Yesterday, Sunday May 6th I walked 20 miles thru Boston, Brookline, Newton, Watertown, Cambridge
and back into Boston. Raised over $2,000.00 for Project Bread, to help
end hunger in Massachusetts! I lost my teammates, Candi Bettencourt
& Laurie Perry (love you guys!
And I
am so happy we did this) at 11.25 miles but I had to pushed forward and try to finish what we set out to do as a team, Team Fervid Missfits
to walk 20 miles and oh yes I did in 7.5 hours!!! The last 4 miles I did with my new
teammates that I met on mile 16, they were all in their 20's and this
was their 5th walk. I don't think I could have finished without them!
YAY ME!!! What a great day!
I and two of my good friends, Candi Bettencourt and Laurie Perry for the first time took part in Project Bread's 2012 Walk
for Hunger. This year being the 44th walk. 43,000 people gathered on the Boston Commons between 7am to 9am at the starting line. They brought in 3.6 millions dollars.
Why did I walk 20 miles you ask?
Because hungry families need our help! Food insecurity continues to rise
in Massachusetts with over 700,000 people struggling to put healthy
food on the table – that is 10.8% of our neighbors that need our help
right here in our own backyard.
The money raise by walking part
or all of the entire 20-mile route help Project Bread fund hunger
relief and prevention through 450 emergency programs, schools, community
health centers, farmers' markets, community suppers, home care
organizations, and other programs that protect the individual and
strengthen our community's food security. Last year alone, programs
funded with money from the Walk were able to provide 65.2 million meals
to hungry people.
I have to say that this was on hell of memorable experience! I woke up at 5am(I am so not a morning and am normally not functioning until like somewhere between 9am and 10 am...school day are hell I hate 7:30am!) Sunday morning hoping to do 15 miles of the 20. I had no idea I could go the entire 20 miles and let me tell you the feeling of crossing that finish line was just so freaking incredible!!! My teammates, Husband, Greg and our 7 year old daughter, Trin were all waiting for me. I am looking forward to doing this walk next year! I may not be able to move off my couch for the next 3 days but dang it was so well worth every step and every ache and pain my poor 44 year old body is feeling right now. yo
Signing in 7:45am. Laurie, Me & Candi
Team Fervid Missfits 2012 at the Starting Line
Lots of people walking for a great cause!
About 2 miles in.
Road were closed just for us walkers.
3 chicks in their 40s mile 4.
Walkers behind for as far as one can see, walkers in front of us for as far one can see.
Around Brookline Newton area.
We found Waldo!
6 Miles still going.
Laurie is wearing Candi's extra pair socks for mittens :)
and this were I lost my 2 teamamtes :(. Going this alone.
Greg & Trin picked up to hurting teammates.
My little cheerleader waving her handmade sigh. YAY Trini!!!
This is the text I got:
"Laurie
and I made it 11.25 miles. Leslii is a champ and still going!
We have
managed to inhale everything not nailed down at Panera Bread with Greg and Trin."
As I push forward I hit 13 miles, still feeling pretty darn good.
Woke up at 5am with the goal of doing 15 miles out of the 20...I have now gone to 16 miles
and I am not going to give up yet! At this point I have met some pretty cool 20 something year old gals who are on their 5th Project Bread walk. I now have new teammates :).
My new teamamtes and I have just crossed 18 miles and are heading over the bridge back into Boston jamn' to Salt n' Pepper tunes! Of all bands they are listening to mid 80's these 20 something year old gals are pretty dang funny!
At just 3 blocks away from the finish line we get stopped for traffic...Everything from my hips down start is hurt, oh no can't stop moving now, not this close to the end! The volunteer at this intersection was so dang funny and took his job pretty darn serious about motivating the walkers . He made about 100 of us stopped there waiting dance! Yes I said dance as in get your groove on! He sings "Everyone hands up in the air!" waving his hands high up to the sky. "Everyone hands way down low!" as he hits the ground. "Everyone shake your booties now! Shake shake!!!" as he dancing like he has not walked 19 miles! Well he noticed that I was not getting my groove on... and I was singled out! Damn it! "Hey Red" he says with a big smile on his face pointing at me "No ones goes till we all dance"...I get the eyes of death from a ton tried hurting peeps that just want to finish this thing up. I yell as loud as I can waving my hands up in the air "Hands up in the air! Hands way down low! See me shaking my bootie! Now let us GO!!!" and with a "Thatta' girl!" we all flee to the finish line.
Boston Garden and one more street to cross...finish line I so see you!
Trin & Candi waiting at the finish line for me :).
Those last few steps of 20 miles are right in front of me!
and oh YAY BABY I did it! I walked 20 miles for hunger! This was the most incredible feeling ever!
My "new" teammates! I could not have done the last 4 miles without these cool chicks!
Yes I sure did do this for real. I checked in at every checkpoint 20 miles. I did this for my team,
Team Fervid Missfits!!!
Trini gave me this "I am so proud of my Mom award for walking 20
miles today to help other people in need! You totally ROCK today Mom" I
love my kid!!!
This day will forever be a part of my soul! Thank Candi for roping me into this! Laurie & Candi I love you both! 2013 here we come!
