Molly Leads Susan G Komen Race for the Cure

It was very foggy (we call it mysterious) when we arrived Saturday morning for the Susan G Komen Race for the Cure. We arrived around 7:00 and the supporters from the Ford plant swathed Molly with banners and pink balloons. We carried about 13 elderly survivors in the parade to the starting line and took our place behind the police escort and pace car for the race proper. We 'ran' the course with the survivors on board and the rest of the runners behind us (for the most part).

About three quarters of the way through as we turned off of Main Street and back onto Clay, the streets became very congested with walkers who were just starting the race (heading the opposite direction from us) and all of a sudden, the first ten street runners blew past us. We were now really "IN" the race. We held our position with the ten racers about twenty feet in front of us and the rest of the runners about twenty feet behind us until we turned onto River Road for the final stretch to the finish line. All of the front runners at that point decided to take the left lane of the two lane street giving us an opportunity to make up some ground. With a yell to the ladies in the trolley to get their running shoes and tails in gear, we passed all the runners in front of us to cross the finish line first, the survivors whoopin' and hollerin' all the while down that 'sprint'. All in all a good showing.

We parked at the entrance to slugger field where every walker was routed and spent the rest of the morning encouraging any survivors to
sign the banners and taking pictures of race participants, Survivors and their support teams on the balcony of the trolley. (We also had quite a few kids who met almost all the criteria for ringing the trolley bell. All were strong enough, brave enough and smart enough to ring the bell. We did have a real problem with the 'tall enough' criteria, but we were able to work through that one.)

Inside Slugger field, Cindy and Frank were holding down the fort at the booth that sported a collage by Carolyn and banners and business cards and a great brochure designed by Vicki. They had lots
and lots of people who stopped by and thanked us for being a part of the race. (They may also have been happy about the photos.) At any rate Cindy commented about what the people said as they came by the booth.  "Aside from the few people who came by and asked for bus schedules or asked about the Trolley Hops,  a whole lot of people came by and said 'Thank you, thank you, thank you. The people that rode the trolley were never able to participate before. This was wonderful! " but what they said most was "OOOhh... You have tootsie rolls."