Breast Cancer Awareness Walk - Tampa, Florida

A little while ago I got the chance to attend my first Breast Cancer Awareness Walk. I am lucky enough to not personally know anyone who has suffered from this disease, but due to my husband's work he decided to get involved and we came along as a family to attend it. I will admit I am so happy that I did. I have always seen pictures of these types of fundraising walks and always wondered what it would be like to donate and participate, and I must say it was so much more moving than I could've imagined.

Let's get started

Here is everyone arriving, the place is just starting to fill up.

This part had the biggest impact on me. All those ladies up there are survivors of Breast Cancer. The ones with their flags up had been cancer free for a year or less. This whole thing brought me to tears. It still does while I write this. It was so powerful and so moving.

There was a speech just before the walk commenced where the announcer was talking about her own issue with cancer as well as the fact that her Mother faced it. It was a very moving speech.

This is a panoramic view of the whole scene at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida. It shows a supportive sea of pink. This was the view just before the walk started.

The walk begins

Here we go! Take a good look to the right and you will see some cheerleaders cheering everyone on that is starting the walk.

A nice view. This is just the beginning.

This was one of my favorite parts. If you look, you can see a drummer. Cleverly put in the tunnel that we go through there was a drumline. It echoed off the walls and just put so much pep in your step. It made such a wonderful initial impact on the enthusiasm of the crowd.

Look at that amazing sea of color, including so much pink at the end of the tunnel.

This picture was taken to show you, not even in it's full entirety, how many people came out to support this cause.

Of course, we were also entertained by musicians during this walk. It was starting to get warm already but the music just made things so interesting.

Cheerleaders here for the walk were also off to the side showing their support, all dressed in pink, while also doing a couple of moves for the walking crowd.

The wonderful displays of support during the walk

Throughout this walk, and still showing it in order there were a lot of wonderful ways people had shown support, here are some I took shots of.

Even the dogs were dressing up.

This was beyond sweet because this couple stayed together the whole time and he walked with his wife just like this.

Half-way mark

This beautifully decorated boat was sitting at the half-way point, where all the walkers now turned around and walked on the other side of the street, back to where we started. These women were amazing. They were smiling and cheering everyone on. On the other side, they were handing out beaded necklaces to people who wanted them. The boat was covered in hanging pink bras.

The side of the boat was also decorated with these pink ribbons, everywhere.

On the way back, we decided to walk along the water on the sidewalk this time, for at least a little bit. We eventually ended up back on the main road as a lot of people stopped just to take selfies with the water behind them. I understand as it was a very pretty sight of the bay.

My own selfie time. I was all decked out in pink to show support. I had to put my hair up because by the end it was getting quite hot. After all, I do live in Florida.

We found more dressed up dogs

And again, more dressed up dogs. Just before we entered back into the original tunnel.

My favorite part again! The drumline. I cannot even describe the wonderful beat of these drummers reverberating off the walls of the tunnel. The moment you stepped in the tunnel you got excited, and the closer you got to the drumline the more your heart pumped. These boys got a ton of cheers for their relentless drumming from both the start to the finish.

Humbling experience, and a must for everyone

This whole experience was so humbling. To be able to look at survivors and the fact that they were in remission, some for upwards of 5 years or more. To look at those survivors that have only been in remission for less than a year. To look at the shirts of some of the walkers who included pictures of those loved ones they had lost to this disease. To the overwhelming amount of support and money raised in awareness of this cure and to help cure this disease was just so amazing to see and be a part of. It is easy to donate to things, but sometimes it is just so unbelievably rewarding to actually be a part of an event as well. I definitely recommend that if you don't already, that you get out there and attend and donate and or help fundraise for some cause you believe in out there. Take part. Experience it all. It is such a wonderful thing for the people taking part in it, and it is by far a wonderful fueling experience for the soul.

I hope you enjoyed coming along with me on this walk.