Our3Day.com

Here is a little video I put together from our Walk to Empower experience on Mother’s Day. We had such a fun time looking around downtown, live tweeting, and meeting and talking with other participants. I am looking forward to next year’s walk! Don’t forget to log all the miles you run, walk, and bike on BeeWell for Life. They will donate 15 cents for every mile to the Network of Strength! I have been logging all of my training walks for the 3-Day. All of those miles definitely add up!

People get really creative when it comes to dressing up for the 3-Day. You’ll see t-shirts with sayings about boobs, breasts, knockers, ta-tas… you name it. You might even spot an entire team dressed in tutus, or men dressed in drag riding unicorns (don’t ask). You’ll also see a handful of women and men who are brave enough to permanently dye their hair PINK. I’m brave enough to walk 60 miles, but I just can’t fathom bleaching my hair and coloring it pink.

I think it’s fun and would want to, but I work in a corporate environment and I’m pretty sure that wouldn’t fly with the executives. Luckily there’s an alternative. All you have to do is clip in Snazzy Lites and you’ll add an instant dash of color. They are non-damaging clip-in hair color that are made of 100 percent real human hair, and they can be flat-ironed, curled, or braided just like natural hair. I’ve been getting lots of complements on mine the past few weeks at the official 3-Day training walks. See the pink streak in the photo to the right? It’s easy to clip in a strand on each side of my head and walk out the door. They would be fun for kids and school sporting events and of course other Komen 3-Day for the Cure participants who would also looking to add a little bit of pink to their hair without the commitment of permanently changing their hair.

Disclosure: I was not compensated for writing this post. Snazzy Lites donated several strands to try or use for fundraising purposes as well as offered to donate $2 of the purchase of each colorful clip in hair extension piece to Susan G. Komen and my 3-Day walk when coupon code 3DAYLB is used at checkout.

The past two weekends in a row Nikki and I have gotten up early Saturday morning to attend the Dallas and Frisco training kickoffs for the 2010 Komen 3-Day for the Cure. I have new pictures and stories to share, but I am still heartbroken that so many of our posts from 2008 are gone forever due to a blog-upgrade gone wrong. I am happy that she had posted this to her MySpace (does anyone even know what that is anymore?) back in the day so that we could retrieve it and repost it this year. I think this is a beautiful entry, and it might just be the inspiration you were looking for. I know it still moves me to read it, and I am so proud that she is my teammate and BFF.

I choose “Life” as the category for this blog, because that’s really what it’s about. Not necessarily MY life, but others’ lives. There are a couple of things going on here. First, let me tell you about my Mom’s friend Donna at work. A couple of weeks ago, Donna’s husband started complaining about being tired and not feeling well. They assumed it was nothing and figured it would go away. Eventually, he started feeling worse, and having other more severe symptoms. They went to the ER, and after quite a few tests, it was determined that he has cancer…of the liver, the pancreas, it had even spread to his intestines. All of this from feeling tired and “not well”. It’s too far gone to treat, and he’s been given just a couple of months. Donna had told my Mom about her disbelief of the situation. Just a week or two ago, they had been sitting on the back porch planning the landscaping for their yard, and now he’s going to be gone in less than two months. The cancer is too advanced to treat. They won’t even try chemotherapy.

Now, I am not telling you this to depress you. I’m telling you this because it woke me up a little. Despite the things that I have heard, seen, and read in the past couple of months since signing up for the Breast Cancer 3 Day, it never occurred to me how quickly cancer can steal a life. I’ve heard of the treatments that these women endure and how hard it is on their bodies, but I had never considered those treatments not even being an option. What do you do when all you have is a little time, and then it’s done? How does a mom with small children explain to them that she might not see the end of their school year, their next birthday, or Christmas? Now I feel like I TRULY understand the need for early detection. What could the difference have been if this had been discovered two months ago?

Yesterday was the official kickoff for training walks for the 3 day in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. Laurie and I went down to University Park, which is a beautiful old neighborhood near SMU. We joined about 150 other women who were there to kick off their training with a 4 mile walk. It was incredible to see the people that turned out. There were young women, middle age women, older women, husbands, brothers, survivors, supporters… We started our walk through the neighborhood at the New Balance store (they’re an official outfitter/sponsor for the walk) and wound through the gorgeous neighborhood. The sidewalks were well shaded by the old trees, and the houses were absolutely incredible. Along the way, neighbors and kids came out to wave to us and clap for us. Some even thanked us. The sidewalks had been decorated with encouraging phrases (like, “YOU ROCK!”), arrows, and pink ribbons.

There was a “cheer station” where supporters were waiting to greet us with candy, give us stickers and cheer us on. There were cars that honked and waved as they drove by. At the finish line, we were greeted with even more cheering and high fives!

I knew all along that this was a good cause, and that this was a wonderful thing to do. I guess I just hadn’t really felt it as much as I did yesterday. Being around all those other women, many of which have beat the disease, really drove this home for me. I can’t wait for the big event now. I can’t wait to meet more incredible people with amazing stories.

My feet are sore, and my legs a little achy today, but that’s nothing compaired to what some of the other women there have been through. I’m just grateful to be healty enough to be able to make this journey. Next year, there may be more survivors walking, because of what we are doing this year. THAT makes sixty miles soooooo worth while, despite the horror stories of blisters and swollen feet we’ve heard. I’ll take some blisters for the team! We really are going to make a difference, one that we will remember for rest of our lives.

Love,
Nikki

The last of the 24 week training kickoffs ended in DFW this weekend, but there are more at the 16 week training interval. I highly recommend that you attend one. These are the closest things to experiencing the actual event (in an ultra mini dose, of course). Check the 3-Day calendar to find events scheduled in your area. It’s a great way to get motivated, inspired, and involved.

In addition to the Komen 3-Day, we are also participating in the Race for the Cure on June 12. This is our 3rd consecutive year to participate in the North Texas chapter of this event. I am still trying to get our team together, and we’d love it if you would join Breast Friends Forever. You can also make a donation to my personal page. We are working on a fundraising event that is still in the planning stages. I’ll update everyone as soon as the details are finalized. Thank you to my family and friends for their continued support!

Eeny, meeny, miny… TOE! One of the questions I get asked most frequently as a previous/current Breast Caner 3-Day walker is what kind of socks are the best to prevent blisters. I have tried and tested LOTS of different kinds of socks. Like most things, I truly believe it really comes down to personal preference. I think blister prevention also has a lot to do with what kind of shoes you are wearing. If you don’t have the proper size you are definitely more prone to get blisters no matter what kind of socks you are wearing. Go for a fitting at your local outfitter. You should get at least a 1/2 size to full size larger to give you extra room for swelling.

My opinion is that you should always select a sock with wicking technology (fabrics which draw moisture away from the body). I would say cotton is a no-no, especially for the 3-Day. Here are some suggestions:

Injinji performance socks are my personal favorite. Why? Before I discovered them, I would get blisters in between my toes due to rubbing. After switching to Injinji, I no longer had toe blisters. I love that each toe has it’s own compartment. They are like gloves for your feet, and yes they are comfortable! You completely forget you have them on. For the 2008 3-Day I actually wore these with another sock on top for more cushion. Also, they come in pink. My teammate says they are not as comfortable for her feet, so you should give them try on a long-distance training walk before committing to them for the event. Where to buy: InjinjiStore.com Cost: $12 each

Another good one are these Double Layer socks from BaySix. These socks have a 100% blister free guarantee. I also wore these during the 3-Day. I still did get a few blisters on the sides and bottom of my foot, but definitely not as bad as some other walkers did. These are comfortable and light. You can also select from anklet, crew or ped styles. Where to buy: Amazon.com Two Roads Fitness Ladies Only Sports Cost: 3/$20, 6/$35 or 3/$24 with pink ribbon

Thorlo is another sock you will hear a lot about in the 3-Day community. Many walkers swear by these. A few years ago the company gave away these at the walk which generated a lot of buzz. I bought several pairs. They come in two styles– thick cushion and thin cushion. I actually prefer the thinner version as the thick version feels like you have about four pairs of socks on. When my feet were swelled, it was a lot harder to get my foot back into my shoes. I also found that Thorlos were harder to clean. Even after I wash them they still look dirty. They definitely do give you lots of cushion. Where to buy: Thorlo.com Cost: $13.99

Whatever socks you do choose, be sure to give them a test drive on a long-distance training walk to get an idea of how they will work for the actual event. I like to change my socks every 5 to 10 miles too in order to let them air out and get some that are completely dry on my feet. Also, make sure that you take all of your socks with you when you get fitted for your new shoes. This will ensure that you order the right size if you decide some of the thicker socks are the ones you prefer.

Good luck and happy walking!

Over the weekend Dave and I drove to Houston to participate in the Breast Cancer Network of Strength Walk to Empower. I was selected by Bumble Bee as the local regional ambassador. It was definitely an honor considering all of the amazing stories submitted by women all over the country.

At 7:00 AM we walked from our hotel downtown to Sam Houston park which was a little over a mile away. It was a really pretty overcast morning– the perfect day for a walk! We stood in the registration line to pick up our race bibs.

After that, I introduced myself to the volunteers at the Beewell for Life booth. They were passing out buttons so that participants could write the name of the person they were walking for, as well as giving people the opportunity to enter a sweepstakes for an iPod Touch among other prizes.

Dave and I asked to take some bags of buttons and sweepstakes notepads and walked around the park talking to walkers about the program. Did you know that Bumble Bee donates 15 cents to the Network of Strength for every mile you walk, run or bike? We met some really amazing people too.

These two boys were walking with their parents, and happily took the buttons to demonstrate that they were there walking for their mother who was a survivor. This little boy insisted that he write “Mommy” on his own button. It was definitely a really sweet moment.

I loved meeting and visiting with this team too. They had really cute team shirts and enjoyed filling out the buttons and telling us about Tish Lee, who they were there to honor. After visiting with more participants, we finally ran out of buttons and sweepstakes forms. After that, we met up with Rachel and enjoyed the warm up with Ronald McDonald doing Tai Chi.

After that, the opening ceremony began and a local DJ starting talking about the walk, the Network of Strength, and the sponsors. I was shocked to be called up to the stage. I had no idea that I was about to be asked to give a speech in front of the large crowd! I definitely do not consider myself a great public speaker, especially when I do not have anything prepared. I managed to say a few words about the ambassadorship, and talked about my mother-in-law, the reason I have become active in events like this one. It was all such a blur, but I have been assured that I sounded calm and composed even though I was tearing up behind my sunglasses. Quite a few people came up to be afterward congratulating me and commenting that I did a great job considering how shy I was.

After the presentation was over, I was interviewed by NBC and I talked more about the Beewell for Life program and my participation in breast cancer events. I also met the couple who won the best t-shirt contest: Team Boo Bees! Perfect for Bumble Bee, huh?! Then the walk began!

Thousands of walkers, including children and dogs, set off town the trail in Sam Houston park. It was a sea of pink which is always a beautiful thing! Before we knew it we were back at the finish line with a sense of accomplishment for a productive morning having raised money for a great charity as well as made lots of new friends who are also supporters of the cause.

I am proud to have been involved in this event and am glad that I was able to spread the word about the amazing program that Bumble Bee has to raise money for the Breast Cancer Network of Strength. This charity offers those who are going through breast cancer the opportunity to receive 24/7 support and access to information, which is no doubt invaluable during a difficult and scary time in their lives.

I would like to thank my husband for his support and for traveling with me from Dallas to Houston to participate. I would also like to thank his dad for making a donation to the Network of Strength, as well as Rachel who spent her Mother’s Day with us and did a great job fundraising for the cause.

Thanks one more time to Bumble Bee and the Breast Cancer Network of Strength for a wonderful experience and everything they do for those who are going through breast cancer.

Last year I spent many hours volunteering at Komen headquarters preparing the race packets for shipment to race participants. It was an amazing experience, and it definitely gave me perspective on all of the little details it takes to pull off a successful charity event, especially one as large as the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. It takes hundreds of volunteers, as well as the generosity of donors and sponsors. Without them, the event definitely would not run as smoothly.

Did you know that Hanes is the Official T-shirt of the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure Series, and that Komen provides Hanes t-shirts to the 1.5 million people expected to participate in the race series? I folded thousands of those very t-shirts myself!

I also love Hane’s work with celebrities to create t-shirts for the Passionately Pink for the Cure program. Not long ago I won a contest on Twitter and received an autographed version of one of Sarah Chalke’s designs. When I mentioned that I was happy to win and planned on using it as an item in our team’s fundraising auction, they offered to send additional shirts for my team and to use for fundraising purposes. I actually wore my shirt during the breast cancer walk that I participated in over the weekend. I received lots of complements and many people asked where I got it. I was happy to tell them Hanes! You can shop the Hanes Passionately Pink line on their website (each is around $9.99). You can buy my actual Sarah Chalke tee at Komen.org.

CSI actress Melina Kanakaredes has joined up with Hanes to create three new t-shirt shirt designs for the Passionately Pink program that will be available this fall at HanesPink.com. She hopes they inspire and encourage others to join the fight against breast cancer. The T-shirts communicate strength, love and fearlessness and were designed to honor those affected by breast cancer. You can even create your own design on their website and learn more about Hanes’ effort to support Komen. In 2010, Hanes is contributing a total donation of $500,000, which includes a $250,000 cash and in-kind donation to Passionately Pink for the Cure, and another cash donation of $250,000 to the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure Series. Love it!

Check out Melina’s designs for yourself online, as well as at Walmart stores this fall along with their “pink collection” that includes socks, panties and bras.

Disclosure: I was not compensated for writing this post. I was happy to share the news of Hanes partnership with Komen. As mentioned above, I did receive several complementary t-shirts following winning a contest via Twitter. I also received a sample of one Melina’s new design pictured above.

In 2008 I participated in my first 60 mile Breast Cancer 3-Day. As a newbie, I was eager to meet others in my area who were also passionate about the cause. I decided to sign up to become Training Walk Leader with the hope of making new friends and finding walking buddies to train with throughout the year.

I was also assigned as the official TWL for the Luke’s Locker store in Plano, and we lead several walks in conjunction with their in-store workshops. They were very kind, and even provided water and sports drinks for those that participated in the training walks.

It was fun coming up with new routes to try that added distance and were still challenging. We met some great people, some who traveled long distances to walk with us. One of the most beneficial aspects is sharing stories and learning about what successes and struggles other walkers are having. It is the perfect opportunity to exchange fundraising tips, and even to help mentor new walkers.

Of course now that I have experienced the entire event firsthand, I have even more advice and wisdom to share. Everyone has something important to contribute though, whether they are seasoned 3-Day veterans or walking for the very first time. You never know who you will meet and what they have to offer in terms of support or ideas.

I am once again taking on the role of Training Walk Leader in the 2010 Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure. I will lead walks in the Frisco and Plano area. I hope to see some of you out there on the trails with us. I had my Introductory Conference call last night with our Field Coordinator, Karen, and I have to say that I am getting really excited training season is just around the corner. For those of you that are going to following the 24 week plan, we’ll see you May.

Not in Dallas? No training walks scheduled in your area? No problem! Step up and lead your own walks. Go to the Special Interests tab and check “I am interested in becoming a training walk leader.” A Training Walk Coordinator will contact you in April to get you started. Inspire walkers in your area to join you!

In addition, you will receive this awesome Training Walk Leader Legacy pin to add to your collection, and you are also asked to be a Safety Monitor during your 3-Day event. It is an honor to be considered a leader for this amazing cause, and I encourage all of you to step up. Please let me know if you have any questions. I would love to help.

More information:

Are you still pondering participating in the 2010 Komen 3-Day for the Cure? Now is the time to join! There are tons of teams out there looking for new members. You can get a $25 discount on registration with the 3-Day promotion code GO TEAM now through April 23. If you are in Dallas and are looking for a team, ours is Breast Friends Forever.

Two heads are better than one. So just imagine what you could do with four, eight or sixteen friends working together on your Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure™ team. Become the strongest, most determined, cancer-fighting team you can be. The more teammates you have, the more training companions and the more fundraising support you have alongside you.

Build your team today. Each new member who joins your team between April 12 – 23 gets a $25 discount off registration.

The Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure Coaches

You can register online at The3Day.org, via phone at 800-996-3DAY, or in person at a Get Started Meeting. I highly suggest attending a Get Started Meeting in your area. I will be writing a post soon about what you can expect to learn and take away from one, so come back soon.

Last month I received an e-mail from HotelsCombined.com with information on their Spread the Word for Charity campaign.

By letting your friends know about their awesome site, they will make a monetary donation to your choice of three very worthy charities. Currently they are supporting the World Wildlife Federation, Make A Wish, and World Vision. I immediately took to Twitter and Facebook and helped spread the word.

They were also kind enough to offer to sponsor my Susan G. Komen for the Cure 3-Day walk in November by contributing donations for friends and family that I refer to their website and program. It is easy to help and costs you absolutely nothing except a few minutes of your time and clicks of your mouse! Here is how you can help me and Susan G. Komen for the Cure:

Become a fan of HotelsCombined on Facebook, and they will donate $5. You can mention in their comments that you are supporting me and Susan G. Komen.

Tweet the following message from your Twitter account and they will donate $10:
Please RT @laurie_pooh: Check out HotelsCombined.com! I’m spreading the word and supporting Susan G Komen http://tinyurl.com/ao2rgj

Write a quick blog post like this one about HotelsCombined and their charity program (you can mention me and my walk too), and they will donate $20.

The best part? You can do one, two, or all three of the above. So won’t you help me spread the word and help me earn more donations to end breast cancer forever?

I love that HotelsCombined.com is a green and socially conscious company. What do they do? I am so glad you asked! They are a search engine that consumers can use to find hotel availability and rates. Their site allows their users to compare prices and offers from multiple merchants which means you don’t have to go to any other websites to find the best deal on your next hotel stay. Once you find the supplier suitable for your needs, they link you through to the supplier website to book directly. They offer a “complete picture” for any hotel that can be booked on the Internet, and are not paid to promote any particular website or hotel.

Go check them out for yourself. I plan on booking my next hotel through them (I found a ridiculously great rate on a room at the Paris hotel in Las Vegas!), and you should too. Want to help spread the word? You can get a nifty badge (like the one below) on their website. It couldn’t be more easy to make a donation to a wonderful charity and not even have to open your own wallet.

Thank you to those of you who have already helped, and especially to HotelsCombined for this wonderful opportunity!