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A walker's diary

One step, then more, until cure is clear

The path is long, but the Breast Cancer 3-Day proves enough people still believe.

By JUDY LUDIN
Published October 10, 2005

	[Times photo: Daniel Wallace]
	Judy Ludin, 47, of Largo celebrates after completing the Breast Cancer 3-Day walk Sunday in Tampa. The 60-mile event began Friday at Coachman Park in Clearwater. Walkers then headed to St. Petersburg before finishing with a ceremony at Raymond James Stadium. Tampabay.com photo gallery Day 2: Compelled by a common cause Day 1: No caffeine, so she must go on pure hope, drive

About this story: Judy Ludin, 47, is one of the thousands who walked 60 miles around the Tampa Bay area to fight breast cancer. She has written a daily diary. The Largo resident raised more than $5,000 for the cause by word of mouth and sending e-mails to family and friends. She was inspired by her sister, Debbie Sokolov, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in June. Two years ago, her mother, Marietta Drucker, was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Ludin and her husband, Eric, a lawyer, have two sons, Joshua, 16, and Jacob, 14. She is an executive for public relations and communications for Menorah Manor, a geriatric center in St. Petersburg. Here is her account of her third and final day of the walk.

* * *

This was a day I had visualized during my training: finishing this journey, 60 long miles, and enjoying the closing ceremony.

Sunday morning was dry when I crawled out of my tent, much different from the swamp I woke up to on Day 2. Everything hurt. Time for coffee and Advil. But first, a visit to the porta potty (porta potties become your best friend on the 3-Day walk), and then on to taking down the tent, getting dressed and bandaging the blisters on my toes (moleskin is your other best friend on the 3-Day). After loading up on protein and carbs, we were off to walk our final 20 miles.

We walked through Tampa and along beautiful Bayshore Boulevard. It felt like it was 200 degrees. I had one blister on my heel that grew, and by Sunday, it was a blister on top of a blister on top of a blister.

Every time I felt like I couldn't walk another step, I thought of my sister, Debbie Sokolov, and I knew I had to continue. I looked around and found inspiration to go on. I saw survivors walking, and I saw friends, sisters, mothers and fathers walking for survivors. I saw people walking in memory of their loved ones. And I saw a group of women walking who had the picture of a beautiful woman on the back of their T-shirts. They were walking in memory of this woman who had passed away from breast cancer in September. She was one year younger than I am.

The last few miles felt like 20. When I finally stepped over the finish line and saw people cheering, I knew I had accomplished something big. I was handed a victory T-shirt that says, "We walk because we believe." We walked our final couple of blocks over to Raymond James Stadium for our closing ceremony. I forgot about my sore muscles and blisters as I luxuriated in my success of walking every single step of the 60 miles. I sobbed when I saw my family waiting to congratulate me. And I sobbed when all of the survivors who had done the walk were honored.

I walked because I believe. I believe that one day there will be a world without breast cancer. I believe that if enough of us support this important cause, one day people won't have to face this frightening and life-threatening disease. One step at a time.

[Last modified October 10, 2005, 08:56:02]