Covington News....

The Covington News had an article about me in today, October 30, 2011 - Sunday Paper.

To read the article, click here.

Worship In Pink - Atlanta

Susan G. Komen for the Cure is hosting WIP (Worship In Pink) Weekend, October 28-30.  I invite you, no matter where you worship to join me in wearing Pink this Sunday, in honor of those who have fought and those who are fighting breast cancer.

On October 16, 2011 the weekend before my walk, my pastor invited me to give a brief testimony about my up coming walk and the journey I have been on.  You can watch my testimony below (you will need to go to the bottom of the page and turn off the music player, if it's on).  My two boys, Wes (age 10) and Graham (age 4) filmed it for me.  If you listen closely you can hear them whispering and it's a little shaky, but you can still hear my message.  Hope you enjoy!!

Pray for the survivors, the fighters, and a cure for the future!

Remember to wear pink on Sunday!!

60 Miles...Complete!

I made it!! 60 miles complete!! I know you all want to hear about my actual walk. Please be patient with me as I recover. It was not only tiring, but an emotional and inspiring journey. Something I'll never forget!  Yes, I'm tired...yes, I have a couple of blisters, but again, that's nothing compared to the amazing experience that I had. I am so honor to have been given this opportunity and greatly blessed by the journey and the people that I have met. I have so much to say. I will post more as soon as I can. Thanks again for all your prayers, support, and donations! I will be walking again next year and I'm looking into having a team. If you are interested in walking or crewing and want to be a part of my team...let me know! It is truly a life changing experience!

If you would like to donate to my 2012 3-Day Journey, please click here to go to my new fundraising page!

Mom and I at the Closing Ceremony - October 23, 2011

Animal Medical of Covington - Breast Cancer Awareness Day



Animal Medical of Covington

Breast Cancer Awareness Day

Wednesday, October 19, 2011



Animal Medical of Covington will be donating 10% of all gross proceeds from services on October 19, 2011, to my Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure Walk!! Thank you doctors and staff for spreading awareness!!

Special thanks to my friend Kelly Pokusa.  Kelly and I met 3 years ago when I moved to HMES.  Her daughter was in my son's 3rd grade class and of course, I got to teach both of her kids.  Kelly was one of those parents that does what ever she can to support the school and the teachers.  She became our PTO president last year and I got to work closely with her on the PTO board.  She has been a great source of support to me as a teacher.  Thank you, Kelly for your support and encouragement the last 3 years. Thank you, for suggesting my charity at your place of work!

Kelly and her family are relocating to another state and they will be missed!

Last week, I had the pleasure of stopping by Animal Medical to talk to the staff and have my picture taken with a precious pup.  The staff is so friendly and caring!  While there, I found out that breast cancer is the #2 killer of our pets!  The doctors and staff wanted to show support for Breast Cancer Awareness Month by donating to the cause, helping spread awareness, and to show that it affects us all!

Thank you, Dr. Shriver and the staff of Animal Medical of Covington for taking time out of your day to support the cause!  Thanks for choosing to sponsor me!!

If you live in the Covington area and your pet needs some care....give them a call and set up your appointment for Wednesday!!

Animal Medical of Covington, Inc.

770-786-0522

Kristian Shriver

Shannon Miller

Milestone: Raised 2300+

Mom and Dad at the party her PT Office gave her in February.

Last Monday, October 3, I reached a milestone in my journey.  I woke up to find an email that said...

Congratulations you have reached a Big Milestone.

Congratulations - you did it! You’ve reached your fundraising minimum for the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure^®. Thank you for your determination, selflessness and commitment to the fight against breast cancer. Your efforts are making a significant difference in the continuing effort to find a cure.

Net proceeds from the 3-Day for the Cure fund innovative global breast cancer research and local community programs supporting education, screening and treatment. Virtually every major advance in the fight against breast cancer in the last 29 years has been impacted by a Susan G. Komen for the Cure^® grant.

Thanks to events like the Komen Race for the Cure^® and the 3-Day for the Cure, we have invested more than $1.9 billion to fulfill our promise, becoming the largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to the fight against breast cancer in the world. Because of you, lives are being saved. Because of you, we are one step closer to our goal of a world without breast cancer.

We understand the kind of hard work it takes to get to this point, so let your efforts keep working for you and the cause. Don’t stop now! Give yourself a well-deserved pat on the back - and then set a new goal. Keep talking with people about the 3-Day, about your experience fundraising and training, and about breast cancer. You will continue to raise awareness and funds in the weeks to come.

Please extend our thanks to your donors. Every dollar makes a difference.

Sincerely,

Susan G. Komen for the Cure^®

What a way to wake up!!  As you know, the fundraising was what I was scared of the most in this journey...what a relief to know that I have made it this far.  My loving friends and family have given and now together we will make a difference in the fight against Breast Cancer!  Thanks again to all who gave to help me and to honor my Mom.

I need to thank a few more donors who made the last few donations...

Thanks to the Ladies of the Woman to Woman Breast Cancer Support Group!!  There are too many to name, but members have gave various amounts to help make my journey possible.  Thank you to each and everyone of you for your donations, support, prayers, and for taking care of my Momma!  I am walking for you all!  Can't wait to come and tell you about my journey!!

Book that features BC Survivors.  Woman to Woman has a page in the book!

Special thanks to Scott's Aunt Be!  Her donation pushed me over my goal!!  Thanks Aunt Be for your donation, prayers, and support.  Breast Cancer has touched her life too.  She has several friends who are survivors, fighters, and has a friend that lost her battle.  I am honored to walk for each of them too.

It's not too late to give...you can still donate by clicking the link to the left of my blog that says "donate."  You can still pray for my journey, those fighting, and those doing research.  You can spread awareness this month.  Reminders are everywhere, just open your as and see the Pink!

A friend when on a trip and saw this building.  She took a pic of it and said she thought of me!

I was reminded today at church that no matter what struggles you are going through in life, that God is there.  With His help He will get you through, if you just give it all to Him and have faith.  Having the money raised is an answered prayer!  All that's left now is to get a few more items, continue training, pack, and begin the first steps of the 60 miles.  I am looking forward to every step of this event and sharing it with my Mom.

And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.  2 John 1:6

Mom and Dad

Stone Mountain 2-Day Training Walk - 35 Miles

“The longest journey begins with a single step.” ~ Lao Tsu

On September 24-25, I attended a Stone Mountain 2-Day Training Walk.  This walk was sponsored by team Treasured Chests.  They even camped out for two nights.  I just participated in the training walks.

Saturday morning started out cold, but warmed up quickly.  The first trip around the mountain was easy.  Towards the end of my second trip, I started to feel some pain in my knee.  I have learned that I need to stop and stretch every 3 to 5 miles.  I finished two laps (that's 10 miles) and stopped for a quick bite of lunch at my car.  I ate, changed socks, and gave my knee and feet a rest for about 15-20 minutes before heading back to the trail.  During the second half of my journey, my knee pain switched to a dull pain and I was able to complete two more laps for a total of 20 miles on Saturday.

The team that was sponsoring the event had friends and family there to help the walkers.  They were along the trail cheering us on, offering water, and a light snack.  They had a couple of trucks circling the mountain to offer help if we needed it too.

I went home and iced my knee and took some meds.  I decided to wait and see how I felt the next morning before I decided if I was going back for the second day.  I woke up and only felt some soreness in my knee, so I decided to go back for day 2.  The first lap was hard.  It was cold and my knee hurt badly, but I decided to push on and hope that the pain would become dull as it did the previous day.  After the first lap, the pain seemed to go away and I was able to complete the 15 miles for day 2.  That weekend we walked a total of 35 miles.  I am so proud of myself for completing it and I now know that I am capable of getting through the 60 miles.

If you are wondering about my blisters, well, I think I have them under control.  I have heard so many tips on blister care and as of now I seem to only have 3 trouble areas.  I now know how to treat them and help them heal quickly.  I am going this weekend to pick up another new pair of shoes too.

This journey has been such a learning experience for me.  I am so thankful that God has given me this opportunity.  I know that I have amazing friends and family members that are supporting me along this journey, but I have met many amazing strangers.  These strangers have supported me on the training walks, they have cheered me on as I have passed by, they have walked with me, and stopped me along the path at the mountain to just say "thank you" and then told me how cancer has touched their lives.  It truly keeps me going!

 

I had talked in an earlier post about a man that I had met at the mountain.  This was his 9th time participating in the 3-Day and he walks for his wife that he lost to cancer.  He wasn't participating in our training walk, but I believe he walks every Saturday there.  I stopped to talk to him again this time and he gave me more great advice on preparing for the 3-Day.  I think that what I learned during these two days was to slow down and enjoy the journey.  Many times, I am like most busy Americans rushing to get everything done.  This man reminded me that "it's not a race, it's about the journey and raising awareness."  Day 2, I slowed down, I enjoyed the view of God's creation around the park.  Maybe the pain in my knee is also there to send me this message.  I have had no swelling or bruising, just a pain that comes and goes.  I have rested my knee this week and currently have no pain.  I am very optimistic that I will be able to complete this journey and know that "I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me" (Mom's favorite verse).

“If a blade of grass can grow in a concrete walk and a fig tree in the
side of a mountain cliff, a human being empowered with an invincible
faith can survive all odds the world can throw against his tortured
soul.” –Robert Schuller

Today, is October 1st the beginning of Breast Cancer Awareness Month and 20 days until I walk in the 3-Day!  Let me remind you, as my Momma would too, to do monthly self exams and go to your annual check-ups.  Get a mammogram and screenings, because early detection saves lives, just like my Mom's!  I have learned through Komen research that the new statistics say that 1 in every 8 women will have breast cancer and that 1 in 35 will die from it.  It's not just women, 1% of those diagnosed are male.  During this month, as you are out in your city or town you are going to see PINK everywhere!  As you see this remember those that lost their battles, those that are fighting their battle, and those who have won.

“Once you choose hope, anything's possible.” ~Christopher Reeve