The longest walk yet.

This weekend, I walked 60km. That's a bloody long way! It was for a reason - the Weekend to End Women's Cancers, benefiting Peter Mac Cancer Centre here in Melbourne. I was part of a 1400 strong team of survivors, family and friends who all walked the 60km and in the process raised over $3.6 million for research into women's cancers.

We started at about 6am on Saturday - dropped our gear off in the park, had a quick warm-up, and then we were off. This walk was TOP NOTCH for support. Every 3km, there were marquees set up with cold water, snacks, first aid, port-a-loos, and friendly people cheering us on. There were also vans driving around checking on everyone along the route, and oddly dressed men on motorbikes spurring us on (wigs, t-shirts, glitter!). Lunch was provided, massages and physios were also at the lunch stop. By 3pm, my friend and I had finished the 30km for the day. Back at camp, there was more food, a bar, a dance floor, even Mr Whippy showed up!

We slept in tents, and did it all again the next day. It was HARD. Every muscle ached, both from walking the day before and sleeping in a tent. There were tears, there were hugs, there was dragging (I was both the drag-er and drag-ee at various points)... but we did it!

The closing ceremony was an emotional one, with talks from survivors and the CEO of Peter Mac thanking us for our efforts. My measly $2110 seemed very small... but it was all part of the bigger picture. The funds will go partly to support for advanced stage breast cancer patients, and partly to the new familial centre where genetic testing for the BRCA-1 gene is performed. Both of these programs have very little government funding, but are vital in the fight against cancer.

Now I just have to decide whether or not I'm signing up again next year... who am I kidding... it'll happen!