Avon Walk Washington DC 2009
Last weekend I participated in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer in Washington DC, an event which I have dedicated many hours to prepare for over the last four months. Before signing up for the walk, I had been wanting to find a way to volunteer to help others but I just never seemed to “find the time” or “get around to it.” When Shane’s mom, Jan, told me about her experience battling breast cancer and becoming an annual participant of the Avon Walk, I became very excited to get involved. With Jan’s help, I signed up for the walk and started on my journey to raise money and awareness for the fight against breast cancer. I did not know it yet, but I had suddenly become part of a network of incredible and empowered women, Team Every Three Minutes.
Our team name was chosen because every three minutes another woman in our country is diagnosed with breast cancer. This may seem solemn in comparison to the many witty team names and slogans I encountered over the weekend such as “Save 2nd Base,” however the team thought it would be a good reminder of the reason we have spent hours, days and even years to raise money and awareness to help end the fight against breast cancer. I volunteered to design the team shirts this year and thanks to the help of Tomas over at GYO Media, they turned out really great.
In addition to creating our team shirts, there were many other activities included in my preparation for the avon walk such as sending out emails, (if you are reading this you are no doubt are familiar with those), a very successful fundraiser at silverlake wine and even sewing tote bags.
It wasn’t until the alarm woke me at 4am on the morning of Saturday, May 2nd, after traveling across the country, that I realized how crazy I was. I have to admit that boarding a charter bus in the pitch-black morning air with hundreds of other women was probably the last thing I wanted to be doing that early. But I would soon find out that this was a small sacrifice to endure in order to be a part of this amazing experience and have the opportunity to meet so many great people. Plus, once I had consumed a giant cup of coffee -and being subjected to Angie’s deafening team whistle- I was pumped to get walking.
Opening ceremonies were held at West Potomac Park, beginning just as the sun was peaking over the horizon. I could see Jan backstage waiting to deliver her speech, a short message of hope and encouragement to the thousands of eager walkers, ready to begin their journey through DC. As she walked onstage with the five other participants who had been asked to speak at the event, our team and I waited in the front row of the audience, cameras ready. Each person had a special story to tell, as did everyone who was there that morning. There were stories of loss, struggle and grief. But above all, everyone was there for a common reason – hope.
As I walked that day I not only saw an up-close and personal view of our nation’s capitol, but an inside look into people’s hearts. Many women wore signs on their shirts with messages and pictures of lost loved ones or prayers for those who continue to struggle with their fight against cancer.
Every mile along the route their were small collections of onlookers, people who had volunteered their time for the sole purpose of cheering us on and handing out cookies, candies and smiles. It’s amazing how much a simple phrase like “thank you” or “good job” spoken by a complete stranger can push you to walk a few steps farther than you may have gone otherwise. There were a few characters that stood out along the way, but every single face I saw that day made a difference.
After completing a half marathon, Jan and I thoroughly enjoyed our time utilizing the heated foot massages at the “wellness village” Spaaaahh Zone tent. We met up with friends and watched team members arrive at the finish line having walked 26.2 miles. I spotted Shane near the parking lot with his orange safety vest and traffic-directing “light saber.” Feeling as exhausted as I was, I couldn’t imagine how tired Shane and Stuart must have felt after waking up even earlier than I did (3am!) to work on the volunteer traffic crew. Needless to say, we all slept soundly that night.
On Sunday we all awoke to the sound of rain and we knew that it would be an interesting day. Everyone gathered for breakfast at the wellness village, ponchos and all. I applaud everyone who trekked the entire 13.1 miles during the freezing downpour. Arriving at the muddy finish line, I gave a huge sigh of relief. The next challenge was waiting in the freezing rain for another hour to be a part of the closing ceremonies, where Jan would present another speech to close up the event. My comfort level had definitely dropped to almost unprecedented lows.
I salute everyone who dedicated months of their lives to raising money, sharing stories, circulating knowledge and most of all, spreading hope. More than ever before I realize that, as my mom would say, “two heads are better than one.” In this case – thousands are better than one! Together, we made a difference this past weekend and the echo of our contribution will reverberate indefinitely through the lives of many in need.
Visit my Avon Walk page for more information about how you can donate and get involved.
View my entire Avon Walk photo album.
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