Best weekend EVER

This weekend was one I had been looking forward to for quite a while.  I got to leave Missourah and head to Portland for a weekend of friends and family and brain tumor domination.  We had PERFECT weather, no major flight delays, and an amazingly supportive group of people out there dominating with me!

I landed on Friday and headed to dinner with Sharon, the Director of Events/Planning for the National Brain Tumor Society.  She was super friendly and asked about my story.  She gave me a ton of information about the NBTS as a resource and ways that they can help me.  They have a peer matching feature on their site, where you can search for someone with a similar tumor and age, and they'll give you someone who has been through the experience that you can reach out to.  When I searched for my type of tumor and age range previously, all I got were really scary sounding experiences (multiple surgeries, chemo, radiation, etc.) that kind of freaked me out.  I told her I was looking for someone who (so far) has lucked out like me, and it sounded like she had someone in mind to put me in touch with.  Sharon was really fun to talk to and I hope to keep in touch with her!  Plus we enjoyed a tasty meal at Red Star Tavern.  :)

So, then the event that I'd been waiting for arrived: the Brain Tumor Walk!!  I braided my hair to let the short part in the back totally hang out in the wide open (hey, I was amongst "my people"), and it felt GREAT.  There wasn't a cloud in the sky and it probably got to about 90 degrees.  We arrived at Willamette Park, on the Willamette River in Portland, and had some pre-walk activities.  My team made me an awesome sign, we sported the fun tshirts that Steph created for us, and we enjoyed free snacks.

My dream team: Karl, Nate, Jeff, Lisa, Eric, Amy, Courtney, Mel, Jen, Steph, Courtnie, Jeshe

They had all of us "survivors" come up in front of the stage, and the emcee said some really kind words about how everyone (over 1,500 people!) was there to support us in our fights against brain tumors.  I got a little overwhelmed emotionally, as I was really touched by everyone and the whole thing going on. I still get a little teary thinking about it.

Sporting my special blue "survivor" tshirt and the badass sign my team made

The fam: my seesters Amy and Lisa and cousin Steph

As Steph always says, sunscreen and hydration and VERY important

Then the walk started!  Since there were twice as many people at last year, the trail was a BIT crowded, to say the least.  It was more of a mosey than a walk.  While it was a beautiful spot, right along the river, I'm hoping they find a bigger spot for next year.

Gigantic me and my mini team

"Action" shot, watch out

Jeff and I

Nate doing some work with our sign

Ooh!  A puppy!  My team LOVES puppies.

The mosey, I mean, walk, took a bit longer than we'd expected but was still a good time.  Next year we've got plans for a boombox, dancing, and a bigger team (hello Seattle friends!).  They gave out awards, and I was very honored to receive the award for the 2nd highest individual fundraiser!  I raised $3,185 in the end!  My 2nd place finish earned me a 1 night stay at a Marriott in Portland which was pretty cool, since I didn't know there were prizes involved.  My team also took 4th place, which was very exciting, with a total of $6,643!  All in all, the event had raised about $140,000 as of the day of the walk.  I am looking forward to raising even more next year!

Afterwards, we headed to Fulton Pub for lunch and beverages.  The service was terrible, so we had a little special help.

Don't forget to tip your Jeshe

It was a really amazing event, and I felt a lot of love.  :)  I have to give some huge THANK YOUs to my team for their participation and support as well as to everyone that donated!!

As if the day couldn't get any better, Jeff, Amy, Eric, and I headed out for a little jetboat ride on the river with Willamette Jet Boats and it was SO FUN!  We got soaked.  Especially Jeff, since he was on the edge.  We didn't take any pics, but just picture us in soaking green tshirts, with dripping hair and you'll get the idea.

These last few weeks have been a fun adventure, with a drive down the West Coast, 2 weeks in the Midwest, and a weekend in Portland, but I have to say: I am SO happy to be home.  :)

Until next year!  It's never too early to start thinking of fundraising ideas, tshirt designs, and mid-walk choreography.  Go Team Sara, Brain and Tall!