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.