3 Days of My Life

WE DID IT!!!!

The 2002 Chicago walkers have returned home! 6,237 of us, to be exact. Together, we walked, talked, slept, ate, hydrated, stretched, shared, laughed, cried, and “stated facts” (our euphemism for “whining,” which was forbidden). We helped our neighbors set up their tents. We lent our shoulders to those in line behind us so they could stretch. We let that really desperate-looking woman go ahead of us in the port-o-potty line. We ate a lot of peanut butter. We listened to heartbreaking and uplifting stories from survivors and their loved ones. We cracked each other up. We cheered each other on. We saved the last drops of our shampoo to share. We praised the crew. We cursed the weather. We slept in wet sleeping bags. We drank 10,000 gallons of Gatorade. We made new friends. We dropped our underwear in the shower twice (Oh, that was only me). We threatened to burn our shoes, fanny packs, and the Gatorade plant. We walked. We absorbed the love from the many cheering stations and people we encountered along the way. We got stickers! We rubbed each other’s shoulders while standing in line. We sang. We told lame jokes. We remembered, reflected, thanked, prayed, and celebrated. We are the Chicago Walkers! We walked 60 miles! We raised a net total of $11.2 million!!! To quote the wonderful walker and survivor who spoke to us at Opening and Closing Ceremonies:

WE ARE ALIVE

My third Chicago Walk was an amazing and incredible experience. Like many others, I was a little nervous about the fact that there were more than double the number of walkers this year. Could Pallotta handle it? Could that many people be patient and kind? Would the lines be tolerable? Would there be enough crew? Would the experience be as meaningful?

The answer is a resounding YES!!! Yes, Pallotta not only “handled” it, they pulled off what now seems like a miracle to prove that an event of this size can be safe, fun, wonderful, fulfilling, and life-changing. Yes, people were not only patient and kind, they drew from deep within to make the statement “HumanKind: Be Both” a living act. Yes, the lines for showers, port-o-potties, meals, and buses were not only tolerable but a wonderful opportunity to make new friends. Yes, the crew was everywhere! Handing out stickers, pouring water, cheering us on, making sure we were safe, hydrated, well-fed, taken care of in every way. And yes, the biggest yes of all: the experience was probably even more meaningful because of the number of walkers involved. The fact that we did this walk...raised the money...came through it not only intact but better people than 3 days before...my heart is bursting with pride to have been a part of this experience. I am so in awe of every person I met: walker, survivor, crew, staff, volunteer, cheering station people. Thank you to EVERYONE for making this event and this experience so special.

A special thank you again to my donors, friends, and family for all your support. Thanks to your generosity, I was able to contribute

$3,895

to this worthwhile cause. And a HUGE thank you to Natty for sharing this with me. You are a wonderful friend and I am so lucky to have met you!!!

Back to Day 1
See the 2002 pictures