Have just come back from a morning walking in the rain…. and the cold….. But it was all for a good cause.
Each Mother’s Day for the last 15 years there’s been a walk/run to raise funds for breast cancer research called the Mother’s Day Classic. This year a friend, Miss F, asked if I’d like to join her and two other friends as she’s just come through a breast cancer scare. It’s always been one of those things I’ve meant to do, but just haven’t made the effort for, so I was only too willing to say “Yes!”.
On the edge of Melbourne’s CBD is the Botanical Gardens and there’s a walking/running track around the Gardens called “The Tan” and this is where the MDC is held. We’d booked in for the 8km walk which is twice ’round The Tan.
Today dawned wet, cold and miserable with heavy grey skies promising more wet, cold and miserable to come! We caught the train into the city and were amazed at the number of people on the station and in the train obviously heading for the same place. The sea of people around the Gardens when we arrived was almost overwhelming!
Despite the awful weather, everyone was smiling, laughing and chatting as they waited patiently in the rain to start their walk; I can’t believe 40,000 odd people braved the elements to participate. How wonderful is that?!?!
As you probably know, the colour for breast cancer is pink. As far as the eye could see there were pink t-shirts, pink jackets, pink caps, pink top hats, little pink top hats, pink ponchos, pink umbrellas, ……even pink tutus!!
Miss F and I set off at a good pace as we were viewing this as real exercise, and I’m pleased to say the only people who passed us were those jogging or running. We kept the pace going for the whole 8kms, even when the rain started coming in horizontally with a very brisk chilly wind. There were the occasional glimpses of sunshine, but it was mostly wet! It’s a very enjoyable walk with the Gardens on one side all the way ’round and on the other side inner city houses/apartments, the Shrine of Remembrance, and views of our very attractive city.
There were people of all different sizes and shapes, ages and genders. Friends and family groups, mums and dads with little children riding their scooters and trikes, work colleges in their corporate t-shirts. It was touching to see so many family members getting together for this event; many wore dedication cards to loved ones who have suffered this terrible disease.
At the finish we received a “medal”, a showbag, a banana (which disappeared in a nano second!) and the good feeling you get from a great workout for a great cause! Of course the sun came out as we stood eating snacks purchased from a variety of foods stalls conveniently positioned at the end of the walk! But then the rain started again, so it was time to head home.
Coffee and hot chocolate at a cafe near the station started the thawing process, and once home it was into a hot shower and warm clothes. I can finally feel my toes!
A very happy Mother’s Day to all you Mums out there, and a particularly special and happy one to my Ma Kettle.
With love and
Happy stitching
Meredithe
measured and checked
measured and cut
measured and pinned
measured and drawn
then stitched all four looooooong borders onto Beguiling Billings. Phew, that’s the last of stitching all the way around….. oh, except for the binding!! Forgot about that for a second!
Very pleasing!!
quite a number of these, in different guises
and four of these
Away to do more!!
