STORYTIME TAPESTRY

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Special Treat ??“ Ellie Braun Haley

Aug 20, 2005? 

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More money came in Carol and Laurie reached her goal. Now here is a little note to let you know what happened

Walk Proud (The Journey Continues in the Search to End Cancer)

Ellie Braun Haley

2281 walkers walked 60 kilometers this weekend in the Canadian city of Calgary, province of Alberta,( just north of Montana). This group of walkers limped, dragged and strutted themselves into the finish of the walk and all walked proud knowing they had just raised $7.1 million dollars in the weekend to end Breast cancer.
Many finished this walk on sheer will power and on bold determination to make a difference for men and women everywhere.

Both of my daughters completed the walk. The youngest was unable to train for the event and I watched the pain in her face and body language as she forced herself to walk up hills. After the first day they had all made it to the 35 kilometer mark, and with tears streaming thanked hundreds of volunteers who helped set up their tents for their overnight sleep. After the walk many spoke with wonder and humility of the police, who with police dogs walked the boundaries of the camp to keep watch over the walkers as they slept.

The final event, open to the public, was held in a large indoor enclosure. Thousands of family members, friends and other strong supporters filled the stands to cheer the walkers, the crew members and all the volunteers who made the walk the beautiful success it was. There were few dry eyes to be seen anywhere and bouquets of flowers by the hundreds were pressed into the arms of the exhausted walkers. (gifts from family and other admirers).

As we left the final event site, my daughters were still calling out their thanks to the volunteers. " They fed us, they rubbed our aching limbs, they cheered us on, they set up our tents," said one daughter. "They were with us every step of the way," said the other. "Those staunch supporters drove by constantly in vans, pumping out music and encouragement."

I spoke with numerous participants as I spent both days cheering them on, waving posters of encouragement, waving cheerleader -like razzle dazzle pom poms and singing songs of praise to them. One lady said, "without the encouragement of the cheerleaders on the sidelines I might have given up." I knew she would not have given up. I knew she carried HOPE within her. She walked proudly, in spite of blisters, in spite of shin splints that felt like her very legs would painfully separate from her body.

As we drove away I thought about the important role that everyone played in this great event. I smiled thinking of friends in Great Britain and the United States who had sent money to support my daughters in the walk. These were people we had never met, yet they had become flame carriers in the fight to end cancer. I thought of the customers in our little cafe who kept on dropping their change in the can. One man must have easily donated $35.00 just in silver.

We turned the corner to pull into the drive and my youngest daughter said, "Mom why won't my legs move? They won't listen to me!" She had to lift each leg with the strength in her arms to get them to step out of the van. Though she didn't deserve the pain she was now feeling, she earned it and would not complain, only laugh at the pain as tears coursed down her face.

Within ten minutes of arriving home, both girls suddenly began shaking. Their children ran for blankets to cover them with quilts and blankets as the exhausted walkers shivered unable to control the spasms their respective body's were now experiencing.

I watched Laurie try to walk into work the following day. I knew the bottoms of her feet felt like they had been sandpapered raw. I knew her hands and feet were swollen but perhaps that was to match the swelling of pride she felt in a job well done.

For all who participated in any way during this fund raiser, "walk proud". YOU have been a part of raising 7.1 million dollars toward ending breast cancer.

I extend my thanks (and believe me this comes with such humble gratitude) to all of you who sent in dollars to support the cause. Walk Proud!

LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE
Ellie Braun-Haley

Shaley@telusplanet.net