Courage, Hope, & Inspiration: A Pink Trail of Tears

I had a rare opportunity this past weekend to witness a journey for many that symbolized so many different things for each involved and offered many views of the human spirit. I was a member of the medical crew for the Komen Breast Cancer 3 Day Walk in Dallas this past weekend. The walkers of the 3 Day, walk 20 miles each day for 3 days to raise money and awareness for breast cancer research.

Estella, Shellye, Me, & Amy

My journey began at 5 AM on Friday at Southfork Ranch, as one of 5 friends supporting our inspiration and good friend Shellye. Shellye, oh by the way, is now a breast cancer survivor of over one and a half years. :)! We were all a little sleepy and a little excited by what lay ahead for the day, as we watched the incredible sea of pink and eccentricities roll in to walk and support all of the 3500 walkers. How awesome and inspiring it was to see so many family and friends walking together with signs of support for those that were survivors, in active treatment, or to remember those that had been lost to breast cancer. I saw women walking that were obviously in active treatment, and those that each step they took appeared to be a great effort but they kept going with all the determination they could muster in hope that each one of them was making a difference. Families pushed wheelchairs so that they could support their loved one when they got tired. It was an emotional and wonderful moment surrounded by crazy hats, pink bouffant hair, men in bras (which was a little disturbing), and lots and lots of furry boas. It was going to be an interesting experience indeed!


My friends and I ended up going in different directions as they were set up for various pit stops among the route and I was headed for main camp. I talked to several women on the bus that shared their experiences with me and we discussed the general lack of education that is given to patients with breast cancer. Many patients are given books or reading material but not actually educated on treatment options and potential side effects from the chemo and radiation treatments. We also talked about how so much is unknown for the cure for breast cancer and I was starting to feel a little unsettled.

Did you know that without family history that women have a 1 in 8 chance of developing breast cancer? Kind of scary especially if you thought you were fairly safe. Anyway, I will keep going with the story.

At Main Camp all of our group set up our MASH unit for medical, chiropractic, and sports medicine services and began to assemble many of the pink tents ( 2 person) for the walkers and staff. Holy pink tents batman! The crazy tent decorating comes later including camouflage for some, really cool Christmas lights, blow up doll, UFO's, and virtually anything else imaginable. Of course mine and Estellas's tent had the super cool battery operated Christmas lights!


The first walkers came in to camp for the day with early blisters; strained knees, hips, and backs; and a few other less urgent complaints and life was good. Shellye, Estella, and Amy had been at one pit stops and only a fracture or two but nothing crazy. The night continued and we began having several women dropping from dehydration that required fluids, and some had to be sent out to hospitals.

Marco - The Water Boy- "If you don't drink your water you don't get in the shower!"

Day 2 started back at main camp with a rush of lots of crazy blisters, raw feet, sore knees and backs, airway issues, diarrhea and other assorted complaints. Virtually all of the walkers were determined to get back out there and walk their 20 miles for the day as a badge of courage no matter what the price. Some walkers had received medical red cards meaning that they could not participate for the days event because they were medically unsafe and they became quite emotional because of what the walk represented for them. When I really experienced that emotional roller coaster was when a group of us were brought to the 1st pit stop and a lady that was in active chemo with cancer that had spread to her belly, was red carded for dehydration. Although she was calm her family member that was with her just wept and said "she just needed to spend the night in a hotel and she would be well enough to walk". That was one of the same ladies I watched struggle as she walked through the starting gate and boy did it get to me inside. For so many of the walkers this walk was about having the courage to stand up and beat cancer and walk on. I continued to see more and more examples throughout the 3Day.

Amy and I arrived at Pit Stop 4 and started setting up. All of the neighbors were very excited that the walkers were coming through and one lady brought her trio of tiny little dogs (Okay I admit I own a Lab so yes they were tiny in comparison) to cheer and provide pet therapy for the walkers. The smallest dog, (I am uncertain as to the actual itty bitty breed) was actually named Komen and would perform a soprano-esque howl to cheer the walkers when coerced. Although many of the walkers felt like their feet were about to become detached from their body they would stop and laugh before trekking on. I met one lady that was in her late 60's early seventies that was having an incredible time with her hips and plantar fascitis but she refused to get on the bus, despite already completing 36 + miles as of day 2. She was a cancer survivor and she was not going to stop until she had finished the next 3.6 miles left for the day. There were so many people that I met that kept on going because although they were "just walking" those 60 miles represented so much more to them. I can't describe all that I saw but I was constantly reminded of the resilience of the human spirit and the innate compassion that so many people possess as they encouraged and helped all of those around them.

Pit Stop 4 Medical Crew

The funniest walkers that Amy and I met were Carol and I think it was her daughter she called "wild thing". They had determined that they were the last walkers on the route that had not been picked up from the bus and they were taking pride in last place. Carol was really struggling with her knee with each step but they were laughing and having a good time. The walker in front of them was having issues with plantar fascitis and she stopped to stretch with her husband and "wild thing" informed her that they were going to be in last place so she had better move it and proceeded to squirt her with her water bottle. This of course made her laugh and allowed her to keep going a little longer. The girl once again stopped to stretch and wild thing said" I am on to you now. I can stop and stretch too. Now get moving!" Too funny. It kept everything light and helped to keep her going and they protected their title for last place for day 2.

Wild Thing & Carol with one of the Safety Crew members

The final day was more of a relief for many of the walkers as they were starting to see the finish ahead although there would still be red cards to hand out. The walk ended in celebration for all of those that walked bravely through it all, the 360 + crew that survived and became better people for the experience, and most of all to celebrate all of the survivors with the walkers and the crew. Over 7 million dollars was raised for breast cancer research for 2008 through the Komen Foundation. Many of these funds were raised by the 3-Day participants along with so many hearts and spirits raised to new heights and hope for a cure.

Some of the medical crew for the 3Day

We said goodbye to our new friends and told the walkers how proud we were of them. The DFW 3Day was now officially over. I was filled with hope and love for all of those around me along with the overwhelming urge to sleep, drink lots of fluids, eat a steak or something substantial, and rejoice over the indoor shower and flushable potty. And of course most of all I was excited to be back with William and my monkeys that I had missed dearly! But I know that I will be back next year as a crew member or as a walker to continue to support the fight to end breast cancer. I have seen the tears and the blisters and I am not afraid to stand with those that are still fighting, to make a difference for all of our friends and family members whose lives have been touched by breast cancer.


One last picture of the boys at closing ceremonies before the hypoglycemic crazies started setting in. Enjoy your family and friends.

Lori