Q: Why sign up to crew instead of walk?
[guest Cheerio Bill, in a
message to SF walkers]: First
off let me tell you who I am because you already "know" me.
I'm Bill, the old man who wore the bustier and the mini dress at pit
stop one [yup, that's him on the left].
This was the tenth Pallotta event that I have been a
part of. I have crewed four Avon 3Days and six AIDS Rides. I got
hooked on crewing after riding the California AIDS ride four years ago
(SF to LA in seven days). As soon as the ride was over I wanted
more so I called Chicago and got on the crew for the AIDS ride up there.
It was a memorable experience, as have been all of the events I have
participated in, but it was NOT the same rush that you get from
riding/walking. When the Avon 3Day started it was only natural
that I would crew as my wife is a 13 yr survivor and she walked (SF was
her third walk).
Walkers often say that they think that crewing is
harder than walking. Let me set the record straight. Crewing is
hard work. Walking is a personal struggle.
On day three when I'm beat I can carry one case of
water at a time instead of two or I can get someone else to carry the
other end of the table. When a walker gets to the bottom of a hill
(like that little one on day two) there is no one who is going to
get your butt up the hill but yourself. DON'T try to compare
walking with crewing.
The crew is wonderful and you couldn't do it without
them but it's not the same. I just wish every crew member would
walk once so that they would really understand how sincere the walkers
are when they say they appreciate what the crew does. I don't
think most crew members have a clue as to how much they are revered.
Even I was amazed at how many of you called out my name as you passed on
your way into closing ceremonies, how many of you stopped and hugged me,
how many of you had tears in your eyes while doing so.
But for every crew member who is visible there are ten
who you don't see. There were people in security walking around
camp at three in the morning, the route marking crew was out marking the
route while you were registering, the setup crew set up the day one camp
on day zero and was setting up the day two camp while you were just
getting settled into the day one camp. There were bus liaison
people who most of you never saw as well as crisis counselors. Who of
you ever saw a dispatch person or the crew in the communications
trailer? Most of you only saw the road people in the pits stops and the
grab and go's as well as the sweep crews cruising by, but that's only
the tip of the iceberg.
So why do I crew? Well I think the San Jose
lieutenant answered that when I asked him what he would tell people
about the event. He said he would participate again in a heart
beat because he met so many wonderful caring people who genuinely
appreciated what he was doing.
Webster defines vicarious as something felt or enjoyed
through imagined participation in the experience of others. That's
a big part of it also.
Congratulations walkers, you have reason to be proud.
Q: I've heard it's harder to crew than
to walk - is that true?
[guest Cheerio Lee, in a
message to SF walkers]: Congratulations walkers!!!!! YOU
DID IT!!!! As a member of the hydration crew I must say
"I AM WALKING NEXT YEAR"! You all were so brave on those
hills, and in the heat and with blisters and all. Are you sick of Gator
aide? I am! I'm sick of lifting it case by case out of the truck
and back into it at the end of the day. Oh I forgot, no whining!!!
Anyway, Although I didn't get a chance to meet very
many of you, when I did it was fun, you were all so appreciative of the
crew that it made it worthwhile for me to crew. The best part for me
was, when driving back to the stops to pick up whatever cases were left,
and on the way we would see all of you walking and blow our horn and
cheer you on. The smiles on your faces and your arms waving back at us
filled my heart with pride and brought tears to my eyes every single
day. Thanks to all of you who thanked me personally for crewing, it
helped me through the 13hr work shift. And I really mean that, It lifted
my spirits to know that what I was doing made a difference to you all.
O.K. I'll stop gushing now and start planning on joining you on the walk
next year. Be Well All.
lisa: The crew members are our heroes - they cater to
us, get up early to cook for us, work into the night running camp for
us, shlep our stuff, pop our blisters, listen to us whine, make sure we
are safe, warm, healthy and happy, keep us going with their cheers, etc.
On both walks that I participated in, the crew was really the glue that
held it all together.
As hard as it is to walk, it is even more work to
crew. You will never hear the words "thank you" so much as
during the 3-day weekend - and every single time it will be genuinely
heart-felt. The walkers may get more of the press, but WE know who makes
it all possible! I speak for all walkers when I say that we LOVE and
ADMIRE and RESPECT our crew.
Q: What are
some of the jobs that crew members are assigned?
