So we walked the walk. All 16 miles of it. It was emotional and although this is the 7th time I’ve done the walk, this year, more than any other it was incredibly meaningful and poignant. I was walking to raise money for breast cancer with a friend who had to take the place of another friend who had died last week from breast cancer. You can’t get much more personal than that.
The most lovely thing happened when I was getting ready to walk. Well, two things actually. Firstly, I awoke very early, feeling tired and a bit rubbish and read a text on my phone from my friend in Australia who I have walked with every year until she moved away. It said ” you must be waking up soon, putting on your trainers and packing up your rucksack. Your weather today is going to be a glorious 17. Enjoy every step of the way. It’s not about speed, it’s just an honour to be able to be involved”…and it made me cry.
THEN, as I was sitting on the loo doing my TP (tactical poo) there in front of me was a white feather. Nothing else in bathroom but that. Stuck to the middle of the floor. Gloria Hunniford, whose daughter Caron died of breast cancer is always at the end of our walk to greet us and she has a thing about white feathers. She says in her book “It is fairly well documented that Caron believed in angels, and when she saw an isolated white feather, she believed it to be an angel’s calling card”. So that is what it was. My friend giving me a sign and reminding me that she was going to be there with us. It was an emotional walk. Lots of tears. Lots of hugs. Lots of laughter.
So. I have a few blisters. A few aching joints. But we’ve raised nearly £2,000 and I’m very, very happy to have been involved.
I picked up the feather from my floor and put it in my pocket and I carried her all the way round:-
Mud
May 17, 2010Well done. A great thing to do and surely a sign that your friend was by your side as well. More than happy to sponsor you too if you let me know how!!
Kristin
May 17, 2010Congratulations! You’ve done a wonderful thing today and you should be proud.
Muddling Along Mummy
May 17, 2010I’ve never thought about white feathers like that – I believe in angels too so will have to keep a closer eye out for them
A great thing to have done (and to raise so much money too) – I’m glad it felt as if your friend was with you
Jon Storey
May 17, 2010A lovely ‘story’.
Well done every one of you, a very worthy act for a very worthy cause.
TheMadHouse
May 17, 2010Congratualtions, I am sure your friend is looking down on you,well as sure as any one can be
Shiny
May 17, 2010Oh wow, the feather. Just wow xx
Family Affairs
May 17, 2010I know. Just oh wow. Lx
Priness_L_88
May 17, 2010awww what a beautiful post. Well done for doing it, and for raising so much money. 🙂
English Mum
May 17, 2010Well done you! What a fantastic achievement – I bet she was with you the whole way xx
English Mum
May 17, 2010A tactical poo?
Family Affairs
May 17, 2010OF COURSE!!! They do that in the marathon so thought it was important. Although we were only walking and there are plenty of loo stops if required…..and it’s only 4 and a half hours so really a bit over dramatic. Nevermind Lx
PinkPower Walk Team
May 18, 2010On behalf of the organisers I would like to say thank-you for your support, your contribution to the day and for sharing your experience with us. Well done for getting through such an emotional day. I am sure that your friend was right there with you – and like you, whenever I see a white feather I think of Caron and feel even more determined to make the PinkPower Walk a successful event. All our love, the PPW Team
Family Affairs
May 18, 2010Thanks PPW team -well done for yet another amazing walk – thanks for everything – we did it together Lx