My name is Laura Giannelli and I am the Juvenile Clerk of the Merrimack District Court.

    True Story: Giving your all to support a friend

The weekend of August 15-17, 2008 I walked 60 miles for Breast Cancer Research. The walk started on Friday morning at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, MA. We walked approximately 22 miles on Friday, through rain and hail stones. The excitement was overwhelming and we started walking about 7:00 a.m. The skies opened up and flooded the streets within minutes. At one point, I thought I saw Noah and his Ark floating by. I forgot to pack my rain poncho that morning but thought I was in luck when we were walking passed a Stop & Shop. I ran in to pick up a poncho or a rubbish bag or a table cloth, but, with over 2000 walkers, many of which where absent minded like myself, there was nothing that could be used as a poncho BUT, I thought outside the box and bought a Red Sox grill cover!!! I was a fashion statement and warm!!! The walkers didn't stop walking until around supper time, where we were fed LOTS of pasta.

    Saturday morning came too soon and there were muscles in my body that I didn't know existed, and they were all introducing themselves to me! I now understand the term "rolling out of bed". I literally needed to do this. Today's walk was only 20 miles, and mostly uphill. The weather was nice and the neighborhoods was so giving. In front of many homes were pink ribbons and balloons and fruit and juice stands giving us "Energy". We walked through Sharon and Canton, with cheering stations along the way with survivors and survivor's families thanking us for what we were doing. This was very emotional which gave all the walkers more strength to move along. As I was walking, something "twinged" at the top of my foot, but if a walker went into the First Aid Tent, most of them were not able to continue the walk if was something serious. I didn't want to get "red flagged" after training for so long so I just ignored it, and iced it later than evening, after eating, you guessed it, pasta (this time with chicken!)

    Sunday morning came too fast, wake up call being 5:00 a.m. The only part of me that wasn't hurting was an eyelash and I think THAT broke off during the day! We started walking from Blue Hills Conservatory and headed to UMASS/Boston for the finish line. This walk was very emotional -- crowds of people everywhere cheering and thanking us!! Walking along Wollaston Beach was with a cool breeze, which was needed being in the middle of August. The color pink was everywhere --- cars were decorated, clothing, balloon archways, hair pieces. There were even 3 chihuahuas wearing pink sweaters!!!!

    UMass/Boston at the beginning of Sunday's walk looked like a property piece on the Monopoly game, but as the day went on, it was getting closer and much bigger. I finally crossed the finish line with my husband and two boys waiting for me with pink roses. My friend, who I was walking for who just had breast surgery, surprised me and was at the finish line, too. Again, emotional and soooooo worth it!

    I raised over $3,500 for the Susan G. Komen For the Cure and I met the greatest people with the biggest hearts on this walk. Men and women who have been affected by this one way or another and many families that walked together for their "hero" who has kicked this cancer's butt!

    Getting back to that "twinge" I had in my foot on Saturday, I found out Monday morning that I fractured my foot and the doctor was NOT too happy that I walked over 35 miles on it. Compared to what I was walking for, there was NO pain involved in this walk!!!!