On October 3, Hunt Valley Maryland was invaded by 29,000+ individuals representing supporters, activists, patients and many others interested in Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
As early as 4:30 A.M., volunteers and vendors were setting up at Komen Central. There were the basic necessities like the police communication van where all the action was tracked. Of course, there were also the media tents from WLIF 101.9 FM broadcasting the goings on as well as the traffic jams. WMAR TV was also on the scene throughout the event capturing the visitors, guests, and a few politicians.
The Survivors Tent took up a full block to house the water, bananas, and Panera Bread's bagels. Along with those necessities, the Survivors tent also had a photographer making key-tags; and someone had beautiful scarves for your neck or perhaps to cover a bald head. Down the center of the tent, there were tables were students from the Maryland Institute of Art plied their skills in creating pencil portraits of the survivors -- a nice memento of the day.
There was also the much in demand coffee stand at the far end of the tent. And right next to it, volunteers were on hand to provide a great deal of information from the Active Survivors Network.
Down the center of the lot just beyond the Survivors Tent, several volunteer vendors could be found. There was Clown Alley, where one could get a balloon twisted into a variety of shapes. PattyCake was an especially pretty clown. The Bubble Lady was also present, wowing visitors by the sizes and shapes of the bubbles she created. See the slideshow for some cute pictures.
The OJAS Wellness Center, with locations in Sparks, Owings Mills, Baltimore – also set-up shop. The seated massages were providing some instant relief to the walkers, joggers, and other participants who realize the benefits of massage therapy.
Needless to say, Komen Central was a beehive of activity from early set-up to the start of the race, and continuing to the end of the walking event several hours later. There was much to see and do that could take a couple of hours without ever entering the race or joining in walking the three mile course up and down the major roads of Hunt Valley Maryland on a sunny but chilly morning.
Watch for more on Komen as the pictures and stories get sorted and posted.
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