Great Strides

[damiensmom]

I will be doing my first Great Strides walk as an individual walker on April 14th.
I was wondering how long the walk is. Do kids with cf walk? Please give me the run down.
I cant find this info on the Great Strides site. I look forward to it and I cant wait.

 

[damiensmom]

I will be doing my first Great Strides walk as an individual walker on April 14th.
I was wondering how long the walk is. Do kids with cf walk? Please give me the run down.
I cant find this info on the Great Strides site. I look forward to it and I cant wait.

 

[damiensmom]

I will be doing my first Great Strides walk as an individual walker on April 14th.
I was wondering how long the walk is. Do kids with cf walk? Please give me the run down.
I cant find this info on the Great Strides site. I look forward to it and I cant wait.

 

[sweetwhite30]

hey i am too doing the walk this year for the first time,yes there is a possibility that c.f. people will be there and some may have the ceptacia as the brochure says i got the other day.I have mine set as a team,me and my kids and hubby are walking one has c.f but has no germs of c.f thank god.So if you bring the child with c.f just stay at bay with those people you are weary of.....coughing and having hard time catching breathe just be careful of people because some people don't care about others health..

 

[sweetwhite30]

hey i am too doing the walk this year for the first time,yes there is a possibility that c.f. people will be there and some may have the ceptacia as the brochure says i got the other day.I have mine set as a team,me and my kids and hubby are walking one has c.f but has no germs of c.f thank god.So if you bring the child with c.f just stay at bay with those people you are weary of.....coughing and having hard time catching breathe just be careful of people because some people don't care about others health..

 

[sweetwhite30]

hey i am too doing the walk this year for the first time,yes there is a possibility that c.f. people will be there and some may have the ceptacia as the brochure says i got the other day.I have mine set as a team,me and my kids and hubby are walking one has c.f but has no germs of c.f thank god.So if you bring the child with c.f just stay at bay with those people you are weary of.....coughing and having hard time catching breathe just be careful of people because some people don't care about others health..

 

[JazzysMom]

The Great Strides that I use to go to was very "lax". It was definitely up to each family/individual to decide when/where to go to avoid others since you dont know WHO has CF unless its obvious. The last time we went we ended up not walking because it poured all day long. Its up to the groups walking to decide who walks, runs, rides in a wheelchair etc.

 

[JazzysMom]

The Great Strides that I use to go to was very "lax". It was definitely up to each family/individual to decide when/where to go to avoid others since you dont know WHO has CF unless its obvious. The last time we went we ended up not walking because it poured all day long. Its up to the groups walking to decide who walks, runs, rides in a wheelchair etc.

 

[JazzysMom]

The Great Strides that I use to go to was very "lax". It was definitely up to each family/individual to decide when/where to go to avoid others since you dont know WHO has CF unless its obvious. The last time we went we ended up not walking because it poured all day long. Its up to the groups walking to decide who walks, runs, rides in a wheelchair etc.

 

[Jane]

Every walk site is organized differently. It is usually 6.2 miles (10K). Ours is set up to be a large circle around Plymouth waterfront (beautiful setting). Two laps around is a full 10K. Many people go around only once. It is very lax like Melissa said. Some sprint, some rollerblade, some stroll and shop along the way. Don't forget, its all about the money.

My kids have always attended since Josh was a year old (he'll be 16 at this walk)Except for last year when Josh was so sick, they walk at least once around. Its a great social event for them, they have family and friends to hang out with. For them, its not about the fundraising or the disease, its about being a kid.

We don't worry too much about interaction with other CFers because it is outside and my kids stay away from the mixed group at registration and the post walk cookout.

***Just a word of warning to the parents. I find this event very emotional. I usually weep throughout the whole thing. The support from both my team and other team leaders that I've gotten to know over the years is so encouraging. But again, I can't ignore the reason we're all there in the first place. <i>This event is for MY kids because MY kids have a nasty, life-threatening disease. </i>Its a tough day.

 

[Jane]

Every walk site is organized differently. It is usually 6.2 miles (10K). Ours is set up to be a large circle around Plymouth waterfront (beautiful setting). Two laps around is a full 10K. Many people go around only once. It is very lax like Melissa said. Some sprint, some rollerblade, some stroll and shop along the way. Don't forget, its all about the money.

My kids have always attended since Josh was a year old (he'll be 16 at this walk)Except for last year when Josh was so sick, they walk at least once around. Its a great social event for them, they have family and friends to hang out with. For them, its not about the fundraising or the disease, its about being a kid.

We don't worry too much about interaction with other CFers because it is outside and my kids stay away from the mixed group at registration and the post walk cookout.

***Just a word of warning to the parents. I find this event very emotional. I usually weep throughout the whole thing. The support from both my team and other team leaders that I've gotten to know over the years is so encouraging. But again, I can't ignore the reason we're all there in the first place. <i>This event is for MY kids because MY kids have a nasty, life-threatening disease. </i>Its a tough day.

 

[Jane]

Every walk site is organized differently. It is usually 6.2 miles (10K). Ours is set up to be a large circle around Plymouth waterfront (beautiful setting). Two laps around is a full 10K. Many people go around only once. It is very lax like Melissa said. Some sprint, some rollerblade, some stroll and shop along the way. Don't forget, its all about the money.

My kids have always attended since Josh was a year old (he'll be 16 at this walk)Except for last year when Josh was so sick, they walk at least once around. Its a great social event for them, they have family and friends to hang out with. For them, its not about the fundraising or the disease, its about being a kid.

We don't worry too much about interaction with other CFers because it is outside and my kids stay away from the mixed group at registration and the post walk cookout.

***Just a word of warning to the parents. I find this event very emotional. I usually weep throughout the whole thing. The support from both my team and other team leaders that I've gotten to know over the years is so encouraging. But again, I can't ignore the reason we're all there in the first place. <i>This event is for MY kids because MY kids have a nasty, life-threatening disease. </i>Its a tough day.

 

[MOME2RT]

I totally agree with Jane about the "emotional day". Our walk hands out 65 roses to one member of each of the teams. Before the walk they read the story of 65 roses & then calls out each name of the CFer your walking for. You then put the roses back into the vase "in honor" or "in memory" of your CFer! I cry everytime!!!! <img src="i/expressions/rose.gif" border="0">

For us we took Reece the first time, he was 6 months old. He stayed in his stroller of my hubby carried him around. No one got in his face etc. But now we leave him at his maws (MIL) house, thats their day. But yeah, its pretty much up to you the parent if you want your child to go. <img src="i/expressions/rose.gif" border="0">

 

[MOME2RT]

I totally agree with Jane about the "emotional day". Our walk hands out 65 roses to one member of each of the teams. Before the walk they read the story of 65 roses & then calls out each name of the CFer your walking for. You then put the roses back into the vase "in honor" or "in memory" of your CFer! I cry everytime!!!! <img src="i/expressions/rose.gif" border="0">

For us we took Reece the first time, he was 6 months old. He stayed in his stroller of my hubby carried him around. No one got in his face etc. But now we leave him at his maws (MIL) house, thats their day. But yeah, its pretty much up to you the parent if you want your child to go. <img src="i/expressions/rose.gif" border="0">

 

[MOME2RT]

I totally agree with Jane about the "emotional day". Our walk hands out 65 roses to one member of each of the teams. Before the walk they read the story of 65 roses & then calls out each name of the CFer your walking for. You then put the roses back into the vase "in honor" or "in memory" of your CFer! I cry everytime!!!! <img src="i/expressions/rose.gif" border="0">

For us we took Reece the first time, he was 6 months old. He stayed in his stroller of my hubby carried him around. No one got in his face etc. But now we leave him at his maws (MIL) house, thats their day. But yeah, its pretty much up to you the parent if you want your child to go. <img src="i/expressions/rose.gif" border="0">

 

[mneville]

We did our first walk when Aidan was 9 months old. It was more emotional than my wedding day! We had T-shirts made for our team, Aidan's All Stars, and over 100 people showed up for our team It was so crazy. We raised $23,000 our first year. We will continue to do it every year until there is a cure.

There are other CFers but I usually just keep Aidan near us and it's not a problem.

Megan

 

[mneville]

We did our first walk when Aidan was 9 months old. It was more emotional than my wedding day! We had T-shirts made for our team, Aidan's All Stars, and over 100 people showed up for our team It was so crazy. We raised $23,000 our first year. We will continue to do it every year until there is a cure.

There are other CFers but I usually just keep Aidan near us and it's not a problem.

Megan

 

[mneville]

We did our first walk when Aidan was 9 months old. It was more emotional than my wedding day! We had T-shirts made for our team, Aidan's All Stars, and over 100 people showed up for our team It was so crazy. We raised $23,000 our first year. We will continue to do it every year until there is a cure.

There are other CFers but I usually just keep Aidan near us and it's not a problem.

Megan

 

[Alyssa]

Call your local chapter (I think you can find that info out on the CFF website) They should be able to tell you how long the walk is.

The walk in Seattle is around 3 miles. We have done the walk for the last two years -- as the other poster mentioned, it's pretty hard to identify who has CF and who doesn't -- believe it or not, I never saw/heard a single person coughing either year. Last year my daughter struck up a conversation with another girl her age with CF -- they walked and talked together for 10-15 minute or so (they both were knowledgeable about cross contamination concerns, but walking out doors for a few minutes was not a big deal for anyone)

My advice would be to just follow the same common sense and cross contamination guidelines that you always do (don't cough on each other, 3 foot rule, no hugging or kissing) -- being outside helps too -- it is the only event that the CFF says it's OK for those with CF to attend together.

Have fun !

 

[Alyssa]

Call your local chapter (I think you can find that info out on the CFF website) They should be able to tell you how long the walk is.

The walk in Seattle is around 3 miles. We have done the walk for the last two years -- as the other poster mentioned, it's pretty hard to identify who has CF and who doesn't -- believe it or not, I never saw/heard a single person coughing either year. Last year my daughter struck up a conversation with another girl her age with CF -- they walked and talked together for 10-15 minute or so (they both were knowledgeable about cross contamination concerns, but walking out doors for a few minutes was not a big deal for anyone)

My advice would be to just follow the same common sense and cross contamination guidelines that you always do (don't cough on each other, 3 foot rule, no hugging or kissing) -- being outside helps too -- it is the only event that the CFF says it's OK for those with CF to attend together.

Have fun !