3 Day Walk

In light of Carissa's last blog, I thought I would do a follow up after the 3 Day Walk.

It was yet again another amazing weekend. We had 3,131 walkers and raised $7.9 million for the Susan G. Komen Foundation. At one point during the weekend, Ted Perry said he looked up and counted 31 people hard at work. This included LATs and students, a few OT and PTs and even a medical student. Needless to say, when we send out a call for volunteers, it is answered triumphantly.

The mornings and evenings were cold, the lines to the sports medicine tent were long, and the blisters were large but the hugs, tears and thanks made it all worthwhile. There are many stories that could be told about the weekend and some of you may have heard them already. The one that touched my heart the most follows: Mike Pruitt, Mike Stokic, Cindy Trowbridge, Cheryl Ferris (ATC from PA) and I decided to leave the last pit stop on foot Sunday and walk the last 2 1/2 miles with the walkers. We joked along the way with everyone, asking why they had been complaining so much; "this is easy" we said as they glared and laughed at us. It was nice to see the weekend through the eyes of all of those we had been caring for. About 3 blocks from the finish line, a young lady was struggling to walk and had to stopped to climb into the gator that the EMT offered. She had a couple of friends with her but they too were almost done with 60 miles and exhausted. As she sat down, with tears in her eyes, I heard Mike Pruitt say "oh no you're not! you have come this far and you will finish". Before anyone could blink, Mike Stokic and Cindy Trowbridge (they were closer in height) had their arms around her and the young woman out of the gator. For the next 3 blocks, the 3 of them slowly finished the 60 miles. I don't think any of us had a dry eye. This is what we do...we leave no one behind, we help those that can't finish, finish and we give everything we have. This is why we are athletic trainers and this is why when we are asked to help, we step up.

God bless those 3,131 walkers and God bless the sports medicine crew of close to 100. I hope that those that were there are a little more energized and a little more aware of the small things. I know that I am.