Never for money. Always for love.

I cannot believe that The 3-Day is just 1 work day away! Ahhh... The anticipation is intense!

I spent last week in Chicago and have been busy Busy BUSY this week working, walking, sleeping and packing. Somehow "they" expect me to fit a weekend's worth of clothes, sneakers, hats/visors, sleeping bag, pillow and hygiene products in a single 35-pound bookbag. It's a good thing my mom bought me so many random travel bags when I went to Europe last time. Otherwise, it would have been tough to find a backpack big enough to handle everything. My lumbar pack is ready and raring to go, but I'm definitely having trouble with the overall packing experience. It makes me miss/appreciate my mom and her masterful packing skills. What can I say, I am my father's daughter ;)

Anyway, I've pretty much bought out the entire foot care aisles at Wal-Mart, Target and CVS. After I killed my feet walking my longest recommended training walk (18 miles) in Stone Harbor a few weeks ago, I now appreciate this aisle much more. Blister band-aids, ankle wraps, heating pads, moleskin, corn removers, heel balm... you name it, I've got it. I'm like a walking first-aid kit for walkers. Now I just have to narrow down the gym clothes I'm going to wear, how many pairs of socks I'm going to take and how I'm going to survive walking 21.6 miles on Friday... Did I mention that we start at 5:30 that morning?!

My mom and Gina are coming in on Friday and will be meeting me at the various cheering sections along the route. They'll be staying at my apartment for the weekend while I'm sleeping under the stars in a pink tent. I cannot wait until Sunday when I get to see them at the closing ceremony. I am a lucky, lucky girl to have such positive women in my life. I will be thinking of my Aunt Gina, Grandma Pauline and the Barbaras every step of the way... And, of course, my donors.

I cannot thank you all enough for your monetary support and continued e-mails, phone calls and desk stop-bys. It has been truly gratifying and humbling to be given this opportunity. This is something that I have worked for and walked for since last winter, but I would not be getting ready to take those first steps if it weren't for all of you. Thank you, thank you, thank you... for your generosity, for your love, for your encouragement, for your companionship on my walks and for your willingness to support a cause that affects us all.

I have met some amazing people along the way at training walks, outfitter clinics and fundraising events, and I think the final days of this journey will introduce me to even more powerful and inspiring men and women. Here's to the survivors, the co-survivors and the ones we've loved and lost. Here's to The 3-Day and a weekend I will never forget.

Final tally: $2,355.00
Thank YOU.

Congratulatory E-mail for Raising $2,300

Congratulations - you did it! You’ve reached your fundraising minimum for the Breast Cancer 3-Day®. Thank you for your determination, selflessness and commitment to the fight against breast cancer. Your efforts are making a significant difference in the continuing effort to find a cure.

Eighty-five percent of the net proceeds from the Breast Cancer 3-Day benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure®. The majority of the funds that Komen for the Cure receives through this event go to fund innovative breast cancer research that no one else is funding. A portion of the money also stays right in the local communities where the events take place to help Komen Affiliates fund outreach programs that meet the needs of women and men today.

Thanks to events like the Komen Race for the Cure® and the Breast Cancer 3-Day, Komen for the Cure has invested nearly $1 billion to fulfill their promise to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all and energize science to find the cures. Because of you, lives are being saved. Because of you, we are one step closer to our goal of a world without breast cancer.

Fifteen percent of the net proceeds from the Breast Cancer 3-Day benefit the National Philanthropic Trust Breast Cancer Fund, a special field of interest fund that will provide support for breast cancer initiatives including research, treatment, prevention and education. The NPT Breast Cancer Fund is a long-term fund, which will ensure the cause receives continuing support irrespective of gifting activities in years to come.

We understand the kind of hard work it takes to get to this point, so let your efforts keep working for you and the cause. Don’t stop now! Give yourself a well-deserved pat on the back - and then set a new goal. Keep talking with people about the Breast Cancer 3-Day, about your experience fundraising and training, and about breast cancer. You will continue to raise awareness and funds in the weeks to come.

Please extend our thanks to your donors. Every dollar makes a difference.

Sincerely,
Susan G. Komen for the Cure
National Philanthropic Trust Breast Cancer Fund

Retail Therapy

... almost as expensive as real therapy, but worth every penny :)

Don't bunt. Aim out of the ball park.

This is it. The final stretch. After adding in money from last week's doughnut sale, I am only $140 away from my $2,300 goal. CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?! I am so excited, I don't even know what to do with myself. Donations keeps trickling in, and I cannot help but feel overwhelmed by the outpouring of support and love I feel every day I check my 3-Day page.

It may sound corny, but this whole process has made me believe that dreams come true. $2,300 seemed like an unreachable goal when I started all of this... I knew that, even if I didn't hit that mark and get the chance to walk in July/August, at least I would have tried and the money raised would go to a worthy cause.

I feel like I have been proven wrong about my goal being "unreachable," and instead we have made this look like a piece of cake!!! We = me, friends, family, family friends, co-workers, doughnut lovers and everyone else who has made this adventure possible. My team members are actually asking me how to raise money. I keep telling them that I haven't done anything special - I just happen to have great people behind me... people who are generous with their time, their hearts and their hard-earned money.

In order to spread the word and raise money over the past few months, I have sent a ton of e-mails, added website links to everything I can think of and talked incessantly about my efforts. Perhaps my favorite fundraising effort though was the doughnut sale I hosted at work last Friday. I woke up at 5 a.m. and drove to Parma to pick up 100 dozen doughnuts. Yep, that's right, one hundred dozen... I called my dad the night before, and he couldn't believe I was going to try to sell that much grease, sugar and bread to healthcare workers! Of course, my co-workers Andrea and Quintin helped me coordinate the sale and convince people that they really did need to buy dozens of doughnuts to celebrate pay day. I attached information to each box that detailed my 3-Day journey and encouraged good breast health. I apologize to the MOVE and Champions Challenge organizers here at the VA, but I sold out in less than 2 hours! In the end, I was able to donate $210 to The 3-Day :)

In terms of training (because I know my mom is dying for an update), things are going really well. I just passed the 16-week mark, and I am as focused as ever. My co-residents motivated me to walk in a 5K to benefit The Cleveland Christian Home over Easter weekend, and it was the perfect chance to break in my sneakers on the streets instead of a treadmill. Plus, I got to check out some kangaroos and polar bears afterward! Another zoo walk is coming up in early May, and I'm planning to participate in that one as well. It's a great way to get a feel for the hills I can expect to encounter on The 3-Day. I'm also hoping some of my teammates can make it to the next one so we can all train together!

As for my fanny pack search... I decided to try training with the drawstring bookbag I got free for opening a National City account this summer... you know, back when I felt safe walking down the street to the bank. Anyway, I kept playing with and readjusting the strings on the bag, and I knew that'd be a nightmare over 60 miles. So, I splurged and bought this beauty from Sierra Trading Post...

Don't be jealous.

1/2

My cousin Kyle's donation just pushed me to the halfway mark! Thanks, K-Man!

I was sooo excited to come home from work tonight and realize that my friends and family have already donated $1,150 to this worthy cause... Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

Keep it coming ;)

Hey, I put some new shoes on and suddenly everything is right...

This morning, I went to a "Sole Mate" clinic hosted by the La Place New Balance store. 4 New Balance employees came in an hour before the store's regular opening time to meet with 3-Day participants. 9 other first-time walkers came but, for once in my life, I was the first one there!

The program was headed up by a marathon runner/shoe expert who asks us to think of him as a "pharmacist for feet." I, of course, loved this analogy so much that I can't even remember the name of his profession (something pod-based I'm sure). He talked for a good 45 minutes about anatomy, common foot complaints/concerns, sock selection and shoe fittings. He answered some questions about blister prevention and treatment then gave us each a pamphlet entitled "The Foot Owner's Manual." Cute, right?

Anyway, the foot pharmacist told me I was a "healthy footed pronator" based on my Harris-Beath mat footprint. "Healthy footed pronator" sounds kind of like a dinosaur species to me, but I guess it just means that I roll inward when I walk. According to http://www.nbannapolis.com/, pronation is "An inward tilt rotation of the hind and midfoot (valgus) when weight bearing, a lifting of the outside border of the midfoot (eversion), and an outward swing of the forefoot (abduction). Pronation is generally observed in the pes planus (low arched) foot." Who knew?!

Betsy, my new favorite New Balance employee, took some additional measurements and selected several walking and running shoes made especially for pronators like me. I tried on different sizes, styles and colors, and eventually I found my sole mate...

Not only are they adorable, but they are oh-so-functional! I usually have trouble fitting into New Balance sneakers, either because my big toe rubs the front or the ankle support is too high (I feel like the princess with her pea.), but I ended up finding a sturdy yet comfortable pair today.

I also left with a clearance-priced track jacket, some free pink shoelaces and a stick of Body Glide, which I hear is a lifesaver on these walks... (I wish Coach Dalton would have told me about this stuff back in high school!)

I was feeling motivated to continue shopping, so I headed over to Dick's in Legacy Village for some compression shorts and a sleeping bag. I also bought an emergency poncho, more because I am a sucker for the stuff on display by the register rather than actual concern for rain.

I am still having trouble finding a waist pack and a travel pillow. I found an inflatable pillow online at some military supply store, but the shipping was going to cost me more than the item itself, so I cancelled that idea. Let me know if you know of any good, cheap camping stores in the Cleveland area. If I can't find a suitable waist pack by July, I'll be borrowing my mom's throwback fanny pack for the walk... And, trust me, no one wants to see that.

A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step. -Chinese proverb

My "Get Started Meeting" was held at the Beachwood Library on Saturday morning. (Yes, Mom, I woke up before noon on the weekend.) I expected to meet a few women, hear some personal stories and register for the event. It was so much more than that, and I think it made me realize that The 3-Day is so much more than a 60-mile walk.

The "Get Started Meeting" was 2 hours of idea sharing and pure inspiration. There were 3 cancer survivors, about 20 first-time walkers and even 1 man in attendance! Two past walkers/organizers were there to share their experiences and lead us throusgh a slide show of pictures and background information. The first slide read "Imagine a world without breast cancer."

I'll give you a minute to imagine it...

The slide show went on to answer all the questions I had in mind and even some that I didn't know I should ask (like, how/where do we shower?). Both representatives are self-described "3-Day Junkies," and their enthusiasm was infectious. Having already tackled first-time jitters, fundraising challenges and the walk itself, they were able to address our concerns and encourage us all to go above and beyond.

We watched an inspirational DVD, and I swear there wasn't a dry eye in the room. It was really amazing to see how much The 3-Day has changed the lives of men and women around the country. Watching the video, I was able to see what a huge undertaking this is for event coordinators...

Thousands of walkers have to hydrate, eat, sleep, shower and walk. Hundreds of crew members have to be trained and transported between pit stops, cheering stations and the campground. Even more survivors and co-survivors attend the opening and closing ceremonies. And the preparation for all of this is unbelievable - from neighborhood training walks to New Balance "sole mate" and "nutrition & hydration" clinics, this event requires time, effort and donations from individuals and corporations alike.

The kindness of strangers also seems to be an integral and overwhelming part of the event, and the meeting leader said something that has stayed with me - "The 3-Day is 3 days of what the world could be."

Please visit my personal page on The 3-Day website to donate. I took the liberty of donating $10 to my own cause in addition to the $90 registration fee today, and I hope you will help me raise the remaining $2,290 over the next 6 months.