Saturday in Edmonton

Hello everyone,
I am pleased to say an incredible 4 million dollars was raised in Edmonton this weekend by only 1321 walkers this weekend. This is the second annual walk in Edmonton this year. I am sure it is with mixed feelings that the organizers announced this. Last year they had 1600 walkers and raised 4.6 million so although the numbers are down the amount raised by each walker has been the best yet in any of the cities we have walked. That makes the total raised in Alberta this year to be 9.6 million dollars for the Tom Baker Cancer Centre. Again, prior to the walk this foundation raised an approximately $300,000 a year.
As I mentioned earlier, I under estimated the energy that the travel would take out of me and I felt it today. It was a beautiful day for a walk, nice and sunny and a perfect 21 degrees. I just was not ready for this psychologically and I felt it going into it this morning. So off we start on time at 7 am this morning. It was nice to be able to walk at a little slower pace because of the fact there was only 1300 walkers today. The people of Edmonton are very friendly and chatty. Patti you would love it here. The first ten km's went well however I was having a problem with my feet shortly there after. I knew that lunch was generally at the 18 km mark and I thought if I can just make it to lunch...change my shoes and re-tape my feet it will get better. So we ate a little of our lunch...the food does not change for you just because you have had the same lunch four times now. The first time it was good...fourth time...not so much. So we changed our shoes and Pat re-taped my feet for me and I was stiff after lunch. We start off again and just between you and me...don't tell anyone...I am having trouble but I will not tell Pat this. We have to stop again shortly because I have to fix my feet again. We start again..and for the first time I have ever done these walks I start to question whether my feet will allow me to finish today. And then I see the sign...sitting on a park bench on a pink bristal board and no one around..."Thanks for doing what ever it takes to get it done". Those are the words I just needed to hear...do whatever it takes to get it done. I will.
So now my feet feel better (or it is now further out of my mind) and we walk on. Pat has been very patient...her pace and stride is much faster than mine but she stays with me to make sure I am doing OK. I know how hard this is because she is out of her rythem and I am slowing her up. We call this the "seize factor" and I can not do anything that will put me in that position...Pat just soldiers on thought and I really appreciate it. As we are walking now probably at the 25 km distance there is an older couple waiting for their granddaughter Lisa...there sign says "Lisa your mother would be proud"...and they are correct. She would. As this older couple are standing there with this sign...the husband tells every walker who goes by..."my wife (the grandmother) is a 25 year survivor" Each and every time he says it...the pride in his voice never lessens. You could just hear how proud he is of his wife even after at least 25 years.
It is about this time we meet up with Joseph and Karen. They are the couple from Cambridge who are also doing all seven cities. They are a very nice couple and Karen and Pat walk a little ahead of Joseph and I. He is quite the gentleman. He is about 6ft 2 and his gait is much quicker than mine but he walks with me and we talk. It is unbelievable how someone new to talk to can get your mine off your aches and pains. So Joseph and I talk about hockey for the last 8kms in and it makes a world of difference for me. However, just before we get to the finish line, Joseph sniffs out a Tim Horton's. His wife, Karen, does not want to stop but she controls the money at this moment. Joseph pleads with his wife and she agrees only if she gets a foot massage back at the camp. "Deal", Josesph says with hesitiion. So we wave goodbye to them and head for today's finish line. Once again, there are lots of people cheering us in with loud music and I now feel good enough to dance my way in. It ain't pretty but I am feeling pretty good about myself today and there is some energy left in me afterall. So I don't think I will be on "Dancing with the Stars" any time soon, but it gave the volunteers a good chuckle.
By the way, it is suppose to go down to 5 tonight for all of those people camping. I am so glad my campground is the KOA WESTIN HOTEL..in my sweet sleeper bed with my double head shower. It certainly helped today with my Empson Salt bath, my shower and then mine feet in and out of a bucket of ice water. Well, I better go now because my comfy bed beckons. Up again tomorrow morning at 5:30.
With love and thanks,
M.J.