My 3Day Journey Oct 14-16, 2011
WHEW!!!! 60 miles over 3 days was NO JOKE, but I did it and it was both tiring and exhilarating. My blisters were proudly earned for my Momma Angel Riley (survivor) and my Heavenly Angel Barbara. And we all walked to get one step closer to ending Breast Cancer forever.
The 1st day was the hardest (especially those 2 HUGE hills near the end). Being a 1st time walker in the Susan G Komen 3Day for a Cure walk, I didn't know what to expect other than sore legs and blistered feet... LOL!!! But right out of the gate, there was so much support from the event staff and residents of the areas we walked through, it was hard to feel down or tired.
After leaving the Willow Grove Park Mall we found tons of people out to greet us and cheer us on as we walked through the surrounding neighborhoods. The most AAAAAWWWWWW worthy were the little pre-school kids with their signs and ENTHUSIASTIC cheering. They may not have understood why all these people in pink were walking past their schools but they were more than happy to cheer us on and load us up with candy.
I think all the walkers got a kick out of all the little ones supporting us, but we were even more taken aback by the families who decorated their homes and lawns in support of the walk. And they were out to cheer too. Even though it was the butt crack of dawn... Entire neighborhoods came out... It was AWESOME!!!
My friend Anita came out to the Chestnut Hill cheering station and it was soooooooooo good to see her. Thanks again for the support Anita.
We ended the day at the Plateau at Fairmount Park. The Philadelphia skyline in site and the buses ready to load us up and take us to "camp" at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in downtown Philly. I don't think there have ever been more people so happy to ride school buses in their lives...LOL!!!
"Camp" was quite an experience. Special shout outs to the Boy and Girl Scouts of America for helping those of us who'd never slept in a sleeping bag let alone set up a camp site get our tents set up. Shout out to my tent-mate Jackie. Have you recovered yet!?!?!
Day 2 was just as exciting as day one, but mostly everyone was moving at bit of a slower pace...LOL!!! I know I was. But again, tons of people were out to support us and they seemed to be spaced at just the right spots where walkers may be feeling tired, but their cheers and greetings gave us just the boost of energy we needed to keep moving.
Also, other walkers did their part to keep things moving along. Shout out to Kathy (and her sister Nancy) who walked through Manyunk with me (good thing we got the downside of the Manyunk hill, LOL!!). I met so many people, fellow walkers, from all over the country. Some were 1st time walkers like me, others had done the walk before in Philly and other places across the country. But all were united in our goal... PLEASE LORD LET ME MAKE IT TO THE NEXT PIT STOP!! LOL!!!
Day 3 was a short day, but everyone was both excited and worn out. The event staff met us at the starting point with cheering and motorcycle revving and "HIGH-5', WOO's and HOORAY's!!!
...and yes it is hard trying to walk, laugh and take pictures at the same time...
The final days walk took us through Center City proper. This included City Hall and the Love Park area...
(...and even the Occupy Philly protesters came out of their tents to cheer us on)...
...University City...
...The Avenue of the Arts...
...and no visit to Philly would be complete without a stroll through South Philly and a stop at Pat's & Geno's...
...the sea of pink in line at both joints was amazing...
Things wrapped up at the Navy Yard and even though we were all tired and aching, the "Victory Line" got us all pumped up again and we felt like we could walk another 10 miles. Ok, maybe not 10 miles, but at least the short distance to the tent to get our t-shirts...LOL!!! Big shout out to Mommy, Nikki, Drew, Devin, Chloe, Arianna and Leylah for being there with tons of hugs and pink roses for me... But the party didn't stop there. After the big march into the closing ceremony, we kept dancing and celebrating... Celebrating the lives of those who have survived, celebrating the struggle and loss of those who did not... Celebrating the accomplishment of all the walkers that weekend. One I know I won't soon forget.
Thanks to the Susan G Komen organization and staff for such a remarkable weekend and I look forward to doing my part again next year to help stamp out Breast Cancer. And a special thanks to all my family and friends who supported me with their donations, thoughts and prayers. Gonna do it up BIG in 2012, so get ready to do it all again...
Peace,
Carmen
www.the3day.org/goto/Carmen.McGilberry
The 1st day was the hardest (especially those 2 HUGE hills near the end). Being a 1st time walker in the Susan G Komen 3Day for a Cure walk, I didn't know what to expect other than sore legs and blistered feet... LOL!!! But right out of the gate, there was so much support from the event staff and residents of the areas we walked through, it was hard to feel down or tired.
After leaving the Willow Grove Park Mall we found tons of people out to greet us and cheer us on as we walked through the surrounding neighborhoods. The most AAAAAWWWWWW worthy were the little pre-school kids with their signs and ENTHUSIASTIC cheering. They may not have understood why all these people in pink were walking past their schools but they were more than happy to cheer us on and load us up with candy.
I think all the walkers got a kick out of all the little ones supporting us, but we were even more taken aback by the families who decorated their homes and lawns in support of the walk. And they were out to cheer too. Even though it was the butt crack of dawn... Entire neighborhoods came out... It was AWESOME!!!
My friend Anita came out to the Chestnut Hill cheering station and it was soooooooooo good to see her. Thanks again for the support Anita.
We ended the day at the Plateau at Fairmount Park. The Philadelphia skyline in site and the buses ready to load us up and take us to "camp" at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in downtown Philly. I don't think there have ever been more people so happy to ride school buses in their lives...LOL!!!
"Camp" was quite an experience. Special shout outs to the Boy and Girl Scouts of America for helping those of us who'd never slept in a sleeping bag let alone set up a camp site get our tents set up. Shout out to my tent-mate Jackie. Have you recovered yet!?!?!
Day 2 was just as exciting as day one, but mostly everyone was moving at bit of a slower pace...LOL!!! I know I was. But again, tons of people were out to support us and they seemed to be spaced at just the right spots where walkers may be feeling tired, but their cheers and greetings gave us just the boost of energy we needed to keep moving.
Also, other walkers did their part to keep things moving along. Shout out to Kathy (and her sister Nancy) who walked through Manyunk with me (good thing we got the downside of the Manyunk hill, LOL!!). I met so many people, fellow walkers, from all over the country. Some were 1st time walkers like me, others had done the walk before in Philly and other places across the country. But all were united in our goal... PLEASE LORD LET ME MAKE IT TO THE NEXT PIT STOP!! LOL!!!
Day 3 was a short day, but everyone was both excited and worn out. The event staff met us at the starting point with cheering and motorcycle revving and "HIGH-5', WOO's and HOORAY's!!!
...and yes it is hard trying to walk, laugh and take pictures at the same time...
The final days walk took us through Center City proper. This included City Hall and the Love Park area...
(...and even the Occupy Philly protesters came out of their tents to cheer us on)...
...University City...
...The Avenue of the Arts...
...and no visit to Philly would be complete without a stroll through South Philly and a stop at Pat's & Geno's...
...the sea of pink in line at both joints was amazing...
Things wrapped up at the Navy Yard and even though we were all tired and aching, the "Victory Line" got us all pumped up again and we felt like we could walk another 10 miles. Ok, maybe not 10 miles, but at least the short distance to the tent to get our t-shirts...LOL!!! Big shout out to Mommy, Nikki, Drew, Devin, Chloe, Arianna and Leylah for being there with tons of hugs and pink roses for me... But the party didn't stop there. After the big march into the closing ceremony, we kept dancing and celebrating... Celebrating the lives of those who have survived, celebrating the struggle and loss of those who did not... Celebrating the accomplishment of all the walkers that weekend. One I know I won't soon forget.
Thanks to the Susan G Komen organization and staff for such a remarkable weekend and I look forward to doing my part again next year to help stamp out Breast Cancer. And a special thanks to all my family and friends who supported me with their donations, thoughts and prayers. Gonna do it up BIG in 2012, so get ready to do it all again...
Peace,
Carmen
www.the3day.org/goto/Carmen.McGilberry