Probably the most difficult part of the 5K happens the day after when I try to put into words what the 5K meant to me! Perhaps it’s a trite saying, but I am at a loss for words which would even come close to describing what yesterday meant to me and what it felt to me. There are so many times during the morning when the view my eyes capture brings me to tears; yes tears of sadness but so much more, tears of joy.
The sadness is selfish! I think of the loss of my mother and I think to myself another time another place life would’ve been different. But the tears of joy overwhelm those tears of sadness.
Yesterday, the aerial view of all of you lined up to start the race (yes you all made behind the starting arch before 9 am…a former student whispered, later to me, that my “teacher voice” came out…sorry), brought me to the edge. The line of runners and walkers seemed ENDLESS! Then as you all headed down Derby Ave, I saw a “See of Pink”…Pink, Pink and more Pink, and once again my eyes filled.
Many views from the stage are inspiring as much as emotional. I see the faces of those who have heard those words, “You have breast cancer” (sometimes more than once) and have fought the Fight-and WON! I see the faces of family members holding each other, remembering the loved ones they’ve lost, wishing they could have had one more day…
I am inspired by the strength of all of you, because YOU bring HOPE to those who need a brighter day. This community is the beacon of LIGHT, the beacon of HOPE for those who have heard those horrific words! Those four words turn their world upside down, cast darkness on every day of their lives…. your beacon of light brings them out of that darkness!
Your presence at the 5K encourages those who are currently in treatment to fight one more day; to know that they are not alone in their fight.
Your presence at the 5K brings calmness and a resolve to those fighting breast cancer that tomorrow will be better because this community stands with them and walks with them.
Yesterday, you gave to many fighting breast cancer a chance to get “unstuck”… to believe in all that is good and all that is positive.
That’s what you bring to our community, that’s what you bring to the 5K and that’s what I saw and felt yesterday!
I would be remiss if I didn’t thank Adam Rivers, a man of incredible talent and HEART…His energy is contagious!
To our incredibly generous sponsors…WOW! Your financial and in kind support set this 5K in a class of its own!
To my dedicated Board members and Officers…who volunteer to do so much behind the scenes…they do not know the word “NO”…Thank you!
…and how about our Town from PW to EMS to Fire to Police to Town Hall…the way we all work together for a common goal…we are a microcosm of the way the world should be…
and lastly… ALL of OUR VOLUNTEERS…they are ALWAYS willing to step up to the plate, no matter what the event, no matter what the task. They remind me of the Disney Philosophy. ”When you believe in a thing, believe in it all the way, implicitly and unquestionably.” Our volunteers BELIEVE!
Once again…my deepest GRATITUDE to ALL for saying “YES”…
Mary
PS…save October 5th 2019….
