Exhilarating. Exhausting. Worth every minute of the pain.

Each fall, thousands of Americans gather together for three days of camaraderie and hours of intense walking to raise money for breast cancer research. The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer 3-day Walk is held in major cities across the country, and for the fourth year, Orcas Island’s very own team, the Island Girls and Guys, is participating in the Seattle event from Sept. 11 to 13.

“There is a real passion among the walkers,” team captain Dottie Cornelius said. “I don’t have a family connection with cancer, but the men and women I have met during this walk have an amazing spirit. I’ve never experienced anything in my life where people are so thankful that you’re there.”

Other team members include Angela Canada, Annetha Caswell, Paul Carrick, Bonni Distler, Susan Hull, Bev Madan, Adrienne Vierthaler, Steve Vierthaler, and Cele Westlake. There are five crew members: Dixie Morrison, Judi Madan, and Judi’s three daughters: Joie Lucas, Renee Welch, and Tammie Young. Crew members manage behind-the-scenes tasks like manning pit stops, preparing meals, moving signs, decorating, cleaning up, and helping the teams get across traffic.

The walkers train for six months, tallying over 500 miles before the big day. Their regimen, which begins March 31, starts slow with four days a week of walking – first three miles and eventually up to 20. The “kick-off” walk will be on April 4, so look for this team of islanders briskly hoofing it, wearing all pink. They encourage passersby to honk horns and yell words of support. The team will also walk in the 2009 Orcas Island Relay for Life in July.

During the three-day event, participants cover a total of 60 miles, clocking 20 per day. They have experienced cracked toenails, stress fractures, blisters, and even broken feet.

“Your feet are never quite the same,” said Bev, a third-year walker.

Most of the men and women camp out in pink tents, and the three days are filled with humor, love, and a lot of encouragement. Many onlookers wear costumes, hold signs, and cheer on the walkers.

“The kind of support you encounter is something I was not at all prepared for,” Hull said. “You sweat, your feet hurt, you trudge up a hill, and at the top is a group of people with signs saying ‘Thank you for walking for my mom.’ I tear up just thinking about it.”

The Island Girls and Guys carry a banner with the names of Orcas men and women who have battled breast cancer.

“We walk in memory and in honor,” Cornelius said.

So far, they have seven new names to embroider on the banner. Cornelius says three Orcas women in the last six months have been diagnosed with breast cancer. Nationally, a man or woman is diagnosed every two and a half minutes.

The team will hold a gathering on Aug. 15 for survivors and the friends and family of those who have passed away.

“It’s a time to recognize them for their spirit, thank them for allowing us to honor them and to share stories,” said Cornelius.

Last year’s walk in Seattle saw more than 4000 people and raised $8.6 million. The Island Girls and Guys collected $25,000 from Orcas Island fundraising. Each teammate is required to raise at least $2300 to participate.

A good portion of their fundraising comes from the “Flamingo Migration.” Each member is responsible for three stylish, pink flamingos, which they put on someone’s lawn. They will remain at that location until the homeowner donates to the cause. Then the generous community member can put the flamingos anywhere – usually it’s a friend or neighbor’s house. And the donating begins anew.

“People have donated a lot of money to get them off their lawn,” Cornelius said.

They will also be holding bake sales, car washes, and a prime rib dinner on Saturday, May 2 at the Orcas Senior Center.

To donate online, visit www.the3day.org and type in “Island Girls and Guys.”

“Because people are holding onto their wallets tightly right now, it’s even more important to donate,” Hull said.