3-Day in Pictures.

3-Day for the Cure, Seattle 2011

Click on the picture to view the slide show. 

Enjoy. 

Man. That felt so good.

Sponsor a child

We sponsor a boy, Kamohelo, from Lesotho in southern Africa. This little boy has changed my life. I think he has changed my kids' lives too. I decided to sponsor when Wilson turned 3. It was one of his birthday presents. I wanted to sponsor a child for months before but didn't know if we could make the financial commitment. Plus, I wanted Wilson to be old enough to be part of the process.

He is definitely part of the process...

Last week when we were at Target and going through the arts and crafts section Wilson found a set of large pencils with two sharpeners and placed them in our cart. I told him that he had PLENTY of pencils. He quickly told me that they were for Kamohelo.

I put them in the cart.

Tonight before dinner we said our prayers. Wilson said, "God. Thank you for this food in front of us. Please help all the children in Africa that do not have food. They are so. so. hungry. Please. please. please. help Kamohelo. Thank you for our food and our family. Amen"

The non-profit we go through is World Vision (WV). I really like the organization and feel that our money goes to the child we sponsor, which is where is should go.

Please, if you haven't thought about sponsoring a child start thinking about it. To sponsor a child it cost 35 dollars a month. If that amount is too much for you, you can also contribute smaller amounts (e.g. $10 a month)  that will go to the greatest area of need (e.g. The Horn of Africa). You may choose the country, sex and age of the child you sponsor. We chose Kamohelo because he is just a few months older than Wilson and is a boy.

For those of  you who say, "What about kids here. in. the. U.S.!" WV also works within the U.S. and by all means go ahead and support our fellow Americans. I just feel that we should also be helping beyond our borders and beyond our skin color. God does not have preferences.

beyond expectations...

I didn't know if I would meet my committed goal; however, with friends (old and new), family members, strangers, and neighbors supporting me I have raised $2,565.

That. is. two. thousand. five. hundred. sixty. five. dollars. going towards finding a Cure for breast cancer.

That is amazing.

I am confident that collectively our dollars WILL make a difference.

Thank you:
Bruce, Mary, Kelli, Mike, Courtney, Jana, Jeff, Jayne, Amelia, Katie, John, Amber, Tim, Tiffany, Abe, Holly, Amber, Victoria, Roy, Marcia, Angie, Allen, Papaw, Sara, Casee, Edward, Cherilyn, Todd, Sean, Michael, Patti, Laura, Wes, Stacy, Jules, Lane, Melissa, Lindsey, Steve, Angela, Meridith, Oliver, Janie, Craig, Candice, Babe, Pop, Rob, The Stidham gang, Andy, Kari, Ralph, Marie, Chris, Wilson and Nora.

Thanks to my sitter and my neighbor Mary too for helping me with the kids so I can get some training time in... less than 4 weeks to go!

* update* make that two. thousand. SIX. hundred. sixty. five. dollars.

Awareness Garden

This year I started an awareness garden. I hope to continue every year. Obviously, our awareness this year is breast cancer. Wilson helped me pick out every flower. While we were choosing them we talked about why they needed to be pink. We also talked about how the garden might raise awareness and support for the walk.

It was a great experience and I look forward to doing it again next year. Maybe next year we will do Alzheimer's and plant a purple area. Or yellow to support our troops... There are many wonderful causes to choose from.  

If you would like to have an awareness garden too you can use this link to help connect your cause with the appropriate color. 

3-Day for the Cure

As many of you know, this September I will be participating in the 3-Day for the Cure, in Seattle, WA.  I'll walk 60 miles over the course of three days with thousands of other women and men.


This walk is on my bucket list, as it fits my requirements: 
a. helps someone
b. challenges my body
c. surrounds me with optimistic people (Have you ever met pessimistic cancer survivor? I sure haven't.)


I realize that there are more physically tasking feats (e.g., Ironman, etc.) but I wanted to do something for a cause. 


What greater cause than breast cancer research and patient support? 

• Aside from non-melanoma skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the United States. 
• It is also one of the leading causes of cancer death among women of all races and Hispanic origin populations. 
• Every 69 seconds, a person dies of breast cancer somewhere in the world and every 13 minutes a person dies of breast cancer in the U.S.
• 1:8... the chances of being diagnosed.

With all the statistics in mind, there is a great likelihood that someone I/you love will be diagnosed with breast cancer.   


I want to change those statistics and the 3-Day is helping me make those changes. Maybe my (our) little contribution won't be the dollar amount that funds the cure but... I say it's worth a try!!  Plus, I am pretty damn optimistic...  


To date, I have raised $710.00. I have pledged to raise $2300.00, the minimum amount needed to participate. 


I would be so grateful if you would consider making a donation to the cause in my honor. You may donate online by clicking here or on the link at the left hand side of the blog. You can also call 800-996-3DAY to donate over the phone.  




(To my amazing friends who have already contributed. Thank you, again!! I've recently read your words of support and encouragement and I could not be more inspired or appreciative. Your friendship and support means so. very. much. to me. I will walk with each of you in mind. I love you and I am honored to call you friends... And pretty darn grateful too!) 

March for Babies

The March for Babies walk was today and it was a beautiful day, with a beautiful turn out. We walked 3 gorgeous miles along the Spokane River for a wonderful cause. Thanks for all of your support!!!