what are you willing to do…

September 25, 2012 16 Comments

the month of October is fast approaching ( my favorite month of all time ~ I come alive in Sept/Oct/Nov like I do no other time of the year.) I really am like a different person.

it’s a perfect time for change and commitment. The ability for us to change and control what we can on our own is truly a luxury.

someone with breast cancer does not always have that option. And yes, folks. October is breast cancer awareness month… and I’m out to make you aware.

I’ve eluded to it before, but I need to tell you without going into too much detail, that my darling stepsister, Audra, was diagnosed at the end of the summer with breast cancer. Audra is one of the most sweetest people that I know with undoubtably the BIGGEST heart of anyone. She has lived a life that is much more difficult than average… There have been road blocks at every step  of the way.

As you may know, My little sister, Jodie and I have walked in the 40 mile 2 dy Avon walk for breast cancer for 4 years now, with our daughters joining us for the last 2…  and we will walk again this May.

When we first started walking it was in memory of my neighbor… a woman that I did not know all that well.. but watching her journey touched my soul. With Fran always  in our hearts, we continued walking after that first year… when we were asked why.. we always answered because we can .

Hearing that Audra was diagnosed last month, this cause took on a whole new meaning for us. I talked to her today.. even with everything that is going on and hard as it is for her to comphrehend… Her spirits are up and she didn’t complain one little bit. She is a fighter!.. and she has her angel son, James, looking down on her ans smiling as well…

I’ve also mentioned about a friend of a friend battling breast cancer with 4 young children.

4. young. children.

SHE is a fighter.

Our team will be walking another 40 miles this May.. and in October we will be walking in another breast walk… this one a 5 mile OR 1.5 mile walk.  This is going to be nice because my mom ( huge helper with our fundraising.. as well as my niece, Mollie .. aslo a huge help) they can walk the shorter of the route and still be part of us.

I wrote a bit about it HERE…

( They have always been honorary Team Pinkteenies, but now they can walk WITH us 🙂 ) ANd we will be walking for Audra and Jen. In a big way.

One amazing lady that I know who started a local running group in honor of her sister who was killed by a drunk driver had a great idea…. ( and I’m borrowing it to make it grow 🙂

For the month of October can you commit to doing one thing a day for the ENTIRE month in honor of someone who has been affected by breast cancer.

You can vouch to :

walk a mile a day

walk 2 miles a day

5 miles a day.

if walking is too difficult, then can you lift light weights while you are sitting?

maybe push ups are your thing

maybe you could vouch to drink a certain amount of water

abstain from a food…

what are you willing to do?

you can think about this, as it does not start until Oct 1. by then I should have the back problems that I have been having with the blog ( I am SOOOO not technical) fixed..  and an easy way for anyone who wants to share your commitment(s) and who you are doing for.

I know many people who have been affected by breast cancer, I’m sad to say..and I will be walking for all of them.. I haven’t lost site of that.

but my October goal?

jog 2 miles each day…

1 for Audra

1 for Jen

( remember, I don’t love running, I love the idea of it..( I’m trying so hard)  so running 2 miles a day is serious work for me… but between you and me ( and now the whole world) when I was feeling during my races that I couldn’t go on.. I thought of these two women.. and somehow, they gave me strength )

and because I love you all sooo much, anyone who participates ( remember, it can be a small commitment…) will be entered and on Nov 1 I will choose one winner ( hopefully my super- cool raffle helper giveaway thingy will be working) and the winner will receive a batch of WHATEVER cookies that you want.. I will make you anything 🙂 )

because you guys are so awesome!

so what will you do?

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born to run

September 9, 2012 9 Comments

 

well….. not really… but born to TRY 🙂

T-minus 7 days until my first race. I purposely chose a RACE that was a run/ jog/ walk. I expect that I will be doing 50/50 jog/ walk. My personal goal is to finish within 45 minutes, but if I don’t achieve that, I’ll still be proud.

And be fore warned… not matter how sweaty & red I am once I finish… I will post pics.. because I will be SO proud of myself 🙂

while I’m working on running to me walking for a cure ‘my thing’  This year once cross the finish line of the 2 day- 40 mile Avon walk for breast cancer I will have walked over 360 miles for breast cancer research ( not including the months of training ) and together with my team raised.. are you ready for this..almost $30,000!!  That’s an awful lot of cookie.. and brownies… and spaghetti dinners 😉

In the years passed, we have walked just because we could.. because we wanted to be able to make a difference. I have prayed that my family never had to hear the words, ” you have breast cancer”

This year we will be walking for a personal reason, My stepsister was diagnosed early last month. I won’t go into details, as it is not my place to, But walking for a cure just took on a whole other meaning for us.

I’m also walking for a friend of a friend with 4 small children who also is battling breast cancer.

prayers for all involved would be super cool 😉

In a few weeks, my team and I are doing a smaller walk in Boston to kick off our 2013 training.

This year we are able to have other family members who otherwise could not walk the 40 miles to make a difference ( but are always on the sidelines cheering us one when the going gets tough)

There is a choice of walking 1.5 miles of 6… either one that you chose, you’ll be part of an amazing experience! We are excited to have the extra company and if you are free to join us, please do!

Our team name is Team  Pinkteenies.  Come join us!!

I have been working very hard ove the last few days trying to format my blog & have it come across as who I truly am. ( mind you, I have almost zero technical skills) but I slowly am getting there.  As a result, I have not spent a lot of time in the kitchen ( ironically)  but trust me.. I did work on a few watermelon recipes early this morning and once I have a finished product. I’ll be sharing.

You may want to go out and buy a watermelon in advance.. trust me 🙂

Lastly, before I head out for my little training run ( which admittedly, I’m trying to avoid) I want to shout out to my good friend. Celia, over at River Cat Chili, who is a whizz at this stuff and actually spent time on the phone with me yesterday during a chili competition to walk me through some things that I just could not figure out.. Smooch!  you are the best… ( and she has the puuuritest little voice too 😉 )

Ok.. lacing up my kicks and loading the tunes..  ( and it’s drizzling out…. WHO am I ?? )

xoxox

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