Awakening

Everyone has a story.

Be it good, bad or indifferent, we all have one. I felt a very tangible element at around 3:30 am this morning, when I did the 4am 5k walk for Pieta House this morning. My morning or night,rather, started at 11pm last night. Went to bed at 8 so I missed the Munster match (just as well from all accounts) and was half awake from 11 on. At 1am,I said "Feck it" and up I got. I proceeded to have a speedball mix of a banana,Powerade and an espresso. It was safe to say, I was now fully awake. Waited for mister taximan to pick me up and we had a small chat about what was about to go down. Although he knew nothing about the run/walk (strictly walking for me at that hour) we shared the same sentiment about how poor the facilities for Mental Health are here,and how the government really need to step up to the plate in that regard (ok we said more choice words than that, but it was post-watershed,so it was allowed).

Got outside Arthurs Quay and the place was mobbed. Really. The turnout was just incredible. And there were people still coming up to register. The demand was so great that they ran out of designated t-shirts to hand out. What struck me initially was everyone was in good spirits and looking forward to it all. Then it hit 4am and I suppose it was delayed by a few minutes with all the late signing ups. Had another look around and there were a few with tears in their eyes. But they were determined.

It started and off we went. I knew why I was there. I had my story,and again, looking around, I knew that everyone else had one too. There was kids walking it with mothers and sisters. A girl in a wheelchair was doing it. A lad in crutches. Just showed that nothing was going to stop them from doing this. That was balls. That spurred me on in a way even more.

What struck me as well and was so nice was the whole Darkness Into Light theme of the whole thing that Pieta House had for it. Streetlights were in abundance and watching the night turn into day with a sea of yellow t-shirts around you was something else. I got to the end and wanted to keep going,I was buzzing that much. There was a lady representing Pieta House there and she gave a small speech. There were a few welling up from that,myself included. I took two pictures which i will try and put up at the end of the blog. I would recommmend it to anybody. You will feel so much better,spiritually and physically. Roll on next years because I will be first at the starting line. Or close to it.