Pipe band played at a Cancer Walk last night

[Phogfan86]

A few weeks back, a member of my band asked for volunteers to come lead the Survivors' Lap at the Relay for Life at a local high school track . A woman he knows organizes it, and she asked him to play. He didn't want to do it by himself, so he asked whomever to show up in uniform and play our standard parade set -- no big deal.

Well, the walk was last night, and it was a big deal. We had no idea.

There were probably 300 walkers on the survivors' lap and another 2,000 people there to walk throughout the night and just be supportive. We played our parade sets (Brown-Haired Maiden/High Road to Gairloch, 42nd Highlanders/Scotland the Brave AND Wings/Rowan Tree) and then we marched off the track onto the infield and played Amazing Grace. Neither our pipe major nor our pipe sergeant came, so we were just a bunch of schlubs in kilts just trying to march on the correct foot and not embarrass ourselves.

When we stopped at the end of Amazing Grace, a huge cheer went up and the walkers continued to walk. Hundreds of women were weeping openly. I think when you combine the effect the pipes often have on people with all the emotion of hundreds of people who have beaten cancer, you've got the perfect storm. The organizer who had invited us came over to thank us and couldn't even form sentences, she was so emotional.

Of course, I had to laugh. On the way out, an old guy came over and explained that he played pipes before his arthritis got the best of him. We was very appreciative and we had a nice chat. Before he left, he grinned at me and said, "Y'know, Amazing Grace... with this crowd... that's not even fair."

It was a nice way to start the weekend. I think we'll be taking that gig for several years to come.

[KFCarter]

Good on all of you. Just a great thing to have done.

[David Dubh]

WOW congrats on helping out a very worthy and emotional cause

[ghostlight]

Well done, sir! A worthy cause and an afternoon very well spent.

[JolyStNicholas]

A grand deed well done! Good on you and your lads/lassies all!

[Streetcar]

That's gotta be a great feeling inside. Nice work!

[Macman]

Good for you and your band! "Just a bunch of schlubs in kilts"? I don't think so!

[ghostlight]

"Just a bunch of schlubs in kilts"? I don't think so!

I'll second that. You made the organizer speechless. It takes a lot more than "...a bunch of schlubs..." to do that. Again, well done!

[GMan]

Fantastic to hear.

[SteveB]

Excellent work!

That kind of a showing means a lot to the people that are affected. It showed true support for their cause, and Amazing Grace at the end was just plain perfect.

Slainte