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reposted by multiple request (with updates)]
As many of you know, in 2004 I trained and I raised funds so that I could take part in the
Avon Walk for Breast Cancer.
I'm doing it again for 2005. I will be walking 39.3 miles during the weekend of April 30/May 1 in an effort to raise money and awareness to stop this devastating disease.
To drive the point home, in the midst of my training last spring, a dear friend of mine succumbed and was buried the day of my largest fundraiser (the TW Privateer Feast). She was the second friend who'd died in less than two months (this
past weekend marked the one-year anniversary of the first)
Please don't let another friend or family member go without a fight.
If you would like to donate, please either
CLICK HERE or
email me for a copy of the form that must accompany all checks.
Thank you all for your support and your time.
Training
I've been a slacker so far this season. First I was sick (still am, but that's another story), then the weather turned foul, and then I found even more excuses. So this (gorgeous!) weekend, I finally got my arse out on the trails here in Columbia. A small group of us walked from my apartment to my office and then back again -- a total of ~8 miles. Yes, it's nothing compared to what I will be doing at the end of April, but it's a good place to start, especially since I could have kept right on walking when I got back to the apartment (we mainly stopped cuz it was after lunchtime and the kids were hungry). If this weekend's weather is repeated next weekend, I plan on doing it again, with more added. Hell, if I can manage it, I'll do BOTH days with at least 8 apiece.
My Personal Thank You
Last year, I hit up a number of my different social groups for money. I hit up
Delts, I hit up
friends in fandom, I hit up
co-workers and of course I hit up
rennies. Last year, I raised over $3,100.00 (just under half of which came from last year's
Team Wench Privateer Feast.
On this year's Avon Walk donation page, I issued a challenge. It was based on the fact that I was fortunate that, not only did I lose two friends in 2004, but I know a number of breast cancer survivors. One of those survivors (who has never authorized me to reveal their name so I haven't) earned the top individual donator (to my walk account!) last year by donating a total of $400 all by themselves. So my challenge was this:On the other hand, if you feel that you have a bit of a challenge streak in you, you go right ahead and you break that $400 number. Smash it into smithereens! No one will mind! :)
Would you believe that someone has?
Well they have. Over the weekend, I received a single donation that topped the $400 number. And it came from the same person.
I wish they would let me shout their names from the rooftops. I wish they would let me thank them publicly. But I will be content to know that they are trying to help out all of those who were not as fortunate as they were. I will be content to name them (on the inside) as my friend. And I will be thankful (ever so thankful!) that they are still alive.
If you happen to see this, you've got one hell of a hug coming, do you hear me? Thank you.
Fundraising Update
Now that this survivor has chimed in with their two cents (okay, their two cents times 20,050), how about someone else?
Because of some emotional decisions made on my part, I'm not going to be benefitting from this year's PF. I'm now at 52% (57% of my minimum/required amount) of my published goal and I'm relying entirely on individuals. Please give. Please give generously. Don't let another friend or loved one (yours, mine, or someone else's) die from a disease that must be stopped.
Thank you.