Move Your Body and Make A Difference!
by Tana Gaudi
At 6 a.m. on a chilly Sunday, my teammate wakes me by rolling over to my side of the tent and pretending to spoon me. She throws a leg over me and makes snoring noises. I wake up laughing-quite a feat considering my decidedly nocturnal nature. It’s day 2 of the Santa Barbara Avon Walk for Breast Cancer, a 39-mile walk that takes place over 2 days every September.
Along the route are heart-wrenching reminders of the prevalence of breast cancer – dedications scribbled on posters, pins, and clothing. A woman walking beside me holds a sign next to her chest that reads “Under Reconstruction. Survivor”. A man up ahead sports a T-shirt with the words, “For 2 days I chase women, in remembrance of my wife Sue”. A woman in the distance has pinned a picture of her mother to the back of her shirt with a note that reads “MOM, my angel, I miss you!”
And yet, through the gravity of it all, we manage to laugh the whole way. The Pink Brigade team entertains us with their version of an Army chant, “I don’t know but I’ve been told…” My teammate makes a spectacle of herself dancing along to her iPod. And along the sidelines, supporters dressed in outlandish costumes and wigs cheer and wave signs of support.
For my team, the Bandits for Boobies, this is the culmination of 4 months of training walks and FUNdraisers, including an “outlaw” day where we donned cowboy hats and water guns to stage “hold-ups” around town. We’ve bonded even further throughout the weekend, sharing the laughter, tears and sore muscles. The camaraderie of walking as part of a team is trumped only by the incredible feeling of truly making a difference. At the closing ceremonies, among thousands of walkers and guests, our team of 7 stands proudly arm-in-arm, knowing that we’ve not only helped each other meet our fitness goals, but we’ve made life-long friends and raised over $20,000 in the process!
The Avon Walk for Breast Cancer is one of many organizations that offer an opportunity to get fit while making a difference. To find the right match for your participation, start with a cause you support fully, and then look for an event that will be achievable in terms of your time and fitness goals. Check to see what kind of support is offered from the organization, and make sure you are aware of any fundraising commitments. Finally, look for an event where you can train as part of a team. The list below is a sampling of the many opportunities to get buff while supporting a worthy cause. Now get out there already and make a difference!!
1. Aids LifeCycle
7-day bike ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles (Jun. 5-11, 2011)
www.aidslifecycle.org
2. March of Dimes March for Babies
3-8 mile walks
www.marchforbabies.org
3. Avon Walk for Breast Cancer
2-day, 39-mile walk
www.avonwalk.org
4. Alzheimer’s Association Memory Walk
5-k walk
www.alz.org/memorywalk
5. Arthritis Foundation California Coast Classis
8-day, 525-mile bike ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles (Sep. 17-24, 2011)
www.californiacoastclassic.org/
6. American Cancer Society Relay For Life
24-hour relay races.
www.relayforlife.org/relay/
7. National MS Society Challenge Walk MS
3-day walk
www.ChallengeWalk.org
8. Susan G. Komen for the Cure
5k walk (proceeds benefit breast cancer research, education and treatment)
www.komen.org
9. Climate Ride California
5-day, 320-mile bike ride from Eureka to San Francisco (Oct. 2-6, 2011)
Proceeds support green causes¬
www.climateride.org/
10. Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team in Training
Trains participants to compete in various marathons, triathlons, century rides and hiking adventures.
www.teamintraining.org
