Inspired by the Pink Ribbon Ladies

The Internet can be a great social tool. Over the last couple of months, I’ve been so fortunate to have reconnected with some of my old friends, one of them my good friend Sue from high school 30 years ago. Another, Joel, via an e-mail sent to him by a mutual friend named Ione. All three of these friends have something in common: their lives have somehow been touched by breast cancer, either through family members, friends, or themselves.

Back in 2000 when I lived in Atlanta, I heard a radio advertisement for the Avon Breast Cancer 3-Day Walk. I started to cry. It took me years to acknowledge that when I’m touched by something that makes me want to cry, I have to get involved in some way. So sure enough, I signed up for the Lake Lanier to Atlanta 3-Day Walk that took place September 22nd through 24th, 2000.

Like a lot of walkers, I’m sure, my first thought was, Hey, I’ll lose a pound or two (I didn’t), I’ll raise money for cancer research (I did), and I’ll meet some great people (I did!). Our walking group, of which Joel and Ione were a part, met religiously every Saturday for six months and trained. Of course we trained on our own during the week. If anyone is thinking they want to sign up for the Avon walk now – no longer 3-day walks – you had better train for it. If you think walking a marathon a day – or 20 miles a day for three days back then – is a “walk in the park,” you will quickly learn otherwise. I felt bad for the few men here and there who signed up to walk for their wives or moms or sisters and didn’t train at all. These men didn’t even make it through the first day!

But then again, out of like 2,600 or so walkers, we lost about 700 of us after the first day/evening because, of all things, we just happened to walk through Hurricane Opal! And all we thought we had to worry about during our training period was keeping hydrated so we didn’t faint, and keeping our feet from getting blistered in the scorching Atlanta heat! Wrapping our feet in Zip-Loc bags and duct tape before putting on countless fresh pairs of socks, we learned, does wonders!

The first day of our event was truly nightmarish. Our camp for the night couldn’t be set up because the campground had been flooded with at least a foot of water. No food, water, and port-a-potties could be delivered. One of the two port-a-potties that had been delivered wasn’t even functional. Thousands of walkers having to use ONE port-a-potty? Uh, I don’t think so! Some people came down with hypothermia and had to be transported to the hospital. The rest of us cold and wet walkers were transported by buses miles away to a high school gymnasium so we could bed down for the night. It just seemed to be one disaster after another. Yep, not at all what we signed up for.

By midnight that night, still no dinner in our bellies, my walking partner and I were in our own homes in our own beds. I don’t know how Pam felt, but I felt like a total loser. My boyfriend at the time didn’t help me feel any better because, after all, he had told all his coworkers I was walking in this event – not one of them donating any funds, mind you – and he was only worried about saving face with them!

First thing in the a.m. the phone rang, and it was Pam telling me to get my walking shoes on, her husband was taking us to the location to meet up with the walkers that day. From this point on, the Avon walk became everything we had heard it would be: inspiring, emotional, uplifting, fulfilling . . . Cheerleading squads, motorcycle clubs, policemen, firemen, children -- people from all walks of life were cheering us on. We were amazed how many hundreds, if not thousands, of people would line the streets clapping for us and literally thanking us for walking that day. “Thank you for walking.” “Thank you for walking.” We were made to feel like heroes. And all we had to do was walk.

The best part, of course, was waiting in the stadium at the end of Day 3 for all the ladies in the pink jerseys, THE heroes, the breast cancer survivors, to come walking in. This definitely was one of the most memorable moments of my life, one I won’t ever forget.

All of us are touched by breast cancer somehow. If you are ever asked to donate to The Cause, please do so, either with your time and/or money. Give generously.

Here at the Kindred Spirits Gift Shop, I am collecting ideas so that I may provide individual gifts and create a special gift basket for the pink ribbon ladies. Let’s give the love, support, and inspiration these ladies need to get through the tough times ahead. Thank you for your input!