Sunday morning came early to the Way household. On the stairs, near the floor register, I had laid out 2 "Miles for Millie" lavender shirts, 2 pants (one with one leg cut short), 4 socks, and 2 pairs of underwear: 1 Clone Wars, and 1 Pink Fairies. These BeatSarcoma Run team uniforms waited patiently while the sky outside lightened and the coffee machine grinded the beans. We were to leave by 6:30.
The family hesitated to rise, my vocal enthusiasm for the coming day vehemently opposed. Brian did rise, donned his own lavender "Miles for Millie" shirt and helped me to get us on the road. It took wrapping the children in blankets and pillows for the ride to San Francisco, but we were on our way.
We arrived in Golden Gate Park and parked in the new museum garage (so convenient when you've got a girl in a wheelchair!). We were there in plenty of time to pick up our bibs and BeatSarcoma running shirts, and to meet the many other Miles for Millie runners.
Our team was over 40 strong- kids and adults wearing the shirts that our team captain Stephanie had arranged. Many of us walked or ran the 1K (including Griffin and his friends Dylan and Jarod), and a few of us ran the 5K and 10K. (I am grateful to Sandy, who in February convinced me to shake off my catatonic couchbound state and get back on the road with her to train for this race. We crossed the 10K finish line together!)
The mood matched the amazing sunny weather in San Francisco- the love was all around as this group started off on the fun run. The BeatSarcoma runners were about 100 in total, all running for research funds- and had raised over $18,000!
The race organizers spoke about Sarcoma, and how this is a "forgotten" cancer- very underfunded in terms of research dollars, but yet a cancer that mostly hits children. The lead specialist at UCSF for Ewings Sarcoma (what Millie has) also spoke about Sarcoma and research. It did hit home to see this small but dedicated group organizing this run- vs. the Lymphoma/Leukemia and Breast Cancer runs and events.
Out on the course, it was wonderful for me, a veteran of many races, to see our group on the path with the team shirts that support Millie. I felt such a bond, such support, and love all around every time I saw another of our shirts.
We even won a medal for "best team!". Millie is so proud- she was shy the day of the race, but today has kept the medal with her all day.
Thank for posting! Sounds like a wonderfully successful day! Hey how do I get automatically emailed when you post something new? Do I have to have a blogger account?
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