Our 3-Day Story

WE DID IT!!! Cheri and I completed the entire route of the Breast Cancer 3-DAY September 12, 13, & 14. We've already shared this experience with some of you. This post is for everyone else.

Friday the 12th, we awoke early and were at Bellevue Community College shortly about 5:15 a.m. We wanted to get at the front of the line, because we wanted to walk in the cool morning air as much as possible. We watched the sun rise behind the stage. We dropped off our camp bags, which included our clothes in several 2-gallon zip-lock bags, our sleeping bags and air mattresses (each bag weighing less than 35 lbs), grabbed our water bottle or hydration pack and our pink jackets, then headed off for the Opening Ceremonies. After a few guest speakers and some stretches for us to do, five breast cancer survivors walked in and formed a life circle. Tissues were passed around, then the cheers began and we headed out for our first 20.7 miles.

The first cheering station stretched for more than a half-mile as the community came out in force, including kids and survivors passing out candy and waving pom-poms. Our day consisted of Pit Stops and Grab-n-Go’s, every 2-3 miles, all having port-o-potties – very clean ones. Pits Stops had snacks, water, sports drinks, ice and medical tents. Grab-n-Go’s had water, sports drinks, potties, ice and medical tents. All had a cheering squad at the entrance. At lunchtime, our routine was to get ice on our feet while eating a great lunch. We then checked out our feet, replaced moleskin, if necessary, and changed into clean dry socks. Throughout the route people cheered from the sidelines or honked their car horns as they drove by.

After 8 hours walking around Bellevue, we arrived at camp (Marymoor Park in Redmond), set up our pink 2-person tent, took our showers and ate our dinner. Large trucks were mobile shower rooms that always provided warm water. That evening there was entertainment and a karaoke show.

The next morning was cool and foggy and Cheri and I were first in line for our 20.7 mile trip around Kirkland and Redmond. The second day provided more great vistas and lots of up and down hills and lots of cheering crowds. Family members, including Patty, our team namesake, met us at cheering stations and took pictures. This day’s trek took us an hour less. We always stopped and filled up on water and used the port-o-potties, but since we started our walk before some people got out of bed, we were able to stretch our legs and walk at our own pace and the day just went faster for us. However, when we returned, we stopped at the 1st aid self-help table, where medical staff helped us treat our blisters (one each). They had different tubs of moleskin in the correct shapes for heels, or balls of the feet or between toes. The EMT told us to ice our blisters – 20 min. on and 20 off and repeat, then sleep with our feet elevated and we would be new women in the morning.

That evening we found out we were a winner in the Tent Decorating Contest and that Cheri had won the La Croix door prize - I'll let her tell you about it!

We awoke at 4:00 the final morning (not exactly “new women”, but with properly place moleskin bandages, we were ready for the last leg of our journey. It began with a short bus ride under a full moon. We walked to Green Lake and were greeted by a HUGE cheering station! Lunch was a Gas Works Park with a gorgeous view of the Seattle skyline. From there we crossed over the Freemont Bridge. We then headed downtown for the Closing Ceremony at the Seattle Center. The very last part of our walk was into the area where all finishers congregated and everyone cheered. It was emotional both as a receiver of the congratulatory cheers and high fives and, later as those cheering the ones arriving after us.

We walked into the stadium and looked for our family members. Larry and I had made a fluorescent pink banner and our family had centered themselves near it, so as impossible as it seems, we found them in the crowd.

3,250 people crossed the finish line, about 1000 more than last year. 329 of the walkers were survivors. Most were women, but 254 were men. Together they helped raise $8.6 million for Susan G. Komen for the Cure and the National Philanthropic Trust Breast Cancer Fund. ($2.2 million more than last year.) And from all efforts, Pink for Patty raised $7326 in our fight against breast cancer - for all the women and girls we know!!! Thanks for all of your support!