Survivor recognition (pre-race)
Brendan & Shari & Me (above) Me & Nichole (below)
This awesome banner unfortunately is not for our team, but pretty cool none the less. You have to raise alot more money than our team does to get a tent, so there must be another Betty that is dearly missed as well.
This year's Race for the Cure was as meaningful and as powerful for me as any of the other years that I've done it. This year my team wasn't as active as last year and we didn't raise as much money as years past either. But, that didn't stop me... I still managed to get our team to the $1,000.00 goal. I've noticed that this age/stage of life is the busiest one for me and all my friends. Everyone is so busy with careers, kids and caring for their families and everything that it is hard for people to find the time for the extra stuff. So, most of my team did the "sleep-in" for the cure instead of the actual race.
Nichole came down from Saint Pete and refused to run so I walked with her instead of running solo. Of course, all of the survivors (they wear pink shirts & hats so that you know who they are) and the messages on everyone's backs always bring up powerful emotions but this year we witnessed something that brought Nichole and I both to tears instantly. Here is what we saw...
About half-way through the course there is a place where you turn around and go back the way you came, but on the other side of the street. This is a fun spot because as you are coming up you can see the people who are really racing and you can cheer them on, and as you are passing back, you can see how many thousands and thousands of folks really participate in this thing! Well, Nichole and I were on the second part and I noticed a group of people in the median of this road holding big handmade signs and banners. The signs said things like "we are supporting you mom" and "you can do this, we are so proud of you". There was a man, maybe 40s, an older couple and four young children, two in strollers, the older ones were holding the 'mom' signs. Then, as I was looking at them, a woman with a completely bald head in a pink shirt comes running up arms outstretched and into the group for big hugs. It was obvious that this woman was the one they were supporting.
What a powerful thing to witness.
There is usually something or someone that really stands out to me each time I do these races and each time it encourages me to keep this up. This was the 15th year of this race and my 9th time participating.
I can't wait until next year!
Oh, in case you were wondering... our time was 1 hour 30 seconds.
