Foot Soldiers: Stories from the Breast Cancer 3-Day Walk

Reading this book is almost like spending the time at the 3-Day rather than reading. Douglas walked all ten of the 2004 Susan G. Komen/ National Philanthropic Trust Breast Cancer 3-Day events and tells the stories of walkers, crew, and cities she encountered. She writes about the porta-potties, showers in the trucks, spending the night in tents and the nightly entertainment in camp. But most importantly she writes about the people she met. Every story brought back fond memories of my own 3-day walks and I loved it. The stories motivated me on days when it was sometimes hard to train. The stories helped me understand why others choose to walk. Unlike most of the walkers I am not a survivor, nor am I related to one, I first started walking to prove something to myself, but I was hooked, just like reading this book. Start reading and you'll be hooked, then if you are not a 3-day walker you probably will be.

I got so much out of reading this book that I am not sure where to begin. There is a lot of very valuable medical information, but more importantly it gives the reader a chance to get to know many interesting breast cancer survivors including the author. They all become friends along the way, and the reader learns a lot about living as a breast cancer survivor as well as being part of a support system. Anyone who is touched by this disease (which is just about everyone) will benefit from reading this book. I highly recommend it.

In 2001, San Antonio pathologist, Deborah Douglas learned she had breast cancer. She had already lost her husband and her father to cancer. Now, it was her turn to face it. Actually, she had been facing cancer for years. In an active pathology practice, she had seen hundreds of cancers under microscope, had been the one to so often make the decision: benign or malignant. After getting her own diagnosis, she decided to retire from her medical practice. She went through all the treatments, was pronounced cancer-free, and in 2004, as a way to prove to her family that she was fit and well, she decided to walk in one of the Susan Komen Foundations 3-Day Walk for the Cure events. She got online, registered for the first one, and then on an impulse, decided to register for all ten 3-Days to be held that year. Each 3-Day Walk is 60 miles, done in twenty-mile increments each day. Later came the idea to write a book of the experience. And what a book it is. Divided into ten chapters, each chapter representing a different 3-Day city where Douglas walked, she tells the breast cancer story through interviews with other participants and cancer survivors that she meets at each of the events. At the end of each chapter is a montage of photographs taken of those who shared their stories. Layered in between, in short passages, Deborah's own story also emerges. The result is a deeply moving and compelling work of literature that also happens to be of vital medical importance. All of the people in the book are cancer survivors in one way or another. Most have been diagnosed with breast cancer, but some are walking for loved ones they have lost. One young husband saw a poster for a 3-Day event on his way home from his wife's funeral. Three months later, he was walking in her memory. Another walker wore a pink jacket from 2002 that read: "In honor of my mom. 13 cities. 780 miles." And yet "Foot Soldiers" is far from depressing. Many participants come to the Walks as part of a team. Some dress up in wacky costumes like contestants on "Let's Make Deal." They have Opening and Closing Ceremonies, sort of mini-Olympics productions with people giving speeches, with music, a "survivor's circle" and a flag processional. They sleep in tents, thousands of walkers, on sleeping bags, with a big tent dining hall. During the Walk, comfort stations, theme-decorated Pit Stops or Grab & Go Stations, line the route, and driving crews "sweep up" walkers who can't make the whole 20 miles each day on foot. Other drivers ride along in vans with loud speakers playing Roy Orbison's "Pretty Woman" and other up-tempo songs to encourage the walkers. It sounds like great fun, summer camp for adults, the kind of place where you probably make friends quickly and for life. Douglas says, "For many participants, hugging is as integral to the 3-Day as walking. So is being nice, helpful, and emotionally open." As I read I found myself wanting to join, wondering if I could possibly walk twen

This is a wonderful book and exceptionally well written. Dr. Douglas touched my heart with every new chapter in the lives of the people with whom she walked. Each story was filled with the bravery, fear and success of each of the participants whose lives she became a part of during the walks. But most importantly, it raised my awareness of how fragile our lives may be and how we must live each moment to its fullest. Cowboy hats, pink of course, off to her!!

This is a wonderful book for anyone involved in the fight against breast cancer. Whether you are personally fighting the disease or have a loved one who is...or whether you are yet another person out there who hopes for the day that this disease is history! If you've ever participated in the Breast Cancer 3-Day walks, you will find some familiar stories here...universal stories of determination and courage that span each city and each year that these walks have been walked. You will read stories of what led people to participate...their reasons for walking, as well as their experiences on the walk. If you've never participated in one of these walks, you just may decide to do! I have participated in the Chicago walks since 1999 and so I was thrilled to receive this book as a gift. I not only found familiar stories, but I even recognized some of the names of other participants and even the descriptions of people who have cheered us on along the way. My aunt (a breast cancer participant and 3-Day participant) is quoted in this book which is extra cool! :o) Thank you, Deborah, for writing this book and putting these stories out there!