Wolverines Walk for Cancer Awareness
10/31/2011 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Oct. 31, 2011
The University of Michigan women's softball team participated in its fifth consecutive Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk last weekend, joining nearly 3,000 other walkers to plod the five-mile loop around the Eagle Crest Golf Course in Ypsilanti, Mich.
While the walk itself is largely the focal point, it is merely the culmination of -- and reward for -- weeks of fundraising and awareness efforts. This fall, the Michigan softball program raised more than $21,000 -- a program high -- among its 26 team members, while in all, the 2011 Ann Arbor event raised nearly $284,000 for the American Cancer Society.
Here is how this fall's Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk played out for the Wolverines:
8 a.m. -- The Wolverines players and coaches gathered at Alumni Field, piled into several cars and traveled together to Eagle Crest Resort in Ypsilanti, Mich. The Wolverines dressed to match, donning their blue long-sleeve Making Strides tees and Michigan warm-up pants and shoes.
8:45 p.m. -- Arriving at the golf course, they made their way to the Michigan softball tent, picked up name tags and took countless photos. Head coach Carol Hutchins delivered the pre-race pep talk to the second group of walkers. For the first time, the event was staggered with one group leaving at 8 a.m. and one leaving at 9 a.m. In her speech, Hutch stressed the importance of the Making Strides cause, lauded her team's participation and plugged the Michigan Softball Academy. After five years of participating in the annual walk, the Michigan softball coaches and players are well received by their fellow walkers.
"We are celebrated," said Hutchins. "People are so impressed with my kids and the fact that we're involved in this cause. We're not just participating in it, we're out to be the leaders and win it. It's been outstanding for our program to be in the forefront of this. It's a great tribute to the Michigan softball players who have made this a big part of our program."
9 a.m. -- The walk started. Instead of walking, the Wolverine coaches took off running. While several players followed suit with a jogging pace, the majority of the team decided to take their time and enjoy every moment along the course. The five-mile course started on the front nine and looped around to the back nine.
"We literally stopped and took a picture with every Michigan poster, tree or anything we saw," said senior Amanda Chidester. "We probably took over 200 pictures within the five miles. We got to see the whole golf course, and it was so pretty. The weather was perfect. There were so many people out there, but they were really spread out. We were by ourselves for a good portion of the walk. Some people would pass us, and we'd catch up to people. Everything was at your own pace."
11:15 a.m. -- The largest group of Wolverines were among the final walkers to cross the finish, completing the five-mile event about two hours after it began.
Noon -- After the walk concluded, the team went over to Hutchins' house for a couple hours to eat chili, hang out and watch football games. Among the visitors was Tami Rummel from the American Cancer Society.
"I think it was probably the best walk that I've been a part of," said Chidester. "We just took our time, took it all in and really enjoyed ourselves. It just was a great day."
"I think we get better every year at really embracing it," said Hutchins. "They really get what it's about. As with anything we do, it's about the kids realizing that it isn't about them, it's about something much greater than us. That's not the only thing it's about from my view. This really creates a sense of giving that you want all your student-athletes to have. They're so privileged to play softball, we want them to give back in any way they can to Michigan and this community. It's one of life's experiences. It's important. It's the real world and the life lessons that they do learn in athletics are real."
Over its five-year participation in the annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk, the Michigan softball program has raised around $90,000 and ranked among the top local fundraising teams every year.
In addition to the walk this fall, Chidester and senior Bree Evans raised more than $2,000 by teaching a Zumba class at Chidester's alma mater, Cabrini High School, while former Wolverine standout Jordan Taylor held her "So You Think You Can Hit?" fundraiser in conjunction with U-M's exhibition game against Michigan State and raised almost $1,000 in an hour's time.
The third annual Michigan Women's Softball Academy is scheduled for Thursday, May 10, 2012. Visit www.msoftballacademy.org to register for the event and to learn more about the academy.
