We're Walking . . .

Saturday was the 6th Annual Terri Brodeur Breast Cancer Foundation Walk Across Southeastern Connecticut.

And oh what a day it was.

The Foundation is unique because 100% of the fundraising dollars go directly to breast cancer research. Administrative costs and are covered by sponsors, and volunteers run the organization; therefore 100% of the over 1.8 million dollars that has been raised (so far) has gone straight into 18 grants (so far) given to the best and brightest breast cancer researches. It's pure awesome.

We've visited the Walk in these pages before.

In 2008, we Took A Walk.

In 2009, we Walked The Walk.

And in 2010, we Kept On Walking.

It's an amazing day, with a million amazing people making it happen -- hundreds of walkers walking 26.2 miles year after year -- and loads of volunteers setting up tents for lunch, water and gatorade, hot chowder, apples and cider, massages, music, ice cream -- all donated, all served by volunteers donating their time and supporting the badasses walking clear across the shoreline of our fair State.

One of the best things about the Walk?

The finish line.

And one of the best things about the finish line?

Seeing our girl MartyJoCo cross it with style and aplomb and confidence and grace . . .

. . . for the sixth year in a row*.

*And this year she didn't even have to walk on a broken foot.

Martha's homies were waiting for her at the end . . . they dropped her off in Old Saybrook at 6:30 a.m., and they picked her up in Waterford at 3 . . .

They are seriously awesome homies, Eileen and Jennie are.

"Hi honey, it's me! I didit!"

It's very relaxing at the Closing -- you know, having that 26.2 mile walk behind you and all. I got to sit with Martha and her Homie-Girls for a few, and then all of a sudden, in the distance . . .

Mistah Schleckah!

Mistah joined us at the Closing festivities, and he was even wearing pink . . .

. . .  okay, okay, it was salmon. What-evah. All I know is, I made him he volunteered to help break all the tents down.

And then, the obligatory volunteer group shot . . .

. . . all these great peeps who gave so much of their time, and then had to climb that huge hill for the money shot . . .

. . . until they started breaking up like a group of kindergarteners.

But just *look* at who makes up this crew! My partner Doug and John and Geralyn and Mickey . . .

. . . and our illustrious co-chairs Ellen and Pat . . .

. . . the ever-faithful and hard-working Sandy and Lisa . . .

. . . and Claudia and Marcie and our uber-leader Marianne . . .

. . . and Jean and Steven and Richard and Rayna . . .

. . . and me and Lynne and Wayne and Anne and Dena and Stacey . . .

. . . what a crew, huh?

. . . what a crew.

Thanks all you wonderful people. Keep fighting the good fight. And we'll see you for some more mad success next year.