I FINISHED...and I Walked EVERY STEP of the journey!!! And I'm practically injury free!

There were a few times along the way that I wasn't sure I could go on - particularly miles 11-14 of Day 1 and Day 2, but when I thought about wanting a sweep vehicle I'd think of the generosity and good will of those of you who allowed me to do this walk by giving to the cause...or I'd think of the many women and men around our world who couldn't walk because of cancer, and I kept on keepin' on....Figuring the aching of my hips or the throbbing of my arches was a small burden to bear if it would help people who need it most receive care.

Day 1 was cold (and wet part of the time) but beautiful walking weather. And the city parks we walked through were gorgeous. That night was very cold and sleep was hard to come by with the rustling of mylar blankets and the tent blowing around. We walked 24 miles (although they told us as we set out it was only 18).

Day 2 started off overcast - with an amazing sunrise over lake grapevine - but soon warmed up. My parents, sister, and sydney and Zach (2 of my neices and nephews) came to the cheering station in Carrollton and then had lunch with me. It was an incredible inspiration to see their smiling faces and talk to them for a moment. Lanee wrapped my arches and I walked 4 mile that day with them wrapped to try to stop the throbbing. It helped and I'd alternate from wrapped to unwrapped. But my foot pain was nothing compared to the hundreds of people who had incredible knee pain, entire pads of blisters, and one woman who had blisters under her toe nails! Camp that night was much better, it was warm and slightly cool in the evening...but since the day was so hot, many people dehydrated and we had to wait to shower...it was the BEST shower I'd ever had. I tried not to linger too long since others needed it, but to have warm water pounding on my shoulders and to have clean hair, never felt so good. We walked almost 22 miles that day (although though they told us it was only 18.5) - Much of the challenge of walking the 3-day is mental.

Day 3 I was well rested, and started out a bit later than usual, lingering over breakfast and doing some extra stretches since our journey wasn't quite 15 miles. The first 3 miles, the weather was nice, but humid. By 10 a.m. the skies were clear and the Texas sun was blazing. I was applying sunscreen every hour (but sunburned anyway - scalp face and neck. And I soaked my head and shirt with cold water (at times walking with ice piled on my scalp) to try to keep from overheating. Lunch was fantastic, but the 5 miles after lunch seemed to take an eternity. But walking in to our holding area for the victory march (essentially finsishing the walk) was unbelievably emotional. I was 1765 of 2431 walkers at the area, and the thousand people who got there before me were lining the street cheering. I felt so proud knowing that I had actually done it - all on my own 2 feet!

The closing ceremony was amazing and a lot of fun, and seeing paul and my parents, and lanee and syd and zack was great! And I now believe that paul carrying my 35 pound bag and leaving me at a corner to be picked up so I didn't have to walk the whole mile to the car is the nicest thing he has ever done for me (that was until he slept in a room filled with icy hot vapors and didn't complain)!
What a guy! I love him with all my heart!

So in a nutshell, that was the physical experience of the three day - I sit this morning a little stiff, with 3 toes wrapped in bandaids to protect my raw callouses and blisters, but I'm filled with joy and I am thrilled to be alive and living life completely!

But the truth of the three day was in the stories shared as we were walking, the dancing girls who followed us along the route with blaring inspirational music, the sun rises and sun sets, the butterflies and flowers, and the smiling faces of those we passed.

The most touching moment I experienced came from walking through a sprinkler set out by a boy of 8 who said he just wanted to make sure we finished, and asked if he could shake my hand and thank me. But he wasn't alone. Many people set up sprinklers, left hoses running for us to use as we wished. Set ice chests full of ice along the road and simply waved and cheered us on. Every one of them provided a much needed boost. And a very real bit of joy.

So with all that the three day has been - the training and the walk itself - I really believe the following quote to be true.

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed it is the only thing that ever does."

I raised $3,480, and the 2431 walkers who walked raised a total net proceeds of more than 2.5 million dollars - all of which will go directly to charities that will help people survive. In addition, a half million dollar gift was made to Parkland Hospital and UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas to continue research for a cure!

To date, all of the walks have raised more than 165 million for the avon breast cancer crusade, and one day soon, we will live in a world where breast cancer, and cancer of all kinds, do not exist, but it won't have happened by chance, it will have happened because we worked, and we gave, to make it happen.

Thank you very much to all of my supporters!