3-Day Breast Cancer Walk Cupertino-to-San Francisco July 28-30, 2000 (cont.)

I don't know where to begin, but here's a summary:

I raised $6,000 for Breast Cancer; walked 60 miles in 3 days with 3,000 people of all sizes, shapes, ages and physical abilities who collectively raised $6,200,000 net for Breast Cancer. I drank about 1,000 oz. of water and Gatorade mixed, peed at least 100 times in porta-potties (and a few times in a styro foam cup). Went through weather extremes of 95º of baking sun to 50º in wind and fog. One day I was walking in a tank top and shorts, and the next day I was walking in ski clothes. I set up and slept in a tent (for the first time in my life) and woke up with puddles of water surrounding me AND COULDN'T STOP LAUGHING.

I watched the medical team cover thousands of blisters and wrap injuries (sometimes it looked like a war zone). I saw people in a lot of pain keep walking (I walked for 50 miles with a sore shin, which miraculously healed near the end of the walk, but never got one blister on my feet.). IT'S CRAZY, BUT THE LAST TEN MILES I FELT SO GREAT, THAT I FELT LIKE I WAS JUST BEGINNING.

I met hundreds of crew and volunteers who worked SOOOOOO hard and always had a smile on their faces!!! I gave high five's to thousands of supporters along the route; sang silly songs and danced to great music at the rest stops. I was really in awe of the organization of an event of this magnitude.

MY HEART AND SOUL WERE TOUCHED BY SO MUCH COURAGE AND SPIRIT. I laughed, cried, hugged, kissed and was touched by so many, many wonderful people. The cause, the spirit and the determination of the human body carried me and the other 3,000 through a finish line that made each person feel like a hero. BECAUSE, YES! WE WERE ALL HEROES!!! I cried during the entire 30 minute closing ceremony.

THIS WAS ONE OF THE MOST INCREDIBLE!!!!!, AWESOME!!!!!, FULFILLING!!!!!, AMAZING!!!!!, AND WONDERFUL EXPERIENCES IN MY LIFE!!!!!!

Thank you to everyone for being there for me. The support and love of family and friends is so powerful.

A special thank you to my husband Joe who drove up and down roads looking for me to take pictures (he never did find me) to keep you all updated on my progress on the web. He did make it to camp one night. I LOVE YOU!!! Thank you Stephen for getting up at 5:30 am (he never wakes up before noon) to see me off at opening ceremonies, and Jason and Jamie Kaplan for being there when I completed my powerful journey.

LOVE, HUGS AND KISSES TO ALL OF YOU,
Marcia

P.S. And I didn't fix my hair or put on one drop of make-up for 3 DAYS.

Hi Marcia,
Way to go on completing the walk! I just "tuned in " to your web page. A friend of mine, Sarah S., from San Jose, did the walk and said what an awesome experience it was; right up there with getting married and childbirth! I congratulate you on your completed goal.
Patty K.
Edinburgh, Scotland

Dear Marcia and Joe,
Katharine forwarded your website info so I could see the info on Marcia's adventure in the 3 day breast cancer walk. All I can say is I was very moved and honored when I saw my name on Marcia's shirt. Thank you so very much. I am two years out from treatment and doing great. My Drs consider my cancer a fluke, hopefully never to return! My husband Paul and I got tired of feeling like we had the cancer black cloud hanging over our heads and decided after the first year mammogram turned out well to start a family. Our son, Jackson, is now six months old. Never would have believed it two years ago, but there is life after cancer! Take care,
Mary

Marcia,
This is the third time I have read and looked at your web page -- and I still get a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes. Thank you. For me this was (is) the most exciting event I have ever taken part in. The people, the love, the laughter....all of it. My wish is that we could all live every day like those 3 days. I try my best to do this from my experience, but there are "things" out there that somehow over power the feelings I remember --- that is when I go to your web page, and I feel re-enlightened. Thank you. I went for a short walk on Saturday. I now know without a shadow of a doubt, my walking has changed... the feelings I have while I walk, the thoughts, the spirit of the walk itself... will never ever leave me. I can't wait to do this again!!! well... maybe I can wait... I will surely be a part of the walk next year!!! ;-) Your husband is wonderful... he is a lucky man!! With love in spirit,
Lynne
Incredible as it seems, my life is based on a true story.

Hi - I am a 3-peater and seeing your "adventure" brought tears to my eyes (oh, those blisters)!! I am busy moving and have not had the opportunity to train like I know I need to - but you have inspired me. I have some great walking buddies and may have my sons put a Web page together for us. Thanks from the bottom of this 58 year old grandmother's heart!!! God bless.
Mickie

Dear Marcia and Husband,
What a beautiful webpage your husband created. The pictures are beautiful and my husband was quite impressed with the fog hanging over the tents. You might win an award for that one! Every woman should have a husband that would follow his wife for three days and tell about the wonderful challenge and adventure she encountered for the fight against breast cancer. I wish I would of had a chance to meet you Marcia or walk a short distance with you. I was a solo walker so I'm sure we passed each other on the way. Thank you so much for sharing your story with all of us. I'm signed up to do it again next year with a dear friend of mine, and I hope to capture a whole new and different perspective on why I'm doing the walk, instead of just meeting the challenge of walking 60 miles. I know, I missed out on making lots of friends and conversing on why they were walking. Thank you again.
Lora

I'm sitting here in amazement and with tears running down my cheeks as I look at the pictures on your web site. To see so many of my friends (I'm one of the Cheerio's) participating in this awesome adventure just fills my heart. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Catch the wind,
Sherry

I didn't get a chance to meet you but, after 12hrs. sleep which I sooooo needed, I just got off the phone with my dad and had to thank you for sharing your website with him. I did this walk in memory of my mother and my dad has been a great support and proud of my participating in the event. He lives in Michigan and said he kept checking all weekend to see where we were and how we were doing and that he got new pictures every day. I was amazed. Then I checked you webpage!! It's fantastic!! Thanks for all you efforts in putting it together and thanks so much for sharing it. I am not near talented enough to post pictures and this allowed him not only to hear but to see the event as it was going on. He also plans to check later to see your final shots! (me too). Thanks again for being one of the many people in our special "world of kindness." Love,
Karen E.

You probably are just getting ready for today's walk. My thoughts are still here but not our ability: During the old crazy fun days, we would have surprised you with being there at your side cheering you on. This walking event is the catalyst to bring forth what is and has been in our hearts. We are Proud of you. We are blessed with three children, two wives and four grandchildren, all of whom developed into the highest zenith of fulfillment for their health of spirit, mind and body. I could go on - but we Love you, respect you and are Proud of you!
Mom and Dad

Thank you for the great web site and pictures. I have sent it out to many friends and family this morning so that they can see and possibly feel just a little of what it was all about. Thanks very much to your husband for doing this, and sharing it with us all. I had an amazing experience and feel great today. I hope you are well fellow walker. Sorry I did not get to meet you but we sure were all in this together. I have never had an experience quite like this.
Martha

We knew that you could do it. We are even more proud of you than before. Love,
Walter & Ilse :-)

My aunt is a survivor doing the walk in New York in October, and I sent her the link to your web site to get her excited (while I try and get work to the level where it's possible to keep my head above water here!)
Congratulations, and thanks again!
Beth

I was referred to your site from someone here in Atlanta. You have done a FABULOUS job! The photos are super and the comments make you feel as if you were a part of it. You and your wife deserve kudos. I am truly motivated to continue my training for the September Atlanta walk!
Thank you, Aimee

I'm so proud of you! I did see the walkers on Friday near PARC and also on Friday afternoon as you were crossing in front of Sequoia Hospital on the Alameda. I drove for about five miles going around in circles... but couldn't find you! I was very impressed to see the stamina and joy of the people walking! You're great.. and we are all very proud of you! Love,
Bobbi
PS I never had a doubt that you wouldn't make it!

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!
Best investment I made this year!!!!
Love,
Alan

Marcia. Congratulations. Your story brought a smile to my face and tears in my eyes. I am so moved by your guts, determination, follow-through and moxy as well as getting all of the important men in your life to support you through your adventure. I'm sorry I couldn't make it to the finish line to support you. I worked and played golf, but you were in my thoughts. Again, congratulations.
Gina

Thanks you for sharing your webpage with me. What an inspiration. I have several friends who walked and several friends who are survivors to whom I will forward this.
Carol, Fresno

Congratulations!!!! What I am really congratulating you on is not the 60 mile walk (you are so physically fit and energetic and I am sure you own the BEST shoes that make you blister resistant, but on the fact that you slept in a tent and peed in a porta-potty... all sounding ever so yucky to me. I bet your shower and bed and all the other luxuries of home were such a treat on Sunday night. You keep going girl... I am so happy to have been able to make a contribution. I forgot... I went out to your website and saw your tee shirt with Louise DeIulio's name on it. It made me cry not only to think about her death, but also tears of joy to see that you were wearing her name. She was a very thoughtful and kind woman, friend and mother, and this would have made her feel really special. Thank you so much.
Nancy

My sister Deanne just passed your website address to me, and I wanted to thank both of you. My name is Linda and I wanted to tell your wife I was honored she included my name on her t-shirt. I only volunteered on Sunday's closing event. Being apart of this day touched me in so many ways, it made me happy and broke my heart seeing everyone so involved and supportive. Thank you again and please congratulate your wife for her support and hard work.
Much aloha! Linda

Dear Friends,
Last night I returned home from crewing at the Avon 3 Day 60 mile Breast Cancer Walk. I joined several women from Los Altos who were training to walk in this event last March. In the process of walking with them, I became so impressed with their dedication to raise money for Breast Cancer Research that I signed up to crew the walk. This meant working at a "Stop and Go" which provided water, Gaterade and porta-potties for the 3000 walkers. I also helped put up some of the 1600 tents and took down tables and chairs for meals for nearly 4000 participants at one of the overnight sites. I have never worked so hard and never been so inspired! I met many breast cancer survivors. Their stories are so unbelievable. I hope that through early detection, and more research, we can do much to eradicate this terrible disease.
You may want to consider participating in a local Avon Breast Cancer Walk (it will happen again here, (Cupertino to SF) next summer. The experience has the power to change your life! The whole experience has restored my faith in the human spirit. I was particularly moved by all my teammates from Grab and Go F. Dana you are an unbelievable leader! Thanks to all for this opportunity. I love you.
Darlene :-)

My dear friend did the 3 day, and I went to cheer on Sunday. We never did connect, but I got to walk for a couple of hours with so many incredible women and another four cheering, listening to their stories, taking their pictures, and sharing my golden retriever--who put a smile on the most blistered women! All of you women who did this walk are amazing. And you survivors are incredible! I am in awe! I want to say, thank you, thank you, thank you. And thank you for this web site. What a wonderful thing to do for the walkers and the onlookers.
Yvonne

What a thrilling experience, Marcia--absolutely awesome. Congratulations on all of your achievements!
Nancy

I am working towards the Relay For Life here in Healdsburg,Ca. (24 hour relay) I used to live in San Jose and Sunnyvale. I even took some classes at DeAnza. What an incredible job you all did!! I am in awe. I am a breast cancer survivor (2 1/2 years) and want to thank you for your commitment and determination. There are so many of us that are working, each in a different way, to find the cure. Thanks for sharing your experience with all of us out here. I also have and will continue to pass this along to my friends, family and fellow survivors. CON TODO MI CORAZON, GRACIAS !
DIANA

Thank you for doing the walk for all of us. Through efforts like the Avon walk and other outreach events I know we can make a difference in the battle against breast cancer. My friend Vicky felt that genetic research would bring a cure for cancer in my lifetime. I have printed the t-shirt picture and sent it on to Vicky's family and to my sister Mary. I am so proud of you!
KB

Dear Marcia,
I know you don't know me, I live out on the east coast! My name is Emily, and Katharine (Kit) is my aunt. I just wanted to write and let you know how much your walk touched me. It was a wonderful thing that you did. It makes such a difference. As you probably know, my other aunt, Mary, suffered from breast cancer for a time; (I saw her name on your shirt on the web!) and I just want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart. It touched me so much. It was fantastic that you did something like that. I can only imagine how hard it was to walk 60 miles! I ran three straight miles for Neurofibromatosis earlier this year, and that was hard enough! But it was an extremely powerful experience. Thank you so much for what you've contributed. That was fantastic. May the Lord God of peace bless you and keep you. Sincerely,
Emily

I want to say how amazed I am at the 3-day emails and website. I read everyone's comments and I got so emotional. I can't say enough at how proud I am of both of you. Mom of course did the walk, but she wouldn't have touched so many people if it weren't for dad and the web site. I am happy that dad got so many nice emails. Now he knows how I felt after all the videos I did for ultimate... when the team thanked me, I really knew they meant it. It was clear in these emails at how much the people meant it.
Stephen