This blog is long overdue… but here is my take on the Breast Cancer 3-day: Chicago Edition!

Breast Cancer 3-day: Chicago – August 8-10

Team: Hope for the Cure

We travelled to Chicago on Thursday and took up residence in our nifty hotel for the evening to rest up for the adventure to begin. I didn’t sleep well that night… I think between the strange environment & nerves finally catching up to me, it was all so much to process in my brain as I tried to relax and rest. So when the alarm went off at 4:30 (or so I best remember)… I really wanted to hit the “snooze” button. Good thing Nancy was there to turn on a light and make me realize that I really did need to get up and moving! J After getting ready, our team gathered in the lobby downstairs, prayed together and boarded the bus to take us to the opening ceremonies site.

Upon arriving at Opening Ceremonies, we dropped off our gear at the trucks (which because of my red w/ white polka dot bag… I got some extra attention!) and we made our way to gather the fun stickers – our first stickers of the walk. After a little bit, we gathered in the gates to stretch and begin the walk. Opening Ceremonies was a bit emotional… but only a tiny amount compared to what was coming.

Anyway… here are some highlights of Day 1:

• Starting out with some girls from the Chicagoland area (Rebekah, Allyson & “T”)… it was fun because we all had feather “boa’s” around our necks (which proved to be a hot thing to be wearing later in the day!)
• Seeing that the “Pit Stops” were really only about 3 miles away!
• Learning that it is very important to keep drinking more water than you think you need to throughout the day… even if it isn’t that warm!
• Meeting up with some from my team again… and meeting Allison, an awesome walking buddy (and by this time a member of our team). J
• Finishing day 1 strong… and thankful to see that we had “tent angels” to help us set up the tents for us!
• Enjoying the spaghetti dinner!

Our final day started off well. We got up, got ready, packed our tents up (thanks to Christa’s brilliance… I would have had NO clue how that worked!), and headed to breakfast. After breakfast we stood in line so that we could get on a bus to head to our “starting” point for the day. We had to keep our pace up for the day because we were only about 30-45 minutes ahead of when they were going to be closing each stop… so keep up we did. Kristina was definitely a great motivator on that day… even when we just wanted to go slow because our feet hurt or muscles were sore!

Highlights of Day 3:

• I think the bus ride was definitely a highlight! We had the back of the school bus! J
• Walking into Chicago through the parks.
• Seeing Lake Michigan… it’s just so much fun, no matter what side of the lake you are on.
• The Cheering Stations! (They are always a highlight… complete with awesome signs, and CANDY!)
• Walking down Michigan Ave (although I did not realize that wearing sandals during this portion would NOT be a wise idea… until a bit later!)
• Stopping at the medical tent for assistance with a not so hot blister caused by said sandals.

Finally, at the end of the walk, all walkers gather in a “holding area” to prepare for closing ceremonies. Just getting to the “holding area” was amazing. So many people to cheer for you as you completed the 60 miles. My family was there to give me hugs, we saw TONS of people that were all there just to cheer for us (families of walkers, survivors, crew, and medical people), our team applauded us as we arrived to them. Really it was an amazing feeling seeing everyone there and feeling like you were the star of the show. EVERYONE should experience this. I mean it.

Lastly, we went into closing ceremonies. I don’t think I can write out in words what it means, or what it feels like to be in the middle of this. Our team walked in together… holding hands and celebrating our achievement. Once we were inside the area for the ceremony, we gathered as the remaining walkers and crew took their places – cheering for all of them. Then the final walkers came in. These walkers have experience breast cancer and have beaten it. They are survivors. All around us (and including us) walkers took off a shoe and saluted these walkers to show our support of them… because they are the reason that we walk as well.

After all of the walkers had gathered and the flag had been raised, we learned that in this weekend, just in Chicago, the people we walked with raised $6.1 million. AMAZING.