The true joy of life is in the journey!

Day 3

We're almost there...really...

We started Day Three at 5 AM. I could hardly get myself awake and the morning was a blur. It was freezing, the wind was still blowing and it was wet. The first peek of gray daylight revealed thousands of soggy campers struggling to pack up their belongings and fold up their tents in the heavy, dense fog and mist. But we were excited to start the final leg of our journey. We managed to get dressed and packed up, dropped our gear off at the truck and headed for breakfast. They always made sure we started with a full stomach. Eggs, bacon, sausage, cereal, fruit, pastries, coffee, tea, milk, it was all available. We ate quickly, anxious to get started early. We hurried to the camp exit, with one last potty stop before we head out.

The Day Three walk took us along Skyline Blvd through San Bruno, So. San Francisco, Daly City, Pacifica, through Fort Funston, and into San Francisco along Pacific Coast Highway. Into Lindley Meadow at Golden Gate Park we had our lunch stop. The early morning route was foggy, wet, windy and cold. I marched on, thinking about nothing else but putting one step in front of the other, feet sore, back hurting, knees and shins aching. I pressed on...

By Day Three, you don’t even think about it: you pee, grab water, Gatorade, and food. It’s just a mindless routine. Stretch while you’re standing in line; inevitably see the same people you’ve seen the previous two days. The walkers are also desperate for something to distract us from the next 20 steps, and the next 20 after that. Someone reworks the lyrics to a Sound of Music standard, and we belt out our new theme song as it passes up and down the ranks:

Climb every mountain
Stretch every hour
Pee at every pit stop
Until you reach the shower.

Pop every blister
Ice every knee
Spray us with your misters
and your hoses, please.

Thank the crew for dinner
We're sleeping on the ground
Everest is our base camp
Fog and cold abound.

Raising lots of money
It was hard for sure
And we'll keep on walking
Until we find the cure.

Arrival for lunch at Golden Gate Park. The normal Sunday morning Park people were surprised to encounter 4000 3-Day walkers!

As we sat and rested up for the final stretch, a young lady came up to me. As she began to express her request, my heart went out to her with deep compassion. Through her tears she told me her mother had just recently died of cancer and she asked if I would carry her mother’s picture through the remainder of the walk and over the finish line. I told her I would be honored to do so and put my arms around her. Those moments of tears and compassion were one of the most touching throughout the entire 3-Day walk. I carried that picture throughout the rest of the 3-Day Event, tucked in the very front of my credentials. and returned it to her with a picture of me and her mother crossing the finish line. Now whenever I think of that stranger and loving daughter in Golden Gate Park, I say a prayer for her.

When we left the meadow after lunch, I tossed my walking stick. I did feel badly since Margie had gone through the trouble of finding one for me, and I never would have made "Hell Hill" without it, still I was determined to finish the walk without the support.

As we made our way down the bridle trail towards the Presidio, our destination nearly in sight, we felt such strong emotions...

However my knee was bothering me and I began to experience charlie horse cramps in my calves with only about 2 miles to go! I stopped to stretch and massage the cramps when one of the San Jose Bicycle cops pulls up along side of me... "need a ride to the holding area?", he sarcastically asks... (we had met numerous times along the way and he knew I was a die hard). The look on my face must have said it all because he shamelessly bowed his head and continued along his way. No way was I going to walk this far and suffer this much without coming away with the prize.

When we reached the final pit stop of the day, one of the medics helped me wrap my painful, swollen knee. I took those last steps slow and steady, determined to make it to the finish.

As we near our final destination a fellow walker sums up our collective attitude at that very moment: "I'm feeling great; everything hurts except my eyelashes." People who could barely even walk were determined to keep going. A person's will is the strongest motivator. Not to mention the encouragement of the many people who cheered for us along the way. A simple honk or holler of support can lift the energy level of tired walkers tremendously. I was astounded by all of the signs and spectators.

Sometimes, we thought we'd never get to San Francisco! As we got closer to the end, more and more fans crowded the corners to cheer us on. The last couple of miles found us walking city blocks next to stores and cafes. Those who were lucky enough to get there early had front-row seating and spent hours clapping and saying clever things like "only 20 more miles to go."

Suddenly, it really sinks in that I’ve accomplished something that not many people outside of marathon runners, soldiers, prisoners, and professional dog walkers have. As I entered the final stretch to the holding area, tears welled up in my eyes. It had been such a physically difficult day but I rejoiced that the end was near. We finished the last few blocks singing and cheering, tears of joy streaming down the faces of so many walkers.

Cadence that was sung as we marched along:

I don't know but I've been told
[repeat after each line]
3-Day walkers are good as gold
We've got blisters on our feet
’Cause we're walking down your street

Sound off [Avon]
Sound off [3-Day]
Bring it on down
[Avon 3-Day, Avon.... 3-Day!]

Porta-Potties at every pit
We're carrying our blister kit
We've got tape on every toe
Three thousand walkers in a row
[chorus]

San Jose bike cops sure are fine
Riding up and down our line
Fans are cheering with a smile
To keep us going one more mile
[chorus]

Sleep in tents, that's just our luck
Taking showers in a truck
Skyline's cold and very wet
But we won't quit walking yet
[chorus]

We can walk and raise funds too
But we can't walk without our Crew
Our Crew is tops there is no doubt
Without their help we'd all burn out
[chorus]

Wear pink ribbons, walk in style
Water refills every mile
Safety, stretching, drink and food
Share our fun-filled attitude!
[chorus]

Hillcrest may be steep and tall
But we conquered, one and all
When we're walking we are proud
Walk in pairs or in a crowd
[chorus]

Yes we're tired, that's for sure
But we'll keep walking for a cure
We'll raise money every day
'Till breast cancer goes away
[chorus]

Moscone Park was the holding area in the Marina where we gathered to wait until all of the walkers arrived before walking en masse to the Closing Ceremonies at the Marina Green. There were hundreds of people waiting and cheering. As Margie and I entered the holding area we were greeted by other walkers and crewmembers. I stretched out my arms to touch and high-five everyone within reach.

As I entered the holding area, I raised my arms in victory again. I felt like I had just won the Olympics! Reaching the final stretch and crossing the finish line was an emphatic Yes! to answer every cynic who questioned my commitment. But you know what? This was even better than the Olympics! Because unlike a mere sporting event, our accomplishments bordered on the profound. We were helping to save lives. To reduce sorrow. To give hope. To, as clichéd as it may sound, change the world. And we were being cheered not by sports fans, but by our peers, by our fellow heroes, by those who had endured, struggled, suffered, and prevailed, just as we had.

We were champions all. All the aches, all the pain, the blisters, the shin splints, the pulls, the cramps, the cold, the fog, the wind, the misery, the suffering, all was forgotten as each walker triumphantly moved through the crush of fellow walkers. It was one of the most moving experiences of all - to walk through the giant outpouring of praise and admiration, wave, hug old and new friends, and say "I did it!"

We received our victory shirts and for about 2 hours there was non-stop clapping and cheering. We sat on the grass and whistled, cried, hooted and hollered for every single walker who crossed the line staggering into the holding area but beaming with smiles of exhilaration.

An elderly couple I had seen a few times along the trail were among the finalists. They had each used a pair of high-tech walking sticks, which looked like a dry-land version of cross country ski poles. I watched in amazement as they slowly covered the last few yards. Here was a couple, in their late 70s, who had trudged through the same 60-mile course as had I. Knowing how I felt, knowing the shape I was in, it humbled me to think what this man and woman were able to accomplish. As they raised their walking sticks in triumph, tears flowed down their faces, and mine, and many others who watched the proud and dignified display. Cheering on these finishers was even more satisfying than moving through the reception line myself.

After all the walkers arrive, we prepared for the final 4 block walk through downtown San Francisco, to the Closing Ceremony at Crissy Field on the beautiful Marina Green - the only official street closing of the entire event. The San Francisco PD blocked of the streets so the entire 4,000 plus walkers could walk together as one from the holding area to Crissy Field. It was simply an awesome site to behold!!!! Over 4400 walkers, crew and volunteers marched, arm in arm, down the final few blocks from the Holding Area to the Closing Ceremonies. First the walkers, in navy blue shirts, next the survivors in their pink shirts.

The crew and the San Jose Bike Cops closed rank behind us and followed us in to the stage area for the ceremony, onto the Green to the inspirational music blasting from the huge speakers set up for the Closing Ceremonies. It was very moving and exciting to see us all march in arm-in-arm, 10 abreast. It took over 20 minutes for all of us to fill the field as we march through the open path between spectators who lined up on either side of "the Green" to make yet another entrance path for us, hands clapping and hugs everywhere!

Many families and friends were gathered along the Marina to cheer us all in. I must say that I was overwhelmed by the enormous welcome and again not prepared for the emotional impact. We were acknowledged and celebrated again for our time and efforts. A heart-warming event for all participants, their families and friends - to remember the victims, the survivors and those yet to be affected.

After the walkers march in, the survivors fill in the center area as they are greeted by hugs, kisses, and high fives from all of those surrounding them. As has become a 3-day tradition, Opening and Closing Ceremonies both include a circle of 6-7 survivors walking in, hand in hand.

The circle is our symbol of remembering the women who are not here to walk with us now.

Survivor Circle Script

Please hold the hands of the person next to you.

And we ask you to remain silent and hold your applause.

As a group of breast cancer survivors, moves out from the stage.

These women surround an empty circle.

Inside it, spirit.

The spirit of all those lost to breast cancer.

A circle for the hundreds of thousands

Of American women alone lost to breast cancer.

Millions around the world.

A circle for all of the memories.

Of a time when there was life and conversation.

When they walked with us.

The young mother.

The grandmother.

All of the promise.

The beauty.

The laughter.

Our sisters.

Our friends.

It is a circle to hold all of the sorrow.

And a time for us to remember them.

With our thoughts.

With our tears.

The 3-Day is a place where you can let your tears fall.

Into the love that is all around you.

The women around the circle represent another spirit

The spirit of survival.

The spirit to keep living.

In the face of fear.

In the face of the unknown.

Chemotherapies and surgeries.

Side effects.

Changes.

Caught between cautious hope and fearful uncertainty.

The strength that it takes to walk through it all.

Through it all with dignity.

Today we remember spirit.

Within us and around us.

We connect with the sweet spirits of the departed

We honor the unstoppable spirit of the survivors

And we walk for both

Today we represent life gone by with life still miraculously here

Today we create a living breathing human monument

More beautiful than any cast in bronze or carved of granite

And our monument shouts to all who will hear

And even to those who won't:

We will never give up.

As long as we live, we will never give up.

Right now, somewhere, there is a woman who has breast cancer. And she doesn’t know it. She’s probably living on a pretty low income. And she has a young daughter. Because of what you did here she’s going to see an early detection notice somewhere. She’s going to be able to go to a clinic that gets funding from the crusade. And she’s going to find out early enough to survive. She’s going to get to watch her daughter grow up, and help her pick out a dress for the prom. She’s going to go to her graduation and to her wedding. She’s going to get to see her grandchildren. And her daughter will never have to face growing up without her.

Seeing the smiling faces of the men and women who had come this far, through pain, tears, fear, the unknown, and eventual victory, made it all worthwhile. Our walk ended with a celebration of life and the results of our labors.

Total number of walkers: 4,392 Male Walkers: 139 Female Walkers: 4,253
Total number of our all volunteer Crew: 390 Male Crew: 241 Female Crew: 149
Total Miles Walked = 65.74
Total Steps Walked = 141,695
We drank 12,000 gallons of water, and 5,940 gallons of Gatorade
Tents Pitched: 2,391 x 2 Nights
Over $7 million raised for research, treatment and care for breast cancer victims
Avon gave $10,000,000 to the Mt. Zion Cancer Center in San Francisco
Increased awareness of the need for early detection
Thousands of women bonded by an incredible life-changing experience and
A special pride shared between two special friends and co-workers.

WE DID IT…EVERY STEP…MORE THAN 60 MILES!
OH, IT’S GREAT TO BE ALIVE!

From the depths of my heart and with tears in my eyes, I thank each and every one of you for your generosity and support. Your willingness to help made my walk possible. Your interest and encouragement kept me going and your tolerance to my obsession was endearing. Thanks a million! I couldn’t have done it without you. Many of my supporters made donations in memory of and as a tribute to family and friends. I dedicated my walk to them:

Frances Carpenter

Audrey Carmack

Fay Irene Clark

Laurie Jarrett

Paulette Lawless

Charlene Marino

Diana Marcoux

Claire L. Stairs

Carol Tolbert

My final thoughts before falling asleep Sunday night was: my tub and bathroom are luxuries and how nice to be in my own pillow soft bed. Thank you Lord, for the experience of a lifetime and walking with me each step of the way!

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