On Saturday, my daughter Shannon, our friend Alice, and I took part in a three-and-a-half-mile Walk for Hope to raise money for MaineGeneral’s Breast Care Program. According to an article about the walk in the Kennebec Journal, over 700 people participated and about $90,000 was raised. I think that’s pretty darned good for little central Maine, which is neither quaint nor affluent.
The day was gray, cold, and misty, but Shannon, Alice, and I had decided that as long as it didn’t pour, we were going to walk. So we made our way to the parking lot of Sam’s Club in Augusta, where the event started, to a big white tent with loud music, lots of people, vendors selling pink items, and a table with free hot drinks and Panera Bread cranberry bagels twisted to form the shape of a ribbon. While the bagels might have been a tad soft, they were just right for munching on the go before the walk started.
Thanks to Alice and her husband, Joel, we more than tripled our fund-raising goal, a modest $75. (I wanted our goal to be attainable.) We received a nifty pink insulated tote bag, which we of course gave to Alice.
The walk began with a very short rah-rah speech, and then we were off, hundreds of us walking down the road toward the University of Maine at Augusta and its nature trail. There is something special that comes from doing something good with a lot of people. I suppose it must stem from our tribal days. We certainly felt as though we were part of a tribe (and I mean this in the best sense), buoyed by good will, concern, and, while this might sound corny, love.
Little children walked, dogs walked, women of all ages walked, and lots of men walked. Shannon, Alice, and I were especially moved by how many men participated, and we reflected that breast cancer doesn’t only affect the women who have it but also their spouses and children. (I’m sure I’m not alone in feeling so sorry that this burden had to fall on my family as well as on me.) The men were all in good spirits, too, and when I got home, I suggested that perhaps Clif might like to come next year. He said he certainly would.
Despite the chill, despite the light drizzle, the walk seemed to pass by in a twink. Alice commented on how such things happen in the company of friends. Three friends. Seven hundred friends. Friends of all ages. Even some dog friends. A good walk. We’ll be doing it again next year.
Notes From the Hinterland 
Nice job Laurie. I think you all are taking over from us down here in Brunswick area. After 10 years walking for the cause, in memory of several and to honor a few more, we are no longer fielding a team for Maine Media Women. We topped $1,000 some years and one year had the # 3 team in fund-raising! But alas, things change. As an ovarian cancer survivor myself (last year) I decided to cut back to one walk, Relay for Life, as it covers all cancers, including prostate cancer (my husband). We were doing both – hard to hit up people whenh you do 2 walks. So onward and upward!
It was a great walk – and the rain held really well until the very end! My first cancer walk and it was a really wonderful experience! Love the picture of the three of us!
I love this blog and the pictures that go along with it… very nice, and you’ve caught the spirit of it all those, and in your writing. What a great and joyous picture of you, Shannon and Alice. What did we say? 1 in 8, or 1 in 6? Can’t remember, but neither one of them are acceptable ! So doing something concrete must have felt wonderful. And what a good amount of money raised for the event. Once I’ve spent a year with Hannah walking the human, I might just take her along next year, and join you!
Please do! The more, the merrier, and we’d love to have Hannah come along.