Cookies For A Cure!

Training - Week 11 - 10 Miles

This is it - the week of our DC Walk. We have all been training and fundraising for this event since October 2008. It has been a wonderful journey.

My walking was minimal this past week. I did walk 8 miles Saturday morning. It was 70+ degrees out! It is hard to believe that when I started this training the side walks were covered with snow and ice. Saturday's walk was easy and enjoyable.

Here is a picture of my training T-Shirts. I had 4 made up and DH bought them for me. This shirt in particular I will be wearing on Sunday. The names written on it are people who have been battling cancer or sadly, lost their battle.

This shirt is our official Team Cookie Shirt! It was designed by a friend of Peggy's. We will be a lovely group of pink walkers and cheerers this coming weekend. Did I tell you we will have our own cheering section? That's right about a dozen cookies from across the country are coming to DC this weekend to cheer us on. I am so grateful for their support and can't wait to get me some cookie hugs.

One last picture of the back of my training shirt.

The Last Big Push (Training Wk 10 - 37 miles)

The Power of the Borg

22 Miles

I
walked
22 miles
in one day

I still can't believe I did it.

This was the last big walk on our training schedule, 22 miles on Saturday and 10 miles on Sunday. The 22 miles took about 8 hours. I left my home at 8am and walked 6 miles to my parents house for a pit stop and quick visit.

From there I walked another 6 miles ending at my home. My friend Jane met me a few minutes later and walked the next 5 miles with me. Then my final 5. It had started to sprinkle outside when I was on the last mile. As I finished the last part of the walk I prayed and prayed God don't let it rain yet! My training shirts are all white tees! Just as I got to my driveway the rain started getting heavier. Thank you Lord. 4 pm - 8 hours - 22 miles. Wow.

It was a long day. I could feel the good vibes, thoughts, and prayers of my cookies, family, and friends pushing me along. I couldn't have done it without you.

On Sunday I was only able to walk 5 miles. I had a blister on the bottom of my foot that was quite painful. DH walked the route with me. I call him Mr. Marlboro, he gets more beeps and waves than a bikini clad girl.

I have more to say, but I no time right now!

Miss Fancy Nancy

Nancy Montgomery - you will be missed.

I read the post this morning by my DF, Michelle, that one of our Cookies has lost her battle with Brain Cancer. Nancy aka Fancy Nancy, was a special woman. I had the pleasure of actually meeting her last April during our CIA meet up in NY. Fancy, Michelle, and I spent the better part of an afternoon knitting. Truth be told, they knit and I cursed and dropped my stitches. As expected we shared a lot of laughs and good snacks. I left the room with a special treat from Fancy Nancy, a tub of cheese! It was delish. Fancy Nancy, you were one in a million and it was an honor to be your friend.

20 Miles 6 were a bit wet! (Training Week 9 - 35 miles)

My GF, Kristen, met me for the last 6 miles of Saturday's 20 mile walk. It had been cool, windy, and overcast all day. Sure enough when we were heading out for the last 6 it started raining. Kristen was a real trooper and did the whole 6-sopping-wet miles with me. Thank You Kristen!

PS - I am sorry your sneakers stink..........

$2,000.00 and Counting!!

Thank You!

Thanks to the support of friends new and old, family, and co-workers, I have reached the minimum fund raising amount. You can see my progress on my Avon page by clicking on this link.

This journey has been more challenging than I expected. The encouragement and support of you all has helped me along the way. I pray that I can pay it all forward and help those that are fighting breast cancer.

Peace
Aimster

Sunday Gratitudes (yeah I know it's Thursday)

I am Grateful for my family and friends and their steadfast support.

"The Bake Sale"

The "Purple Egg Cake" by Amy Grahm



If you have read my Blog, I know there are precious few of you, then you will know that I have spent the last 6 months fund raising. The minimum requirement to participate in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer is $1,800.00. I wanted to avoid the usual practice of sending out mass mailings of letters and emails to ask for donations.

So, I decided to try other avenues of fund raising. My first and continuing effort was to make and sell beaded bracelets. Barbara and I started with making pink beaded bracelets ($12-15.00) and from there we added key chains ($3.00), and book marks ($5.00). The sales have been good from this effort. I have also been selling candy bars from my desk at work for $1.00 each. My crew has been in full support of that effort as well as several contractors. In addition to those two ongoing efforts I had a bake sale at my church and another one at work.

The pictures above are from the bake sale at work earlier this week. Eleven people from our campus donated their baked goods to the sale and many showed up to buy the goodies and make donations towards my efforts. I was able to raise $390.00 in proceeds. I am touched and honored by the support my co-workers and friends showed me. Thank You for helping me reach my goal!!

Maria & Me (Training Week 7 - 33 Miles)

Maria & Me after our 5 mile walk.

Saturday was a gorgeous spring day in New England. It was in the low 60's and sunny. My day started with a fun breakfast with Father Ignacio and my GF, Jean. Father Ignacio is from Columbia and the three of us have been spending time together once a week to help him master his english. I think his english is just fine. Breakfast was followed by a 10 mile walk and a 5 mile walk. Maria met me for the 5 mile walk. It was a nice change to have someone to chat with while walking. We completed the 5 miles in under 2 hours.

Lately, when walking alone, I have been listening to audible books on my IPOD. I have been alternating between a recording of the New Testament and a new-to-me author, Kim Harrison . A bit of an odd combination of things to listen too. Kim Harrison writes fiction books about witches, vampires, and pixies. The New Testament, well it's the New Testament. It is read by several people in different voices and is done really well. I find that I am hearing things that I missed when just reading it.