Heather Murray was devastated after she had to pull out of last year's Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure walk without completing the 60-mile trek through Seattle.

Plantar fasciitis - an irritation and swelling of the thick tissue on the bottom of the foot - sidelined the 37-year-old Murray after 56 miles.

"I was sitting there bawling," Murray said. "I beat myself up for the longest time (for not finishing)."

That's just one reason Murray, whose husband is an airman in the 62nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at JBLM-McChord Field, is determined to finish the walk this year.

"Not counting getting married or the birth of my children, it's the single most meaningful thing I've been a part of in my life," Murray said.

Teamed with her 16-year-old son Conner, fellow squadron spouse Tara Brooking and friend Crystal Moore, the team is preparing to start training for the walk, which runs Sept. 24-26. Participants of the walk commit to raise $2,300 each and spend several months training to prepare for the event. Since it's inception in 2003, the walk has raised nearly $500 million through donations, contributions and sponsorships.

Finding the time to juggle training, garner donations and still run a household is a challenging task for the group.

"It's not easy to do everything, but equate that with something that someone who is going through breast cancer," said Murray, who has a cousin that was diagnosed with breast cancer. "This is nothing in the big scheme of things. It's supposed to be hard."

Conner wanted to participate in the walk last year, but his mother was hesitant to let her son take on the burden of garnering the large amount of sponsorship dollars.

Heather relented this year, and now the team already has several fundraisers in the works to raise the money.

"I was proud of my mom for doing this and helping make the world a better place," Conner said.

While the legwork leading up to the race is challenging, the payoff is well worth it when it comes time to tackle the hills and neighborhoods the course winds through.

"It's such a full range of emotions," said Brooking, who also had to pull out of the walk last year on the third day after wrenching her knee.

Whether those emotions include pain over blisters on their feet, joy for the laughter brought on by the various costumed participants or exhaustion caused by covering 20 miles a day, the team said it is ready for all of it.

"There is a lot of dedication here. It ain't for sissies - that's for sure," Brooking said.

For more on the team's fundraising efforts, visit www.the3day.org/goto/gazongas2010.