Last Saturday I headed out to Biltmore Park Town Square bright and early for the Pink in the Park walk for breast cancer awareness. It was a little chilly out, but other than that the weather couldn’t have been more perfect! Carolina blue sky and not a single cloud. There were still enough leaves left on the trees to create a gorgeous view of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Most importantly, I was there to support breast cancer awareness, a cause that’s near and dear to my heart.
Apparently it’s a cause that’s near and dear to lots of people! There was a sea of pink on the green in front of the Reuter Family YMCA. There were breast cancer survivors, supporters, kids, dogs, you name it, all at Biltmore Park Town Square having a blast. Vendors had pink ribbon bagels and pink water bottles and Pink in the Park t-shirts. The 5k walk kicked off at 10:30 am and wound through the Biltmore Park neighborhood. Some people were walking by themselves and others had big groups. Everything seemed so well organized from the police blocking off the roads for the walkers to the pink ribbons tied at various points along the route so we’d know which way to go.
I admit I got a bit emotional at the kick-off when I heard the breast cancer awareness anthem “Survive” blaring out of the loudspeakers. My Aunt Norma, unfortunately, lost her battle with breast cancer a few years ago. I walked for her. I also walked for my friend Sheri, who fortunately found the lump early enough that she is a survivor. I think even if people were there who hadn’t been personally affected by breast cancer, and it’s hard to find anyone who hasn’t been, they had to be overwhelmed by all the men and women walking and running in their various shades of pink. There was also a giant white board that participants signed with the name(s) of who they were walking for, and each time I looked at it and the number of names on the board increased it was such a poignant reminder of how many lives breast cancer has touched.
All the walkers got goodie bags afterward, with great coupons from Biltmore Park Town Square merchants like BETTE and Shades of Green. Blossoms gave beautiful pink roses to the top three money raisers. The top money raiser also received an amazing strand of pink pearls from Marthaler Jewelers. There was such a palpable sense of camaraderie and a common goal amongst the crowd. It was a fabulous event.
