September Update

Only 43 days until I hit the streets of Atlanta to conquer 60 miles in 3 days! If you haven't donated yet, please do so today. Your donation is 100% tax deductible. Click here to donate.

The training miles are really adding up quickly. So far I've walked 371 miles and raised $2,970. Our team is walking every weekend and you are welcome to join us. Just let me know you are interested and I can send you an invitation.

I am also running on Monday and Thursday nights in preparation for the 7th Annual Liz Hurley Ribbon Run one week before walking in Atlanta. You may donate to the Huntsville Hospital Foundation by clicking here. All money raised will be used to bring Breast Specific Gamma Imaging (BSGI) to the Tennessee Valley. BSGI is a follow-up to mammography that can significantly aid in the detection of early breast cancer by providing a more precise image of breast tissue. BSGI aids in determining the extent of the disease and provides less false positive readings than previous technologies. Early detection saves lives…help us make every breast cancer patient a survivor!

If you are a 3 Day walker within driving distance of Huntsville, you are invited to DIVA Night at New Balance Friday, September 17. Send me an email and I'll give you the details!

Pink for Life and New Balance will be hosting a Breast Cancer Survivors' Walk Tuesday, October 5 @ 6:30. Know a survivor? Email me and I'll pass along the details.

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and New Balance of Huntsville will donate $1 of every sale to Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure on behalf of our team. Please visit James and his staff and show your support for Pink for Life. New Balance is located at 1395 Enterprise Way between Five Guys and Jason's Deli.

Team Pink for Life would like to officially welcome Abby Clark  and Susan Foerke to our team! Together we have raised over $24,000 for breast cancer research and community programs.

100 Days - The Countdown is ON!

100 days from today team Pink for Life will have completed 20+ miles on the first day of the 3 Day event. Online check-in opened yesterday and several of us have already checked in. Six of our seven walkers have met the required minimum $2300 in order to participate. We still need your help to get our seventh walker to the minimum. You may donate online to Jennifer Secrest here. Remember your donation is tax deductible and greatly appreciated!

Shop for the Cure was a huge success this past Friday despite the rain and we raised over $1500 for Susan G. Komen. Thanks to all of our friends and family for coming out to support us! We have now raised over $16,000 for breast cancer research and community outreach programs.

Our third car wash is planned for this Saturday but the forecast is now calling for a 60% chance of rain. Seriously considering canceling it!

Saturday, July 24 is the Preview Expo in Atlanta. Six of the nine team members will be hitting the road with excitement. We will get to practice tent set-up, meet the crew, attend workshops and take our picture with the 3 Day for the Cure Banner. Lindsey and Rachael will attend the Crew 101 workshop.

Saturday, July 31, Mary and I will travel to Cullman for a 15 mile training walk with Team Brock 360 and other area 3 Day walkers at Heritage Park.

If you'd like to be included on any of our training walks, send me an email and I'll put you on the distribution list.

I did it!

With your donations, generosity, support and encouragement, I have exceeded the required minimum donation of $2,300 in less than four months. I feel much more needs to be said but all I can say is THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart and sore feet :) Together we can make a difference!

Our team still has several members that need to meet the minimum and I am asking my friends and family to please click on a team member's name and help us reach our goal of $17,500. Donate here. Please keep in mind that as a member of the 3 Day Crew, Rachael and Lindsey are not required to raise funds. However, you may donate to them if you wish.

Keep in mind that we will be sleeping in 6x6 tents, taking showers in a semi, using port-a-potties, no electricity for a hair dryer or flat iron and walking 60 miles in 3 days.

Your donations will help fund a cure for breast cancer. Much has been done in the recent years to extend the lives of many men and women effected by breast cancer and recently a vaccine has been developed. Clinical tests are currently underway on humans and hopefully it will be available soon.

I hope everyone understands that the 3 Day isn't ALL about the money. It really is about raising awareness and I have had several people tell me 'thank you' for what I'm doing. With all of my Facebook status changes, event fliers and emails, they have discovered a lump or spot on their breast(s) and gone to the doctor to have it checked. Some have even had their FIRST mammogram experience since I've joined the 3 Day family :)

Keep current on all our events by following Pink for Life on Facebook.

First OFFICIAL 10 Mile Training Walk as a TWL

We did it! Stacie, Trina, Jenny, myself and Rachel C. walked 10.3 miles in less than 3 hours this past Saturday. I had a map and route printed out for everyone because Trina likes to speed walk and I assumed she would leave me in the dust. After everyone signed in and stretched, we began our 10 mile walk up Airport Rd which is elevated. Not sure how steep the hill is but when you haven't been training with hills, it can surely slow you down. Read my words: Include hills in your training

Somewhere around mile marker 5, Trina needed to buy another drink. So Rachel, myself and Stacie continued walking knowing that Jenny and Trina would catch up soon. At mile marker 8, Trina called and asked where we were. They should have been with us at this point but they missed a turn at 6.5 miles and then went up a steep hill that wasn't necessary. Finally just as we were almost at the end, we see them coming along behind us. We did it! Way to go girls!

Moral of the story: Maps are provided for a reason :)

Pink for Life is at 62% of our goal. Will you help us reach our goal? Click here to donate.

Pinko de Mayo Update

Honor the women in your life (mother, sister, daughter, friend, grandmother, sister-in-law) this May with a donation to Susan G. Komen on my behalf. I will not sit back while breast cancer robs another grandmother the chance of seeing her grandchildren grow up or prevents best friends from growing old together. Don’t delay. Click today! http://the3day.org/goto/tammyk  Help me reach my goal of $2500 by July 2.

The picture below is one of the last times my children got to see their great-grandmother. She never got to see what a beautiful young woman my daughter has become. She never got to see my son become a mature young man that wants to serve our country. She never got to see my youngest daughter play t-ball, soccer or watch her at tumbling practice. She never got to see the mischievous things that my 4 year old son can get into.

So far I've raised $2090 - only $410 to reach my goal! Currently I am at 80% and my team is at 48% of our goal. A HUGE thank you to those of you who have already donated!

If you still aren’t sure about making a donation, please remember that all walkers and crew members will be sleeping in 6x6 two person tents, taking showers in a semi-trailer, brushing our teeth at a sink outside the semi and there will be no electrical outlets for hair dryers and flat irons. We all have invested our own money purchasing the proper shoes, socks and other training gear necessary for the event and the training time alone takes away from our family time. This is a huge commitment for us and we take it seriously. Your financial support is greatly appreciated. http://the3day.org/goto/tammyk  

If you can’t donate financially, there are other ways to help. Please email  and I will pass along the information.

 

Pink for Life consists of eight women from Huntsville and Harvest and we have room for you if you’d like to join. Use code MAY2010 until midnight May 9 to receive $20 off registration. Register by calling 1-800-996-3329 or online.

Pink for Life is busy planning/scheduling several fundraisers and would greatly appreciate your continued support. You can follow us on facebook and keep track of all our events from the events tab http://facebook.com/teampinkforlife

Ø       April 26 – May 14 – Penny Wars at Mtn. Gap Elementary – Week 1 resulted in $1,030.23

Ø       May 11 – Schlotzsky’s both Huntsville locations will donate a percentage of sales ALL day to Pink for Life if you wear pink or mention Pink for Life.

Ø       May 15 – Car wash at CVS on Cecil Ashburn Dr 10am – 2pm (donations accepted)

Ø       May 20 – Nothing But Noodle’s both Huntsville locations will donate a percentage of sales ALL day to Pink for Life if you wear pink or mention Pink for Life.

Ø       May 25 – Five Guys Burgers and Fries both Huntsville locations will donate a percentage of sales ALL day to Pink for Life if you wear pink or mention Pink for Life.

Ø       July 9 – Shop for the Cure at Trinity United Methodist Church on Airport Rd 5pm – 8pm

Other ongoing fundraisers:

Ø       Pink for Life items are now available for purchase in our store. http://cafepress.com/pinkforlife (I have the beach tote bag and mini buttons if you’d like to see)

Ø       I have also partnered with sewgirlie.com and they offer some fantastic items for baby showers, birthdays, Mother’s Day and graduation. Please look at their site and at checkout put code “Klueger” in the comments section and they will donate 10% (before shipping) to Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure on my behalf.

Ø       I currently have an online Pampered Chef Party for the month of May and the host will donate 25% of her profits to Susan G. Komen on my behalf. Pampered Chef has new limited edition products featured that are PINK to help Whip Cancer and $1 goes to the American Cancer Society.                            http://www.pamperedchef.biz/shankomp?page=host-search-results&showId=2596297

Ø       We also have our team t-shirts for sale. Adult sizes are $15 and youth sizes are $10. Email me if you would like to purchase one. 

Pink for Life will be participating in the Susan G. Komen 3 Day for the Cure in Atlanta, October 22-24. You are invited to attend the closing ceremony on Sunday, October 24 to experience the most unforgettable time of your life, especially if someone you know has been affected by breast cancer.

If you made a donation in honor or memory of someone, you can see the names on my personal donation page http://the3day.org/goto/tammyk  and my personal blog http://tammyk3day.blogspot.com. The names of these individuals will also be on the back of my 3 Day credential as I walk each mile.

Thank you for your support!

Auction for Fundraising

Front of dress

Back of dress

Detail

Faren, another 3-Day walker has setup an auction site for us to use for fundraising. This stunning prom dress is my first item and does have a reserve price of $100. You may bid on it at http://www.farenshear.com/cgi-bin/auction.pl?category=Clothing&item=1272298448

Fundraisers

So I've been reading the message boards at The 3 Day and getting some great ideas for fundraisers. The only thing....I don't ride a motorcycle. I don't play poker and I don't bake! So what's a girl to do? My husband loves to fish so I asked his opinion about a fishing tournament. Normally each fisherman/boat pays a set entry fee and other fees for big fish, etc. The set entry fee is then divided among the first, second and third place winners. The fisherman with the biggest fish gets all the money from the big fish pool. He suggested increasing the entry fee by $10/20 and donate that portion to my 3 Day fundraising. What a great idea! Now I need to get busy talking to people who can make this happen.

I still have cash/check donations to be mailed and it will bring my total to $1070 and only $1430 from my goal. Thank you from the bottom of my heart and aching feet for each donation!

If you haven't donated, it's not too late. You can choose to divide your donation into four monthly payments which allows you to donate more if you desire.

Donate securely online at http://the3day.org/goto/tammyk

Another Day, Another Dollar

34 weeks until the 3 Day in Atlanta. I've got my shoes and my fanny pack (maybe) and I started my own team. I've chosen the name Pink for Life. Of course pink representing breast cancer awareness and life so that we can find a cure for this monster and extend the lives of so many men and women. I have a couple of people working on a logo for tshirts and fundraising items. Can't wait to see what they create. Are you a master at fundraising? If so, share your ideas.

Tomorrow is another training walk and hopefully Jenny and Denise will be joining me. I will be in MS on Sunday and I'm hoping to convince two former classmates to join my team.

Before lunch today, I sent out another donation request to co-workers. With the cash donations/checks to be mailed, my donations now total $1020 and $1480 shy of my goal.

Have you made your tax deductible donation yet?
http://the3day.org/goto/tammyk

My 3 Day Journey Begins

So yesterday I finally hit the submit button and I am officially registered for the Susan G. Komen 3 Day for the Cure in Atlanta October 22-24. I am up for the challenge. I think :) Surely I can walk 60 miles in 3 days. Don't you think? I have chosen to follow the 24 week training program although I have 37 weeks before the event.

I have wanted to do something meaningful for quite some time. I have a very good friend whose husband and son both were diagnosed with brain tumors in 2004 and founded Miles for Hope. Recently a dear friend of mine and former co-worker was diagnosed with a brain tumor as well. I really wanted to participate in the Miles for Hope - Moving Towards a Cure but I have a previous event scheduled for that weekend. The 3 Day gives me a chance to honor my grandmother who passed away a couple of years ago. She was a breast cancer survivor but lost her life to a blood clot.

By participating in the 3 Day, I am committed to walking 60 miles in 3 days as well as raising a minimum of $2300 to help raise awareness and find a cure for breast cancer. Would you please consider a donation of $10, $25, $50 or even $100? You may donate securely online via my 3 Day personal page, calling 800-996-3DAY or writing a check. If you prefer to write a check, please email me for details. If you would like to honor or remember someone with your donation please email me and I will add their name to my blog and my personal 3 Day page.

This blog will be my way of keeping everyone updated on my training progress as well as fundraising efforts.

Think Pink!