Race for the Cure

Yesterday was the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in Cleveland. It is always a huge event and yesterday's event was the same. There was an estimate of 25,000 participants in the run and walk yesterday! It was a sea of white and pink t-shirts everywhere. This was my second time doing the walk. I walked in it in support of my friend, Barra Terrigno and her team, Barra's Backers, in 2008. Barra was in the middle of her chemotherapy and she did the entire walk. Doing the walk was emotional for me, but it felt so good to be there. I was amazed at the turnout of 20,000 people, even in the rain. I knew that I would do what I could to be in future walks in support of Barra. I didn't expect to be doing the walk in support of my Mom.

It turned out to be a gorgeous day for the walk. You can tell the excitement and emotion of event just walking in the crowd of the participants before the run/walk. Our team, Pauline's Posse, met in a great location at the start of the race. We could see all the activity going on. The team was 19 members strong-from long time friends, to family to co-workers of my dad's. I got flower leis for Mom, Dad, Sue and I and the rest of the team got pink leis. We were all getting excited for the race/walk. As we were lining up, we saw the mayor of Cleveland, Frank Jackson. Mom will talk to every and anyone. She went up to the mayor to say hello and they had a little chat!

The race started and of course the team got separated. Everyone was walking at their own pace. I walked with mom, so we walked slower. Her goal was to get to Tower City, which was about a mile from the starting line. She got there and decided to stop. We thought that there was a trolley to take people between Tower City and the starting point of the race. However, the trolley didn't show up and Mom had to walk back to the Wolstein Center to meet up with the rest of the team. She nearly walked the amount of the entire walk by walking back and forth! She probably could have walked it with us. But, that is okay. I'm proud of how far she walked. She has come so far in the past 9 months. There was a big group of people that got ahead of the pack. I stayed back and walked at a leisurely pace with Jen and Larry. Then, we all met up at the end of the race. Some of us went out to lunch and enjoyed the wonderful weather. It was a great way to end a really nice morning. Mom mentioned this evening that she has been to 3 breast cancer events in the past 3 months-a retreat with That Gathering Place, cheering on the walkers in the 3-Day Walk and then participating in the Race for the Cure. It has definitely been a big 3 months for her.

Thanks to everyone for supporting Pauline's Posse and thanks to the members of the team who walked yesterday!