring and memorable event! Nearly 4000 walkers, numbers of whom are breast cancer survivors, raised over $9.4 million dollars to fund research and to help provide treatment for those who need it.
Donations from my family and friends contributed $2655 to this amazing result. The commitment of women and men of all ages was almost too much for me to absorb. Reading the signs and t-shirt messages made the statistics quite personal and often brought a lump to my throat or tear to my eyes.
"Walking for Mom". "Walking for Nana". "Walking for Auntie Jess". One man was walking for his grandmother and FOUR aunts! Another woman told me she lost her best friend and vowed to walk until there is a cure. This was her tenth year walking.
There were hundreds of volunteers who marked the routes, staffed rest stops, provided medical aid, prepared food, helped us set up our tents and transport luggage, or worked in traffic safety at busy intersections. This biker, along with several others, not only volunteered, but added a touch of humor in showing support to the walkers.
Sponsors provided food, supplies, and foot and back massage at the end of the day. It was a huge undertaking, well planned and orchestrated.
Our walk began at 4:15 a.m.Saturday morning. Here we are on the subway, headed for the starting point, Hudson Pier 84.
We gathered with thousands of walkers, deposited our luggage in the appropriate truck, and grabbed some coffee.
Here we are, ready to go!
We began by walking along the Hudson River.
We walked along at a pretty good pace . . . we were at Mile 9 by 9:38 a.m. and we were at the lunch stop by 10.
We were often greeted and cheered on by supporters standing along the route. We saw this couple at at least three different spots during our 26 mile walk.
Saturday evening we joined hundreds of walkers in a tent city on Randall's Island.
We won't soon forget that experience, as we tried to pitch our tent in very blustery wind with no tent stakes provided! Later in the day, one of the men fashioned makeshift pegs out of a medium grade wire. Only then did we feel free to leave the tent!
Sunday morning sunrise along the East River.
Crossing the finish line! A bit sore and feeling our age after 26.2 miles, but exhiliarated to accomplish our goal!
Many of us stayed for the closing ceremony. The speaker was celebrity Suze Orman, one of the event's biggest fundraisers.
In it to end it . . . because every statistic is someone's best friend.
