This past weekend I did  the Susan G. Komen 3-day Breast Cancer walk in L.A.
Except for blisters (which were quite tolerable), I was unscathed.  The
experience was so inspiring.  I was part of a team which was fun and made the
training more doable than if I had tried to do it alone.   There were quite a
variety of walkers--the oldest was 76.  One gal, who is in chemo---(5F,
Adriamicin, Taxotere (or Taxol) (got that info 2nd hand)--did it.
I had only a few bouts of vertigo/dizziness.   The  first time was the night
after the first day when I decided to take advantage of the medical  services
offered (podiatry, P.T., massage, and regular medical--if needed).  My shoulder
was hurting so I went to P.T.  The first thing the therapist asked me to do was
lie on my back.  I had completely forgotten I had a problem--hadn't had it for
a couple of days (but of course had avoided lying on my back--the position in
which it occurs primarily).  Anyway, big mistake.  After about 5 sec's the
dizziness started.   The therapist helped me up and I was okay.  However, I had
some vertigo on and off for the rest of the evening.  I had one problem during
the night and then another problem the morning  of the last day (yesterday) and
had nausea for a couple of hours--but managed to walk and continue w/schedule,
including eating, despite the queasiness and lightheadedness.
The meals were decent--they overfed us.  They had stops every 2 to 3 miles and
we were encouraged to drink alot and then use the port-a-potties.  There was
lots of water and gatorade and too much food.  I  put on about 5 lbs.  I hadn't
eaten that much in ages and my metabolism is quite a bit slower than it had
been.  Other--at least those in our 50's or around that age--reported the same.
The weather was quite mixed--first day was georgeous.  The 2nd was quite cool
and it rained a couple of hours.   The last day it was again warm.  I preferred
walking in the cooler weather, even if it rained.
There were alot of people along the route there to cheer us on and pass out
even more food---candy, Krispy Kreme donuts, popsicles, etc.
The walk was easier than our training walks since there were so many break
opportunities.  Most of us would have preferred not stopping so often.
I was in the beginning opening ceremonies---got to carry the flag but screwed
up about the closing ceremonies.  I had checked and was told to be by the stage
around 4:00.  At the faciliities, it was a bit chaotic.  A lot of family and
friends had come.  The survivors who were on the walk were told to gather in
one certain area.  I completely forgot about going to the stage where I had
been instructed to go.  So, if any of that was televised or in the paper, I
wasn't in that part.
Our team, however was the most photographed group of all and almost made us
feel like celebrities.  People kept stopping us and asking us if they could
take our picture.  We were the "Breast Friends PJ Party."  All of us wore pink
pajamas over our other clothes (at least other shirts) and one gal made us all
feathers from a boa (from fabric store) to velcro over our running shoes.  They
really looked pretty much like slippers.  I, however, left my feathers on a box
in our living room.  
We had to leave earlier than most.  My husband was on the medical crew and had
a mandatory meeting at 9:30.  Walkers couldn't check in until noon, so my
teammates came later.  Since the starting point was about 90 miles from our
house and we had to deal with rush hour traffic my husband wanted to leave by
6:00 a.m.  I wasn't.  In addition, I had come home from work at 10:30 the
previous night and then had to back.  I had one hour sleep and wasn't in the
best frame of mind to remember everything.  The feathers, though, were all I
forgot.
One of our team members did the entire walk despite developing a very painful
foot problem.  The dr's told her she shouldn't be walking.  She insisted, and
although one of the slowest, she did it.   She told me she was walking for me
(tears in my eyes--gulp).
Although my team members knew I was a survivor most didn't know anything about
what I had re. b.c.  The weekend before the walk, we all met at one of the team
members house to get to know each other.  Some of us couldn't come or stay--my
husband and I went for about an hour before we were off for another previously
planned engagement.   I decided to send my teammates the letter I had sent out
to friends asking for donations for the Susan G. Komen foundation.  I was so
busy that week I had forgotten about it.  My teammates later told me that I was
their inspiration.  Most of them were walking  for an older family member--i.e.
grandparent.
We were all there, though, for one cause--to raise money for the Susan G. Komen
foundation which was a relatively small organization until recently.  It was
started by Susan G. Komen's sister, Nancy Brinker.  Komen was a breast cancer
victim.  On her deathbed, her sister promised her she would do anything she
could to help find a cure for breast cancer.  I was impressed with the works of
the foundation and how it is run.  Their books are 'open' for the most part and
reflect good accountability.  85% of the money raised goes directly for
research, education, screening, and treatment.   The other 15% goes to the
National Philanthropic trust which works together with them in managing all
this.  The goal of this organization is dedicated to finding a cure (or at
least better treatment options until then) for breast cancer.