Today was the annual Women’s Adventure Race, a multi-event race designed with beginners in mind.  A very large number of the racers are first-time participants who have never been especially athletic or competed in a race before.  Once again, I and other members of the Williamson County Amateur Radio Club provided emergency communications on the course.

The race is surprisingly well organized, and geared to making the event fun for the participants.  Certainly there are women who are there to compete, but most are there to finish.  It’s hard to express the emotion that I feel when I see these women accomplishing something that a few months ago they never thought they could even attempt.  I was positioned at the most difficult hill on the course, encouraging the ladies as they rode or pushed their bicycles to the top.  I got almost 100 pictures and a whole lot more smiles and thanks for my assistance.

The race benefits the Young Survival Coalition, an organization dedicated to the concerns and issues that are unique to young women who have breast cancer.  Although I’ve been fortunate not to be directly affected by breast cancer, many friends have been.  I’m happy to do my small part in helping to find a cure and to assist women who are affected.