Both my mother in law and my aunt (both breast cancer survivors) sent me thank you's in the mail for participating in the 3 day. I cried when I got them. My mother in law even sent me a little thank you gift. My mother in law wrote the following in her card:

To Kim -
Thank you for putting my name forward for the cancer research walk. I really appreciate it and hope alot of women benefit from it. Just a little gift to say thanks.
Love Mam

And here's the one from my Auntie Lois:

Dear Kim,
CONGRATULATIONS! I'm so proud of your accomplishment. You are to be rewarded with a gold star.
Love, Aunti Lo

I also received beautiful pale pink roses with a card that read "You did a really great thing! Congratulations!" from my friend Mel, her husband and her daughter. I cried when I got those as well.

When I signed up for the 3 day I had no way of knowing just how much it would change my life. I didn't sign up for the recognition and the thank you's. When we did our victory walk that last day, it was so overwhelming. SO many people were there. The cheers, the waves, the thank you's. I cry still thinking of it. The best part though of the closing ceremony was when the survivors walked in....we all took one shoe off and raised it.......we did the walk for them...for all women....so that no one has to ever go through it...in hopes to find a cure and I still get chills thinking of that moment.

When my kids say they want to walk with me when they turn 16 I feel proud. I would be so proud to walk with them. But (and I don't tell them this because I don't think they'd understand)....I do hope by the time they are 16 we've found a cure!