October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

It's October!!  That means everything is turning PINK!

Today, I am standing in awe of our AMAZING God!!  A member of my team Angels of Hope received a donation of $2300!!! The exact amount to walk!! Another amazing thing... it was from a total stranger.   A total stranger that felt the connection.  Everyone knows someone whose been touched by Cancer!  Won't you take a stand with us?  Don't you want to do something bold and brave this month to honor your loved ones?  Don't you want to see the day when there is no more cancer?  I believe that we are closer to the cure than we have ever been.  I am proud that my team and I have contributed in a small way to help find that cure.

 

  I believe in angels, I believe in love 

I believe there’ll come a time you’ll find what you’ve been dreaming of
I believe in sunsets, I believe in prayer
I believe there’s hope ‘cause there’s someone out there who cares
Draw or win or lose, whatever road you choose
I believe in you!

Point of Grace
 

Through the experience of my Mom and the experience of walking God has truly showed me that "Nothing is too difficult for HIM!" Jeremiah 32:17  Whether it's healing someones illness, calling them home so they feel no more pain, or just simply donating to the cause or providing us a way to promote awareness.  In His time there will be no more pain and suffering.  That could mean us finding the cure or His return.  Whatever He has planned, it will be a glorious day! 

 

Today is the 1st day of October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month! I can't wait to walk the SGK 3-Day on October 19!! 60 miles in 3 days all to help find the cure!!

 

If you would like to donate, it's not too late, please click the link below and give to anyone on my team!!  Thank you for your prayers, love, support, and donations!

 http://www.the3day.org/goto/angelsofhope

Oh, the amazing people you'll meet...

Back in August, I hosted a training walk at Stone Mountain Park.  Jillian and I were ready to take on 15 miles.  I had noticed that no one had RSVP on the 3-Day site to join us on the training walk so I thought it would be just the two of us.  The day before I got an email from two ladies, Anne and Nelda saying they would be joining us.  To my surprise when we arrive early that morning at Stone Mountain we were greeted by 12 additional ladies!  Ten were from a team called the Cherry Bombs.  About half of these ladies were survivors.  AMAZING!!  These women are such an inspiration.  It was great to get to get to know them and an honor to walk with them for 15 training miles.  They have created a video to raise awareness for the cause.  Please watch it below.  They have a sponsor that will donate to the cause based on the number of viewers.

I look forward to seeing them all again and walking with them in October!

 
We will be having a really big training walk at the end of the month.  We will walk a back to back at Stone Mountain.  What this means is that we will walk 20 miles one day and then walk 15 the following day.  It will be tough...but I know we can do it.  This is a great way to make sure that we are all in shape for the 3-Day in October and to tryout our gear.  I have already had 3 sign up on the 3-Day site to walk with us.

Signing up for the 3-Day, I didn't realize how many friends I would make.  The 3-Day community is full of men and women sharing one common bond...the bond of having or knowing someone with breast cancer and doing what it takes to find the cure.  Each time I gather with these amazing people, I'm encouraged and filled with love, joy, and hope.  They are defiantly some of the most inspiring people I know.  I can't wait to see who I'll meet next! 

41 Days and Counting...How Can You Help??

As of today there are 41 days left before the 2012 Atlanta 3-Day Event.  I am getting even more excited (Not sure that's possible)!  Last year was an amazing experience for me and I can't wait to walk again!

I am getting closer to my fundraising goal of $2,300!  I currently have $1445 that means I still need $855.  If you can contribute click here.  Remember there's no donation too big or too small.  I must meet this goal before October 15, to be able to participate.  I'm not worried.  I know my God is faithful and is in this.  This cause is very important to me and I know that God is blessing all my efforts.  Though I am just a small part of this, I know with our efforts combined we are making a big difference in the fight again breast cancer!

Walking 60 miles in 3 days is not easy...your love and support means so much to me. Your prayers and cards/letters got me through last year!! Thank you to everyone who wrote me letters and sent words of encouragement last year (some even sent a card for each day).  I would love to get mail from you this year!! 



My mail at last year's event!!  I felt the love!!

Send letters to: Susan G. Komen 3-Day
ATTN: AMY RAINS

1025 Rose Creek Drive, Suite 620-373
Woodstock, GA 30189
 

Envelopes only, please. No boxes or large packages. Mail must be postmarked no later than October 9th in order to ensure delivery at the 3-Day Camp Post Office. Please note: This address is not the actual location of camp, but a PO Box for mail delivery only.

We will be starting off at Stone Mountain Park again this year!!  You are invited to join us at the Opening Ceremony on Friday, October 19, at 7:30 am.

Stone Mountain Park
1000 Robert E. Lee Drive
Stone Mountain, GA 30083



I BELIEVE!!  Do You??

I am so honored that this year I was asked to participate in the ceremony!!  I will be carrying the "For My Children" flag in both the Opening and Closing Ceremony.  Just thinking of this bring tears to my eyes.  I'm walking for my children Wesley and Graham, but also for all of the children that I teach...both past and present.  I am glad that Scott, Wesley, Graham, and my Mom and Dad will be there to see me walk across the stage and into the crowd of walkers and survivors carrying the message of hope.  The ceremony is simply amazing and very touching.  Especially, if you know someone who had or has battled cancer.  Join us...it's a free event!  Come out and see what the 3-Day is all about.  If the Opening Ceremony is too early for you come to the Closing Ceremony.  Imagine hundreds of men and women holding their tennis shoes in the air honoring their loved ones who have passed on and the survivors that have won their battles.  Imagine a sea of pink as survivors, participants, and crew members enter the stadium by 10s with locked arms spreading the message of awareness, love, and hope.  The Closing Ceremony is Sunday, October 21, at 5:00pm.

Turner Field
755 Hank Aaron Drive
Atlanta, GA 30015

60 Mile Complete!

Thank you again for all your love and support!
 

Save the Jugs! Road Block for the Cure

Fundraiser - Road Block

Recently, some of the girls on my team, Angels of Hope, and I had a road block in our hometown.  Krystle had seen the idea of taking milk jugs and painting them to collect money in.  Our road block lasted between 4 and 5 hours and we made around $300 for the Cure!!

It was a great day for the road block, not too hot and there was a little breeze blowing.  I was so amazed by the giving and kindness of the people from our town.  What a blessing it was to see people stop to give, search for change in their cars, or just pull out their wallets.  It reminds me again, how so many people have been touched by cancer.  One man tossed $10 into my jug.  He said, "Thanks for walking!"  Tears filled my eyes, because I knew, by him saying that...that he too knew someone that had breast cancer.  I wondered who it was, a wife, a mother, a sister, an aunt and wished I could have heard his story.  His words brought back to my mind of last years walk and the thousands of times I heard people along the route say to me..."Thank you for walking."  Those words are just so overwhelming to me.  I really don't feel that I am doing much or need a "thank you."  What I do is nothing compared to what cancer patients face.  I walk to celebrate my Mom and others. 

Another woman, stopped and asked what charity I was working with.  I told her and she said, "that's the one I was hoping it was for."  One woman shouted with excitement and told me how glad she was that we had a team in our town and wished us luck with the walk!  We got quite a few laughs at the jugs too!  Not just people in the cars were stopping to give, but a trash truck and a vending company truck stopped to donate as well.  People ran to us from the gas station near by just to donate.  It was so nice to see the "3-Day Camp Kindness" in my own town.

Again, I'm just so blessed to be a part of this...a part of something big.  A part of something that is saving lives!  As of today, there are 106 days before we take that 60 mile journey.  Please keep my team mates and I in your prayers and we prepare.  Pray for those who are fighting and those who are researching.  What an honor it is to help make a difference!

Krystle and I

       

Me and Lisa

Stone Mountain 10 Mile

Yesterday, I held a training walk at Stone Mountain Park.  There were four of us from team, Angels of Hope and four other girls who signed up to walk with us.  All of the girls did great!!  I am so proud of them.  We are going to have a wonderful time this October.  I am so honored to walk with them.  They all walk for various reasons, but we all have one common goal!  60 Miles, 3-Days, and to see the end of Breast Cancer!

Jillian, Me, Emily, and Krystle after completing 10 miles around Stone Mountain Park!

I will say that this year, training is easier for me.  I guess that I'm in better shape and a bit wiser since I experienced it last year.  My new shoes held up great!  Last year when I would walk I would get a blister around 5 miles.  I completed the 10 miles yesterday without a blister or hot spot.  I told Scott over and over that I completed 10 miles without a blister!!

It was so nice to meet the other girls too.  I love being a training walk leader and helping new walkers prepare for the 3-Day.  I love hearing their stories and why they are walking.  Year 2 for me is just as amazing and emotional as the first year.  I am so blessed to have a bigger role this year and to be able to help others.  I look forward to meeting the other people who will join our team and our training walks.

Our team is working hard to train and meet our goals in fundraising!  If you would like to contribute to me or one of my team-mates, click here.  Click a name and give a donation.  No amount is too big or too small.  Special thanks to all my donors so far this year!!  I couldn't be doing this again without you!!  Your love, prayers, donations, and support keep me going!!  Every penny helps get us one step closer to seeing the end.  Until then, I'll keep walking.  No one deserves to go through what Momma and so many others have.  Join me as we continue to fight for the cure!

I Love My NEW Shoes! I Love My NEW Shoes!

Being an elementary music teacher, I love adding children's literature to my music lessons.  One of my new favorites is the Pete the Cat books by Eric Litwin.  Pete the Cat steps into all kinds of things, but he doesn't let it bother him.

"Did Pete cry?  Goodness no!  He just kept walking along and singing his song.  I love my white shoes!  I love my white shoes!"

Two tired, sore, blistered feet after completing 60 miles in 2011!

Shoes are a very important part of the 3-Day!  You must have a least two pair during during the actual walk and rotate them.  Last year, I went through 3 pairs preparing for the walk.  Since New Balance was a sponsor I went fully with them last year.  Despite my training and learning about blister prevention, I still ended up with some pretty big blisters on my feet.  I fully believe it was my socks.

In preparation for my 5ks that I did this spring, I ended up at a store called Road Runner Sports.  It was the packet pick up location for the Color Run.  Scott and I picked up our packets and proceeded to shop at the store.  The store not only fit you for shoes, they video taped you running/walking on a treadmill to pick the best shoe for you.  They also offered custom insoles for the shoes.  After testing my feet out and molding my new insoles.  They brought out 5 different brands of shoes that would work well for my feet.  I tried on all the shoes with my new insoles and of course, I went with the New Balance pair.  Not because I had to pick them, but because they were truly the best fit!  The salesman that fit me for my shoes was from the store out in Chicago.  He was there helping the Atlanta store for a few days.  I told him that I walked the 3-Day and he told me that he had fit many people for shoes for the 3-Day in Chicago.  He also recommended some socks to try.  He asked me if I experienced any pain last year during the 3-Day.  I told him about my shin splints and my knee pain.  He assured me that he could take care of that with my new shoes.  Now, Road Runner Sports is hosting clinics, training walks, and discounts for 3-Day participants.

My new shoes and socks!

So far, I am 95 miles into my training walks and I am blister and pain free with my new shoes and socks.  I ran the Race for the Cure in them too!  This weekend I'll be wearing them on a 10 mile training walk.  I am so excited to see how they will do!!

As of now, I'm like my friend, Pete the Cat...I'm just walking along and singing my song!  I love my NEW Shoes!  I love my NEW Shoes!  I probably should include socks in the song too!! =)