Yep... did 13 miles this weekend... I think (ow-ing aside) that this is the biggest I've ever started off.

Thirteen miles is a third of my overall goal... sorta fitting since I'm at just about a third of my fundraising minimum. But I don't want to be anywhere near my minimum. I want to blow the doors off of my minimum. Minimum fundraising goals equate (in my addled brain) to minimum effort.

By now, all of you (who haven't just recently added me, anyhow) know about The Challenge. But what about you? If you haven't donated, and don't care about the length of my hair... what will it take to get you to donate?

I don't want to lecture about statistics. I don't want to get morose about the chances that a victim of breast cancer stood before all of this money started trickling into research. I want upbeat ideas and ideally they'd be backed with promises of more.

Ideas/suggestions/insane-conditions?

Edit: just want to donate? Do that over here

First off, my hat is off to danicia for this post (and for her donation -- again). Yes, the Feast sold out. Yes, it sold out in four hours. Holy moly! If you want a crack at still getting tickets, PLEASE sign up for the waiting list.

But in a related note, for the two or three people reading who might not know it, I'm a geek. I have a spreadsheet worked out to calculate all sorts of things about my donations-to-date, whom I've sent thank-you notes to, and such and stuff. Since it's a spreadsheet, I've got a bunch of formulas set up to do all sorts of calculations. And since I've got such a ginormous goal this year, I did an ( extra calculationCollapse )

EDIT: oh yeah... so far, there have been nine (9) raffle tickets purchased.

I just bought mine.

How about you?

Getting up early in the morning to go see hundreds of friends you didn't know you had

Training walks with friends

Everyone in high spirits, ready to conquer the day

Knowing in your mind that a (relatively) very small percentage will cross the finish line on their feet, but hoping in your heart that you will be one of them

Putting one foot in front of the other

First rest stop? Time to drink!

( More Walking and more and more and more... behind the cutCollapse )

That was last year... and here I go again.

I've decided that I'm going to start walking (actual walk-training, as opposed to from pub to pub at faire) beginning on the day after Wedding Day (that's Sunday October 30 to the rest of you).

If the weather is crappy, it'll be at Arundel Mills (though that'll mean getting up hideously early), or if the weather is fair (no active rain, not less than 50° at BWI, and not horrid wind chill), then it'll be on the trails here in Columbia.

Last year's training walks really did make a difference. I just hope I can get in more than a couple of them this calendar year in between getting ready to move, moving, and the holidays.

Oh yeah, and I finally updated my Avon Walk Page to contain an actual picture instead of the generic "people walking" that's there by default. It's the one that was taken (by Lynne's camera) at the finish line of all of the Team Wench Walkers & Crew. Man, we were all beat.

Ever wonder what I'd look like with short hair?

Can't bear the thought of me with short hair?

Don't care about my hair but want to donate to the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer anyhow?

LOOK HERE for answers to all three!

Yes it is... now that Katrina and Rita and RESCU and everyone else has your money, it's time to ask again for donations to the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer.

For those of you just joining the program (already in progress), this is a two-day, 39.3 mile walk to support the Avon Foundation. The Avon Foundation collects money from various (nefarious?) sources and passes them along to people who can make a difference.

In 2004, I trained for the AWBC but got sick and couldn't walk. I also managed to raise over $3K for breast cancer research in the process.

In 2005, I trained and managed to stay healthy (wooo!), so was able to walk the entire 39.3 miles and (barely) not be dead at the end of it. This time, I'd raised just over $4K to support this essential research.

Well, this year I've got a challenge for all of YOU!

The Challenge (official rules)

1. Each individual(*) who donates $50 will receive a raffle ticket (possibly virtual, but I'll work out the mechanics after I get a couple of donators!) Multiples of $50 get multiple tickets (e.g., $100 donation gets two tickets, $250 donation gets five, etc.).
2. I'm setting a lofty goal of $10,000. If I reach this goal, then a raffle ticket will be drawn. The person whose ticket is drawn gets to choose... how short my hair will be.

Yes, that's right... I'll cut my hair (down to corporate-cut if requested)... but I'll only do it for someone who has donated (and won the raffle).

So if you want my hair to stay long, donate. If you want my hair to go short or even shorter, then donate. Winner to be announced far and wide if it happens.

( The Fine PrintCollapse )

reposting from CA_Amethyst's Journal
R.E.S.C.U. CDs and Pewter Pins Now Available
***************************************************************************************************************
Hey Gang,

I've recently received a package with the long awaited Encore for a Queen CDs and Pewter R.E.S.C.U. Pins. I've recruited a few people to help make these items easily accessible to MDRF fairegoers. Look for myself, lady_foxchase, webqatch, thewhitedragon, or dawntreader90 to purchase these items.

Encore for a Queen is the follow up CD to Concert for a Queen. Groups included on this recording are Hey Nunnie Nunnie, Old Soles, Joe Jewell and Featherstone, Jim Hancock and Friends, Craig of Farrington, Owain Phyfe and the New World Renaissance Band, The Nightwatchman, Whirly Jig, The Jongluers, Merry Mischief, Minstrels of Mayhem, Bedlam, Cantiga, Bob Ford, Seelie Court, Wayne Bradshaw, Jerry Barry, J. Bradley Collier, Empty Hats, and Phil Johnson (the founder of R.E.S.C.U.). The minimum donation for a CD is $20.

The Pewter Pins are very nice. The minimum donation for a pin is $10.

All proceeds from the sales go to The R.E.S.C.U. Foundation. For those unfamiliar with R.E.S.C.U. please visit www.rescufoundation.com.

We kindly request cash only and that you try to have proper change.

Sincerely,

Amethyst
RESCU Team Captain at MDRF

If you're not already a Drak customer, you probably want to pass this by.

But if you ARE a Drak customer, check this out.

Nearly 30 hours ago, I crossed the finish line at L'Enfant Plaza -- completing all 39.3 miles of the 2005 Avon Walk for Breast Cancer in Washington, DC. Yes, I'm just now getting this (very very long) message sent.

( cut for being veeeery longCollapse )

EDIT: Yeah, as tchwrtr got out of me... I've already registered for NEXT year's walk to do it again.