Cairo, Egypt: Susan G Komen U.S. Delegation Trip

Since this was a 6 day trip and we did about 30 days worth of stuff within those 6 days I'm going to break this blog into two parts... I will describe in detail the "how I got involved and why the trip took place" later on in this blog so stayed tuned!

Part 1: October 22-27, 2009

Fly from London to Cairo - I went on this trip by myself because Mike had to work. - you can imagine that I was a bit nervous about that - but I cowgirl'ed up and went and am so glad I did.

While I was checking in at the airport Christina Harman (also a US Delegate on the trip) spotted my SGK luggage tag and asked if I was going on the trip (she was with her lovely mother, Linda) and from there on they were my adopted family. You have no idea the sense of relief I had at this point. I was no longer "alone" and they were fantastic company.

We get to the airport and find our expeditor and we also collected another US Delegate, a fabulous woman by the name of Margot Copeland, also a new adopted mother of mine. She is a member of The Links (google them)

Off to the Four Seasons we go...

Night one consisted of just checking in, getting settled, and then a reception with Amb. Nancy Brinker, SGK Staff, and all the other Delegates. I knew by the end of this party I was in good hands. I have never met a nicer group of people.

Day 2: Breakfast Presentation with Founder & Chairman of the Board, Breast Cancer Foundation of Egypt (BCFE) Dr. Mohamed Shaalan, Guided Tour of the Giza Pyramids, Guided Tour of Sultan Hassan and Refair Mosques (yes, I wore a headscarf)

While at the Pyramids I rode a camel, kissed a camel, stood on the Pyramids with my very own 2 feet and was a stones throw from the Sphinx (Im pretty sure if he still had a nose it would like mine)

Later that evening we went to the Mena House Hotel (absolutely gorgeous) and had our eve of the Race Gala Dinner and WE LIT THE PYRAMIDS PINK!!! This had never been done before. Dr. Zahi Hawass (Director General/Secretary of Antiquities) was there to help celebrate!

Day 3: EGYPT RACE FOR THE CURE - (the very first one) - they had anticipated maybe 1k but on race day 10k people came together from all over the world and made history - it was incredible - there just arent words to describe what I saw happen around those pyramids that day, women, men, children, all races, all religions, all social classes, people from all over the world racing together as one to fight for a cure against breast cancer. 300+ Survivors raced that day!

Later that evening a lovely cruise down the Nile River.

*Abercrombie and Kent were our transportation/security detail and they were hands down fabulous! It would take me all day to describe how fabulous these guys were.

*The staff at the Four Seasons First Residence Hotel were superb! I had never felt more well taken care of in my life at any other hotel. Above and beyond service all day every day, regardless what it was.

To be continued.... Part 2 coming soon... dont worry there will be more pictures...

Cheers,

Wendy