October 3-Day Walk Update

Today is the first day of Breast Cancer Awareness month and what a way to start the day. The Huntsville Times newspaper was in the driveway printed in pink glory. I wore my new pink New Balance 993s that were given to me by James and his staff at New Balance Huntsville for organizing DIVA Night for area 3-Day walkers.

Later in the day, I received an email from teammate, Abby Clark, stating that the $250 donation from Breast Alliance had been posted to her account. Abby and I were both finalists in the “Meet Your Goal” contests sponsored by Breast Alliance and All Plus Size Bras. It became a battle between me and one other person for first place and I emailed Brian from Breast Alliance to ask if I won, could the money be re-directed to another 3-Day walker and he said yes. My teammates, my Facebook friends and 3-Day Tweeps went to work. We worked our magic and I won by 1 vote.

Pink for Life and New Balance will be hosting a Breast Cancer Survivors' Walk Tuesday, October 5 @ 6:30. Know a survivor? Want to walk with us? Email me for more information. Click here to view the invitation and RSVP.

Several of my teammates will be participating in the 7^th Annual Liz Hurley Ribbon Run on Saturday, October 16 and it would be great to see you along the route supporting all the runners and walkers. I will be attempting my first 5k after 10 weeks of NOBO training through Fleet Feet.

Three weeks from today, October 22, my teammates and I will be pounding the streets of Atlanta in the boldest breast cancer event, the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure. My team now consists of 11 walkers and 3 crew members. We have raised over $28,000 but still have three team members who need to reach the $2,300 minimum in order to participate. If you have been waiting to make a donation, NOW is the time. All donations are tax deductible. Please consider donating to Abby, Donna or Sandra. http://the3day.org/goto/pinkforlife

If you can’t donate financially, please consider sending a note or letter of encouragement/support to us as a team (Pink for Life) or individually. After walking 20+ miles in one day, an uplifting word of encouragement or hand drawn picture from a child is just what we will need to make it another day. All letters must be postmarked by October 12 in order for us to receive at camp.

Pink for Life team members:
Tammy Klueger
Trina Foslien
Jenny McNees
Stacie Flinn
Mary Wilson
Jennifer Secrest
Joyce Myers
Rachael Myers (crew)
Lindsey Fowler (crew)
Abby Clark
Susan Foerke
Sandra Baker

Charles Baker (crew)

Donna Skinner

3-Day for the Cure
ATTN: NAME OF PARTICIPANT
12195 Highway 92, Suite 114-392
Woodstock, GA 30188

Thank you to everyone for your support along this incredible journey since February! I just might register for 2011 :)

September 1st ALREADY!?

The excitement is building as the days are counting down. Atlanta spectator information was posted today and you can also send walkers/crew a letter from home. Make sure they are postmarked by October 12. Click here for address.

Pink for Life will be hosting a DIVA night for any 3 Day walker willing to travel to Huntsville on Friday, September 17. Email for an invite.

Pink for Life will also be hosting a Breast Cancer Survivors' Walk on Tuesday, October 5 at New Balance.

I am one of 10 finalists to win the "Meet Your Goal" contest from All Plus Size Bras.  Please vote to help me win $250 toward reaching my goal of $5000 for Susan G.Komen.

August Update

Only 79 days until I walk 60 miles! Now is the time to donate before time slips away from you ;)

Thanks to your generous donations, I've raised $2,726 and I've increased my goal to $5,000! Currently I am at 55% and my team is at 81% of our goal of $23,100. A HUGE thank you to those of you who have already donated! 

I have walked 256 miles blister and injury free and still have 11 weeks until the event. If you’d like to join me and my team on any of our training walks, let me know and I’ll include you on the email invitations.

Six of the seven walkers on my team have reached our minimum of $2,300 in order to participate. However, I am asking my friends and family to consider donating to Jennifer Secrest so she can reach the critical $2,300. This would allow Jennifer to focus on training instead of fundraising. Click here to donate. 

Below are some of the events that have taken place since my last update:

Ø       New Balance Huntsville asked to partner with Pink for Life to raise breast cancer awareness and funds for SGK. Please stop by and thank them for their support of our team and SGK. (New Balance is a national sponsor of Susan G. Komen)

Ø       As part of my cross-training for the 3 Day walk, I joined the No Boundaries running program. I am training to run the Liz Hurley Ribbon Run 5k one week prior to walking 60 miles in Atlanta

Ø       Boston and Cleveland have been hosts to thousands of walkers and crew members. Chicago is the next city to host this weekend. You can see inspiring/breathtaking photos from each of these events on Susan G. Komen's 3-Day for the Cure Facebook page.

Ø       Shop for the Cure was held on July 8 and raised over $1,500

Ø       Car Wash for the Cure was held on July 17 and raised $252

Ø       Mary, Lindsey and myself attended the Preview Expo in Atlanta July 24

Keep current on all our events by following Pink for Life on Facebook.
Save the Date
Ø  August 21 - Car Wash for the Cure at CVS Pharmacy on Cecil Ashburn Dr. 10am – 2pm

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.

Let the 3 Day Events Begin

This weekend is the first of fifteen 3 Day events in cities across the United States. Thousands of walkers have started Day 1 and as I type, some have already walked 10 miles. I'm seeing pictures from the event on twitter and Facebook and it gives me chills. I'm so excited for them and yet it makes me sad because I can't be there to cheer them on. Cheering from twitter and Facebook isn't the same as cheering in person but who has the money to travel to all 15 cities? It also makes me anxious for October to get here so we can walk in Atlanta.

Tomorrow is the Preview Expo in ATL and I can't wait. I'm meeting up with some 3 Day twitter friends (@LilShadetree, @the3wrights, @abby3dayatlanta, @jerusalemlover and @gphigirl). We must get our picture with the 3 Day banner! Yesterday we named ourselves Team Twitter and @knittingbagel is designing a shirt for us.

I haven't said much about this to anyone but I have a VERY important meeting tonight after work with the general manager and store manager of New Balance about becoming a sponsor of Pink for Life. The store manager has said they will sponsor us but we need to work out the details as to HOW they will sponsor us. They also want to do something big for Breast Cancer Awareness month in October. I'm both nervous and excited about the opportunity to team up with New Balance Huntsville. This could be HUGE for our team and Susan G. Komen.

Team Pink for Life is still ranked #12 in fundraising for Atlanta. Will you consider a tax deductible donation to push us into the TOP TEN teams? Click here to donate today! Any donation of $5 or more is greatly appreciated.

10 Miles - again

This past Saturday, June 26th, nine 3 day walkers met in downtown Huntsville for an official 10 mile training walk :) Team Pink for Life was represented by myself, Stacie, Jenny and Trina. Team Brock 360 from Cullman was represented by Lori, Mandy and Karen. Elise drove from Gadsen and Stacey drove from the Nashville area to walk 10 miles.

We met downtown at 7:15, introduced ourselves to each other, stretched and hit the pavement/sidewalks of beautiful downtown Huntsville. Stacie, Trina and Jenny were the engines and took off. We never saw them again until we made the second 5 mile loop in the opposite direction. Karen and Elise (or was it Stacey?) were the caboose.

I didn't do too well on planning bathroom breaks as most places downtown were closed :( I did ask a nice lady pulling weeds if Mandy could use her restroom. She graciously welcomed Mandy inside. I explained to her what we were training for and she wished us luck. Another bathroom stop was the fire station that had moved :( So I decided to try the YMCA and wouldn't you know there was a sign on the door "SORRY NO PUBLIC RESTROOMS". I stepped inside and explained we were training to walk 60 miles in 3 Days and the lady at the desk said, "I did that in 2001. Sure, you can use the restrooms." She gave us a few tips and advice. We visited the restroom (even some of us sat on the child's size toilet) and filled up our water bottles.

At the end of the first 5 mile loop, we went inside the Women's Pavilion to cool off, refill water bottles and potty (again). Remember...Drink, Pee, No IV! Brock 360 had to leave so Stacey, Elise and myself finished the last 5 miles together.

I am honored that these girls drove 1-2 hrs to walk with Pink for Life. I enjoyed listening to their stories about why they are walking and getting to know them all a little better. I want to wish Stacey the very best on her walk in Chicago in 5 weeks. You go girl!

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.

Ready for Anything

well almost! I am so excited about my new Camelbak waist pack. It has two 22oz water bottles, a zipper pouch for ID, pouch for my phone and a zipper pouch for socks, band-aids, etc. I tried it on and walked around the yard with it on but didn't fill the water bottles. I can't wait to try it out on a training walk.

Kylie loves it too! She had to put it on for a photo!

Just so you know, in case you didn't already, I will be walking 60 miles in 3 days and it requires training. Training includes walking, cross-training and learning how much to drink and eat while training. Each person is different and not all training plans will work for everyone. This is why training is SO important. Walking on a treadmill is not the same as walking on pavement, asphalt, gravel and other surfaces. Be sure to include hills, inclines and DO step up on the curbs. Your body will thank you at the end of Day 1.

Take water, sports drinks and snacks on your walk. If you don't, you will not do it at the event and might find yourself needing the medical staff. I want to see all of my teammates finish mile 60 together!

Pink for Life has almost reached 60% of our goal ($17,500). Would you consider donating to one of my team members? Click here

Thanks for all of your support! I am truly honored to be walking for all those listed on my page. Each time I meet a survivor and hear their story, it makes me cry. Guess I should make sure my new waist pack can hold lots of tissues :)

Watch Us Grow

Isn't that the saying when a business expands? Pink for Life is growing and I'm loving it! We now officially have seven members with one more to join soon. I am so excited to see what this journey has in store for all of us.

If you are in Huntsville or surrounding area, please visit these restaurants/locations who are graciously supporting Pink for Life.

If you aren't following us on facebook, what are you waiting for? We list all of our events and happenings along with any other exciting news in the breast cancer world.

Just an update on my personal donation page. I am at 79% of meeting the $2300 minimum and 73% of meeting my goal of $2500. I think it's time to increase my goal.

Want to join our team or donate? Click here.