Day one


Opening ceremonies was over whelming. Have not cried like that with happy tears ever in my life. Some thing over whelmed me to the point where all my emotions were un controllable. I was so excited and scared, feeling a sense of elation and a sense of pride I have never felt before. We had speakers and they spoke about the fight for the cure. How the survivors were our inspiration. They had 5 survivors holding hands and while they did that they raised the 3 day flag. We all promised that day to walk 3 days. 3 days, 60 miles, one cure!

We started off at the Kansas City Speed Way in Kansas.

We walked around the race way while the official pace cars lead us around the course. I do not think that pace car has ever gone that slow. The first pit stop was on the race way pit stop. There were some people that already had blisters, and knew that this was going to be a hard journey, but a journey worth the pain they were going to endure. We then left the speed way and started walking on main road. At that time the side walks ran out and we had to walk on the grass that was not all grass. It was rocks and holes. Wow, did that hurt the knees. After about 2 mils MO DOT coned off a lane for us on K – 7 and we walked. There is a joke out there that the three day does not know how to do their math. And this time was no exception; but hey, 3 miles, 5, miles what is the difference. We walked to our second pit stop. They had men in tu – tu’s and shirts that said “I love boobs, check them or I will” any other time those shirts would have been taken as an offensive comment, but this time was different, we knew where that shirt was coming from.

There were also sweep vans. What those are for are for walkers that need some assistance on the walk. If they need to be taken to med tent or to the next pit stop. They are all decorated in different themes. They were decorated by years. There was a 50’s van playing that era of music and the 2 ladies were dressed in poodle skirts with really big pink hair. We had a 60’s van and they were dressed in pink everything. The 70’s van had flowers and they were dressed in bell bottoms and long pink hair with peace signs and pink ribbons. The 80’s van had MTV all over it. And they were dressed in cut off jean shorts that were rolled and belts galore. Oh I remember those days… and there was a 90’s van and they dressed like the do now. They were just a lot of fun.

The third pit stop was our team, Feet Forward for the Cure! Woo Hoo! They are all awesome! We had a great time and met up with other walkers from our team. After that we had lunch and then pit stop 4. We then went walking at Mill Creek.

We walked on a trail that went around a big lake. It was so beautiful. The sun was setting over the water, and I felt like I was the only one out there. It was so peaceful. We saw deer and squirrels, it was so neat. There were cheering stations along the way where family members came out to show their support. And that was so exciting. There were little boys and girls shooting us with water guns, oh how wonderful that felt! And they gave out candy and popsicles. That sugar rush was so welcomed.


Then we headed back to camp. After all that walking as said and done we had walked 26.2 miles for the first day. Entering camp was like no other experience. The other walkers that had arrived were cheering you on and when the last walker came in she raised the 3 day flag.

Day 2

This day started off weird. I felt funny and my cold that I had the week before seemed to have come back to say hello. I had some issues walking this day. I got dehydrated due to the cold medicine that I had taken the week before. And I was pulled off the route at mile 18. Talk about pissed off. But my husband and kids were there to cheer me up.

Day 2 at night

The clouds rolled in and it stormed so we all had to seal up our tents and we were moved to a warehouse and had a huge sleep over. It was wonderful. We all talked about our day and knew that the next day would be the last day of a wonderful adventure.


Day 3

What a wonderful morning. The clouds cleared away, and as they did they gave us a beautiful lighting show. Even the heavens were cheering us on. This day was to be our last day walking for a cure. It seemed that every ones aches and pains seemed to vanish and we all walked strong every step as a team making a presence to all who walked with us.

There were so many people out supporting us. People crying and saying thank you. The blister, yes I said blister no “s” at the end of that. I got one blister on this walk. I was so very proud and it was from my sandals that I wore on the first day. I learned my lesson on that. I will not do a walk in sandals again. I need the ankle support. But that is how you learn.

Our team crossed the finish line together just as we started, together as one!



Closing Ceremonies


Oh my, there was not a dry eye in the park. We were all crying. The feeling of completing something so wonderful and then for it to just be over was on computing with me. How could this journey be over? The survivors brought in a blank flag this time. In hopes there will be a cure soon.




I am walking again. Next year I will be back and I will walk stronger and more proud than before. And the next one I will walk even stronger. I will continue to walk until there is a cure.

Walking strong because she should not have to!