Another year, Another 60 miles, Another contest!
Posted on | August 15, 2008 | 21 Comments
So.
This post has been difficult for me to write this year (more so than usual). The letters to friends and family and previous sponsors have been just as hard. Grief works in strange ways, as many of you can attest to, I’m sure. So, please bear with me – and if you have no need for a rather personal, fundraising post, please pass on by – no offense taken, come on back in a few days and I’ll have some knitting content. And if you’re just here for the possibility of free yarn, well that’s ok too ;) just scroll on down till you see the pics & you’ll find it.
Ready? Ok.
On October 3 outside of Washington D.C., Tad and I will walk 20 miles to support Breast Cancer Research, Education, Screening, and Treatment. On October 4, we will wake up and do it all over again. And on October 5th, we’ll take a couple ibuprofen and walk another 20, just for good measure.
It will be hard – my feet and joints will hurt. There will likely be blisters. Blisters always hurt a lot more than you think they would.
Miles will be walked ahead of time and the yoga commitment will be renewed and efforts redoubled.
I will walk as I have 4 times over (that’s 300 total event miles and countless training miles) – and I will not complain when it gets hard. The whole point of it is that it’s tough. 60 miles is no slouch. Each time I say that, I know that it’s true – this is the most demanding physical effort that some of us as participants will ever do, but it honestly seems like a rather inappropriate dramatization at the same time. It’s not chemo. It’s not surgery. It’s not losing a part of your body that you used to feed your child. It’s not wasting away and it’s not watching your life and those you love slip away from you. Walking won’t find a cure, research will. And research is expensive.
The good news (and it is good news!) is that many advances in treatment have been made through research, and will continue to be made with the support of fundraising efforts like these.
My 3Day journey began in 2004 after an amazing woman succumbed to breast cancer – an amazing woman that happens also to have been my mother, Linda Chase. Shortly after, I walked my first 60 miles, and began, little by little, to heal. I began to see things differently. I began to hope and I began to believe. If that sounds a bit evangelistic, it is. Describing the 3Day is impossible – but these posts from last year and the videos on the3Day.org will give you a taste – and may leave you a little emotional. I walk in the 3Day because it’s my opportunity to support the fight against this disease by raising money for research, education, screening, and treatment. It’s my opportunity to remember the awesome woman who gave me life – to celebrate her and to share a little bit of her and her love. I walk in memory and celebration of the loved ones and friends of my supporters. And I walk in hope, in the belief, that the money we raise WILL help to find the cure.
Still with me? Thank you! Here’s your reward ;)
I’m holding a contest to support my walk and fundraising efforts for the Breast Cancer 3Day, with a couple of pretty cool prizes – hopefully you’ll think they’re cool anyway! I like them, but that’s kind of a given since it’s my contest, eh?
Prizes:
1 copy of Poems of Color – Knitting in the Bohus Tradition by Wendy Keele (someday I will tell you all how I came by 2 copies of this book – I have heard that Interweave may be reprinting it in the near future, but for now it is still rather tough to get your hands on one):
2 skeins (1000 yards – enough for a beautiful shawl, or a sweater!) of Brooks Farm Primero – 100% kid mohair, silky & soft, in colorway 47 a beautiful blue-green-grey-gold:
Following the tried and true method of some other bloggers, you will “earn” one chance to win for every $10 you donate (please leave me a comment below or email me at mel*at*purlingplans*dot*com to let me know you have donated – I will receive confirmation from my 3Day website, but this way I will know that you came from this post and be sure to put your name in for the contest) – Your donation dollars go to support breast cancer research, education, screening and treatment initiatives funded by Susan G. Komen for the Cure and the National Philanthropic Trust. All donations are tax deductible – you may donate through the crazy pink button in my sidebar to your left or via this link.
The contest will run through the weekend of the event (October 3-5), and the drawing will take place when we return home on Tuesday, October 7.
Happy Birthday Mom. You are missed, so much.
my brother, mom, Tad & I – Pemigewasset Wilderness, NH, Winter 2002
Thank you for reading.
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21 Responses to “Another year, Another 60 miles, Another contest!”
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mel
I knit, I spin, I hike, I love,
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August 16th, 2008 @ 3:54 pm
I’m proud of you for doing this! My mother is a breast cancer survivor and has survived some truly grueling experiences. She is still with us today, however – perhaps because of all the money raised for breast cancer research! I run in the race for the cure annually, but you’ve inspired me to try to do more. I doubt I can actually get to DC to walk myself, but I’ve donated a (meager) $30 to your effort – good luck!!
August 16th, 2008 @ 11:44 pm
This is a beautiful post. Thank you for sharing such an intimate view into your personal life and experience; so many of us benefit from such candor and I wish it was easier for us all to share these moments. It is an amazing thing that you are doing, and I hope as you walk that you find an even greater peace.
August 17th, 2008 @ 12:35 pm
Good luck, Mel! Please sign me up for two “chances” in your contest.
August 17th, 2008 @ 6:57 pm
Mel I’m so sorry you lost your lovely mother. I will donate when I’m able, and let you know.
Thanks for the contest.
XOXO
August 18th, 2008 @ 3:53 pm
Hi Mel,
I just donated a little bit and I also posted on my blog!
hugs from a survivor!
August 18th, 2008 @ 4:58 pm
I donated a few days ago. I forgot to come back and tell you. Best of luck in reaching your goal. I’ll go add a link on my blog.
August 18th, 2008 @ 7:18 pm
I don’t know that I can donate money yet. But I can link on my blog and will as soon as I leave here.
I have also designed a dishcloth pattern for a Breast Cancer calendar coming out in 2009 with all proceeds supporting this worthy cause.
And of course I pray.
August 19th, 2008 @ 5:58 pm
I just wanted to let you know that I put a post up about your walk on WiKnit, my knitting contest blog.
Please let me know if there’s anything else/different you’d like me to write: http://wiknit.blogspot.com/2008/08/pipe-dreams-and-purling-plans-oct-7.html
Best of luck with your walk!
August 20th, 2008 @ 3:38 pm
I have donated $20 for 2 entries and blogged and linked back to this post for the blogging entry I hope it helps. here:http://darcyknottyknitter.blogspot.com/2008/08/pipe-dreams-and-purling-plans-is-having.html
Please let me know if you need anymore prizes donated.I wish you well God Bless.Hugs Darcy
August 20th, 2008 @ 3:40 pm
Oops I had forgot to add my website.Hugs Darcy
August 20th, 2008 @ 11:55 pm
I put a plug on my blog about this. I think this is so neat that you’re doing this. God bless you in your efforts.
August 21st, 2008 @ 6:09 am
Good for you for doing this again and again, in the full knowledge of how hard it will be. I admire you for it. Put me down for 3 of your prize chances – one for each day of your walk!
August 22nd, 2008 @ 3:52 pm
Hello! Please put me down for 1 chance in your drawing! This is a great fundraiser!
August 22nd, 2008 @ 5:23 pm
Mel – that is a very moving post. I’ve made a donation and will make a link on my blog this week too.
I know your efforts will have postive results.
August 24th, 2008 @ 2:47 pm
Wow. This post has moved me so deeply. I did not know about your mom, and I am so sorry for your loss. I am going over to donate (will let you know when I have – and will let you know when I post on my blog about it too), in memory of my grandmother Edith (who survived two bouts with breast cancer) and in memory of my friend Sara (who survived the first time, but did not the second time, when she left behind two young boys and many grieving friends). Thank you for doing this.
August 26th, 2008 @ 1:13 pm
Thank you for sharing your story. I wish I could donate, but I’m not able to right now. I have a friend who is currently finishing up radiation treatment on her breast. Luckily they caught it in the very earliest stages. I will be posting your website on my blog. I hope it helps.
God Bless you and all the other walkers!
September 6th, 2008 @ 12:49 pm
Great cause, Mel. I’m donating $30 right now.
October 1st, 2008 @ 2:31 pm
Mel, just letting you know I donated today. And again, good luck.
October 2nd, 2008 @ 2:46 pm
I’m in. This is wonderful, Mel- good luck during the event itself. On my way to donate now.
October 2nd, 2008 @ 3:08 pm
I just pushed myself to start knitting more because I am motivated to help chairty groups especially breast cancer and shelter for abused women. We have several friends who overcame Breast Cancer and I am a strong supporter of early detection/research. With the yarns I would make hats and donate to either cause I have listed above.
October 4th, 2009 @ 7:45 pm
[...] this thing that I do every year. If you’ve been reading for awhile, you may already be aware of it (and you may have [...]