Jillian’s May Post: Trek Across the Grand Canyon with Project Athena
Deaune’s Story, Part 3

Day Two of our 44-mile trek through the Grand Canyon, Deaune reports:

“As I started my ascent, it got hard to do. I was crumbling. I wanted shade and a flat trail. Ha. Marsha was behind me. ‘Deaune, do you want me to take your backpack?’

‘No.’

“This went on for a little while. I couldn’t believe how hard I was fighting her offer to give me help. Why?

“Just as soon as I said, ‘Yeah,’ she had the tow line on me and my backpack was off my back…I felt like a kite when it catches an air current.

“Marching behind Masha was good except I needed her to slow down…I still wasn’t being honest with her. Finally I told her I felt like throwing up. She told me I needed to eat and started feeding me. I began eating though I didn’t feel like it.

“When Robyn got to us, she fed me, grabbed the tow line and said, ‘Give her to me, she is my friend.’ That made me feel good.

“Jillian came up and fed me, too. Suddenly, all of the sick feeling went away. I couldn’t believe how fast I recovered. I recovered so fast because I let them help me. I kicked my ego to the ground!”

As we near the summit, Deaune recalls:

“Whoa! Who is that good looking guy running down the trail toward us? Focus, it’s Calvin, my son!” I see Robyn taking the tow line off me so my son won’t see it. How sweet of her, but there is no shame anymore. I put the line back on and explain the beauty of the tow and how he should remember to do this.

“After, Calvin formally asks Masha if he can carry my pack. She lets him. Excitement is growing as I know we are getting closer to seeing the rest of my family.

“Robyn stops our whole group, takes the tow rope off and pushes me out in front to walk the rest of the way up by myself. My thought was, ‘How silly,’ but as I started walking towards my husband the tears just fell out…Then [I hugged] Mom, who was so excited, and on to Dad, who was crying.

“I guess my family knew. Knew how important this was…for all of us.

“As my mom sat in her wheelchair at the top of the trail she seemed so happy. She lived on for almost two months after that date…”

Later, Deaune also was able to face the demon that had been plaguing her since she began this training: the truth she promised she’d reveal if she made it through OK. She shared with her loved ones that she had never graduated from high school.

“My husband was so supportive, my kids still loved me,” Deaune writes. “Things started to come clear to me. Why I have worked so hard to have the kids give me the truth. Why I am constantly preaching about their education…Through this wonderful event I was able to free myself.”

In an email to me, she writes a P.S.:

“Oh yeah, I am going back into the canyon again. This time, I want to give a tow and ‘take a quiet risk.’ I should share with you that I have continued to exercise and am running regularly now. Wow! My size is getting smaller and stronger! I feel good… No fear, only thankfulness.”

If you would like to join Deaune and other Project Athena participants in the Grand Canyon, or on other adventures, visit www.ProjectAthena.org.