Posts from the ‘charity’ Category

Oct 31

Why I Crew

A little more than a week ago, I took part in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer, as a Crew Member. A Team Leader of the Information Services Crew, to be exact. I have volunteered as a Crew Member before. I have even participated in the Avon (now defunct) 3-Day Walk for Breast Cancer, as a Walker.

Why do I crew?

I crew for the woman I saw on both Saturday and Sunday crossing the finish line, her body wracked with sobs. She seemed sad, and happy, at the same time. A fellow Team Leader, Lisa, (a stranger to the woman) gave her a hug at the finish line on Sunday. I later found out the woman is a breast cancer survivor, as I stood next to her during the Closing Ceremony.

I crew for my Gram… because she has battled (and won) this disease. She had a mastectomy, and is an 18 year survivor!

I crew for myself, as a woman with a history of breast cancer in her family.

I love that I do this. I’m very proud. I do it for you.

The Crew Members on my particular team ranged from average to awesome. Some members of my team were FABULOUS. (Some were… meh. I could tell their heart wasn’t really in it). I received some less-than-enthusiastic responses to our early start time. (Yes, 4 a.m. is early. Yes, you knew this when you signed up. *ahem*. You are doing this for charity. Presumably you are doing this because Breast Cancer has touched your life in one way or another. It is ONE weekend out of the whole year. Suck. It. Up. – Rant over). So, I made the best of it – relying on those that I could count on – and picking up the slack myself.

I got 2.5 hrs. of sleep on Friday night, and then worked for 18 hours. On my feet. (Saturday night was very exciting… I got a whole 3.75 hrs. of sleep!). I was in Uptown Charlotte at 3:45 a.m. Saturday morning. I joked that the only time I sat down that weekend was to pee. (Sadly it wasn’t really a joke).

I have never worn so much pink in my entire life.

I had a fabulous time.

People ask me why I crew, raise money, and am involved with the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. To understand, perhaps you have to see it in person. Even if you don’t know someone participating in one of the walks… come out. Attend an opening or closing ceremony. Cheer for and support those who walk (and those of us who work it!).

I’ll be back next year, and the year after that. I even hope to WALK the event again, in 2013. I’m thinking of doing it in Washington DC…? (That way I can still Crew in Charlotte).

I set a modest little goal for myself for fundraising, of $300.00 (Crew is not required to fundraise, but is encouraged to do so). This year, time got away from me. I didn’t even *try* to start fundraising until a week before the event. Ooops.

Thank you to all of my donors who stepped-up to the plate last-minute, to help me surpass my goal. You guys are the best! Next year – I’ll do better. You can always do better.

Learn more about the good work performed by the Avon Foundation and the Avon Walk at AvonWalk.org

Jun 4

A Helping Hand

If you’ve been around the blogosphere this week, perhaps you’ve seen Caitlin’s post about Tonya ? Tonya Breen is a 32-year-old mother of two young boys, who was recently diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor. She and her family live here in Charlotte; so when Caitlin did a post about her situation (they are neighbors), I decided that I wanted to get involved. I joined her online community to see if there was anything that I could do to help out. I have signed up to bring dinner to the Breen family in July and August, so far. I’d like to make it a once-a-month occurrence for as long as they need the help. It’s not much, but I hope it will help ease the burden, if only a bit.

Tonya is a very devout Christian, as I understand it (I don’t know her personally); and if you know me at all – you know that I am, well, NOT. However, something about her situation spoke to me. She is 32. I am 32. She lives here in Charlotte, as well. Lucky for her (relatively speaking, of course) she lives next door to a very well-known blogger who was able to bring her situation to our attention. I doubt I would have heard about Tonya were it not for Caitlin. I love our little blogging community, and am so proud to belong to something that can do so much good! Tonya has a site to raise money for her expected $100,000 in hospital bills and childcare expenses as she tries to beat this brain tumor. I made a small donation, but of course, wish it could be more. However, due in great part to all of the wonderful people in the blogging community, she has collected over $15,000 in just a few short days. It’s truly amazing.

She seems to have an amazing attitude about all of this, which is truly inspiring. I doubt I would be able to be so positive through something like this.

Again, if you’d like to help Tonya and her family out, please see her site here.

Mar 18

8 Comments

In it to END it

Oops, I did it again.

I am once again a Crew Member for the AVON 2-day Walk for Breast Cancer, in Charlotte.

My Crew!

I’ve Crewed in Charlotte before, and loved the experience. In 2009 my Mom and I crewed together. We met a lot of great people, and had a fabulous and exhausting weekend. Crewing is a HUGE commitment. We were tired. Very tired. We were wet. We were emotional. We were exhilarated!

As Crew Members (as opposed to walkers), we are not “required” to fundraise… but why on earth wouldn’t I? I want to do all I can to help stamp-out cancer in my lifetime! You can find my fundraising site here, if you are interested. I’ve just gotten started, and have set a very modest goal, but I’d love to surpass it!

There are two big players in the Breast Cancer walk area… AVON being one, and Susan G Komen being the other.

If you’d like to learn more about the Susan G Komen 3-day walks (in different cities from the AVON walks) that are being held around the country this year, please visit my good friend Betsy’s fundraising page. She is participating (as a WALKER! Go Bets!) in the Washington DC event in September. I’m so proud of her, and everyone that does either of these walks. They are intense! I know just how intense, from personal experience.

I participated in a 3-day walk with AVON about 10 years ago. We walked 60 MILES from Kenosha, WI to Chicago, IL. In June. Wind, rain and lots of heat… that’s what I remember. I chose to participate in the Chicago walk partially because Illinois is my home state. It is also where my Gram lives, who is an 18-year breast cancer survivor! (She is also a colon cancer survivor. She is amazing). I do everything at these events in her honor.

The tower of names. Opening Ceremony, Charlotte

My Mom and I getting into the 'Mardi Gras' theme spirit!

I’m not sure if my Mom is going to sign up to Crew again this year, or not. But as for me? I’m in it to END it.

Closing Ceremony, Charlotte

I’m looking forward to October already!

Mar 2

Blog Bake Sale!

Interested in helping out a good cause, and getting something delicious/pretty/or for your pup in the process?

Check out Sweet Tater’s bake sale on her blog tomorrow, Thursday 3/3. It’s being held to help raise some last-minute money to help Katie (Sweet Tater) get her butt to Nicaragua in order to do some wonderful things for the people in a small remote community there. She’ll be living in a hammock for a week, and bathing in a river! Bless her. You can read more about her trip here.

Check out her site for a preview of the goodies that will be available tomorrow. You can even find Lilly’s favorite Crunchy Peanut Butter Pumpkin dog treats, homemade by yours truly!