COLLETTE'S WALK: PART ONE

This was it, the first day of Collette's 60 K two day walk to raise money for breast cancer research at Princess Margaret Hospital. Collette is walking with our niece Billie-Marie and her friend Thelma. Billie stayed at the house with us last night and she and Collette were off very early this morning. Or someone claims it was morning. It was still dark out. Apparently I was awake. I think I took this picture .... is it in focus or were eyes just blurry?

The Weekend Warriors then made their way down to Exhibition Place to meet up with thousands of other walkers who would make their way some 35 Klicks up to Downsview Parc in North York.

Here are Billie and Thelma cued up at the Ex, way too perky for that time of day.

The girls started out walking in some fairly serious rain, but that soon gave way to sunny skies and pretty workable temp in the low 20's. The spirit of the event, considering its very serious nature, had a great atmosphere; as I stood at one of the "cheering stations" waiting for the girls to come by, I was treated to what you could only describe as a "variety" of walkers.

I really don't know what to say about this last photo ... I am just your intrepid reporter.

The walk .. tremendously well organized ... had set up cheering sites along the way. These were very well supported by the local neighbourhoods. Collette said that people came out to cheer them all along the route, often coming out with fruit and liquids. In the Weston area, a man brought out homemade zucchini bread. Someone was also handing out beer. I always knew I liked Weston.

Here are the Weekend Warriors at the second cheering station, roughly halfway through the walk .. they've just done over 15 klicks, why on earth are they smiling? Athletes .. they are just weird .. but there was free beer, maybe that was it.

At the Weston cheering station, I hooked up with Debbie. Debbie is Collette's co-worker and one of the people who helped us out so much with our two garage sales.

The support here was great. They had vans driving around that could pick up an exhausted walker and take them to the next "station" no questions asked. This is not a race. It is a fund raising effort. It is a community bonding to fight a common enemy. There were athletes on the walk of course (Billie and Thelma both run half marathons) but there were also just "average" people attempting something extraordinary to help prevent something evil.

Here are the Warriors with Debbie at the Weston cheering station ... you know the real reason I am never in these pictures? I've been up since 6 am. Don't believe for a second that I am smiling.

This was the last cheering station I went to before the girls made it to Downsview Parc. So, 35 klicks, 10 hours, Collette alone raising just over two thousand dollars to the cause. We can't thank enough all those who donated money, who donated items to sell at the garage sale, who gave us their support. That's what kept Collette going, I'm sure.

Billie-Marie decided to camp out at Downsview. Collette (wisely) chose to come back home before tackling another 25 K or so tomorrow. Of course I took video but I will wait till tomorrow is over before cutting it. I'll be going down to the Ex to see the girls bring it home, to cheer them on and, no doubt, capture some smiling images .... maybe even I will crack a grin.