Walks

Just in case you've been wondering...which you probably weren't...but just in case you were...

I completed my 30 miles for the Atlanta breast cancer walk!

Now for those of you in super-good-tip-top shape you might not bat an eyelash at that. But for me, it was a huge accomplishment! I didn't train at all and was honestly worried that I might not complete it. But I did! Hurray!

We started out downtown at the Atlanta Marriott at 7:30 Saturday morning. We walked to Agnes Scott College for lunch, and then proceeded through the Emory University campus, through Virginia Highlands, back to the Atlanta Marriott. My little group finished right at 4pm.

We had a nice dinner at the hotel provided by the walk and were in bed by 9pm. We were pooped!

Sunday morning, we headed out again at 7:30am from the Marriott. We walked by Underground Atlanta, through the scattered Georgia State University campus and finished around 11:15am after 10 miles at Zoo Atlanta. We walked through parts of Atlanta that I never knew existed and probably will never see again in my life.

My foot did great for the first 10 miles of the walk. It wasn't until after lunch Saturday that it started really hurting. I hobbled and finished. My friends were so sweet to hang behind with me. I was extremely sore Sunday. Muscles that I never knew got a work out with walking hurt. Amazingly, I only got one blister and didn't get it until about an hour into the walk on Sunday. We all pushed through the pain and crossed the finish line with linked arms. It was an amazing experience, and I'm SO glad I did it! Many thanks to those who sponsored me and also to my "NICU Family" for asking me to join them! I don't have a group picture yet, but I will post it as soon as I do. (I didn't take my camera because it is not small and I didn't want to have to keep up with it while walking.)

But, I did have Gib take some pictures of me when I got home Sunday.







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There's another walk that I want to talk about this morning. It is called the Atlanta Walk to Remember. This is an annual walk hosted by Northside Hospital that is being held on Sunday, October 18th at 2pm. The pamphlet describes it as "an annual gathering of parents, families, friends, and health care providers as part of National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month. There is a short ceremony, a symbolic 'walk' around a park, and a balloon release". It is open to the public, and your loss did not have to occur at Northside to attend.

We will be there this year. My friend, Robin, wanted us to get a team together to walk for the March of Dimes in honor of Grady. I told her I'd rather support this walk simply because of its focus. The March of Dimes is a wonderful organization, and if we were walking for Emma Grace, I would jump on it. But because it is in honor of Grady, this is much more appropriate.

I am partial to this Walk to Remember because they are the ones who sponsored me to go to the RTS Bereavement training in March. (In case you've never read about my mission, you can click here to learn more) This walk is free to attend and is not a fundraiser. "It is a time of remembrance and healing and to promote community awareness. Any money that is raised through donations or other means is used to fund future walks and to provide bereavement training to health care workers" (Caring and Coping, Volume 13, Number 1). There is a silent auction, t-shirt sales, car magnet sales, etc. but you pay no money to attend.

If you live in the Atlanta area, have lost a baby and would like to attend, please visit this website to register and learn more about the walk. Let me know if you will be attending and maybe we can meet up! This is a short walk (about 15 minutes) around the Concourse Corporate Center, nothing strenuous like I just completed!

Have a great day!

Love,
Tonya