Another Saturday Update (a day late)

I am sorry I am a day late in my blogging. I had a very busy, but exciting, day yesterday, and I didn't get home until really late last night. So I started off yesterday by meeting Melissa in Atlanta at the Loudermilk Center, and we set off at 7:10 on a 10 mile walk around downtown Atlanta with about 150-200 other walkers. I am VERY glad we ended up doing that walk, because it gave us a little introduction to what October will be like. We were very fortunate to have nice weather-it was overcast but there was no rain, and it wasn't too hot or humid. I'm not sure how fortunate we'll be with the weather on the "real" walk, but yesterday was nice. We did our first five-mile loop around the aquarium, The World of Coke, by the Westin and all those other hotels, and many other places I can't even begin to remember. We then had a "pit stop" at our starting point, where they had volunteers handing out snacks and water and Gatorade. They have told us many times that this event could not be possible without the crew, or volunteers, and I truly believe that is the absolute truth! Everyone who is willing to give their time to make sure we have enough hydration and food, and also the people who stand at different intersections to make sure we cross the road safely, as well as the people in "costumes" who stand at corners to make sure we remember to smile are so important, and they deserve more of a pat on the back than the walkers, I think!

So after we had our pit stop, we continued on our second five-mile loop, and this time we walked through Piedmont Park and a very long way down Peachtree street. We finished around 11 am and then went to the Expo that the 3 Day was having at the Loudermilk center. Before I talk about that, though, I want to mention that 10 miles might not seem like a terribly long way to walk, but my feet and ankles and shins defintely felt it. Places on my feet that didn't hurt after 5 miles really started to burn at about 6 and 7 miles. It was great practice for me to see what I need to do as far as foot care. For some reason even my shoulders are tired today, so that walk wore me out. I will probably appreciate only walking 10 miles once we get to the 20 mile-a-day part, though! Melissa and I were excited to realize we walked half of a day of what the actual walk will be, so we know we CAN do this!

The Expo was good and very educational. We got to see what our tents are going to look like, as well as how the camp is going to be set up at the event. We also got to see how frequently the pit stops, "grab and go" stops, and lunch are spaced out. We went to a workshop about what and how to pack for camp, and it gave me some good ideas about how to bring only the necessecities. We also got free chair massages, which really felt good after walking. Melissa made a video that she's going to be able to put on her website, so look for more on that later. The walk and the Expo were both very motivating, and I can't wait for more training and then the walk!

I think I've rambled enough for now. I'll be back next Saturday, and until then, keep thinking pink!

~Jennifer

Such innocence...hopefully she can know a world without breast cancer.

Hi Everyone,

I couldn't help but share this lovely picture with you of my girlfriend, Alea's daughter, Rhea, from our tailgate last Sunday. It completely captured and affirmed the reason of why I am still so headstrong about the 3-Day Walk for the cure.

As I sat there in the grass with my two childhood friends and our own children, I couldn't help but think about how great it would be if they never had to worry about a cancer of any kind. Maybe the cure will come in the form of a vaccination of prevention. They already offer one that helps prevent some forms of cervical cancer. Isn't that just amazing if you think about where we were only five short years ago with cancer research? Scientists and researchers are making great strides every day to help us find the cure and prevention. I'm just delighted to say that I have had the chance to be a part of it!

I have more pictures from Sunday's tailgate that I will be posting as soon as I edit them and put them in a slide show through flickr.com. It wasn't the turnout we expected, but, for it to be a 100 degree day in a parking lot, we were shocked that those who did come out gave with big hearts. Thank you to those volunteers and donors. You are truly amazing and only confirm that we are in this for the long haul.

This Saturday, my co-captain, Jennifer, and I will walk our first 10 miles in an "official" training walk in downtown Atlanta. Please pray for us and the weather that we can bear the heat and that our feet will carry us without problems. I'm also excited to say that we will be attending the 3-Day Expo after the training to find out just what we need to be fully prepared for all sixty miles. We've put a lot of effort into getting to the walk; now we want to make sure we enjoy every minute of it (physically, that is....we know the experience will be wonderful!!).

Well, it's heading on midnight-thirty and it's off to bed I go. Tomorrow I am heading over to Kennesaw to be fitted for my new 3-day shoes at Big Peach Running Co.

I'll be in touch soon!
Mel

Saturday with Jennifer

Happy Saturday, everyone! Sorry I have been MIA for a couple weeks... I really have no good excuse. Things with our team are very busy this weekend. Tomorrow we are doing our fundraiser, Tailgate for Tatas, at the Oconee County High School. For anyone who lives nearby and would like to come help support us, it will be from 4pm-8pm. It is family-friendly, so bring the kids! We are going to have $6 hot dog plates, and that includes a hot dog, a root beer float, watermelon, potato salad, and baked beans. We are going to have face painting and inflatable bouncers for the kids, and there will also be a flag football game that anyone is welcome to join. We would love to see lots of people there to help us raise money for this very worthy cause! And I must add that Angela is doing TONS for this fundraiser, so if you see her thank her A LOT for putting it all together. She should definitely get into the party planning business or something :-)

Next weekend Melissa and I are going to a 3 Day Expo in Atlanta. Before the expo, though, we are doing a 10 mile training walk. I'm really excited about it because I bought my first outfit for the walk this week, and I also got a fanny pack (dorky, I know, but it's what they recommend!). I get to try all of it out and see how I like everything (or don't like it). After that we get to see all the things The 3 Day recommends for our walk. I think they have a packing demonstration for those of us camping on the walk, as well as some other neat things, so we'll let you know how that goes next weekend. I probably need to make sure to take my wallet because something tells me I'm going to find tons of stuff I "have to have."

In other news, I have recently found out I am pregnant. When we do the walk I will be 25 weeks. I was worried that I wouldn't be able to do the walk, but my doctor says that as long as things are going well and I stay well-hydrated then there shouldn't be any problems. I'm excited because that gives me even more of an incentive to train.

That's all the news for this week. I will be better about blogging, I promise, and I'll see you all again next Saturday!

~Jennifer

Another Monday with Mel

As I look back on my journey thus far I can definitely say that I never could of imagined that this experience would be so life changing for me. I thought about that on Saturday night as neighbors like Violet & Claire Atcheson, Linda Hubbell, Trey Bowen and his wonderful wife (whose name leaves me at the moment-sorry!!), and Rita Trivelpiece scrambled around me as we jumped into action to prepare for that night's fundraiser, Cinema Saturday. Then there was the support of Fellowship Church, my home church, there Shea Childers, Joey & AnnDee Neal, Jason & Meredith Bankston and of course the infamous "Father Ott" and his better half Cathy (wink, wink). Can you believe that it doesn't even stop there???? On top of friends and church family I even had part of the community! The local cafe and coffee shop, "Bean & Berry" offered up cotton candy, popcorn And the most important part......ICE CREAM!!

If you could see me right now, my eyes are watering and I'm sure that my face is a shade close to the cotton candy everyone enjoyed on Saturday. I have never felt so happy, so fulfilled, so accomplished about a project as I have with this before. The very thought of the lives that could be saved and touched by the money we have raised is just amazing!

On Saturday I spoke with a neighbor of mine who was diagnosed this year with stage 3 breast cancer. She is such an inspiration to me. She told me, "Why should I feel sorry for myself when there are little children suffering from cancer? I walk into the treatment center and it's not just people my age. There are teenagers and younger. I feel so lucky to of been healthy this long in life." As we spoke, I realized that I'm even luckier. I am still healthy and I am able to physically do something to change lives. What? I will walk sixty miles. I will walk for her. I will walk for my great aunt (who was an amazing woman and lost her battle several years back). I will walk for my mom, who, like my neighbor, faced cancer in her forties with young children. I will walk for those who will hear those words "You have cancer" tomorrow or the next day and will begin to process that there is a part of their body that is toxic and could potentially kill them. And let's be honest, I will walk because I never want to hear those words myself.

To those who came out in support on Saturday night, thank you! We raised $350!!! I am so overcome with happiness. I have finally reached my individual goal in fundraising, but I'm not done...my team still has close to $5,200 (out of $13,200)raise and that means we are more than half way there. I have faith that we can do it.

If you live in the local Athens, Oconee area, please make every effort to come out this SUNDAY to our Tailgate for Tatas at Oconee County High School from 4pm-8pm. We can't wait to raise more money and take one more step closer to finding the cure.

Until next week. Keep your head high and keep thinking pink!
Melissa

Mondays with Mel!

Today was a true Monday if I couldn't say so myself! It's always hard to get rolling after a holiday weekend of fun, but things have to get done, right? Our team met this morning at Starbucks (try their new strawberry lemonade-yum!) and started to hash out food details for our upcoming event on Sunday, July 20th -Tailgaiting for Tata's! We have been so lucky to found the perfect location -which just so happens to be the whole team's Alma Mater- Oconee County High School in Watkinsville, GA. A huge thank you goes to their Principal, Mark Channell for donating the space for this event.

In addition to the tailgating event, my church, Fellowship, is hosting a Cinema Saturday in The Georgian neighborhood located off of highway 61 in New Georgia. We will have a great family movie, popcorn, ice cream and moonwalks. We'd love for you to join us!

I also had a really interesting phone call today, but I'm not going to talk about it until I have confirmed it...but if it happens, it's going to be really neat. I'll keep you posted!

I can hardly believe that we are just a few short months away from the walk. How exciting! I hate to wrap this up so soon, but I've got to get some sleep.

Until Next Monday. Keep thinking pink!
Melissa

Enjoy your Fourth!

Hey everyone! This blog is going to be short and sweet. I am getting ready for the BIG fourth of July plans, so I do not have much time. This week has been tough. I have started back training and I am up to 4.5 miles a day which I am excited about. My ankle and top of my foot still get really sore and swell at the end of the day but I am going to make it. I am looking forward to our next team meeting for the final plans on the Tailgating for Tata's event that we are hosting on July 20. I am sure it is going to be a great event and hopefuly we will have a good turn out. It is going to be lots of fun for the whole family! Hope to see you all there.
Well that about sums things up for this week from me. I hope that everyone has a great fourth of July weekend. I know that I am going to try to enjoy it. Until next Thursday keep thinking pink!

Thanks to Everyone from "Tips for Tatas" Night!!!!

So its almost a week now and I am still pumped about how well (and how generous) people were last Thursday night. First and foremost THE BIGGEST THANK YOU to the four servers that not only worked for free for this benefit but did it with a smile on their face. So thank you Jessica, Lauren, Todd, and Justin. I really appreciate your time for a cause that is so important for me! Also a big thanks to my sister and teammate Cynthia and Binky my roommate for the late night they pulled helping me tie together the last strings of planning for the event. Everything looked wonderful and I couldnt have done it with them :)

On to the news that Im sure everyone is dying to know... How much of a success was "Tips for Tatas" Night? Well between the servers tips, the raffle, and straight donations we raised a grand total of $600!!!! I did have to take out the overhead expenses of $150 (all the decorations, millions of copies that had to be made, and supplies) but i still think that $450 is absolutely terrific!

For more pictures from the event, please check our myspace page www.myspace.com/walkforthecure in a few days

Well now its on to literally bigger things as we prepare for our "Tailgate For Tatas" which I know we all hope to be a multi city wide event!

Until next week, have a great 4th of July and don't set anybody on fire with sparklers :)