Hey y’all, generallee is back and Wow! What an adventure.
It sure is funny how something in life you try could have so much impact. The breast cancer 3-day was my wake up to reality call. I went in thinking it was just going to be a walk and I ended up wondering what other things I can help with throughout the rest of my life.
Not knowing much about the numbers of breast cancer when I signed up for the walk, I did not think it would be such a big deal. I showed up at 530 in the morning Friday with an empty bottle of water and a nicely broken in set of running shoes. Never did I know that testimonials and speeches that I was about to hear were going to make this grown man cry like a baby. 720 in the morning, the gates fly open and 2200 total individuals from all parts of the country flock for a quest, a journey into uncertainty and the unknown. Little did they know that with each of their efforts and fundraising that they accumulated a grand total of 5.2 million dollars to help find a cure for breast cancer. Mile after mile after mile we trekked through subdivision, industrial parks and city streets. Our legs began to ache, blisters the size of a 5 oz. hot sauce bottle formed and what stopped us, nothing. Nothing because it was just a blister. It was nothing compared to acquiring cancer, going through radiation and chemo, and lying in a hospital bed for hours and hours. Or having the pain in your heart knowing a loved one has passed due to this disease. It hit me harder than a 10,000,000 Scoville hot sauce. Reality, smack in the face. Fair at times, not fair the others.
My team consisted of 47ish women and me. And what a great team. Young and old tall and small. 5 breast cancer survivors. Some with no breasts. Did that bother them? No. They were walking for all the others out there that are suffering that cant walk themselves. I will cherish all the memories every lady gave me whether a joke about being a chilehead or being a redneck from GA, or just being the only guy out there. During a speech late Saturday night, it was brought to me attention that only 7.8% of the people that walked were men. Better than 2.3 % from the year before but mathematically, it is progress. I will most likely be signing up for it again. It was that great of an experience.
The final day was awesome. So powerful and so moving and so inspirational. We all congregated in a park in downtown phoenix and after the last walker arrived, we joined hands together, with motivational music in the background and the flag was raised signifying the conclusion of the walk. Family members and walkers and crew members and supporters hugged and embraced. Tears ran down our faces like when you get the sensation of trying the source for the first time. Almost complete happiness. A sense of accomplishment and joy. All the 400 miles I trained and the 60 miles I walked in 3 days had paid off.I guess some of the main things that I got out of this journey were to believe in oneself and others. Believe in hope and the future for a finding a cure for this disease and others that destroy families and loved ones. I made friends that I will be friends with forever. I have memories I will have forever. And I now have dreams for finding a cure for breasts cancer that if we all join together, we can make that a reality.
Thank you all that supported me via the blog, and to all the individuals that donated bottles for the auctions now on eBay. From the bottom of my heart, thanks.
Confederate salute out, generallee.
Save the Breasts Auctions:
(There will be a total of 6 auctions)
Completed – Auction #1 – To start 7pm Pacific 10/14 and will contain 5 signed bottles from the following contributors:
Fat Kid Sauces – Signed & Numbered #6
Loco Luna – Signed & Numbered #6
Blair – Signed
The HSB – Signed
Arizona Jack – Signed
** eBay Auction Here **
Completed – Auction #2 – Contains 9 signed bottles from the following contributors:
Fat Kid Sauces – Signed & Numbered #3
Loco Luna – Signed & Numbered #3
Blair – Signed
The HSB – Signed
Arizona Jack – Signed
Muso – Signed & Numbered #3 Hotternell Chocolate Mint Red Savina Sauce
Jim Campbell – UnBEARable Hot Sauce
CaJohn – Signed (by CaJohn & Jim Campbell) Light You Up (light bulb shaped) Hot Sauce
EZ Earl – Signed EZ Earl’s Blazin’ Hot Stuff
** eBay Auction Here **
Completed – Auction #3 – Contains 9 signed bottles from the following contributors:
Fat Kid Sauces – Signed & Numbered #4
Loco Luna – Signed & Numbered #4
Blair – Signed
The HSB – Signed
Arizona Jack – Signed
Muso – Signed & Numbered #4 Hotternell Chocolate Mint Red Savina Sauce
Jim Campbell – UnBEARable Hot Sauce
CaJohn – Signed (by CaJohn & Jim Campbell) Light You Up (light bulb shaped) Hot Sauce
EZ Earl – Signed EZ Earl’s Blazin’ Hot Stuff
** eBay Auction Here **
Auction #4 – Contains 9 signed bottles from the following contributors:
Fat Kid Sauces – Signed & Numbered #5
Loco Luna – Signed & Numbered #5
Blair – Signed
The HSB – Signed
Arizona Jack – Signed
Muso – Signed & Numbered #5 Hotternell Chocolate Mint Red Savina Sauce
Jim Campbell – UnBEARable Hot Sauce
CaJohn – Signed (by CaJohn & Jim Campbell) Light You Up (light bulb shaped) Hot Sauce
EZ Earl – Signed EZ Earl’s Blazin’ Hot Stuff
** eBay Auction Here **
11 responses to “Save the Breasts Update”
I have to say you made a Tamale cry first thing in the morning! The fight against breast cancer is not over and with people like you in the opposing corner we have a chance of beating it! Thank you for making a difference in the world!
Great job Troy….. Truly amazing.
Wow Troy,
It seems you got so much more out of it then you put into it. Its great how that works. Cause you put so much in and all that you got back wasnt expected.
Good job!
“that only 7.8% of the people that walked were men”
Thats a bit surprising…
Great job guys – SAVE THE BOOBS!
Great job Troy and for all those that participated!!!
and to top everything off, a walker on my team, her friend died yesterday from her 3rd battle with breasts cancer. while i was on the walk, many many people were wearing buttons that said “CANCER SUCKS”.
true reality…. Cancer Does Suck.
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Great Job man!! I don’t think your mother could have asked for a better present, and in turn you’ve gotten alot out of it too. That’s a great accomplishment. Congrats.
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It does. My cousin, not even 40 yet, lost her breast to breast cancer just this summer. Again many props to you man! Thanks for helping to find a cure!
The place where I work does hair replacement and custom wigs for people with cancer. Day in and day out I see people of all ages, 23 -93 walk through our doors and they are all suffering. Thank you for doing what you did, I personally know so many people who’s lives would and WILL change thanks to the efforts of people like yourself.
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the youngest female at the walk that was a breast cancer 3-day was 20. 20 years old. not even old enough to drink. just a reality check on every angle. i right back at ya by the way. thank you also for doing well for those who need it. it is a short journey we live on this planet. doing good things for those in need will bring prosperity to yourself internally in the future. cant wait til next year to do it again. maybe i will pick a different city to do it in until i have done them all. in order to spread the word about awareness most likely takes more that a central location. once again, thanks for your support. it was such a rewarding experience.
Troy, you have joined the hero ranks of HSB’rs, I am proud to call you my bro. This week, Im treatin at the Deli. Call me bud. See ya friday if you can make it.
Aj