We are Janine the Queen's 3-Day Team.

About us:

I am Laurie aka Queen of Sole. Janine the Queen is my sister and a 5 year breast cancer survivor -- I started and named this team in her honor.

A little history...

The year Janine was diagnosed I had already been involved with the Breast Cancer 3-Day for a few years -- I was even going to sit out that year. But when the call came that Janine had breast cancer I knew I had to keep walking. So just before opening ceremonies on November 20, 2003 I called Janine to wish her a Happy 50th Birthday. I told her I would walk for her this year and she promised to walk with me the next. I am proud and thankful that I can say she and some of other sisters did indeed join me as we celebrated her victory in another 3-Day in 2004.

The end of the 2004 Arizona 3-Day: Heather, Janine, Laurie and Norma resting her head.

Now as we celebrated Janine's victory we also walked to honor and send support to our sweet sister-in-law Sally who began her battle almost as we began our walk.

There have been altogether too many new people in our lives who are battling cancer and sadly every year we add to list of those in whose memory we walk. We continue to walk in hopes that the honor roll will stop growing.

In 2005 Janine and I walked in Seattle with tons of support from family who cheered us on from the side of the road. It was in 2005 that the Queen's "Pit Princesses" were started as a tradition.

Along with Sally, our brother Don, and cousin Nancy -- Janine and I were honored with a surprise visit by Heather -- our sister and THE Pit Princess Supreme!

Check out this group shot! Nancy, Janine, Heather, Donzo, Laurie and Sally at a pit stop.

In honor of her victory Janine got a pink ribbon tattooed on her shoulder and as a surprise and show of solidarity I got one too!

This photo is of Janine and I, tattoos showing, in the doorway of our tent at the 3-day camp...of, did you know that we walk 20 miles a day and sleep in tents at night?

So -- a few years have gone by with Janine and I bringing more and more walkers onto our team. Sally walked in 2006 and 2007 -- we were joined again by our sister Norma in 2006 and by newcomer Mary Jo in 2007. The Pit Princesses continue to be an amazing support to us -- there is truly nothing better than turning a corner after 2 or 6 or 12 miles and seeing people you love cheering on you and the thousands of other walkers going by. They not only clap, high five, and cheer they bring cold cloths, popsicles and last year watermelon chunks to hand out.

While we walk the walk --they rock the sidewalk!

That's a good bit of our history and why we walk -- we'll be back with more on our walk this year in Tampa Bay and a bit about of new team members.

So, stayed tuned for more on Janine the Queen's 2008 3-day team!