This was read to us at the Opening Ceremony and I wanted to share it with all of you!!!!!

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I AM ALIVE
I AM A SURVIVOR. I AM A WALKER. I AM CREW. I AM OLD. I AM YOUNG. I AM WOMAN. I AM A MAN. I AM THE END OF BREAST CANCER.
I AM ALIVE.

I AM THE VOICE OF AUDACITY IN THE FACE OF APATHY.
I AM THE SPIRIT OF BRAVERY IN A WORLD OF CAUTION.
I AM A COMMITMENT TO ACTION IN THE FACE OF NEUTRALITY.
AND I AM TIRED OF WAITING FOR OTHERS TO ACT.
I AM ALIVE.

I AM TIRED OF COMFORT WHEN SO MANY SUFFER.
I AM TIRED OF HALF MEASURES WHEN SO MANY ARE TAKEN WHOLE BEFORE THEIR TIME.
I AM TIRED OF BEING PATIENT.
I AM TIRED OF BEING HELD BACK FROM ALL OF MY MAGNIFICENCE AND ALL MY POWER.
I AM ALIVE.

I AM NOT ASLEEP. I AM NOT DECEASED.
I AM NOT DEFEATED. I AM NOT RETREATING.
I AM THE AUTHOR OF MY LIFE.
I AM THE AUTHOR OF TOMORROW.
I AM THE FUTURE AND
I AM ALIVE.

THIS MORNING
WITH ALL MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS
WITH ALL OUR DEDICATION
IN ALL OUR MIGHTINESS
I WILL NOT BE BEATEN
TO ALL THOSE WHO SUFFER, TO ALL THOSE IN PAIN,
I SAY THAT I AM HERE. I AM WALKING. I AM FOR YOU. I AM WITH YOU.
AND I. I.
I AM ALIVE.

I AM ALIVE
I AM 60 MILES BRAVER THAN I WAS THREE DAYS AGO.
I AM 4,663 PEOPLE STRONGER THAN I WAS ON FRIDAY.
I AM THE END OF BREAST CANCER.
AND I AM ALIVE.
I AM A WALKER.
I AM A SURVIVOR.
I AM A CONTRIBUTOR.
I AM CREW.
I AM A DECLARATION OF COMPASSION AND BRAVERY
AND I SAY TO ALL THOSE WHO HAVE BREAST CANCER AND ALL THOSE WHO EVER WILL
I WILL WAIT NO LONGER FOR OTHERS TO COME TO YOUR AID
I WILL NOT BE A SPECTATOR TO YOUR PAIN
I WILL NOT BE LIMITED
I WILL NOT BE STOPPED
I WILL NOT BE SILENT
I WILL NOT BE STILL
TODAY I AM RENEWED
TODAY I AM RESOLVED
TODAY I AM REDEDICATED
TODAY I AM WITH YOU AND I
I. I.
AM ALIVE.
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I DID IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am soooooo excited to make this final report to all of you awesome people to let you know that indeed I made it!!!!!

What an awesome experience! I have not yet tried to get my feelings down on paper to attempt to explain all that I experienced/felt/recieved/enjoyed/....
It is all still so overwhelming!!!!

My biggest struggle the entire time was my FEET! They are a bit worse for the wear too! YIKES! I spent far too much time at the medic tent! Learning far too much about blister care...and that there are MANY differing opinions about the matter!
My first visit at lunch on Day One was very disheartening when the dr told me he wanted to disqualify me RIGHT THEN! I said....Oh, no I am fine! Just wrap me up! So, he did and I was given instructions to see him again in the evening at camp..........ANYWAY....I walked in pain most of those miles.....BUT! I DID IT!!!!!!!!!
My muscles are amazingly not too sore...I stretched a lot, and I hydrated regularly (as long as I knew there was a porta potty on the horizon!)
I met so many awesome people...women, men, survivors, supporters, widowers....
I was amazed and touched by the support we were given by the honking cars, the people who came out of their houses to cheer us on, even a troup of "Brownies" gave us all...homemade brownies! There was entertainment on many corners....the Hookers for Hooters, many who danced for us, clapped, cheered us, encouraged us....everyone of us! Many had bowls of candy for us, licorice, even "wipes" to get rid of some of the grime! It was all so awesome!

The ending was more than I could take in!!! The people (families who came including my own sweet Shelly & James!) were lined up on both sides of us making a human tunnel for us to walk thru......cheering, clapping, LOUDLY! It was AMAZING! After I met up with my kiddos I lost the ladies I was walking with so I made the rest of the journey thru the tunnel alone and it was soooo wierd, cos at that point they were cheering for JUST ME!!!!!!!!!!!! WOW!
I honestly did not know how to absorb all of this!
There was so much hero talk the whole time....we were called heros.....and none of us wanted to be thought of that way.....we were just doing what we felt, not expecting any of this grand recognition!

This was the very last 3 day event, but in my heart and in 4663 other hearts...it is not over yet! The battle continues on before us and we all want to continue to do what we can to help this cause that I have become so attached to! I am already thinking of doing the TWO DAY event sponsored solely by Avon next year.........

I hope to get my film developed and get the assistance of my sweet Sara to get them on line for you to see.....I cannot wait to share them with you....I want to share it ALL with you because if it wasn't for you I would not have been there.......and I have never forgotten that!!!!!!!!!

I love you all.......

Keep coming back and I will update as I can!

~Sherry
I AM ALIVE!
(that comes from a poem that I will share later!)