October 19, 2008

60 Miles in 3 Days! $29,000 WOW!

To the most amazing people I know,

Thank you for making something very dear to me a reality. We did it! You helped raise over $29,000, that is amazing. I'm just smiling from ear to ear and tear up thinking about it. All nine of us on Team Cancer Sucks walked 60 miles each. We did it all! And I'm proud to say, it was one of the best groups to walk next to. I wanted to tell all the daddies of Team Cancer Sucks and their helpers, thank you for letting your wives walk next to me. It means more than I can express.

What an inspirational trip. Flying with my oldest dearest friend, Heather from KC. Sitting and having an delicious meals and wine prepared by Jill McClellan with my team. Surrounded by amazing people and incredible friends. Thank you Scott and Jill for opening your very warm house.

Day 1 up at 4:30. Let's go walk. I bounced into the opening ceremonies excited to be there and ready to walk. I took it all in and realized how many people had raised money and cared. After a 14 hour day, walking over 22 miles. Heather KC was barely walking. Gus popped a blister that covered all of Marcie's pinkie toe. Wine was a favorite at night.

Day 2 Up at 5:30. Much better day. We were done by 2:30 and out to eat the best burgers in town from Five Guys. We moved slowing that night, but enjoyed wine, friendship, and Jilly's homemade desserts. Icy Hot almost burned off my hamstrings and luckily Marcie reminded my when I was headed to the bathroom not to touch the privates after Icy Hot. Yikes, that would have hurt. Wine, Movie and Great Friends!

Day 3 Last Day. We can do it. We walked through Virginia over to Georgetown, through downtown DC and past the White House and the Capital. We finished around 530 out of 3000 people. We celebrate our completion with some beer before the closing ceremonies.

We walked with blisters, bad knees, sore legs, our feet had shooting pains running through them. But we knew that we would recover, that chemo was not needed to cure our pain, and that we didn't have to fight for our lives because of walking. We, with your help, were helping save lives.

At closing ceremonies, I looked at 3000 walkers in white shirts I said to myself "for you mom" As I walked with my pink shirt on with all the survivors. I raised my arms high, high, high in the air. Tears rolled down my face as I thought… I did it, I beat breast cancer, I'm alive, and I'm happy. It was the first time, I really considered myself a survivor. November 2, 2008 I will be one year out. YES!

During this time of politics, bad market, war, this walk allows you to realize.. there is good in the world.

I walked because I believe. Because Everyone Deserves a Lifetime… Who's coming next year for 60 more?

FYI, We are all heading back to NYC Nov 14-17th to the Vascular Birthmark Conference. We plan to see two of the top doctors in the US regarding Hemangiomas to see how we can continue to help Kaylynn's face look even better. We are blessed with how far we have come!

Also, Reeve and I filmed a news segement for a local channel here in Austin, New 8 Austin regarding Wonders & Worries and Breast Cancer. It should be on Oct 27th and that whole week they are doing segments on Breast Cancer. I will forward the link when I get it.

Hugs,Traci

See our photo gallery: