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One Weekend, a World of Good.
By Pamela Hadlock
Avon Walk for Breast Cancer
New York City 2004
Thank you to all who
helped me get to the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer NYC 2004. It was by far
one of the most fulfilling things I have ever done in my life. I have
wanted to walk since my sister Susan was diagnosed with breast cancer.
The commercials on TV always brought me to tears. The year after my
sister passed away after her courageous battle with cancer I decided to
do it. She was my inspiration. I have a very hard time asking people for
money. That is why I am indeed so grateful to all of you for your
donations and your support in every way. As you know I had to raise
$1,800 dollars to be able to walk. I was able to reach my goal thanks to
28 of you who gave so generously.
On Friday night,
October 1st it all began. My husband Mark drove my friends,
Rod and Joyce Dayley and me into the city. Rod and Joyce had their fears
about being in the city, and they voiced them often as we drove. I was
apprehensive because I didn’t have anyone to walk with who would walk at
my pace. When we got to the hotel to check in for the walk, it was just
so amazing to see how many people were there with pink ribbons on. That
was the beginning of this joyous feeling that stayed with me the whole
weekend. I knew I was in the middle of something that was wonderful. I
was finally making a difference, not just standing by watching my loved
ones be hurt by this disease. People were so warm and friendly at the
check-in. I decided right then to sign up for another year. We stayed
that night at the hotel.
The next morning we
woke up early and caught a shuttle bus to the South Street Seaport in
NYC. We all needed to be there by 5:30 a.m.. We had breakfast and
attended an opening ceremony. I had my sister’s picture pinned to my
back, and I wasn’t alone. So many people had loved one’s pictures
attached to their clothes. Reading people’s backs was a tear-jerking
pastime along the walk. It helped keep us going. As soon as the opening
ceremony finished we were off and walking. Within minutes a woman came
up to me and asked me if I was walking alone. I answered “yes,” and just
like that I had a walking buddy for the whole walk. Our pace was
similar, as were our interests, and I said a silent “Thank you “ as I
felt my prayers had been answered. When she told me that her name was
Susan, I had to choke back the tears. I was walking with Susan, for
Susan, (my sister).
I have lived close to
New York City for over 10 years. My family loves the city. I saw and
experienced the wonders of the city in a whole new light. I had never
walked under the George Washington Bridge before. I had no idea there
was a little red light house right under the bridge. I had never walked
through the neighborhoods and parks along the waterfront. I had never
walked across the amazing bridges. The city was so beautiful. Another
great thing was the people. Everyone that we walked with had a story
about someone they loved who had been touched by cancer. Some were
cancer survivors themselves. It was so refreshing to see so many people
open up and share their stories and it was acceptable to get choked up
and share a tear or two, men and women alike.
There were many people
cheering along the way. Some of them were loud, with cowbells and
clappers, their encouragement helped us to keep walking. The people who
moved me the most were the ones with quiet cheers. There was an older
woman in particular who touched my heart. We were walking through a
neighborhood of apartments and she was on a bench watching us walk by.
Her hair was thin, I suspect it was from chemo. She very lightly waved
at us when we walked by. She didn’t have the smile that most of our
cheerleaders had. Instead she had a look of concern. When I walked by
her, we locked eyes. She whispered, “Thank you, I need your help…” it
gave the walk so much purpose. In another neighborhood of apartments
there was a sweet little girl on a balcony. She had made and hung a
poster that said that her mother was a survivor, and thanked us. She
threw out confetti and bead necklaces to those of us walking by.
On Saturday night we
slept in tents under the Triborough Bridge. Our cause was celebrated
with music and food. They had shower trucks there that provided us with
wonderful hot showers. There were also people donating time in our
behalf… they offered free massages and other services. I even had my
first chiropractic adjustment - it felt wonderful. Morning came quickly
but I welcomed it because I just couldn’t sleep. I woke up and found my
friend Susan. We ate breakfast and packed up and off we went to tackle
the last 13 miles of our walk.
This day was great. I
had some blisters starting but I enjoyed the walk so much I just didn’t
let it bother me. We walked through the elegant Upper East Side of
Manhattan. That was so beautiful. Every place you looked was a Kodak
moment. We walked downtown, through Chinatown, and on to the Lower East
Side. We saw a Jewish wedding taking place under a canopy, walked across
the Manhattan Bridge, and finally came to my favorite bridge, the
Brooklyn Bridge. Crossing it was so wonderful! (I enjoyed it so much
that I took my family there the next weekend to cross it again.) When we
were walking across the Brooklyn Bridge we saw the South Street Seaport
where our walk would end. That gave us the momentum to walk a little
faster. What a wonderful welcome we had as we were greeted by hundreds
of people. We walked through a tunnel of greeters and gave a lot of high
fives and hugs. My husband and friends Joyce and Rod were there waiting
for me and I introduced them to the new friends that I had met a long
the way.
Getting ready for the
closing ceremonies was so much fun. There were about 3,000 walkers
there, all gathered together to make our entrance. I have never seen
that much pink clothing in one spot. When we entered the meeting with
cheers and waves I know we all felt like heroes. Our New York City walk
alone raised more than $7.2 million. What a great accomplishment. I was
a part of that because of you. There was not one dry eye in the place as
we heard testimonials from people who had been helped with funds earned
previously and as we saw checks handed out to cancer centers in our
area.
On the way home my
husband had to laugh as he heard the difference in our friend’s
comments. When we were driving into the city they voiced their fears and
apprehensions. Now, as we were heading back home he heard excited
voices. He heard them tell about how the city is just so awesome as they
pointed out all of the places where they had walked. My husband was
pleased to hear of their new appreciation for NYC.
Thank you, thank you
so much for supporting this cause and helping me achieve my goal. It
helped in my healing. My grandmother has had breast cancer, my aunts, my
mother, my mother in law, my sister, and my friends. It felt so good to
do something about it. It was a wonderful weekend that I will always
remember. I know I want to be a part of this in the years to come. What
is more important though is all of the people that will be touched by
your donations. There will be more survivors because of you, there will
be help available for those who have no insurance, and there will be
better-equipped treatment centers. One day, there will be a cure. I have
already signed up for next years walk in New York City. You can
check my sight out or join me. My personal number is 941316.
Thank you all again.
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