Avon Breast Cancer Walk...What An Incredible Experience!

I got a chance to be a Crew Member at the 2006 Avon Breast Cancer Walk in Los Angeles recently. It was a lot of work and a lot of fun. What amazes me is the people you get to meet. If you’ve never walked in one of these walks, all I can say is get yourself signed up for one. I met Survivors that ranged in age from their 20s to their 60s who were all open to talking about some of the issues they’ve gone through. I talked with them about this site we’re designing and so far, we have a unanimous vote of it becoming a valuable resource for both Survivors and non-Survivors alike.

The Avon Breast Cancer Walk is designed to raise funds for research. The Los Angeles Avon Breast Cancer Walk raised just over 3.6 million dollars for just that one event. At the closing ceremonies, we got to see what organizations they awarded funds to…organizations that are doing all they can to find a cure. It’s very gratifying to see that there are so many people and so many organizations that care about finding the cure.

As I spent the weekend talking to the Survivors, I continued to hear a comment that on one hand was upsetting but eye-opening and on the other hand, was validation that what we’re putting together here is worth doing. The statement was about Survivors feeling guilty for surviving, especially when they are at events like the Avon Breast Cancer Walk and hear so many stories like mine of the people who didn’t survive. Those are the type of things that we who don’t have breast cancer, don’t always know about.

If you’re a Survivor and you’ve had that thought, I’ll say to you what I spent the weekend telling every Survivor I spoke to who told me they occasionally feel that way. Don’t! Your feeling guilty for surviving breast cancer is like asking those of us who don’t have it (including your friends and family) to feel guilty for being cancer free (and I have NO doubt that there was not one survivor at that walk that would expect that from anyone, especially the people they love).

The Los Angeles Avon Breast Cancer Walk covered a total of 2 days and 39.3 miles. Because I was a part of the Crew, I don’t know the walk route. What I got to see was from the Camp side of the event. The morning the Los Angeles Avon Breast Cancer Walk began, we cheered the Walkers out of the gate with pink pom-pons, signs, banners, crazy hats, themed costumes and a few tears. At camp, we set up the dinner tent, yoga tent, and the medical tent so they would be ready when the walkers arrived. Then the girl scouts came. They went to work putting together the sleeping tents for the walkers so they would have one less thing to do when they go into camp. It was a crazy day though. The wind was blowing so hard that it kept blowing the tents away, despite the fact that at least 60 pounds of luggage was inside each tent. The funniest part of the tent setup time was when a tent started blowing away with one of our Walkers laying down inside it! (And just so you know, no one was injured…)

When the Walkers began arriving at camp, we cheered them in there as well. They were excited, tired, sore, hot, determined, and victorious all at the same time. We sent them to the medical tents for their blisters, and the massage tent, chiropractor, and yoga sessions for their sore muscles. Fiji water provided all the iced down water you could ask for. The Avon Breast Cancer Walk organizers had brought in portable shower trucks so we could all get hot showers before bed. And our dinner crew had fixed dinner for over 2000 people…Spaghetti and meatballs, green beans, dinner rolls and of course the best part…Sara Lee brownies!

We had set up a dinner tent during the day, which included a stage for entertainment and a dance floor area. The Avon Breast Cancer Walk organizers had also booked a band to play for the Walkers, along with some of the Staff members providing some entertainment.

Once everyone had showered and put their things into their tents, they got to grab their dinner plates and sit down to relax for the evening. Of course those who were able and didn’t have too many blisters got up and danced as well. It was such a relaxing evening. The music was great and many of the walkers were still dressed in their theme costumes. Check it out...the Avon Breast Cancer Walk has its very own “Blues Sisters”!

In the morning, I talked with quite a few Walkers who said they had a tough time getting to sleep (lights were out at 9pm and most people are used to staying up just a bit longer than that), but they were ready to hit the road for another day. Our breakfast crew had again prepared the meal for everyone, so they got off to a great start. We had everyone out of camp by 7:30am, cleaned it up, and headed over to Closing Ceremonies.

Before the Walkers ever got there, their family members and friends began arriving to welcome them in and congratulate them for making it. They brought signs, banners, flowers, gifts, and even the family dog to welcome them in…It was a sea of pink! Once the Walkers began arriving, the excitement of having accomplished walking nearly 40 miles in 2 days became more and more apparent. For me personally, the closing ceremonies were the most difficult time for me, because that’s when I think most about my mom no longer walking through the gate as a Survivor.

While we were waiting for all of the walkers to arrive, I got a chance to talk with more Walkers and Survivors, along with some of the other Crew members I hadn’t had a chance to meet. I met such incredible people. I got hugs from complete strangers for having lost so many people in my family to this disease. I gave hugs to complete strangers as well just to thank them for walking and taking the time to raise funds so that we can find a cure.

Once everyone got in, we all gathered near the stage for Closing Ceremonies…the Walkers and Crew members in dark pink shirts…the Survivors in light pink shirts…the family and friends surrounding them all. It is SUCH an experience! Yes, there are a lot of tears…there’s also a lot of hope, gratitude, and pride for a job well done. I’m looking forward to the next Avon Breast Cancer Walk already. There are only 2 more scheduled for this year…one in North Carolina and one in New York, so I’m sure I won’t be walking again (at least not in the Avon Breast Cancer Walk) until 2007.

The next major Breast Cancer Walk that we are Crewing for is the 3-Day Walk in Arizona in November, 2006. We’ll let you know more about that one later so watch for those details as well. As I mentioned in the beginning, whether it’s the Avon Walk For Breast Cancer, the 3-Day Walk or the Race For The Cure®, if you have never experienced one, it’s time to sign up…the sense of accomplishment when you’re done will add value to ALL parts of your life!