Only 3 Weeks to Go!

Wow! There's only 3 more weeks to go until the 3 Day begins! I can't believe this incredible journey only has a few more days left. It seemed like it would be forever before this event arrived. As it stands now, I'm only $560.75 away from my personal goal of $2300. It seems unbelieveable that I've been able to raise over $1700 in donations from friends, family, and even complete strangers! This outpouring of kindness totally amazes me. I am forever grateful to those of you who have helped me along the way.

Now to update my current status. After 5 weeks off from training for a possible stress fracture or torn tendon in my foot, the second opinion doctor said it was neither, just a Taylor's Bunion (by my pinkie toe) and a weird angle between two bones in my foot. The bummer part is I really only needed to miss about one week of training when I actually missed almost 6. (FAIL!) The funny part about this month-and-a-half hiatus is the change in thought I have about this phenomenal philanthropic opportunity. When I first set out on this journey, I was adamant I was going to walk the entire 60 miles, devil be damned. There was NO way I was going to take any shuttle bus. It just wasn't an option. In fact, I looked at it as a $2300 entry fee that just supports a great cause and that the triumph was in completing the walk. Now I understand it's not about the walk. The walk is just a celebration of my fundraising achievements. It also gives me an excuse to ask for money. I mean really, how many of you would give me 25 bucks if I was just walking a 10k? But I digress. What I've really learned is that the total focus of this entire undertaking is to eliminate breast cancer forever, so that people like my niece or my friend's daughter grow up never having to dread hearing the words "It's cancer."

Now is a great time to help with this challenge. I am holding a fundraiser at Ashley's Westland on Monday, July 26 from 6-8pm. Please come in for dinner and a portion of your bill will be donated to The Susan G. Komen 3 Day for the Cure. You can also donate directly to The 3 Day by following this link www.The3Day.org and clicking on "Donate to a Participant." Then search for my name (Susan Adkins) and follow the directions on the site. Thanks for taking the time to look in on my adventure and see what's new in my pink world.

~Susan

Amazing Donations

This is the opportunity for me to thank the many donors who have stepped up to the plate to make a world without breast cancer. An especial thank you to Eric and Dorothy for their most generous donation. I can't describe what it feels like to get an email saying Komen has received a donation on my behalf.

Recently, though, I discovered how much this charity sells itself. I was at a pig roast on Saturday. One of the women sitting around with us saw some pops in our cooler. She offered a dollar for one - like I'd ever charge a complete stranger for a pop in my cooler. Everyone said to take it. I decided to flip the script. "I'll let you have it for a donation to the Susan G. Komen 3 Day for the Cure walk I'm doing in August," I said. The woman opens her wallet and hands me a 5 dollar bill. Then we talk about others she knows who have done this.

Later that night, Kevin, Dave, and I were at German Park. Dave, in his completely man-whorish way, decides to start helping me with fundraising. He starts asking women if they like their breasts and what they would pay to keep them from falling off (ever so dramatic, that Dave is). Cha-ching! Another $22.50 for my Komen account. Too bad he didn't start doing that earlier in the evening. I only had about a half-an-hour for this easy fundraiser. Man, drunk people sure can be generous!

In other news, my foot is still being held captive. I've taken to calling it "das boot" in honor of the movie Beerfest because it makes me laugh. I have an ultrasound on it scheduled for Thursday. I'll know more then. In the mean time, I finally completed online check-in for the event, and had to promise to make up the difference in donations if I fall short. I don't think I will if I continue to get donations from friends, family members, and complete strangers. If you'd like to donate, go to http://www.the3day.org/ and click on Donate to a Participant, search for my name (Susan Adkins), and follow the directions. Thanks again for all your help and support in this journey to eradicate breast cancer forever.

~Susan

Bad News - Good News

Well, after taking it easy for the past two weeks and wearing the wrap and pad the doctor prescibed, I walked out of his office today with bad news and good news. Bad news: I walked out in a "walking boot" cast. Good news: I get to totally focus on fundraising for the next three weeks. This is all dependent, of course, upon the results of the ultrasound I get to have on my foot this week.

The doctor assures me I'll still have time to train for the walk when the boot comes off, but for now he wants me to stay off it as much as possible and "walk slowly." We'll see how the walk slowly part goes. (More later on this topic - maybe even a rant!) I did discover that I am willing to be the MOST compliant patient he has ever had. I know I'll be super upset if I'm still in a boot for the 3 Day. I think the boot will be really hot, smelly, and dirty by then. I'm also sure it will be well decorated in pink, also.

So, for now, I must focus on fundraising. I'm looking at this 3 week window as an opportunity to meet my goal of $2300. That way, when I get out of this boot, I can totally focus on training. If you'd like to help me with my goal, please go to http://www.the3day.org/site/TR/2010/MichiganEvent2010?px=3225637&pg=personal&fr_id=1467 and click on "click to donate to Susan in 2010."

Thanks for your support and good thoughts!
~Susan

Fundraising Letter - DONE!

Kevin is SO finally happy!!! I finished my fundraising letter. I thought it would be easier, but it's really hard to ask people for money. It's so hard, in fact, that I decided to ask BIG. I figure that way, if people give the large amount, I won't need to ask as many people - not that I won't ask lots of people, but just sayin'. If you're interested in making a donation, go to www.The3Day.org and click on "donate to a participant." Now that school is out, I look forward to more frequent longer walks and more updates to my blog.

Why walk all that way?

I decided to do the 3 Day fundraiser primarily to find a cure for cancer (duh!). My theory is that once one cancer is figured out all will follow. One of my closest friends went through BC and I lost my sister-in-law to brain cancer. The other thing is I always find myself looking for a new challenge. I finished my Masters in Education, got bored. Then pursued National Board certification as a teacher. Then came "now what?" This seemed like the next big challenge with a much loftier purpose. As I've planned and attended some fundraisers and started training I'm not sure which will be the bigger challenge. I am, however, ready to take on both...raising at least $2300 and walking 60 miles in 3 days. If you'd like to help me on my journey follow this link to www.the3day.org and click on "Donate to a Participant" or send me an email with encouragement!