COMING IN LAST

Seattle Race for the Cure Walk (click on picture to enlarge)
On June 22nd, my wife Janne and I participated in the Race for the Cure - Breast Cancer Walk in Seattle, Washington. 14,500 women and men participated.
It turned out to be a very painful experience for me. For the last few years, I've been experiencing problems walking and the walk did me in. I was the very last person to make it back to Seahawk Stadium! Well, now I can not longer use any macho-bravado excuses. It's time to deal with doctors ... yuk!
But, far more important than my whining, was the magnificent demonstration by people (mostly women and girls) of all ages, determined to bring an end to scourge of breast cancer. Nothing makes me prouder of being part of our human race than to watch people empower themselves and others in face of what seems like insurmountable odds.
Our group was organized by Wendy Huntington, a lifelong friend of Janne's from Pomona College. 31 people were in our section of the walk. The importance of the effort to raise both money and awareness about breast cancer was made even more emphatic by the fact that one of our group was hospitalized the day before the event.
Making it to the end of the walk, with the clean up police car creeping just behind me, and leaning on Janne for support, created in me a whirlwind of emotions within. I was at once embarrassed, in lots of pain, determined, grateful and in awe of the 14,499 others who spent their Sunday morning making a difference.