And So It Begins

Today the rest of the Udderly Pink 3-Day Breast Cancer Walk Team will be arriving in Washington, D.C.  We've raised our money, thanks to so many generous donors and friends and family.  We've got supporters all over the country thinking good thoughts and issuing prayers for us as we walk those 60 miles in three days.

Of course, with the government shut-down, plans have had to be altered.  We're not exactly sure how each day's course will be changed.  We're not sure what we'll be walking past and where we will be.  One reason we chose to walk in DC is the thought of walking past so many monuments and important locations.  The closing ceremony was supposed to be at the Washington Monument.  Sadly, the closing ceremony has already been changed to RFK Stadium.   We'll see where each day's routes takes us.

And then there's the weather ...  Here's our current forecast:  

• Friday Rain. High near 64. North wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
• Friday Night Occasional drizzle. Cloudy, with a low around 57. North wind around 9 mph.
• Saturday Occasional drizzle. Cloudy, with a high near 69. Northeast wind around 9 mph.
• Saturday Night Occasional drizzle. Cloudy, with a low around 58.
• Sunday A chance of rain before noon. Cloudy, with a high near 68. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

So maybe the weather is not going to be our friend.  This year the team chose to stay in host hotels instead of tenting it, so we'll be warm and dry at night.  And hopefully our shoes will dry out on the radiators before the morning!

But in spite of all these things that are not going as planned or hoped, we'll be out on the course walking.  We'll be walking because we believe that a cure for breast cancer needs to be found - NOW.  We believe that programs need to continue that will support breast cancer victims and their families.  We believe that everyone deserves a lifetime, and we want to do our part to fight this battle.

But most of all, we are walking because we can.  Walking a less than perfect route in less than perfect weather is nothing.  It's certainly not chemotherapy or radiation or a mastectomy or losing a beloved life.  And if our walking in such conditions can bring an end to this disease, then bring it on Mother Nature and The White House and Congress.  We're ready for you!!

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Today was a great day because I: got my clothes washed after walking in the rain, finding the wishy-washy on the 3rd floor, going back to the lobby to get quarters, going back to the 3rd floor to load the clothes, and then returning to lobby to get detergent; taxi to shopping with KB, then lunch at Hops, then walk back to hotel; sitting with Sharon and Bruce after their arrival at the hotel; greeting the last of the team, Marilyn and Molly, and then having our team dinner and meeting!!