Three Day Walk

By Judith Bakkensen

Over three thousand four hundred people walking for a cure to breast cancer.

Six women with Vicky's Girls and a picture on their shirt.  A smiling wonderful face looking back at me.  Four daughters and two neices walking for Vicky.

A forty-year old man and his mother walking for her survival of breast cancer.

Two sons and their father with pink pompoms on their shoes and funny clothes and hats cheering us on all along the route to honor their mother and wife.

Two daughters walking for the forth year in memory of their mother.

An eighteen year old walking because it is important to her.  She doesn't personally know anyone with breast cancer.

A young woman walking so another daughter will not have to grow up without a mother.

A daughter and a neice walking in memory of three women in their family.

A young women on her eighth walk since she recovered from breast cancer.  Her husband keeps driving by and honking in support.

I am walking in memory for my Aunt Mary Lou Haggren who died last year of breast cancer, my best friend, Cherylee Hosogi and my brother -in law, Keoni Robinson and all my friend who have survived breast cancer. 

Forty percent of women diagnosed with breast cancer have no history of the disease in their family.

Three thousand, four hundred walkers all with a reason for walking.  Meeting these men and women, hearing their stories, seeing the pictures made it all worthwhile.