The Nita

So this past weekend was the walk. Stats first:

4600 walkers
$11.6 million raised for research at the Campbell Family Institute at the Princess Margaret Hospital
Countless smiles, drinks, refreshments and words of encouragement from bystanders - including those from the Princess Margaret staff that were out front of the hospital as we walked past.
60 KM - 33/34 Saturday (depending on who I talk to), 27/26 Sunday.
Including pit stops & lunch - 8.5 hours Saturday, 7.5 hours Sunday
Last 4km Saturday, while the plantar faciitis struck, bawling my eyes out, and telling the staff & the "sweep vans" (those who'll pick up people who cannot keep walking) that I was okay.
2 blisters of any significance - both on the balls of my feet, one for each foot.
One burn (semi-bad) on my *back* through my shirt.
Two leg burns (I was wearing ankle length pants, dammit!) through my pants - mostly calf area
One very sore Nita who's extremely proud of herself and very very sore.

It's a hell of an experience. I don't think I've smiled so much my face hurt in a long while.

If you're curious where the money goes, see here - they've found a link between breast & gynocological cancers, so the walk isn't just for breast cancer any more - it's for all womens cancers.

And now, I'm going to work on getting my lower half speaking to me again. ;-)

Hi all,

I am once again this fall (eep - in a few weeks!) doing the Weekend Walk to End Breast Cancer. As many of you know, cancer has touched my family in a lot of ways, and the good folks at the Campbell Family Institute at the Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto have been doing a lot of good work and excellent research into breast (and other female) cancer.

This is a 60 kilometer walk. It takes 2 days. It lasts roughly 6 hours each day on average. Last year, there were just under 5000 walkers and probably half that again in volunteers helping to keep the walkers hydrated, fed & safe. We raised $13 million dollars last year. That's a lot of money, but as many of you know, it takes a lot of money to do real research and to care for people who are really sick.

The folks who organize this ask for a commitment from each walker - raise at least $2000. I'm close to that goal this year, but I'm not there. Please - I know that times are very tough right now, but I have to ask one last time - if you can spare any money for this cause, I would appreciate it. For myself, for the men & women that I'm walking with, for the folks who will benefit from the money we raise, and for the people I love, so I never have to hear another one of them have to tell me they have cancer, or hold their hand while they go through chemo & radiation.

My page on the site is here. If you can donate, I'd appreciate it. If you can only cheer me on from the sidelines, I will gladly accept that as well.

Thanks for listening.

Hello all,

HopeSpring Cancer Support Centre in Waterloo is having a "Bring a Friend Open House" on Tuesday, December 2nd from 1-3pm.

As you are well aware, it takes courage to walk through our doors for the first time. The open house is an opportunity to introduce yourself, a friend, family member or caregiver to HopeSpring in a warm and welcoming environment. There will be delicious treats, door prizes, relaxation therapy demos and information packages for everyone. We hope to see you there!

The office is located at 43 Allen Street West, in Waterloo (near the corner of Allen and Park).

RSVP is appreciated to 519-742-4673 or support@hopespring.ca.

Please feel free to pass this along to anyone you think would be interested. Reply here if you have any questions.

And if you're not sure if this is aimed at you or not? Here's the clarification:

Everyone. Anyone. We know there are a lot of people out there who are close to someone with cancer, or have it themselves, and we have resources for both, and they don't know about us. Most new cancer patients hear about us in the hospital - once and while they're worrying about other things. We want them to know we're here through the entire cancer journey, and that we can support their supporters too.

If you want to help. If you need help. If you want to just let another living human being know that you give a damn while they face cancer personally, or have to help someone else do it. If you don't know if you can help, or if you can do anything, come. If nothing else, there's something yummy to eat and a moment to warm yourself inside on a cold December day, and remind yourself that humanity has a good side to it as well.

(Yah, I do get a little evangelical - I don't even think I can truly say I'm sorry about that.)

KW has a cancer centre.

I was talking to the folks there recently.

I remember when my aunt had cancer, one of the things she said she loved about living in LA was that at least her head wasn't freezing when her hair fell off.

I live in the land of "ice & snow" (though that's been questionable lately.)

I've been knitting lots of hats lately. I've even gotten semi good at it.

(You see where this is going, right???)

I'm planning on knitting some hats to donate to the cancer centre - they can use them. Anyone who's a knitter on my flist want to join me?