Walking a Mile

Earlier in the year my Aunt Sandi decided she wanted to do the Komen Race for the Cure at Atlantic Station.  It consisted of a 1 mile walk or a 5k run.  She's a two year survivor of breast cancer and was really feeling the need to do something to celebrate.  She, my Aunt Becky, Uncle Mike, Andrew, his girlfriend and I all signed on for the 1 mile walk and became the Pink Pack.  We all raised money and Sandi and I came in as the top two fundraisers for our team and found out just a few days before the race that we actually were two of the top 100 fundraisers for the whole event.  Out of 10,000 entrants, we made the top 100.  We were on cloud nine.  We got t-shirts with our names on them, a $25 Belk card (which turned into sandals for me), and our names were on the "big board" at the finish line.  Even though this walk was happening just two weeks after my surgery I was sure I could do it.

My brother Chris, the oldest - who lives in London, called me a few days before to see how I was feeling.  He was my top donor so I wanted to assure him I was fine and could do the walk.  I told him it wasn't that far so I should be able to handle it.  He asked how far, I answered a mile.  Expecting support I get this instead, "I paid a hundred dollars for you to walk a mile!?!"  Yep.  Sucker.  Now stop it, the money is for a good cause.  And of course it was and he laughed it off. 

I made it through the day with all the people I love surrounding me.  After the walk, Matt and his girlfriend, my dad and his girlfriend, my friend Anne-Marie, along with her mom and nephew, joined us for lunch at the Yard House.  It was a great day, at times emotional for my aunt, especially her finish line experience.  They split survivors off from others at the finish line and they get to run through a parade of other survivors high-fiving them all the way.  Watching her celebrate her brave fight got me teary-eyed.  I am so proud of her.

Now, why am I so tired all the time?