3 Day Walk

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Dear Family and Friends,

Well I did it! I just got back from my 3 day walk for the cure for breast cancer. I am exhausted, my muscles are stiff, my feet are covered with blisters and I feel wonderful!

It’s hard to imagine when you start out what is going to happen. I knew that I wanted to do the walk for all the reasons that I shared in my first letter but no amount of walking, training or reading could have prepared me for this experience.

We began our walk at EMU’s stadium at sunrise amid speeches and cheers.

I met and walked the whole 3 days with a woman named Laurel who lost her grandmother to breast cancer. She has a 1 year old boy named Nicholas and is 11 weeks pregnant!

The 3 day crew was incredible, vans and motorcycles traveled the road cheering, keeping us safe and motivated! There were pit stops every 3 miles or so with food, water, Gatorade and Porta-potties!

The first day’s course was from Ypsilanti to Plymouth Salem High School. We walked through Ann Arbor to Plymouth Rd and had lunch in Dixboro. We even walked past my subdivision, in the rain! Ted brought Nick and Christine out to cheer me on. At Plymouth-Salem we were bussed over to our camp off Farmington Rd and Plymouth in Livonia. Did I mention we slept in tents? I spent Friday night in a soggy sleeping bag.

Saturday, began about 5:30 am. My Girl Scout years are a distant memory but I somehow managed to pack up my tent in the dark, and get on the route by 6:30. Saturday took us from Livonia up Hines Drive through Plymouth to Northville’s Ford Field for lunch. We then walked down 8 Mile Rd to Haggerty Rd. Ted again brought the kids and my parents showed up to cheer me on at the Kohl’s parking lot. We continued from there through Livonia to our camp site at Livonia Stevenson! There we found a very special treat- the Boy Scouts were there to set up our tents for us. God Bless the Boy Scouts! I promise to buy two cases of popcorn this fall.

Saturday evening was spent waiting my turn in the medical tent for my blisters to be taken care of. Sounds terrible but I met so many wonderful people there and heard some very inspiring stories. I went to bed early that night and thankfully it did not rain. It was however, pretty cold.

Day 3 began again at Sunrise as we started the last leg of our journey. We walked down Farmington Rd through Livonia, Farmington, Farmington Hills and West Bloomfield to closing ceremonies at Orchard Lake St. Mary’s. Talk about emotional!

There were about 1600 walkers, 300 volunteer crew and dozens of staff. I met so many incredible and inspirational people. Some groups of women walked together as a team, a large group called themselves the “Blister Sisters”, four girls from Texas who walked in matching pink cowboy hats, women wearing pink boas and tiaras, mothers and daughters, husbands and wives. Some, like me, started walking alone but ended up walking with friends. I met people who walked for their grandmother, mother, aunt, sister, daughter, wife or friend. I met many, many survivors. I am in awe of their strength, beauty and spirit.

Three days, 60 miles, countless stories, some tears and much laughter. I feel truly blessed to have had this journey.

I am grateful to the 3 day staff and crew for their support, energy and hard work. I am grateful for the support of my wonderful husband and children, my parents, and my mother in law.

Thanks to Debbie (my sister in law) for the foot and leg gel. I appreciate all those who called or stopped by to see how I was doing. Thank you to everyone who sent their thoughts, prayers and good wishes my way. I especially want to thank to those who supported me with donations prior to the walk, many of whom donated to other walkers as well! It is a great cause and 4.4 million dollars were raised in the Michigan 3 day!

Thank you! Anne