Have you ever felt like you were over something only to find it brought back to the surface?  I mean I knew I would never get over having cancer, but my past few weeks at breakneck speed it has been almost possible to forget.  Not in the quiet places, but in the activity it seems as if it was all a bad dream.  Yesterday the deep places cried out again at the finale of the 3-Day walk for breast cancer.  It does not matter that I did not have breast cancer.  They do not have a walk for ovarian and uterine cancer, but that is beside the point.  The point is that almost 3,000 people walked 60 miles to raise money for cancer research.  One of those 2,500+ people was my sister, Melinda.  That was the point. 

As I stood at the finish line waiting with my family, I shed tears when each group of women crossed the line.  For hours they came.  Many were themselves in tears because they had made it for someone, in memory or in honor.  I could not help but wonder about the stories of each one.  There has to be something monumental to drive you to walk 60 miles in three days.  I watched a little girl make a sign to wave that said, “in memory of my mom.”  People around us had items of remembrance to wave as the walkers came.  A blue and yellow striped scarf and a pumpkin hat were solemn expressions of love lost.  Many of the walkers wore shirts with pictures of their friends, moms, sisters and daughters. The since of loss was palatable. 

Yet, the celebration of the event brought a great sense of hope.  Hope for a cure. As the women walked, cars rode by at intersections and honked their horns.  People held signs and balloons to motivate the walkers to continue their journey…their mission.  Music was playing and despite blisters, they walked.  My sister walked. I held my bright orange sign with block letters that said YOU DID IT SIS! I AM PROUD OF YOU.  My mom had pink balloons.  Melinda’s children, Sarah and James held bouquets of flowers.  My dad’s camera was snapping. Her husband Steve, my Aunt Betty, and my brother Michael stood as lookouts to spot her coming. It was a family affair. I cannot really describe how my heart felt to see her coming across the street to the finish line. It caused my tears to flow harder, and in our embrace I felt joined in the journey…she in mine, and I in hers. We were united together against a common enemy.  The hug acknowledged the hard fought battle on both our parts, her determination to walk and my determination to live.

The closing ceremony was a celebration of massive proportions. The atmosphere was electric, as if Olympic athletes were entering the park. Only they were not Olympic athletes, they were normal everyday people…walking with a purpose.  Teachers, business people, moms, all people like you and me.  They marched in arm in arm, some limped, and some danced. All smiled. Inspiring pink banners moved through the crowds when the walkers approached. Over 350 volunteers filed in behind the participants as they all arrived at the victory circle. Thousands of spectators surrounded thousands of participants in one huge show of unity. 

Then, came the survivors.  The speaker shared moving words of hope and courage as they entered the center of the circle. The deep places of my painful journey surfaced as the rivers of tears flowed down my cheeks. Mom joined me with a tearful embrace, and we stood holding one another in remembrance of the past year. The walkers lifted thousands of shoes in a salute of honor, as if to acknowledge the pain of the walk was minimal compared to the journey of surviving cancer.  It was an overwhelming step towards the healing of emotions for everyone touched by this disease.

 I left feeling inspired, as if my journey was not in vain, but was one that touched those around me. The same is true of my sister and her team.  Their determination to make a difference raised $68,000!  Eighteen amazing women, empowered to walk for 3 days…what a journey!

And now my readers, that brings me to you and all those that gave to this event.  Amazing and inspirational describe you as well.  You rose to the occasion and gave.  You may not feel you did that much however, the final total for all of the donations was 6.6 million dollars, and every dollar counted.  For the walkers, the journey was long and hard.  Families that have lost loved ones, as well as those of us that have survived, appreciate all the effort from so many to do so much.  My sister said it well, “For these three days it was as the world should be.  Everyone got along and was united to work together.”  I could not have said it better myself.  Thanks sis!