Seattel Brain Cancer Walk 2013 - Big Success!!

 

Just like that – the 2013 Seattle Brain Cancer Walk is in the books.  Every year I think the same thing: this is just like a wedding.   You spend a whole year planning and then *poof* is over; the whole time you’re saying “hello” to all sorts of people and promise “we’ll get together soon”, pose for a quick picture and the onward! It’s all a big whirlwind but so wonderful while it’s happening.

 

The first thing you really need to know was that the weather forecast called for 70% chance of rain (not showers, but actual rain) AND possible thunderstorms and that’s just not normal for Seattle.  For a week we did our “anti-rain-dance” and hoped it would just stay dry from 7:30-10:30.  That’s all we needed.



Group shot of this year's Patients & Survivors.

After months of prep it was show time.  The alarm went off at Aaron and I turned it off and went back to sleep.  I woke up when Aaron rubbed my shoulder and said, “Guess what?  ….it’s not raining!”  That seemed like a good enough reason to get out of bed.  That and my ride was due in the next ½ hour or so.

We made it to Seattle Center at 5:00am – quite a while before sunrise and started to setup and just after 7:30 all sorts of brain cancer patients and survivors started to make their way to our area – the Patient/Survivor Pavilion.  


Entry into the Patient and Survivor Pravillon



Just one of the tables holding 169 donated Experiences
for patients to chose from.



This year Aaron ended up volunteering in the Pavilion and reports “it was fun!”  I know he didn’t say that for my benefit because it really is the place to be on walk day.  Ben and Karen also volunteered there too and that was a big help!  We gave about 100 patients an “experience” to enjoy, like sports, dinner, movies, etc. 



Patient/Survivor picking an Experience.

Cute kids having special treats while waiting in the
Patient & Survivor Pravillion

Aaron volunteering.  A patient called me today and reported,
"Your husband is just adorable".  ...ya, he sure is!  :)

We had a great time with Karen and “aunt” Janice who the two most positive and upbeat people I know. We just have so much fun with them.  Karen and I actually got to spend a few hours together earlier in the week.  I love her company so it was a treat to have a little time together before the walk.  Plus the entire team went out from our traditional post-walk brunch which has become one of my most favorite times of the year. 



I love this phot of me, aunt Janice and Karen. The SBCW photgrapher captures this one every year.
He's gotta be getting tired of us and our boas, but too bad!!

It’s hard to sum it all up without droning on and on, so just let me way this--- we had over 2,500 walkers, about 100 brain cancer survivors, and raised $460,000 so far.  The day was a huge success, super-fun and I’m absolutely exhausted. 

BIG thank you to all of our friends and family who support us every year, come out to the walk, donate, volunteer, wish us well…all of it makes it even a more special.



Ben and Karen both volunteered all day. 

Cynthia and Brigit both suprised me and joined us for the walk...
along with Maggie the dog.

Plus, as luck would have it, the weather stayed dry all day long AND the sun came out during closing ceremonies.  The day was meant to be perfect, and it was.


A few more pictures from the walk: 


Balloons in walk colors.  Kids LOVED them and we ran out.



Seattle Philharmonic has played at the walk for four years. 
Plus they donate a pair of tickets for every patient.  Pretty darn generous!



Karen's cousin Holly on the left. She's a survivor and gave a speech at the Walk.



Karen's sister Linda...who's glamorous as always!



BRUNCH!  I was hungry by then and the
truffel mushroom omlett will require it's own blog entry
and don't get me started on the gourmet donut holes!



Nan (my co-chair and partner) makes these amazing bouquets
for every walk.  They are alway sunning and I never turn her down
when she sents one home with me at the end of the day.