Men With Heart
Mom Tests Our Mettle
Thoughts on the Komen 3-Day
As if fighting breast cancer was not enough, Mom Nature decided to test the mettle of 1,600 walkers. She hit us with her best stuff, from chilling rains to searing heat. But, just as we will in the larger battle, we prevailed.
Day One
Ask any breast cancer walker what they want most after 20 miles on the road, and a shower will usually top the list. (OK – a stiff drink is often up there too!) But the showers that we got at the tail end of day one weren’t exactly what we had in mind. As the temperature plummeted from the high 80s to the low 60s, the rain, which had been threatening much of the day, began in earnest. Hundreds of walkers were still on the course when the sprinkle became a shower became a downpour. The wind picked up. T-shirts turned into chilly wetsuits. Sneakers became swampy. A pleasant hike turned into a difficult slog.
Twenty miles and some eight hours earlier, the 1,600 walkers and 300-plus crew kicked off the Komen 3-Day for the Cure in Framingham. The enthusiasm was infectious as the crowd, many clad in pink from their bunny ears (courtesy of event sponsor Energizer) to their toenails, went through stretching exercises and listened to inspiring words. We had veterans and newbies, survivors and supporters, women and (relatively few) men. The Pink Angels fielded a huge team; the Cup Crusaders and Wild Women were back in force. Some walkers started alone. (Nobody finished alone.)
We came out of the gate with a spring in our step, a smile on our face, and energy to spare. Through Framingham and Natick and Wellesley and Newton we trekked, sharing inspiring stories of those who survived and poignant memories of those who did not. Every few miles a strategically place rest stop would appear, filled with maniacally energetic volunteers and cheering supporters, where we would relieve and refuel ourselves.
Even as the temperature and humidity rose, our adrenaline spurred us on. Members of the Men With Heart team carried backpacks overstuffed with medical and comfort supplies. We gave out candy and buttons and sunscreen and duct tape. We led sing-a-longs – and nobody seemed to care that the MWH singers were the worst of the bunch! What we lacked in musicality we made up with enthusiasm.
At the end of more than 20 hot miles, the MWH team lined up just before the finish line, creating a cheering, applauding, high-fiving, serenading gauntlet. It’s a point of pride and mission for MWH to greet and cheer every single walker as they complete the day’s route, down to the very last straggler. As the clouds thickened and the rains came, we stayed out and stayed upbeat, giving every walker the reception they deserved.
The weather was tough, but we – all 1,600 of us – were tougher.
Coming soon: Day two plus event photos!
Send Us Your Thoughts and Your Pictures!
The 2010 3-Day is in the book! We’re busy uploading our pix and writing down our thoughts about the walk.
You can do the same! If you want to post a message, click on the “Comments” link, above.
If you’d like to send us photos to be posted on our site, email them to jack@menwithheart.org.
More to come!
Men With Heart’s 10th Anniversary!
In 2011, MWH will be celebrating its 10th anniversary. Our humble beginnings can be traced back to 2002, when we fielded a team of 37 men in the Avon 3-Day Breast Cancer Walk. (Yes, in those days, the Avon Walk was three days!)
To celebrate our first decade, we are inviting back all our original walkers — plus any new members! — to take part in the Avon 2-day and/or Komen 3-day walks in 2011.
Want to join a team of great guys fighting for a noble cause? Click here!
