Blisters don't need Chemo!

Meet the Knocker Walkers

Chelli, Jen, Randi, Cindi, Cathi

Day two... across the final finish line

 Now meet the Hobbling Hooters!

Ethel, Hazel, Lucille, Mabel and Gladys

Dear Family and Friends,

WOW What a weekend!!! I am proud to say that my teammates and I completed the 39.3 miles at the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer! We were 5 of 2,100 walkers in Los Angeles who raised $5 Million to help fight against breast cancer. The weekend was an emotional roller coaster. The energy and anticipation, as we assembled in the dark on Saturday morning, was electric.  At the opening ceremonies we heard woman with breast cancer speak about their fears of losing their hair, about finding hope and courage from friends and family and mostly about staying strong in the midst of it all. She had just had her 2nd surgery that previous Tuesday and she broke down in tears and she stood facing the crowd, she expressed her gratitude to us for walking for her.

The 26.2 mile walk began at 7:30 am and it was long! By afternoon, each of my teammates and I were suffering from one ailment or another. But our mantra for sore muscles, blisters, foot pain, knee pain and calf pain was that none of these needed chemotherapy! The 5 of us stuck together the entire weekend. When one stopped we all stopped. 

"hydrate, hydrate, urinate and stretch" was often the chant at each rest stop.

The support of the Avon Foundation was amazing. We had everything we needed from medical care, to massage therapy, to people treating and popping blisters all day long. The food was never ending!!

Our camping experience was great too. We spent the night in a field filled with hundreds of blue two man dome tents. When we crossed the first finish line and arrived at camp, we were greeted by 11-13 year old Girl Scouts who we called, "Tent Angels" they offered to carry our duffle bags and set up our tents. We were so tired ands sore that this was the best gift we could have received.  Every person on the campgrounds was moving slowly that night. We were in bed by 8:30 pm and the sleeping bag never felt better.

Sunday morning we woke in the dark once again, this time the anticipation was about determination to complete of what we started the day before. Our pace was not as quick as the day before, but through all of our ailments we managed to cross the finish line, arm in arm at 1:00.

It was  an incredible experience I will never forget. I will not soon forget the woman who had three sets of triplets at home. The 1st set was 2 and the 2nd set was 6 weeks old! She was pumping and dumping her breast milk in the porto potties!! I will never forget the few men who walked alone and wore a banner on his back that read, "I walk for my wife, my BEST friend!" I will never forget the several bald women who walked always surrounded by loved ones walking for her. I won't forget the hundreds of people that lined the route and offered us encouragement, music , food and drink! There was even a dancing cowboy who stood on his car bare chested and a sweet young gal that drove from spot to spot with great tunes and encouragement!

I am grateful to my teammates who got me to the finish line laughing & crying all the way!  We all have fun and funny memories. I am grateful to you for your donations and encouraging words, texts and phone calls through out the 2 days. Plus your never ending love and support! I truly truly could not have done this with out you!

Please remember a woman living in the US has a 1 and 8 chance of developing breast cancer, a new case is diagnosed every 3 minutes, it kills 41,000 people a year one every 13 minutes! No one knows what causes breast cancer and there is no known cure... Please please Be Diligent with your mammograms & self exams!

Thank you again for supporting me in this very worthy cause!

Sincerely yours, Cathi