At closing ceremonies, Margie Wimbish of suburban Atlanta carries the “We will never give up” banner as the last finisher in the annual Susan G. Komen 3-Day Walk from Del Mar to downtown San Diego. Photo by Chris Stone
Among them was 17-year-old Elijah Joiner of Atlanta, one of six members of Yaya’s Warriors fund-raising team. Yaya means grandmother in Greek culture.
“I feel good, but my calves are killing me,” Joiner said Sunday afternoon, resting amid closing ceremonies of the annual San Diego 3-Day at Waterfront Park next to the County Administration Center.
“I love this,” said the son of a breast cancer survivor (his grandmother is still battling the disease). “It’s so much fun.”
The hardest part?
The hills, he said of the trek that began Friday morning at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. But he called Atlanta worse — “hill after hill.”
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Arm-in-arm finishers end their three-day walk in San Diego. Photo by Chris Stone
An abundance of hugs were found at the finish line of the San Diego Susan G. Komen 3-Day Breast Cancer Walk. Photo by Chris Stone
A finisher dances as entertainment is provided at the closing ceremony. Photo by Chris Stone
Buttons on a backpack express the spirit of the 3-day walk. Photo by Chris Stone
Three finishers cool their feet at Waterfront Park at the end of the Susan G. Komen 3-Day Breast Cancer Walk in San Diego. Photo by Chris Stone
Bandages on a heel show the wear and tear of three days of walking. Photo by Chris Stone
A supporter welcomes walkers of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer 3-Day Walk at Waterfront Park in San Diego. Photo by Chris Stone
Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer 3-Day Walk finishers received a medal as they crossed the finish line. Photo by Chris Stone
Retired fireman Dale Emmerich gets a hug from San Diego police Sgt. Vernon Peterson near the finish line of the breast cancer walk. Photo by Chris Stone
Michelle Buessing of Silverado, a 9-year breast cancer survivor, finishes with team members. Photo by Chris Stone
Jonathan Irwin of Tacoma, Washington, finishes his 3-Day walk holding a picture of his sister, Kate Grace, who died of breast cancer in April. Photo by Chris Stone
With bandages on each toe, a walker abandoned her shoes for flipflops in the end. Photo by Chris Stone
Donna Keeton, a 15-year walker but first-year survivor, shows the miles she has walked during seven walks this year. Photo by Chris Stone
A San Diego police officer is in the spirt of the breast cancer walk with his sparkly pink ribbon and pom-pons. Photo by Chris Stone
San Diego police Sgt. Vernon Peterson gives a walker a hug at the finish line of the San Diego Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Walk. Photo by Chris Stone
Elijah Joiner, 17, of Atlanta rests after completing the 3-Day Breast Cancer Walk. He drank pickle juice to stave off muscle cramps. Photo by Chris Stone
Walkers scrawled hopeful messages at the Susan G. Komen 3-Day Breast Cancer Walk closing ceremonies in San Diego. Photo by Chris Stone
A memorial wall displays photos of victims of breast cancer at the Susan G. Komen 3-Day Breast Cancer Walk closing ceremonies at Waterfront Park. Photo by Chris Stone
Suitcases awaiting their walker owners sit in Waterfront Park by the Susan G. Komen closing ceremonies. Photo by Chris Stone
Retired Fire Capt. Bradley Hammer of Cathedral City greets walkers as they approach the finish line. Photo by Chris Stone
Breast cancer survivors are cheered by fellow walkers at the closing ceremony at Waterfront Park. Photo by Chris Stone
Susan G. Komen 3-Day Breast Cancer walkers received a T-shirt as part of their rewards for finishing. Photo by Chris Stone
Retired fireman Dale Emmerich of Dane County, Wisconsin, carries an air tank with names of breast cancer survivors. Photo by Chris Stone
Beth Northman (left) and Donna Keeton, both of Detroit, finished their seventh 3-day walk this year, for a total of 420 miles. Photo by Chris Stone
Finishers line up to receive their Susan G. Komen medals before closing ceremonies. Photo by Chris Stone
Lindsey George and her 5-month-old son, Colt, wait for her sister, Brittney, to finish the 3-day walk. Last year, George walked while pregnant with her son. Photo by Chris Stone
Mary Ruhler (left) and Maria Castellanos of Yucaipa get their photos taken as they cross the finish line. Photo by Chris Stone
Survivors embrace as the Susan Komen 3-Day Breast Cancer Walk in San Diego comes to an end. Photo by Chris Stone
Survivors embrace as the Susan Komen 3-Day Breast Cancer Walk in San Diego comes to an end. Photo by Chris Stone
Breast cancer survivors raise their flags and cheer as the Susan Komen 3-Day Breast Cancer Walk comes to an end. Photo by Chris Stone
Walkers raise a shoe in honor of the breast cancer survivors who come up a path at the Susan Komen 3-Day Breast Cancer Walk closing ceremony. Photo by Chris Stone
Kate Anderson of San Francisco (left) and Kristina Libby of Boston look at photos of the event on a large screen. Photo by Chris Stone
Margie Wimbish of Georgia carries a Susan Komen flag to a flagpole at the beginning of the closing ceremonies. Photo by Chris Stone
Another Atlantan had the special honor of carrying the Komen banner “We will never give up.”
Margie Wimbish, in her late 60s, was accorded that privilege by being the last of 2,000-plus finishers Sunday — who collectively raised more than $5.7 million for cancer research.
Wimbish was one of a dozen with the team Pink Angel Street Walkers, who had a goal of raising $23,000 but actually took in $33,044.
“I feel great,” she said on a day when high temps neared 90, caring not about her placement. “As long as I come in walking, it doesn’t matter.”
She’s done the walk 17 times in Atlanta and twice in San Diego, she said.
Wimbish walked in honor of her sister Merinda Stanley of Atlanta, a 22-year breast-cancer survivor.
After her cancer, Stanley gave birth to triplets.
“I want her to live forever,” said sister Margie.
Retired firefighter Dale Emmerich of Dane County, Wisconsin — where Madison is the county seat — says San Diego was the third of his 3-day walks this year.
He hiked all 180 miles in heavy fire gear.
“This is what we wear for an emergency,” Emmerich said. “And this is an emergency.”
The air tank on his back was covered with the names of cancer survivors.
“Every name makes it lighter for me to carry,” he said.
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