Look for the Helpers

Support comes in infinite ways. This week, my friend Debbie joined the Hope Hikers, my Komen team, which now consists of two walkers - Debbie and me. She will be walking with me for the final day of the event. There is a clear consensus among all of my hiking ladies that everyone just plain feels happier when they are around Debbie. Her simple existence has the power to lift moods. So she is the absolute ideal companion for miles 40-60! I’m so excited to share this experience with her!

To steal a phrase from my friend Karen, Debbie is a GoBeDo, Karen’s title for those who always say yes to anywhere the are asked to go, whatever they are invited to be, and everything there is to do.

Another GoBeDo, Elizabeth retired from her veterinary practice – and now spends a great deal of her time filling voids for animals in every which way. Whether spending a few months in Wyoming to meet a service need, traveling abroad with needed supplies, or jumping in to care for displaced animals following a hurricane, Elizabeth clearly hasn’t retired from the animals she loves. I’m honored that she has supported my passion, particularly while having so many passions of her own demanding her attention and resources.

Fred Rogers, more frequently known as Mr. Rogers of childhood TV fame (and a Dartmouth man), famously credits his mother as teaching him, “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping,” when he was troubled by the bad in the world.

The route to the Susan G. Komen 3-Day is full of “helper spottings.” This was evidenced in full force during Saturday’s training walk. Starting the day with an airport run, we decided to take advantage of being in our old stomping grounds and put in a few miles on the Strand in El Segundo and Marina Del Rey

I had barely begun to walk when I encountered a group with Donate Life seeking to register organ donors and manned by the fraternity brothers and family of a young man who lives on in seven recipients. I thanked them profusely for their work, letting them know that I am a related party stem cell donor and a registered organ donor. They educated me regarding the iPhone setting allowing people to opt in to donation - and I am pretty sure I can replicate what they did, so feel free to ask me should you, your phone, and I all be in the same place.

Donate Life Registration Drive

A mile or so further on my route, I encountered a Surfrider Foundation booth handing out handles and trash bags so that beach goers could participate in a clean-up event. Hundreds of people of all ages swarmed up and down the beach leaving behind a pristine swath free of human debris.

Still later, I crossed a refreshment station for people training for a marathon on behalf of the Leukemia & Lymphoma society.

On my return route, I received friendly waves from all of the “helpers” still hard at work creating the type of world of which I am so grateful to be a part.

It occurred to me that if being grateful is the root happiness, being able to help others and taking the initiative to do so is a pretty major limb on that tree.