Still Glittering

“Better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without one.”
Old Chinese Proverb

The 2012 Weekend to End Women's Cancers started in biblical rains and ended in brilliant sunshine.  By the time the walkers had reached our hydration station on Saturday, the rain had mostly ended save the occasional cloud burst.  Unfortunately, many of the walkers were suffering from the foot problems that arise from walking in wet shoes and socks but few of them were complaining.  They mainly walked through knowing that the finish line was less than six kilometers away.  

We were a small crew this year but a great crew.  The people assigned to our station were all workers, prepared to roll up their sleeves and completely in tune with our commitment to truly serve our walkers.  Excellence in service has been the core value of our crew since the very first year we got together in 2007.  Participants who do the walk year after year know and remember us.  We are the station where walkers will truly be served.  No one coming through our station is required to do more that tell us what they want.  We will bring them a cup full of water or Gatorade or fill their bottles if they prefer.  We will unscrew the caps and retighten them.  We will take their pictures, open their bandage papers, help them untie or retie their shoes.  We will hug them and thank them.  Laugh with them.  Cry with them.  And sometimes even pray with them.  Whatever they want.  Whatever they need.

On Sunday our station was set up at Budapest Park.  It was a great location with an incredible view of the beach.  There were trumpet swans swimming just a few feet from us and kayakers paddling close to the shore.  It served as a wonderful reminder of the incredible beauty of our city.  

The pink tulle, silk roses and acrylic diamonds have been packed away for another year.  But the Hope Diamonds will glitter on.  And next year, we'll be back to serve and spread hope at the 2013 event.