I registered today for the Avon Breast Cancer Marathon in Charlotte, NC in late October.
I am going to be raising funds for breast cancer by walking a marathon and a half!
I attended a meeting in Charlotte today, and I liked what I saw. So I joined up as a walker instead of a crew member. :)
So, it's now official.
I've got my coupon book for the donations and my handbook. :)
I also got my t-shirt today.
I'll be getting a personal website set up soon. As soon as it goes live, I'll let you all know. You can click in the website to donate. You just donate whatever you want.
I'll be sending out letters and attending fundraisers to raise my money. It's going to be a great experience I can just feel it. I really hope I can raise more than $1800! That would be awesome!
I am a print production manager in a full service ad agency here, and the majority of our clients are all healthcare related. I'm going to be asking my vendors and clients for donations as well.
On that Saturday, I will walk 26.2 miles, and on Sunday, it is 13.1 miles. I will begin my training soon. To keep a steady pace and to finish on time, they suggest 1 mile every 20 minutes. I've got work to do! I do the 5 mile on the river here, and it takes me 1.5 to 2 hours to do it. That's only walking though...not power walking. I have no idea what 1 mile every 20 minutes is like actually. I know that I'm slower than that though. At the meeting, I learned that a lot of the walkers don't make it the whole way (it's normal if you can't do the whole 26+ miles on that Saturday). But I really would like to be able to do it.
All of the donations go to the patients, to awareness and to finding a cure for breast cancer. The money stays in our local area. Some of the local beneficiaries are: Duke University, MUSC, Presbyterian Cancer Center and The National Institute of Environmental & Health Sciences.
Every 13 minutes, a life is lost to breast cancer. Early detection helps save lives.
I am walking for my aunt and 2 cousins who are breast cancer survivors. I am also walking for my friend's sister, Suzy, who was a breast cancer survivor as well. We lost her to another form of cancer in fall 2005.
Programs that are funded by Avon Walkers include:
* Community based organizations in every state that provide underserved women with mammograms and breast cancer education
* More than 85 hospitals and community health centers nationwide offering 'safety net' breast care to under-insured and minority women
* Mobile Mammography Units, serving rural areas and inner city neighborhoods
* Direct financial assistance and meal delivery for low-income women undergoing breast cancer care
* Ongoing research into causes, prevention and treatment of breast cancer
* Development of a breast cancer vaccine, other new treatments, as well as a new test for the early diagnosis of breast cancer
After the 26+ miles on Saturday, we walk into the Wellness Village. That is our stopping place for that day. We will have tents already set up for us. We get to camp out. There will be yoga classes and massage tents set up. Food and beverages. There will be entertainment like dancing and bands that evening too. We finish the 13+ miles on Sunday. There is a huge closing ceremony.
I can't wait to meet a lot of new friends. :) I already met some really nice folks today.
This will be a wonderful experience. I'm so glad I get to be a part of it. It's awesome I'll be challenging myself physically, but more than that I'll be helping patients with breast cancer and honoring those who have survived. It feels awesome to help others!
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