Until last year, I never wore pink. It's just not my color! But in April 2008, in my late middle age, I finally donned pink for the first time: a cap with a pink logo, a T-shirt with a pink logo, and of course the pink ribbon pinned to my T-shirt. For PINK is the color of the campaign for breast cancer and screening awareness, and as such the color of the Walk for Life event in Sarajevo. How could I not get caught up in the enthusiasm around this event? There were well over 3000 walkers in last year's Walk for Life, starting from Skenderija, working our way along Obala, round the old Town Hall and then onto Titova Street and back to base. We were women, men and children. Bosnians from all over the country and internationals. Old and young. Some of us were breast cancer survivors, and most of us had stories about loved ones and friends who had suffered from this disease. But the mood that Sunday was not sombre. On the contrary, it was a celebration of life! I was up at the front of the procession with a companion who says she NEVER walks (just as I never wear pink) but was really enjoying the experience of walking behind our slow-moving escort vehicle, the street wide open and empty ahead of us. Locals waved to us from windows above and at the doorsteps. We felt so powerful! It was a FIRST for us, but hopefully not the last.

Walk for life is Project of my heart.my mom died of breast cancer and last year I did all I could for it's success and I'll do again when I have an opprtunity..

Around 10 A.M, teams of participants gathered at the Skenderija Square . Many schools and Sarajevo 's international embassies joined, as well as a number of other organizations, probably the most prominent contributor among them the cosmetic company Avon , which gathered 2,000 people from all around the country. Excitement hung in the air, as we waited for the event to begin, sporting the caps or T-shirts we got when we registered, as a sign of our partaking, with our faces just painted with pink symbols, most often hearts or ribbons, the symbols of breast cancer awareness. Representatives of the sponsors held speeches, welcoming us, and introducing the cause. ''Today, we are walking for three reasons. First, to raise money to buy a new mammograph for the Bosnian hospitals, so that breast cancer can be detected more quickly and efficiently. Second, to raise sensitivity to breast cancer and its treatment. And third, to salute and honor the people who successfully overcame breast cancer, and cheer for those who are still battling it,'' said Cheryl Romano, one of the co-presidents of IWC. The speeches were greeted by booming applauses, and a few minutes later, we started heading towards the bridge, that was decorated with pink balloons beckoning us and showing us the way. The walkers were a variety of many cultures, nationalities, ages and dispositions, all united in one cause-aiding those in need, the most wonderful cause of unity. Cheerfully, 56 of us from QSI walked among the rest of the crowd, proudly holding our school's banner, while the rays of the noon sun warmed us from the beautiful ceiling of the sky above us, blue with fluffy white clouds scattered around it. All the remnants of the gray gloomy morning were gone. Joyfully talking amongst ourselves we went on, down the streets free of the usual thick traffic. After 4 kilometers of walking, we finally reached Skenderija again, our legs aching, but our hearts delighted and satisfied. The event continued after the walk, giving us a chance to rest sore feet and refresh ourselves.
It was estimated that about 3,600 participants in total walked the streets of Sarajevo that day, and donations were many. The IWC were really pleased, and predicted that the new Siemens Nova mammograph might be in function already by June this year. And we, the QSI students, and a small apart of that astounding number of people, made a difference. With each step we took, we contributed to saving more lives. We helped those in need, and those who will be in need in the future. Also, we ensured that another person survived the battle with this disease, that they would see their loved ones again, brought smiles to others' faces, and helped a cause that would bring more smiles, further along the road. In a sea of a large crowd, we gave as much aid that we could, that will be precious to many people. This Walk for Life will be remembered for years on, as breast cancer is successfully discovered and treated and this is the biggest reward we could get for walking those 4 kilometers.