Wednesday, March 22, 2006
Rollin', Rollin', Rollin', Keep those Donations Rollin'
One of the biggest challenges with this Walk is really not the walk itself (though 50 miles in 3 days is certainly challenging!), but the fundraising.
Each walker must raise a minimum of $2500 to take part. And in past years, it really hasn't been difficult. But what I've found is that with each new year I walk, it gets harder and harder to ask for money. Somehow, I feel selfish asking the same people to donate every year. But on the other hand, my loyal friends and family are the obvious place to turn.
So far, I've raised about 1/2 of my required funds, but I really want to "go big" this year, and hopefully double my amount to $5000. If you're reading this, I would love your help...every $1 counts, so whether you donate a buck or a whole herd of bucks, your tax-deductible donation walks me (and everyone afflicted with this devastating disease) one step closer to a cure.
I'm counting on the generous nature of people - something I'm convinced exists. Prove me right!
Each walker must raise a minimum of $2500 to take part. And in past years, it really hasn't been difficult. But what I've found is that with each new year I walk, it gets harder and harder to ask for money. Somehow, I feel selfish asking the same people to donate every year. But on the other hand, my loyal friends and family are the obvious place to turn.
So far, I've raised about 1/2 of my required funds, but I really want to "go big" this year, and hopefully double my amount to $5000. If you're reading this, I would love your help...every $1 counts, so whether you donate a buck or a whole herd of bucks, your tax-deductible donation walks me (and everyone afflicted with this devastating disease) one step closer to a cure.
I'm counting on the generous nature of people - something I'm convinced exists. Prove me right!
Sunday, March 05, 2006
Building a Team
The first year of the MS Challenge Walk was my first year walking in the event, and I haven't missed a year since.
I didn't want to walk alone that first year, so I recruited my dear friend Annie M. to walk with me, and we were the original Walkaholics. Little did I know at the time, that I would meet my current team captain, Jodi, who would become one of the most important people in my life.
During the first few minutes of the Walk, people are excited and chatting it up. Jodi was a few feet ahead of me, and telling her story of a fairly recent diagnosis. Having been somewhat recently diagnosed with MS myself, I was listening (ok...eavesdropping) to her story. She mentioned she was playing it by ear, and was not currently taking any of the medications available to slow the progression of the disease. Unfortunately (or as it turned out, fortunately) my "pause button" wasn't working, and I blurted out, "Talk about being in denial!" Like it was any of my business! Lucky for me, Jodi wasn't offended (or at least not horribly) and we ended up hitting it off. We soon discovered our lives have taken odd parallels over the years, and decided we were each other's "evil twin" sister! And I'm happy to say, Jodi started drug therapy with Copaxone (I'm on Avonex) and we are BOTH doing fabulously well.
The following year, we joined forces for Team Walkaholics, and though Ann wasn't able to join us, I brought Barbara W., and Jodi brought Karen C., and the four of us walked, while my mom and stepdad worked diligently as crew members.
We've walked as a team every year since, and this will be our 5th year. Our goal is to have 10 people on our team (we're up to 8 now) and to earn $20,000. If you want to help us with either goal, please click on the link (the title of the post above) to go to our Team website.
I didn't want to walk alone that first year, so I recruited my dear friend Annie M. to walk with me, and we were the original Walkaholics. Little did I know at the time, that I would meet my current team captain, Jodi, who would become one of the most important people in my life.
During the first few minutes of the Walk, people are excited and chatting it up. Jodi was a few feet ahead of me, and telling her story of a fairly recent diagnosis. Having been somewhat recently diagnosed with MS myself, I was listening (ok...eavesdropping) to her story. She mentioned she was playing it by ear, and was not currently taking any of the medications available to slow the progression of the disease. Unfortunately (or as it turned out, fortunately) my "pause button" wasn't working, and I blurted out, "Talk about being in denial!" Like it was any of my business! Lucky for me, Jodi wasn't offended (or at least not horribly) and we ended up hitting it off. We soon discovered our lives have taken odd parallels over the years, and decided we were each other's "evil twin" sister! And I'm happy to say, Jodi started drug therapy with Copaxone (I'm on Avonex) and we are BOTH doing fabulously well.
The following year, we joined forces for Team Walkaholics, and though Ann wasn't able to join us, I brought Barbara W., and Jodi brought Karen C., and the four of us walked, while my mom and stepdad worked diligently as crew members.
We've walked as a team every year since, and this will be our 5th year. Our goal is to have 10 people on our team (we're up to 8 now) and to earn $20,000. If you want to help us with either goal, please click on the link (the title of the post above) to go to our Team website.
Saturday, March 04, 2006
Here are the dedicated walkers of the 2005 Team Walkaholics! That's me on the left (with the ultra-white legs!), Karen in the middle, and our fearless leader, Jodi giving the double high-5. Big smiles, just leaving the start line on day 1. Were we smiling after 50 miles? You bet we were!!
