What an experience.....

I can't believe it's Thursday already....just think how we were all feeling this time last week.....I have to say that part of me wishes it WAS last Thursday so that we could experience the walk all over again.......yes, it was that fantastic!!

We left Ipswich on the 3.08pm train & even saw a couple of fellow walkers at the station. Before we knew it, we were stepping off at Liverpool St, being met by Trace's brother Jason. He took us to a lovely cafe where we all had a drink.....very healthy ones though. The toilets were very spacious, so we decided to change into our bras there.......the only thing was, they were communal ones!! Yes, you guessed it...a poor unsuspecting man walked in as we were in the process of changing...luckily, I think he was more embarrassed than us!!
We then set off on the underground for Marble Arch. Can you believe that Tracey even saw someone she knew at the station! At this point, I was really starting to feel nervous....but, very excited too, after all we had been waiting such a long time for this. I could feel the tears even at this point. Then it was just a very short walk to Hyde Park where we joined the huge queue.
I was overwhelmed by the size of Playtex City....the huge pink tent was the size of two football pitches put length to length & with all the people there, it was just amazing. It was a very organised as well, so no panic about anything.

The atmosphere was electric....we were ready......

Nina, the founder of the walk, gave a very moving speech. A friend of hers had sadly lost her battle with breast cancer just two weeks previously....the emotion was starting to get to me.
We were all asked to hold our hands in the air with the person next to us & remember why we were doing this....whether in memory of loved ones, because we had been or were going through the horror of breast cancer or because we wanted to help those who were & to try to ensure that in years to come, the treatment would keep improving & that a cure may even be found.
The minute silence was just so........well, I don't really know how to describe it.....at this point Tracey gave my hand a gentle squeeze......that was it, the tears came then (it makes me feel emotional even as I write this) & then we all hugged. I then received a text from our friend Sarah, such beautiful words....the tears came again.
We all then had a big warm-up which was fun & then it was off to the start. This was it, what all the training had been about. The slight drizzle soon stopped & after a couple of miles, I took off the plastic raincoat & walked proudly in my bra for the whole walk......how liberating it felt!!
Tracey had written my number & "Bella" (best nickname I have ever had, thank you) across my chest & on my back, "survivor, 10 years". As we walked, the marshalls would say "come on , Bella", "morning Bella", "keep going Bella" & other words of encouragement & it felt very personal because they said my name.
Every little bit helped.
I also had a couple of comments from people about my being a survivor. I know others noticed it as they would be talking as I passed them & then as I got in front of them, they would suddenly stop. I even turned round & smiled at some, because, do you know, I think the walk reminded me of how lucky I am & how I really shouldn't be afraid to say that I had breast cancer ten years ago & that I survived. One lady even ran up to me, tapped me on the shoulder & said that she too was a survivor of ten years.....what a wonderful feeling, I really felt like a survivor & felt so lucky to be alive...........

Cherish life, it really is so very precious.

Unfortunately, Dons' hubby couldn't travel to London, but the other three did & were waiting at Chelsea Bridge, Buckingham Palace & at the finish. To see them in 3 places was brilliant as I thought it would only be at the end. It was absolutely wonderful to see them cheering us on & they took some great pictures which I will load on here soon. Thank you boys, you are all wonderful.

I have such wonderful memories of the walk: just everything was amazing, whether it was walking proudly in my bra, the words of encouragement from the fantastic marshalls, the sights of London, the funny walks that some women did (almost pee'd my pants at some of them!), the encouraging texts (even from my daughter Jess at 3am!), the telephone conversation I had with my very drunk boss, Ade, at 1.30am (he wanted to know how the walk was going & that he was thinking of me!!), waving to everyone who was watching or driving past, walking as the sun rose..........it was all just GREAT!!!!

I have now fully recovered from the walk & it has felt really strange not walking this week. I'm going to give it just a few more days & will then go for a good walk! I will keep on walking as it made me feel fantastic &, in the words of Gaz, the 23 year old that I work with.......
"you don't want to stop the walking now as everything will go south, especially at your age"!!!!!!
Nice boy.

Thank you all so much for sponsoring me & giving me much appreciated words of encouragement & support, it all helped me so much.
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ps. I have registered my interest for next year..........who knows if I will do it, but I know I have to give myself that option.

pps. I haven't told lovely hubby yet.........if he says anything, I'll know that he has actually been reading my blog....!!!