'Oops ... I'm Walkin' Again' -- Michelle Bennett Honors her Mother in the Komen 3-Day 2005
WE WILL SURVIVE
“At first I was afraid … I was petrified. Kept thinking there was no damn way I’d walk those 60 miles. But then I spent so many miles, thinkin’ all about my mom. And I grew strong … I knew I had to carry on.”
60 Challenging Miles ... 3 Inspiring Days ... 1 Outstanding Cause!! The Breast Cancer 3-Day.
This will be my 7th event!!! I can hardly wait! It has become an addiction for me. I guess if you’re going to be addicted to something, walking to raise money for early detection and awareness of breast cancer is a pretty good “vice of choice.”
Every year, the Breast Cancer 3-Day has presented me with a different challenge. In 1999, it was the onset of it all. My mother’s recent diagnosis, mastectomy, chemotherapy and not knowing what to expect. 60 miles!! Were they kidding?!?! It was a very emotional experience for me as it was for many who walked in honor and/or memory of loved ones. I walked with one of my best friends, Lisa. And the support I received from friends and family was immeasurable. I alone raised almost $3000 and together with the other 1885 walkers and 567 crew members we raised $2.3 million to go towards FINDING A CURE!!
The second year … still very powerful, very emotional. I convinced 2 MORE friends, Susan and Liz, to sign up with me. (Each raising at least $1800 more for the cause!) It was Tropical Storm Helene … walking the first 21 miles in the pouring rain that had us all wondering if this was fair. How could they expect us to continue like this? Could it not be postponed? The reality is that any onset of breast cancer cannot be postponed. That’s not fair either. Early awareness and detection of this killer is paramount!! That is why we were walking. So we wrung out our shoes and walked some more and were blessed with sunshine the last two days. We raised over $7 million for the AVON Breast Cancer Crusade and FINDING A CURE!!!
The third year ... I persuaded my cousin, Sally, to walk with me and created the team the MAMMARY MARCHERS. And let me ask you ... whoever said it's never cold and rainy in Atlanta the first of October is surely editing their opinions. It was coooold. The temperature started out chilly on Saturday and just kept dropping. Saturday night, 44 degrees and it rained all night. But did that stop us from getting up to walk the third day?? Heck no ... we wrung out our shoes and just kept on walking (squish-squish). We donned earmuffs and mylar blankets and plowed through downtown Atlanta. We were committed to doing our part ... and the money we were raising far outweighed any shivers we felt along the way. :-)
The 4th year ... it was the BRA BRA SISTERHOOD, our team of about 20 who kept the miles entertaining ... same great walk, same incredible cause, always a different experience and you just come away from it feeling the empowerment of having made so many new friends and ... having made a difference! Oh ... and let's not forget my mother as the *pillow chocolate* fairy. :-) This was her 2nd year doing the pillow chocolates. She passes them out to the walkers and crew members to show her support and gratefulness for what we are doing in this fight. I just love her so much!
AVON now offers a new event ~ the AVON Walk for Breast Cancer - a 2-Day event covering 26.2-39.3 miles! And I had the pleasure of being on the CREW in April 2005 for AVON's first walk in Charlotte. What a neat experience that was. I was on the Incident Response team and just thoroughly enjoyed the behind-the-scenes aspect of the event. A lot of hard work, but most certainly worth every ounce of it! We made records in Charlotte! The highest ratio of MEN participating ... a MAN was the highest fundraiser (you rock, dude) ... and the highest average raised per walker than any prior event!!! That's OUTSTANDING! See you next year Charlotte!!
My mother also gave a surprise speech on Saturday night of the walk. It was wonderful. I had no idea she was going to do this and it just blew me away. What a woman!! :-D (Link to her speech is on the LINKS page)
This fall's challenge … well, that remains to be experienced. I am crewing once again in the NY Avon Walk for Breast Cancer!!! And walking in the Tampa Bay 3Day!!!
The Susan G Komen foundation is now the beneficiary of the Breast Cancer 3-Day. So, once again, in honor of my mother, a SIX YEAR SURVIVOR, I am preparing for this 60-mile walk in Tampa Bay this October 7-9. I cannot think of a better way for women to get together to reminisce and honor their mothers/aunts/sisters/daughters/friends as well as other women who are or have been afflicted with this disease.
Three days of walking, sharing, laughing, crying, supporting each other, camping out, meeting others sharing the same convictions and, of course, a lot of heavy breathing. How INCREDIBLE!! I am so excited about sharing this experience once again with all the women (and men, too!) ... and preparing for an event of this caliber ... that's part of the excitement.
The key is to be prepared. We have a lot of training ahead of us in order to walk 60 miles in 3 days. This is soooo cool!!! I just love getting out there and walking, wearing my 3-Day t-shirts, sweating, preparing my body for the three days of pure torture it will experience October 7-9, 2005, and telling everyone why I am doing it.
Gosh!! I cannot wait! For this I know, is an AMAZING, POWERFUL and INEXPLICABLE event.
There are over ONE MILLION WOMEN in the United States alone who have Breast Cancer and DO NOT EVEN KNOW IT. And the really sad thing … they probably won’t know about their potentially fatal illness for another five to eight years. THIS IS WHY WE ARE WALKING!!
Our goal is ... FINDING A CURE!!
I have created scrapbooks, pillows, quilts, etc as mementos of this memorable event. One of my favorites is my online photo album. I have devoted many pages on my website to this AMAZING and POWERFUL event. There you will find pictures, details of my personal experiences with the Breast Cancer 3-Day and links to other 3-Day sites as well as other Breast Cancer Awareness sites. The link to my website is on the LINKS page. Then, just click on AVON Breast Cancer 3-Day. I hope you enjoy viewing it as much as I have enjoyed creating it.
Please take a moment to wander throughout my pledgepage and do be sure to sign my guestbook. I really enjoy reading it and the encouragement it gives me is invaluable!!! Especially on days when I struggle to get out there and train!!
“At first I was afraid … I was petrified. Kept thinking there was no damn way I’d walk those 60 miles. But then I spent so many miles, thinkin’ all about my mom. And I grew strong … I knew I had to carry on.”
60 Challenging Miles ... 3 Inspiring Days ... 1 Outstanding Cause!! The Breast Cancer 3-Day.
This will be my 7th event!!! I can hardly wait! It has become an addiction for me. I guess if you’re going to be addicted to something, walking to raise money for early detection and awareness of breast cancer is a pretty good “vice of choice.”
Every year, the Breast Cancer 3-Day has presented me with a different challenge. In 1999, it was the onset of it all. My mother’s recent diagnosis, mastectomy, chemotherapy and not knowing what to expect. 60 miles!! Were they kidding?!?! It was a very emotional experience for me as it was for many who walked in honor and/or memory of loved ones. I walked with one of my best friends, Lisa. And the support I received from friends and family was immeasurable. I alone raised almost $3000 and together with the other 1885 walkers and 567 crew members we raised $2.3 million to go towards FINDING A CURE!!
The second year … still very powerful, very emotional. I convinced 2 MORE friends, Susan and Liz, to sign up with me. (Each raising at least $1800 more for the cause!) It was Tropical Storm Helene … walking the first 21 miles in the pouring rain that had us all wondering if this was fair. How could they expect us to continue like this? Could it not be postponed? The reality is that any onset of breast cancer cannot be postponed. That’s not fair either. Early awareness and detection of this killer is paramount!! That is why we were walking. So we wrung out our shoes and walked some more and were blessed with sunshine the last two days. We raised over $7 million for the AVON Breast Cancer Crusade and FINDING A CURE!!!
The third year ... I persuaded my cousin, Sally, to walk with me and created the team the MAMMARY MARCHERS. And let me ask you ... whoever said it's never cold and rainy in Atlanta the first of October is surely editing their opinions. It was coooold. The temperature started out chilly on Saturday and just kept dropping. Saturday night, 44 degrees and it rained all night. But did that stop us from getting up to walk the third day?? Heck no ... we wrung out our shoes and just kept on walking (squish-squish). We donned earmuffs and mylar blankets and plowed through downtown Atlanta. We were committed to doing our part ... and the money we were raising far outweighed any shivers we felt along the way. :-)
The 4th year ... it was the BRA BRA SISTERHOOD, our team of about 20 who kept the miles entertaining ... same great walk, same incredible cause, always a different experience and you just come away from it feeling the empowerment of having made so many new friends and ... having made a difference! Oh ... and let's not forget my mother as the *pillow chocolate* fairy. :-) This was her 2nd year doing the pillow chocolates. She passes them out to the walkers and crew members to show her support and gratefulness for what we are doing in this fight. I just love her so much!
AVON now offers a new event ~ the AVON Walk for Breast Cancer - a 2-Day event covering 26.2-39.3 miles! And I had the pleasure of being on the CREW in April 2005 for AVON's first walk in Charlotte. What a neat experience that was. I was on the Incident Response team and just thoroughly enjoyed the behind-the-scenes aspect of the event. A lot of hard work, but most certainly worth every ounce of it! We made records in Charlotte! The highest ratio of MEN participating ... a MAN was the highest fundraiser (you rock, dude) ... and the highest average raised per walker than any prior event!!! That's OUTSTANDING! See you next year Charlotte!!
My mother also gave a surprise speech on Saturday night of the walk. It was wonderful. I had no idea she was going to do this and it just blew me away. What a woman!! :-D (Link to her speech is on the LINKS page)
This fall's challenge … well, that remains to be experienced. I am crewing once again in the NY Avon Walk for Breast Cancer!!! And walking in the Tampa Bay 3Day!!!
The Susan G Komen foundation is now the beneficiary of the Breast Cancer 3-Day. So, once again, in honor of my mother, a SIX YEAR SURVIVOR, I am preparing for this 60-mile walk in Tampa Bay this October 7-9. I cannot think of a better way for women to get together to reminisce and honor their mothers/aunts/sisters/daughters/friends as well as other women who are or have been afflicted with this disease.
Three days of walking, sharing, laughing, crying, supporting each other, camping out, meeting others sharing the same convictions and, of course, a lot of heavy breathing. How INCREDIBLE!! I am so excited about sharing this experience once again with all the women (and men, too!) ... and preparing for an event of this caliber ... that's part of the excitement.
The key is to be prepared. We have a lot of training ahead of us in order to walk 60 miles in 3 days. This is soooo cool!!! I just love getting out there and walking, wearing my 3-Day t-shirts, sweating, preparing my body for the three days of pure torture it will experience October 7-9, 2005, and telling everyone why I am doing it.
Gosh!! I cannot wait! For this I know, is an AMAZING, POWERFUL and INEXPLICABLE event.
There are over ONE MILLION WOMEN in the United States alone who have Breast Cancer and DO NOT EVEN KNOW IT. And the really sad thing … they probably won’t know about their potentially fatal illness for another five to eight years. THIS IS WHY WE ARE WALKING!!
Our goal is ... FINDING A CURE!!
I have created scrapbooks, pillows, quilts, etc as mementos of this memorable event. One of my favorites is my online photo album. I have devoted many pages on my website to this AMAZING and POWERFUL event. There you will find pictures, details of my personal experiences with the Breast Cancer 3-Day and links to other 3-Day sites as well as other Breast Cancer Awareness sites. The link to my website is on the LINKS page. Then, just click on AVON Breast Cancer 3-Day. I hope you enjoy viewing it as much as I have enjoyed creating it.
Please take a moment to wander throughout my pledgepage and do be sure to sign my guestbook. I really enjoy reading it and the encouragement it gives me is invaluable!!! Especially on days when I struggle to get out there and train!!