Experiencing the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer Los Angeles.

It began the day I made a commitment to walk 39.2 miles over 2 days. It's a daunting task, but the excitement builds as we train over the months and raise funds to qualify to walk. Each one of us must raise a minimum of $1,800.00 to walk any one city.

We spend months training and when the weekend of the walk finally arrives we are excited to put to the test all our new acquired skills at raising funds and walking. We certainly hope that we can finish it, and most people do, but others only want to do half or even just a few miles. What matters is the participation and knowing we are helping a cause that's important.

When event eve arrives we must register and obtain our pink wristband that identify us as an official walker. We arrive at the event eager to see who else is walking and meet new friends we'll find along the route. Vendors and sponsors line along the walls of the event hoping we will buy a trinket or pick up a brochure or even just say hello.

Once the registration is over, we are free to go home to come back the next day and begin walking, but most of us hang around the hotel visiting with friends and even helping others finish raising the funds they need to participate.

Saturday we wake up really early and gear up to begin. We arrive at opening ceremonies where over 2000 people who are also walking are gathered and waiting to start. We have a quick breakfast of bagels, coffee, fruit or sweets to get us going and after a few words of encouragements and a video of the rules of the walk we start. Our hearts are pounding and the excitement of walking the streets of Long Beach and surrounding cities is overwhelming at times.

At first the walk goes slow, it's not easy to get this many people going at the same time, but once we get on the beach trail we spread out and everyone finds their own pace. The morning is bright and sunny and the trail is deserted from other walkers except us. We try to keep up with the people in front of us, but then we realize we have a long way to go so we get back into our own pace and routine. We still have the rest of the day before arriving to the Wellness Village.

Along the way cheerers and supporters encourage us and this swells our hearts. Yes, we are doing a wonderful thing and many people are very thankful for our efforts. The rest stops and quick stops supply us with water, candy, some food and support. The crew members manning these stations are just as happy to see us there as our own supporters and their encouragement only give us more resilience to continue.

Finally we arrive at lunch where we get a chance to sit-down and eat a hearty meal. We may do it alone in a corner or with a group of people whom we don’t necessarily have to know. All of a sudden I have 2000 friends I can talk with and visit anytime I want. We may also change our socks into a fresh pair for comfort and add some Vaseline to our feet so to prevent blisters. Some people already have blisters due to badly fitting shoes or not enough training but the medical staff fixes them up and sends them again to walk. “Do the best you can,” they say.

Off we go again to hopefully finish the entire 26.2 miles of the Saturday Marathon. Pink signs along the route encourage us again so we know we are not walking alone, even if there’s no one around. At times we feel the next stop will never be seen and we feel alone and deserted. Then suddenly a sweep bus goes by and asks if we are Ok and if we need anything. Their smiles and friendly attitude encourage us and let us know again, we are not alone.

Some of us quit after the halfway point of 13.1 miles. Busses take us to the Wellness Village where we get to eat, relax and enjoy the area. Others are vent upon finishing the entire marathon so we continue relentless and determined. There are stops and cheering stations along the way that remind us again and again we are not walking alone, but at times we think of so many others who, right at that moment are suffering from breast cancer. We can’t stop, we must finish. What we are experiencing is nowhere near what a breast cancer victim is suffering. This alone gives us courage to continue, in spite of blisters, painful muscles, heat and exhaustion.

At any time we can quit and a sweep bus will pick us up and take us to the wellness village but the majority of participants, especially those who are doing it for the first time, are intent on doing it all, so they keep walking and trudging along, in spite of anything.

Arriving at the wellness village after walking 26.2+ miles is an accomplishment that is seldom experienced in our lives. Hundreds of people line up to welcome and congratulate us. Cold water bottles are handed to us and we pour it on our heads like the athletes do it on television. The adrenaline is running ramped and we love it. Our friends and family wait for us and we know the hardest part is done. We begin to relax and get ready for the next day.

We eat a hot meal for dinner, all we want and desire. We attend the Fireside Follies where news of the walk are announced including how we, as a group, raised over 4.6 million dollars for the cause. We are proud and tears of joy fill our eyes. We are doing a very good thing.

We pick up our luggage and take it to our overnight tent. After a hot shower and a good meal we settle in for the night and sleep as soundly as we ever had.

Sunday morning is special. This day we will walk only 13.1 miles to the closing ceremonies back at the Queen Mary. After what we endured yesterday, Sunday walk is as easy as it can be. We begin to enjoy the journey without worrying about the distance or time. The walk becomes a social event in which many participate by laughing and exchanging conversations. The day is even better. The heat has dissipated and now a few clouds keep us cool and refreshed.

Again we visit the crew members with their quick stops and rest stops. They are just as cheerful as the day before, but I know they are tired as I am. They also put in a long hard day of cheering and working for the walkers. It’s harder to crew than it is to walk.

Closing ceremonies are emotional for all of us. We hold hands, cry and hug each other at the prospect of helping such a great cause, of doing something for our friend, sister, mother, daughter or co-worker who has battled breast cancer. We have a feeling of accomplishment and sadness at the same time. Why do we have to do this to help those who need us? Why can’t there be a cure for breast cancer?

We walk in together holding hands and cheering ourselves. Our feet hurt but our hearts soar with hope and excitement. The guest speaker and heartthrob Patrick Dempsey reminds us why we have walked and as he thanks us for walking and making a difference, our hearts soar again in pride and joy.

We go home smiling and crying and as we lay in bed we can’t get the images of our amazing weekend out of our minds. Yes, we made a difference and the adrenaline still flowing, we are considering doing this again, maybe in another city next year?

I know just how addicting this is. I participated in 8 cities from 2005 to 2007 and together with my team raised over 3 million dollars for the cause during those years. I made life long friends whom I still miss and wish I was still walking all 9 cities where the Avon Walk hosts the events.

Maybe next year I’ll write about Houston, D.C., Boston, Chicago, Denver, San Francisco, Santa Barbara (new location,) New York and Charlotte. I’ve always had the time of my life walking and making a difference.

Join me and thousands others across the country to walk, raise funds and help erase breast cancer in our lifetime. Visit www.avonwalk.org to sign up for the next event, and look me up if you go, we’ll become fast friends and have a blast together.