2012 3-day Walk

How did I not update on Chicago or the Atlanta walk? Well in short....

Chicago:

 

My first crew experience was wonderful! New friends were made, I had the most amazing strawberry oreo custard, many many towels were folded, and I enjoyed every second talking, cheering, and helping out walkers.  

Atlanta:

New friendships were formed, new memories made, and the best petit fours in the world were discovered! More importantly $4.2 million dollars was raised in Atlanta the fight against breast cancer. Where does all of this money go? Not sure I could ever say it better than Mr. Furr, a great 3-day walker. Thank you Jay for putting it all out there!

Remembering

So many of us in the Komen community have met on an event and become close friends all brought together by our fight for the Cure. We have similar stories: our mom or aunt or grandmother have been affected by breast cancer. We are walking so our future generations can know the C-word as CURE not as a diagnosis. I've met a handful of survivors who are around my age including Bridget. Each one touching my life in a unique way and reminding me to stop taking life granted. While Bridget and I never physically met, I felt like I knew her through her honest and eloquently written blog. I read of her clinical trails, milestones, the good news to the decision to freeze her eggs for the future, the events that no twenty-something should have to decide. She was going to beat the odds she was originally given, and make it to her 30th birthday.  I vowed to walk for Bridget and every woman and man, because we all deserve a lifetime.

In December, Bridget asked us never to forget her. I don't think anyone can forget Bridget and her dedication and fight for the Cure. She made an impact on our lives and her legacy will continue.

“We cannot know healing without knowing sickness. We cannot know peace without knowing anxiety. We cannot know light without experiencing darkness. And we cannot believe in the redeeming work of God without seeing the brokenness he is at work in.” – Katie Blackburn

Hi April! Lets Fundraise!

Hi Friends!

I started writing a blog post in February and March, and I never hit publish. Some days just do not have enough hours in the day for me to get everything done! I did want to make a couple updates. The first on my promise I made in December. I've made several donations Susan G. Komen 3-day walkers, Saint Baldricks, Relay For Life, and The National Kidney Foundation, each donation I thought about Bridget. She has been on my mind a lot lately as well.

The second, I finally wrote my 2013 fundraising letter. Since, my previous fundraising letters have been the most popular blog posts, here you go!


Dear Support Crew,

I am coming to you again in hopes that you will join me in the fight to Cure Breast Cancer.

In October, I will take part in my sixth Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure event. I had such incredible experiences in Atlanta and Chicago 3-Day events in 2012 that I am preparing for a new city for 2013 - Tampa! Some of you may remember my first 3-day event in 2008, where I celebrated my 25^th birthday on the final day of the walk. It is hard to believe that I will be celebrating my 30^th birthday during the walk this year. I won’t be celebrating alone either, because my close friends and my mom will be by my side as we walk to end breast cancer. 

I walk because I believe that no man or woman should have to have a cancer diagnosis. I walk because my mom continues to be cancer free and for our good friend Toni to never have to endure another diagnosis or treatment again. Every 69 seconds, somewhere in the world a woman dies from Breast Cancer, and I walk to change this. I walk so that we can live in a cancer free world and our future generations can study about cancer instead of live in a world with cancer. I believe in Susan G. Komen for the Cure and the many advances they have sponsored for the past 30 years. I know for a fact that without Susan G. Komen many of the drug therapies and treatments would not have been an available treatment plan for my mom, Toni and many others. I am Pro-Cure, walking for those who cannot, and I will continue walking until we have a day when cancer is obsolete.

Some may think that spending a monumental birthday exhausted, sweaty, blistered, sleeping in a tent, and showering in a truck may not be the most glamorous, but I can't imagine it any other way. My decision to spend my birthday in Tampa walking will bring awareness to and raise research funds for breast cancer and will guarantee more birthdays for others. So many of you have generously donated to over the years, and I ask for you to please consider donating again this time around. I am only 11% of the way and I ask for you to consider sharing this experience with me by making a donation in honor or in memory or in honor of a cancer survivor or birthday. 

Please follow the link below to visit my personal fundraising web page. Also, remember that many companies will match your donation. To see a list of companies that match donations, click here. Thanks for all of your support. I'm very lucky to have a Support Crew like you in my life!

Love,
Crystal