Dave dropped me off at Cow Palace for the opening ceremony. It was pretty much what I remembered from last year. The energy and excitement and anticipation warming the pre-dawn chilly darkness, aided by big lighted pink balloons.
I cruised around, partially to try to stay warm and partially out of curiosity, stopping by the different booths and other stations they had set up. I wrote my personal goals on a big pink circle and added it to the ‘Goals’ board. Checked out the sponsors’ tents. Took a few pictures…
There was a new part of the opening ceremony that I participated in this year. This long table had strip after strip of white paper cut into ribbon-like pieces. We were invited to add the names of our family, friends and loved ones who had been touched by breast cancer to one of the strips. During the opening ceremony, these strips became flags on the flagpole up on the raised stage in the middle of the ceremony area. In this way, all of the survivors who were part of our lives became an honorary part of the opening ceremony and of the whole weekend event.
Even though I knew what the ceremony would be like, based on last year’s experience, I was still moved to tears, as were many, many of the people around me. The level of emotion and dedication and commitment and energy… it’s something you have to experience for yourself to truly understand.
1,400 walkers… 350 crew members… at the time of the walk, our fundraising total was $3.7 million… words cannot describe what it feels like to be a part of something like this. You’re going to have to join me for next year and see for yourself!
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