Cancer Schmancer

So you have all gotten lots of updating thanks to Meghan and her fancy blackberry but I (Shannon) thought I would share some personal thoughts from this big adventure called the Breast Cancer 3 Day.

First off, breast cancer has never been a huge factor in my families history. Yes, there have been friends who have had it but it doesn’t run in my family and I can count the number of family friends affected on one hand. By participating in this event I got to hear so many personal stories from fellow walkers of how it has impacted their lives and why they chose to participate. Even at the opening ceremonies I didn’t realize what kind of an event I was getting myself into. But after those very pink 3 days, I learned a LOT.
The picture above single handedly describes this past weekend for me which is why I wanted to include it. It’s not about one person, it was about everyone coming together and walking for a cause that was bigger than any one of us. The women holding the flag were the last walkers in for the first night. They are surrounded by crew volunteers, friends, and fellow walkers cheering them back to camp. I was with this lady on the 3rd day in a sweeper van (they pick you up along the route when you can’t keep going and drop you off at the next pit stop). She was clearly in pain but wanted to push herself till she got to closing ceremonies. This event was a way for her to find her inner strength and see what she was really made of. Before we even got to the 3 day itself our work was done. We had raised $2 million toward breast cancer research for the Denver walk alone.But, unlike 5k runs or other fundraisers, this whole event was not a race but meant for us to support each other and remember why we all came together in the first place which is a great take home message in my mind. Everyone had a different story and this gave us the opportunity to share, learn, celebrate and remember how breast cancer effects all of us.
Even though I’m sore and don’t want to know what kind of terrible things this did to my knee, without a doubt this event changed my life for the better. Each blister and ache was worth it.I’m hoping to volunteer for a crew position next year so that when I see those stragglers coming in at the end of the day I can pass along the same words of encouragement I heard. 
If nothing else I hope that our 3 day journey will help all of you support future breast cancer (and any other similar) events. Whether it be you decide to cheer on the side of the road or make the commitment to walk, raise money and participate in the 3 day itself, everyone can make a difference. 
I hope everyone enjoyed following the blog! We had so much fun knowing we could share this with everyone who was so great in supporting us along our journey. Thank you!
(I hope I used my big girl words appropriately to make you maybe tear up a little? Cause this event seriously means so much more than I can easily put into words)

so this is near the end of the walk. near city park in denver. my parents met up with shannon and i around colfax and walked with us the whole way in. after we crossed the street and entered the park you could feel the carnival atmosphere. it was the main reason that we insisted on walking the last three miles, despite our aching muscles and numb toes. as i mentioned, we had to take a sweep van between two of the pit stops. shannon had been walking nearly 30 miles straight with her knee in that serious brace and at the 2nd to last pit stop, i once again found myself sobbing in the med tent as one of the medics looked at my toes and went “oooh. that might be infected. are you sure you dont want to take the bus to the end?”

katie and sarah perservered to the end and walked all 60 miles (congrats girls) but i think the real importance of the event was pushing through as many miles as you could…whether it was 20 miles or all 60 miles. and we all pushed ourselves as much as we could.