Good Morning! I'd like to share some of my AVON 39 experience with you all now. I really didn't know what to expect, being a first time walker. I met the most amazing individuals, with incredible stories of strength and perserverance. From the people I met at the CBS Scene Restaurant at Gillette Stadium in February like My Captain of the Solo Strutters, Chris Forte and teamates Carol DiNucci Morgan who I drove and bunked with, Karen Mosman who is a 10 year vet of this event and Deb Honor my original Coach who called and cheered me on throughout the entire 6 months with so many others that night.
I wouldn't have been able to meet any of them if it weren't for my friend Liz Janell who drove me to the event because my car was broke! ð’ Thank you my very sweet friend.
I began fundraising and it's difficult to do it for yourself. After what I experienced I will absolutely do it again!!
A hugeThank You from the bottom of my heart to everyone who donated in my name. I was crying like a baby when they handed out each check from the $$ that we all raised in and around Boston. $$$ 2.9 million dollars was raised!!! You should all be very proud of yourselves for helping end this horrible disease!
The individuals I walked with were from my team called 'The Solo Strutters'. I was blessed to meet Judy Cherry Friday night at dinner and several times during the weekend. She travels around the USA to all the events and stays in touch with all the Solo Strutter USA members. She is right now fighting breast cancer for the second time. God Bless this Angel on earth. ð’ð’ªð’
I met my second roomie Pam Graham and she can strut! There was no stopping her. She is a first time walker, well trained and a ton of fun! Then I met Steve W Sullivan near the World Trade Center strutting alone and pulled him in. He had an amazing tatoo on his R forearm that stood for his Dad and Gram's cancer who he was walking for as well as his best friend. He really reminded me of my son Brad. We hung out at several parts of the journey. He is an awesome young man!
My Captain Chris just kept popping up everywhere. Checkkng in on his team, individuals but the best part was when he just showed up as I rounded the corner and there was FENWAY PARK! He snapped a few pics for me!
My main walking partner became a huge inspiration. We met on Saturday morning. I started walking in a group of 4 then 5. I had a good strut going. Everything was great. At about mile 4 it began to rain. We did feet checks and my R insole was all bunched up? A small blister was starting. I came more than prepared for everyone but one of the girls suggested GLIDE. I put it between my toes, balls of feet and all over my heels. My thighs rubbed a bit so I also applied it there. Poncho's on and off we go. At mile 10, feet check and holly hell is breaking loose inside my sneaks. Tons of blisters and on my thighs. I do what I can with my supplies snd off we go. By mile 10 Diana and I are now bonding and falling back. I am walking slower from pain and we're still at a good steady pace with others.
I ask Diana to share her story and it was difficult to hold back the tears. She is amazing! She is a breast cancer survivor. Last year they told her story on the stage. I was lucky enough, out of all these people, to walk with her. I was very chicked up as she went on about her treatments and couldn't believe how fantastic she was doing now. WOW! ð’ð’ªð’
As we walked on I needed to get medical's assistance because there were just too many blisters. Diana walked on and we met at the next stop after I was treated.
Now my feet were mummified and Diana is basically taking care of me. I make it to 21 and the gatorade makes me retain fluid so the blisters begin popping! ð¢ She is cheering me on and so are the hundred people who passed us. at mile 23.5 I don't even know what happened to my R foot but it wasn't good. I couldn't walk. I couldn't stop. Tears were flowing and I wanted to say bad words. ð
All I can say is that When I went to medical I had to bite on my towel because it's the only thing that stopped me from screaming because they were stuck to my feet!
Day 2: I walked with my team, then Diana, then alone for the last 5 miles, very, very slowly with lots of love from hundreds of other walkers passing by and in my flip flops. ðœ
When I saw the finish line I froze. I couldn't believe I was there. It was such a sereal moment in my life. I wasn't quite done. I had a bit further to go so I walked through as everyone clapped and kept walking along the beach until I hit the 40 mile mark. Then I sat down and smiled like the hugest smile in 40 years!!! I took a pic of the beach, walked and collected my medal alone. I met up with Steve again and snapped a pic. Then we crossed the finish line with our entire team. What a moment!
Closing ceremonies made me cry my eyes out! The stories of those fighting breast cancer right now and the survivors right next to us. It was so intense, beautiful and there was so much LOVE!
I walked the AVON 39 for everyone suffering from this horrible disease, the families who suffer right along with them, those who have lost their battle and all those suffering from any form of cancer.
We all have a story and I also walked for ME... I will continue to 'Walk Like A Warrior' ð’ð’ªð’ Thank you AVON 39 for having this event around the USA, Reebok National Headquarters for being our base camp, all the road crew who personally got me safely across the streets of Boston, Medical who treated my wounds with such love and expertise my coaches, my captain, my fantastic teamates, 'The Solo Strutters' and most of all THANKS TO EACH AND EVERY ONE IF YOU WHO DONATED TO THE AVON 39! ( I'll be asking for donations again!! ð’ð’ªð’)
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I wouldn't have been able to meet any of them if it weren't for my friend Liz Janell who drove me to the event because my car was broke! ð’ Thank you my very sweet friend.
I began fundraising and it's difficult to do it for yourself. After what I experienced I will absolutely do it again!!
A hugeThank You from the bottom of my heart to everyone who donated in my name. I was crying like a baby when they handed out each check from the $$ that we all raised in and around Boston. $$$ 2.9 million dollars was raised!!! You should all be very proud of yourselves for helping end this horrible disease!
The individuals I walked with were from my team called 'The Solo Strutters'. I was blessed to meet Judy Cherry Friday night at dinner and several times during the weekend. She travels around the USA to all the events and stays in touch with all the Solo Strutter USA members. She is right now fighting breast cancer for the second time. God Bless this Angel on earth. ð’ð’ªð’
I met my second roomie Pam Graham and she can strut! There was no stopping her. She is a first time walker, well trained and a ton of fun! Then I met Steve W Sullivan near the World Trade Center strutting alone and pulled him in. He had an amazing tatoo on his R forearm that stood for his Dad and Gram's cancer who he was walking for as well as his best friend. He really reminded me of my son Brad. We hung out at several parts of the journey. He is an awesome young man!
My Captain Chris just kept popping up everywhere. Checkkng in on his team, individuals but the best part was when he just showed up as I rounded the corner and there was FENWAY PARK! He snapped a few pics for me!
My main walking partner became a huge inspiration. We met on Saturday morning. I started walking in a group of 4 then 5. I had a good strut going. Everything was great. At about mile 4 it began to rain. We did feet checks and my R insole was all bunched up? A small blister was starting. I came more than prepared for everyone but one of the girls suggested GLIDE. I put it between my toes, balls of feet and all over my heels. My thighs rubbed a bit so I also applied it there. Poncho's on and off we go. At mile 10, feet check and holly hell is breaking loose inside my sneaks. Tons of blisters and on my thighs. I do what I can with my supplies snd off we go. By mile 10 Diana and I are now bonding and falling back. I am walking slower from pain and we're still at a good steady pace with others.
I ask Diana to share her story and it was difficult to hold back the tears. She is amazing! She is a breast cancer survivor. Last year they told her story on the stage. I was lucky enough, out of all these people, to walk with her. I was very chicked up as she went on about her treatments and couldn't believe how fantastic she was doing now. WOW! ð’ð’ªð’
As we walked on I needed to get medical's assistance because there were just too many blisters. Diana walked on and we met at the next stop after I was treated.
Now my feet were mummified and Diana is basically taking care of me. I make it to 21 and the gatorade makes me retain fluid so the blisters begin popping! ð¢ She is cheering me on and so are the hundred people who passed us. at mile 23.5 I don't even know what happened to my R foot but it wasn't good. I couldn't walk. I couldn't stop. Tears were flowing and I wanted to say bad words. ð
All I can say is that When I went to medical I had to bite on my towel because it's the only thing that stopped me from screaming because they were stuck to my feet!
Day 2: I walked with my team, then Diana, then alone for the last 5 miles, very, very slowly with lots of love from hundreds of other walkers passing by and in my flip flops. ðœ
When I saw the finish line I froze. I couldn't believe I was there. It was such a sereal moment in my life. I wasn't quite done. I had a bit further to go so I walked through as everyone clapped and kept walking along the beach until I hit the 40 mile mark. Then I sat down and smiled like the hugest smile in 40 years!!! I took a pic of the beach, walked and collected my medal alone. I met up with Steve again and snapped a pic. Then we crossed the finish line with our entire team. What a moment!
Closing ceremonies made me cry my eyes out! The stories of those fighting breast cancer right now and the survivors right next to us. It was so intense, beautiful and there was so much LOVE!
I walked the AVON 39 for everyone suffering from this horrible disease, the families who suffer right along with them, those who have lost their battle and all those suffering from any form of cancer.
We all have a story and I also walked for ME... I will continue to 'Walk Like A Warrior' ð’ð’ªð’ Thank you AVON 39 for having this event around the USA, Reebok National Headquarters for being our base camp, all the road crew who personally got me safely across the streets of Boston, Medical who treated my wounds with such love and expertise my coaches, my captain, my fantastic teamates, 'The Solo Strutters' and most of all THANKS TO EACH AND EVERY ONE IF YOU WHO DONATED TO THE AVON 39! ( I'll be asking for donations again!! ð’ð’ªð’)
