Hey All,

I used to be able to pay for anything.  But now that I can't, I need you guys to help out my friend for me.  She's doing a 3day walk for Breast Cancer in Seattle. Can't write a fat check anymore, but I can still ask around for her.  So if you got a few extra bucks, please give. Even $5 will add up. 

Thanks
Jake


Dear Jake,

You are not going to believe this, because I hardly believe this myself, but I have signed up AGAIN to participate in the Seattle Breast Cancer 3-Day. This year the walk in Seattle will be held September 7-9, and once again I am volunteering to walk 20 miles a day for three days in an effort to provide awareness and funding for breast cancer research, education, screening and treatment through the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation and the National Philanthropic Trust Breast Cancer Fund.

I consider myself a rather sane and sensible person with limited athletic ability, so to train for this endurance walk once was to be the ultimate stretch of my abilities. Raising the $2200 required to participate was perhaps even a bigger venture outside my comfort zone. When the financial support came in more quickly and easily than I ever anticipated, my last excuse for not doing the walk fell by the wayside. On my first 3-Day, other than doing something positive and proactive to make the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer more effective, I was merely hoping to survive. I was fairly confident I could train well enough to walk 20 miles the first day. It was sleeping in a pup tent and then walking another 20 miles on day 2 and then again on day 3 that had me concerned. To put me at a further disadvantage, whining, the technique that gets me through most of the tough situations in my life, is not allowed on the 3-Day. They say it causes blisters. That may not be true, but who wants to risk making the foot gods unhappy. So you can imagine my surprise when I not only survived my first 60 mile walk, but thanks to an excellent training group, I had few aches, pains or blisters at the end. There is something about being one of 2700 walkers with a common goal, wearing funny hats, and slogans about breasts on our shirts, and being swept along a path of well wishers, cheerleaders, and breast cancer survivors saying thank you, that gives you the added incentive to make the walk successful on their behalf. It was a heady experience. And besides, at the end of the walk my family gave me a puppy. The way my mind works, I figure I might get a pony this time.

There are twelve cites across the US that hold these 3-Day Breast Cancer Walks. Hopefully I have convinced some of you to try it. I promise you will find it a rewarding experience. Those of you who would like me to walk in your stead, I would deeply appreciate your tax deductible financial support. I am hoping to raise $5000 this year. You can mail a check to me made out to Breast Cancer 3-Day, or you can choose to donate online at www.the3day.org/seattle07/jscolling.

I hope that you’ll share in this incredible adventure with me once again, either financially or with a hip, hip, hooray. Thank you in advance for your generosity!

Jeannie Colling
2818 NW 90th Pl
Seattle, WA 98117

PS If you make a donation using your American Express card, they will make an additional donation to the general 3-Day fund. Just a thought.