3 Days 50 miles 2023!

I can't believe it has already been over 2 months since we walked in our 2nd MS Challenge Walk.  As promised, this is all about our 2023 experience.  

We will each share a little bit about our personal experiences this year.

Amanda

If you had asked me before our first Cape Cod MS Challenge Walk in 2022 if we would return in 2023, I would have confidently said no. Over the last 25 years, we have walked various multi-day breast cancer walks and have never walked back-to-back years. Honestly, it usually takes us 4-5 years to decide it sounds like a good idea again. But this would change in just 3 short days in Cape Cod in 2022. Over the 3 days, we connected with a few veteran walkers. These veterans took us under their wings and made it a point to show us the ropes and truly make us feel like an important part of the Cape Cod MS family. We were asked multiple times over the weekend if we would return next year. And at the end of those 3 days in 2022, we knew we wanted to return in 2023. 

 We signed up early and set about training and fundraising. When we started fundraising for these multi-day charitable events 25 years ago, reaching the individual fundraising minimum was a challenge. But after 25 years, our fundraising goals have shifted from meeting minimum to working to raise as much as possible. And our friends and family have shown up and helped us raise more than we ever thought possible. 

 In 2023, we increased our team from two to three when Christa’s bestie (Tracey) joined. We love growing our team because it means we can share this amazing experience and community with our friends and family firsthand. Who wants to join us next year?

 As we headed back to Cape Cod this year, I did wonder if the walk would be as magical as it was in 2022. And it was another fantastic weekend of reconnecting with friends from 2022 and making new friends. But the weekend didn’t come without a host of challenges. The heat and humidity were off the charts, the dreaded leg rash returned with a vengeance for Christa, and it was the year of blisters for me. 

 We feel honored to be a part of the Cape Cod MS family. And with your support, we are making a difference. Stay tuned for more posts as we prepare to head back to Cape Cod in 2024. 

Tracey

Last year Christa asked me if I wanted to join her and Amanda and walk 50 miles in Massachusetts over a 3-day period. Our friendship pack of always going along with the others ideas made my mouth say yes while my brain was saying "This is never going to happen!"  Shopping for new shoes was fun, shopping for clothes to wear while walking opened a whole new wardrobe for me. This didn't seem so bad. Then we started training. Three miles killed me, how was I ever going to make it 50? Amanda and Christa's excitement and encouragement kept me going. We had fun fundraising and I enjoyed supporting Christa in something so near and dear to her, her momma. Fast forward to September I was nervous going into it. I had come a long way in training and walking 10 miles didn't phase my body much anymore, but this was it .... the big weekend. We arrived in in Cape Cod, settled in excitement stirring in all 3 of us. The next day, the first day of the walk was an experience I will never forget. Everyone was so welcoming, and immediately recognized I was the "new" member of Lemonade for Linda! From that first day memories were shared, laughter, encouraging words and advice the energy was AMAZING! I didn't make it the whole 50 miles but that didn't matter. I made new connections, new memories, friendships, and I felt great about the impact I was part of in raising awareness and monies for the MS Society. 

So,

 this year when I was asked if I was walking again my immediate response was, I wouldn't miss it!!! I hope to make it all 50 miles this year but over that I'm excited to see people again, to raise awareness and money for MS and to put some more memories in my memory bank!!! 

 

Christa

I fell in love with this MS Challenge Walk family in 2022 and knew at the end of that walk that I would be back!  2022 went great, I trained hard and was able to walk the entire 50 miles.  So, I went into this year expecting the same results.  Well, that did not go as planned.  I like to finish things.  So, this walk was a challenge for me in many ways.

We started the year with a new team member, and I was so excited to share this experience with my best friend!  We spent plenty of hours walking and getting ready for those 3 days.  During all of our training my legs did good, and my rash didn't show up much, so I was excited to get to Cape Cod and do this thing.  This year we planned to go all out, with the theme days and had our outfits all picked out.  We worked incredibly hard on fundraising and set our goal at $7,500.  We blew that out of the water and ended up raising a total of $9069.02 this year!!

We were ready and headed to Cape Cod on Thursday September 7th, full of excitement and anticipation.  I am pretty sure Tracey was thinking to herself "what have I gotten myself into".  Friday the 8th our route was over 21 miles.  We got the day started after the opening ceremony.  So, let's be honest I knew the day would be hard.  I don't think it matters how much you train, 20 plus miles are painful in one way or another.  This particular day was also very warm with high humidity!!  Lunch was at 10 miles and at that point I was feeling great and there was no sign of my rash.  Around mile 15, I knew that my rash was indeed going to show up.  At mile 18-19 I was not sure that I could pick my legs up any longer, but I really wanted to be done, so I kept walking.  I was thrilled to see that finish line on day 1.  I knew my body was over this day and the rash on my legs was the worse it had ever been.  Unfortunately, day 2 ended up in a trip to the local urgent care for treatment.  My legs hurt, so I didn't think too much about not being able to walk that day.  Evening time came and we watched Amanda cross the finish line on Day 2, (I am so freaking proud of her) and at that moment I felt that lump in my throat.  I had really wanted to complete this walk again.  On Day 3 after some prednisone, I was feeling much better and decided to take it slow and give those last 10 miles a shot.  It was great to walk that day and it was during those 10 miles that I realized this walking journey was not all about finishing the 50 miles.  On that day we were place perfectly with a team who made everything seem so different.  Hearing their stories and why they walk.   In 2022 my mission was to finish the walk; this year I was forced to slow down and look around.  Funny how life has a way of doing that!  So, while this year didn't go as I had planned it was an amazing experience and one that made me open my eyes even wider to how lucky I am to be a part of this MS family!

Of course, everyone has asked me, are you going to walk that thing again and the answer is HECK YES!!  

Opening ceremony and start line.

One of the many amazing officers that provided safe crossing at intersections.

OH my gosh it was hot!

Still smiling on Day 1!

Amanda rocking it solo on Day 2!

Amanda at the finish on Day 2!

    Thank goodness for best friends!!            

Day 3!!

Barbara an absolutely beautiful person inside and out we meet last year and one of the many reasons we returned.  She has walked in every single Cape Cod MS Challenge Walk!  

Now you know why we go back!!

What about 2024!

Well Lemonade for Linda is coming back with even bigger goals!  One of our goals is to grow our team by at least 1 person each year.  If walking isn't your thing, you can still join us and volunteer to be a crew member or you could join us and help to raise money for this cause and be our cheerleader, let us know, we would love to share this experience with you!!

I promise you will not regret it!!

To date Lemonade for Linda has raised a total of $14,371.61!!!

Click the link to see our page and join our team!!

https://events.nationalmssociety.org/team/50712