So, tis the season and we're ramping up for our FIFTH year. I decided to start this blog because my memory is bad. So I asked Instigating Sister for something to add:
I am constantly amazed at the energy at the 3 day. All these people coming together for ONE CAUSE. Everyone with their own story. The first year I got us to do this, I was thinking, it will be a good excuse to get in shape. Then once we started fundraising it became this rush to see how much support we could get. Then once we started camping, I just knew this was one weekend with my sisters I would never trade. To most people walking all day, camping, and doing the same thing again seems crazy. From Day 1 the first year, I knew it was a weekend I would never forget. We will walk until there is a cure, and I look forward to the 3 day because it is a time with my mom and sisters that no one can understand until you have done it.
The 3 day is so hard to explain until you have walked it or participated in it. I highly encourage all women to try it at least once!
So that's how we got here. 90 days out(ish).
I haven't done a single practice walk and need new shoes, but we've still got some time.
We're in full fundraising mode. There's a wine tasting on September 26th at Wine Styles in Phoenix from 6-8 for $25 dollars a person. We're collecting donations to raffle and include in the silent auction now!
Then, we're having a Texas Hold 'Em Tournament on October 17th. We had one last year and it was a lot of fun.
I'll post pics after the events!
Day Three - 2008
Whoo hoo
Day three it was still cold when started. The first hour is always pretty chilly for everyone, but the first three are cold for me. We headed for down town Scottsdale for final ceremonies this year, it might be my favorite place yet.
The day was really nice, it got a little warm, but nothing like that first year. We took a break, but skipped lunch cause everyone was coming to meet us at the end; we decided to wait until then for lunch. Needless to say, we were hungry! The kids climbed in the trees while we ate our lunch and waited for final ceremonies.
This year my niece came to closing ceremonies with us. I'd like to point out those are my shoulders on which she rides...Remember how I told you I COULD NOT STAND UP for closing ceremonies year one? Now I've got a six year old on my shoulders, oh how far we've come. Anyway, how cute is she?
Her little brother and sister got in on the action also:
Final ceremonies are always pretty intense, you see all of the people, the survivors march in separately it's a powerful thing. They talk a little about the walk, and announce how much money you've earned, and then there's a lot of thank yous. It doesn't go on for too long, people are tired and sore and ready to go home, but they all stick around for the extra 30 minutes to bring the experience to a close. The crazy thing is, we do this because it's important to raise money to find a cure, without money, you can't do anything. And yet, it has so stopped being about the money. The money is a really important bonus to an experience that goes way beyond raising funds. It's three days where you stop worrying about the minutia of your own life and do something for someone else. It's three days surrounded by people who are strong and dedicated and inspiring. It's three days that will restore your faith in
humanity.
Day three it was still cold when started. The first hour is always pretty chilly for everyone, but the first three are cold for me. We headed for down town Scottsdale for final ceremonies this year, it might be my favorite place yet.
The day was really nice, it got a little warm, but nothing like that first year. We took a break, but skipped lunch cause everyone was coming to meet us at the end; we decided to wait until then for lunch. Needless to say, we were hungry! The kids climbed in the trees while we ate our lunch and waited for final ceremonies.
This year my niece came to closing ceremonies with us. I'd like to point out those are my shoulders on which she rides...Remember how I told you I COULD NOT STAND UP for closing ceremonies year one? Now I've got a six year old on my shoulders, oh how far we've come. Anyway, how cute is she?
Her little brother and sister got in on the action also:
Final ceremonies are always pretty intense, you see all of the people, the survivors march in separately it's a powerful thing. They talk a little about the walk, and announce how much money you've earned, and then there's a lot of thank yous. It doesn't go on for too long, people are tired and sore and ready to go home, but they all stick around for the extra 30 minutes to bring the experience to a close. The crazy thing is, we do this because it's important to raise money to find a cure, without money, you can't do anything. And yet, it has so stopped being about the money. The money is a really important bonus to an experience that goes way beyond raising funds. It's three days where you stop worrying about the minutia of your own life and do something for someone else. It's three days surrounded by people who are strong and dedicated and inspiring. It's three days that will restore your faith in
humanity.
Day Two - 2008
Day two. They say the numbers have fallen (slightly) since the fist walk, but when you're out there, you feel like an army, marching in step.
Day two the cheering sections and cross guards, all the people on the sides of the road are really important. Day two is the when the blisters really kick in, and you're tired cause sleeping in tents is not the MOST comfortable you could be, and there is a whole third day to go. In 2008, some of the volunteers at crosswalks (to hold up stop signs and protect us from cars) were day savers. One guy in particular would stand at the corner and do call and response all military style while we waited for the light to get everybody singing and then he would literally dance out into the street. And I do mean dance, rhythm be damned. That kind of thing definitely keeps you going. At this point, we've done the walk enough times we know some of the people along the route. A fiend of ours crews each year:
At lunch, we had a full on picnic.
And then a little later at a rest stop we got a little show from this team, who danced their way through:
We had a relaxing time back at camp, and got to hang out with some friends from former years and few people we'd met along the way fundraising. And then, per usual, we went to bed early.
Day One - 2008
So, here we are ready for year four. At this point, I'm so ready I have bought myself nothing but pink to wear every single day. I have not worn pink since I was seven. Not only that, but Day 1, after we got back, we hung out helping other walkers put up their tents when we finished ours... The times they are a changing.
Look, she's SMILING as she tends to her blisters and it's still morning Day 1!
This year, we saw people line dancing at a pit stop, so we weren't the only really happy walkers:
2008
Year Four!
In 2008, we did some totally different kinds of things for fundraising.
My sister and her husband own a karate school: Turner's Martial Arts. First, we had an expo for all kinds of services and products at the school. There were several corporate sponsors, and all kinds of services provided. All the vendors offered discounts and gave part of the proceeds to the 3 day through our team.
Then, we raised a lot of money with a Stranger Danger and rape defense course class that Master Turner (we call him Chaz) taught. The kids loved the stranger danger class. They all wanted to know what Master Turner would do in all kinds of outlandish situations - it was fun to watch, and the rape defense class was really well attended too!
On top of that, we had a yoga and pilates open house. We had a kid yoga class and that was the cutest thing ever and then half hour pilates and yoga classes by donation and my sister's pilates studio Power Ranch Pilates. We sent a lot of letters and got great family support, made some t-shits and sold those too.
Finally, we had our first ever - now to annual - Texas Hold 'Em tournament and it was wicked fun. I didn't even play poker and I had a blast. My brother - in - law Paul won, but family doesn't get to keep the prize, so second place got a new Garmin GPS system. She cried when she won it and said she was going to give it to her husband for Christmas.
Here is first and second place:
Lot's of people say that raising the money is the hardest part, and in some ways that's true. It's hard to ask for things, from anyone. But once you've been a part of this experience it gets a lot easier and each year we get more motivated to raise more money. After the first year, you realize it's much easier to ask because you aren't really asking for yourself and then every year after that it just becomes more and more important to do it so you don't care that you're asking again.
In 2008, we did some totally different kinds of things for fundraising.
My sister and her husband own a karate school: Turner's Martial Arts. First, we had an expo for all kinds of services and products at the school. There were several corporate sponsors, and all kinds of services provided. All the vendors offered discounts and gave part of the proceeds to the 3 day through our team.
Then, we raised a lot of money with a Stranger Danger and rape defense course class that Master Turner (we call him Chaz) taught. The kids loved the stranger danger class. They all wanted to know what Master Turner would do in all kinds of outlandish situations - it was fun to watch, and the rape defense class was really well attended too!
On top of that, we had a yoga and pilates open house. We had a kid yoga class and that was the cutest thing ever and then half hour pilates and yoga classes by donation and my sister's pilates studio Power Ranch Pilates. We sent a lot of letters and got great family support, made some t-shits and sold those too.
Finally, we had our first ever - now to annual - Texas Hold 'Em tournament and it was wicked fun. I didn't even play poker and I had a blast. My brother - in - law Paul won, but family doesn't get to keep the prize, so second place got a new Garmin GPS system. She cried when she won it and said she was going to give it to her husband for Christmas.
Here is first and second place:
Lot's of people say that raising the money is the hardest part, and in some ways that's true. It's hard to ask for things, from anyone. But once you've been a part of this experience it gets a lot easier and each year we get more motivated to raise more money. After the first year, you realize it's much easier to ask because you aren't really asking for yourself and then every year after that it just becomes more and more important to do it so you don't care that you're asking again.
Day Three - 2007
That's what I'm talking about. Day Three it's always the hardest, but it's also the best. The end is in sight, which this year for the first time, was truly just as much as sad thing as a happy one, but everyone is revved day three. The energy is fantastic.
This might be the shirt of the year:
And, we started another important new tradition. Last year, we got in pretty early day three and hung around waiting for the other walkers and for our families to come and join us for closing ceremonies. This year, we had them come as we rolled of the course. So we all got to hang out enjoying the afternoon. Les brought snacks and there might have been a glass of wine involved.
I think that's my favorite part of the whole thing. By year three it wasn't just the walkers anymore. It's a full on family event! The kids come out at lunches and meet us, the guys come at night and have dinner, and on Sunday we make a day of it. We're up early and in early so we can spend the afternoon soaking up all that energy and cheering other walkers on with our whole family.
And then the closing ceremonies start and somehow everyone there feels like family.
Day Two 2007
Day Two we started early again. It is the key to a good day. Here we are headed out of camp with tons of other walkers.
This year we took our time and stopped at all the picture taking opportunities instead of blazing through.
The weather was beautiful. The entertainment in camp was fun. They had a contest for best decorated tent. Somehow I didn't get a picture of that, but there were some pretty funny booby tents.
This year by Day Two we were all honestly a little sad that it was going so fast.
This year we took our time and stopped at all the picture taking opportunities instead of blazing through.
The weather was beautiful. The entertainment in camp was fun. They had a contest for best decorated tent. Somehow I didn't get a picture of that, but there were some pretty funny booby tents.
This year by Day Two we were all honestly a little sad that it was going so fast.
Day One 2007
So day one, again, started at 0 dark thirty.
We were more spread out this year. Mommy is social and didn't mind walking with strangers. She decided it should be a rule, at least one leg of the walk on your own so you interact with walkers around you - she's always coming up with things like that.
We got into camp early day one - brought some yoga mats and had a stretch and then took minute to let the blood out of our feet:
You can't believe how good that feels.
There was woman this year that told this story: She lost her best friend to cancer, which sucks. And then she decided to raise the money and walk in EVERY three day walk that next year. And she did (she had some wicked calves). She sent postcards to her friend's young sons every night from every camp. She was incredibly inspiring. For the next year she decided to increase her contribution and build a team that would raise 1/2 million dollars. So she recruited in every city, because her participation in every single walk wasn't enough! Those are the kinds of people that are out there every day.
We repeated the sushi dinner of last year and followed that with ICE CREAM and then we headed back to get some sleep. All in all day one 2007 might have been our best day yet!
We were more spread out this year. Mommy is social and didn't mind walking with strangers. She decided it should be a rule, at least one leg of the walk on your own so you interact with walkers around you - she's always coming up with things like that.
We got into camp early day one - brought some yoga mats and had a stretch and then took minute to let the blood out of our feet:
You can't believe how good that feels.
There was woman this year that told this story: She lost her best friend to cancer, which sucks. And then she decided to raise the money and walk in EVERY three day walk that next year. And she did (she had some wicked calves). She sent postcards to her friend's young sons every night from every camp. She was incredibly inspiring. For the next year she decided to increase her contribution and build a team that would raise 1/2 million dollars. So she recruited in every city, because her participation in every single walk wasn't enough! Those are the kinds of people that are out there every day.
We repeated the sushi dinner of last year and followed that with ICE CREAM and then we headed back to get some sleep. All in all day one 2007 might have been our best day yet!
2007
This would be the year we hit our stride...finally.
In 2007, we had two additions to our team. Mommy! And one of our good buddies joined, Our cousin had to sit this one out, so six of us took to the street. Let me just tell you how life improves when Mom is part of the mix:
at the end of the first day, Les, our step-dad, met us at camp with little air cushions to put in our tent so it wouldn't be so hard to sleep, all you do is open the valve and it fills right up for you to sleep on. Not to mention, we bundled up in the morning, and someone picked up out sweatshirts and stuff we didn't want to carry in the afternoon...it's hard to be us.
We also got better in the funding department. Meaning we raised more money, and earlier.
We had a bowling for boobies event:
And worked an ASU tailgate party to raise money!
We had some team shirts made and overall planned far better than we ever had.
In 2007, we had two additions to our team. Mommy! And one of our good buddies joined, Our cousin had to sit this one out, so six of us took to the street. Let me just tell you how life improves when Mom is part of the mix:
at the end of the first day, Les, our step-dad, met us at camp with little air cushions to put in our tent so it wouldn't be so hard to sleep, all you do is open the valve and it fills right up for you to sleep on. Not to mention, we bundled up in the morning, and someone picked up out sweatshirts and stuff we didn't want to carry in the afternoon...it's hard to be us.
We also got better in the funding department. Meaning we raised more money, and earlier.
We had a bowling for boobies event:
And worked an ASU tailgate party to raise money!
We had some team shirts made and overall planned far better than we ever had.
Day Three 2006
Day Three!
So I haven't mentioned yet. There are other consistent cheering teams besides just Thunder Dan. These girls have been there every year too, and they have a different theme every day!
So we did it again.
And this time, we were a little peppier at the end. It was hard not to have instigating sister there at every stop - but we figured some pretty good ways to improve the experience because of it!
Day Two 2006
Day two started here:
But we were still rolling early. Out of camp as soon as they'd let us on the street. We started out walking across probably the only 5 mile stretch in the valley sans a Starbucks.
Thunder Dan was the first thing we saw though, and that puts everyone in a good mood.
The day was much nicer than last year. And we might have started at the blister tent, but we finished at sushi. That's right. The kids stayed home this year, they closed the campgrounds to non-walkers, so the grown ups came down to see us and we all went out to dinner and then back to camp. Now that's what I call camping.
But we were still rolling early. Out of camp as soon as they'd let us on the street. We started out walking across probably the only 5 mile stretch in the valley sans a Starbucks.
Thunder Dan was the first thing we saw though, and that puts everyone in a good mood.
The day was much nicer than last year. And we might have started at the blister tent, but we finished at sushi. That's right. The kids stayed home this year, they closed the campgrounds to non-walkers, so the grown ups came down to see us and we all went out to dinner and then back to camp. Now that's what I call camping.
Day One 2006
The three day got moved back to November in 2006 after the temperatures in 2005. WHOO HOO. We had some friends on our team year one. Year two it was just the four of us. Here we are:
Because we are slow learners, that's gonna be the only photo you see of year two (just kidding). I also remembered my pillow!
If you couldn't tell from the picture, instigating sister is 9 days from giving birth!
This time, I spent the night at Instigating sister's and we all met at one house where Les picked us up to drop us at the starting location. It was cold in the morning, but much better in the afternoon.
Instigating sister walked on and off with us, but caught the van a few times to get a break. This worked out fabulously for the rest of us because she met us at lunches with yummy, deletable food in hand, which is how we've rolled every since. Rolling into lunch to find husbands, kids, grandma, and gourmet sandwiches waiting is a definite shot in the arm for the afternoon.
We were out of the gate much earlier in the morning day one, and came off the course at 3pm. The first year we were never in before five. It was a totally different experience. That, AND girl scouts came and pitched out tents before we even got there!!!! Everyone buy girl scout cookies, those girls are heroes!!!! It was so relaxing and it was so cool to sit and watch the other walkers come in. Not to mention: NO LINE at the showers. Even I will get up early for that!
Once again the husbands and kids came out the first night and brought pizza! We had to put up our own tents. None of us are campers so that proved to be a little bit of a challenge. But, the good news was we camped in the same spot both nights, doing loop de loops around the city, so we only had to put it up once!
This year we managed to stay up long enough to watch some of the entertainment in the evening, which was fun. We still crashed early though, motivated to get rolling early.
Because we are slow learners, that's gonna be the only photo you see of year two (just kidding). I also remembered my pillow!
If you couldn't tell from the picture, instigating sister is 9 days from giving birth!
This time, I spent the night at Instigating sister's and we all met at one house where Les picked us up to drop us at the starting location. It was cold in the morning, but much better in the afternoon.
Instigating sister walked on and off with us, but caught the van a few times to get a break. This worked out fabulously for the rest of us because she met us at lunches with yummy, deletable food in hand, which is how we've rolled every since. Rolling into lunch to find husbands, kids, grandma, and gourmet sandwiches waiting is a definite shot in the arm for the afternoon.
We were out of the gate much earlier in the morning day one, and came off the course at 3pm. The first year we were never in before five. It was a totally different experience. That, AND girl scouts came and pitched out tents before we even got there!!!! Everyone buy girl scout cookies, those girls are heroes!!!! It was so relaxing and it was so cool to sit and watch the other walkers come in. Not to mention: NO LINE at the showers. Even I will get up early for that!
Once again the husbands and kids came out the first night and brought pizza! We had to put up our own tents. None of us are campers so that proved to be a little bit of a challenge. But, the good news was we camped in the same spot both nights, doing loop de loops around the city, so we only had to put it up once!
This year we managed to stay up long enough to watch some of the entertainment in the evening, which was fun. We still crashed early though, motivated to get rolling early.
Day Three - 2005
We got up about the same time day three. Anxious to start and almost sorry it was already going to be over, but not really.
Day three was brutal hot and we walked North - which is up in the desert - all day. At one point it was so hot they had vans bringing in water at a mid point between pit stops for the walkers. There was lots of cheering though too.
There is a guy that's been at the walk every year. Thunder Dan. He shows up in the morning and stands about a block away from camp and cheers until every camper goes by. He wears pom poms and funny hats - the works. When the last person goes by he gets in his car and drives to the front of the line to do it again. For three whole day.
Day three was long and hot and more work than we thought it would be. At one point in the last five or six miles, Sister 2 looked at me and said I can't feel anything below my waist, and she meant it.
Instigating sister and our cousin were a little way behind us. They talked each other through the last several blocks like this:
Sister: We can walk ten more steps right?
Cousin: Right.
Then they would go ten more and reverse the conversation. When they finally turned the corner and Rawhide was in sight, Instigating Sister burst into tears in relief.
I personally hit the ground when it was over, literally. I had to sit through closing ceremonies. Our families all came out and they stood (I sat) and held a shoe in the air to commemorate what we'd just accomplished with a huge group of people that all hurt as badly as we did.
It looked like this.
We, however, looked like this:
Then we went home exhausted and weepy and signed up to do it again next year.
But next year, we would be more prepared! We learned a lot, like:
BRING A CAMERA what a bunch of maroons - out there with no camera.
and a pillow (for some of us)
Get up and out of camp early! The back of the pack is slower and the day is longer.
Have someone special come to visit. It's amazing how much you want to share the experience once it starts.
Bring portable music. Those people with speakers attached to their ipod on a fanny pack at their waste are brilliant.
Walk your pace, speeding up or slowing down for others will kill you.
Talk to people on the course
I have to say I'm pretty cynical most of the time. It's a joke in my family. I have rarely, since the first year, been able to tell anyone any detail about the event without getting teary.
Day three was brutal hot and we walked North - which is up in the desert - all day. At one point it was so hot they had vans bringing in water at a mid point between pit stops for the walkers. There was lots of cheering though too.
There is a guy that's been at the walk every year. Thunder Dan. He shows up in the morning and stands about a block away from camp and cheers until every camper goes by. He wears pom poms and funny hats - the works. When the last person goes by he gets in his car and drives to the front of the line to do it again. For three whole day.
Day three was long and hot and more work than we thought it would be. At one point in the last five or six miles, Sister 2 looked at me and said I can't feel anything below my waist, and she meant it.
Instigating sister and our cousin were a little way behind us. They talked each other through the last several blocks like this:
Sister: We can walk ten more steps right?
Cousin: Right.
Then they would go ten more and reverse the conversation. When they finally turned the corner and Rawhide was in sight, Instigating Sister burst into tears in relief.
I personally hit the ground when it was over, literally. I had to sit through closing ceremonies. Our families all came out and they stood (I sat) and held a shoe in the air to commemorate what we'd just accomplished with a huge group of people that all hurt as badly as we did.
It looked like this.
We, however, looked like this:
Then we went home exhausted and weepy and signed up to do it again next year.
But next year, we would be more prepared! We learned a lot, like:
BRING A CAMERA what a bunch of maroons - out there with no camera.
and a pillow (for some of us)
Get up and out of camp early! The back of the pack is slower and the day is longer.
Have someone special come to visit. It's amazing how much you want to share the experience once it starts.
Bring portable music. Those people with speakers attached to their ipod on a fanny pack at their waste are brilliant.
Walk your pace, speeding up or slowing down for others will kill you.
Talk to people on the course
I have to say I'm pretty cynical most of the time. It's a joke in my family. I have rarely, since the first year, been able to tell anyone any detail about the event without getting teary.
Day Two - 2005
Day two we rolled out about seven after struggling for an hour to cram our now disassembled tent back into the tube from which it came. If I thought putting it us was hard. Good gracious. Anyway, a few members of our team got some blister relief and we headed out. Day two took us through a somewhat hilly section around Papago park that was taxing. Going up hill just isn't as much fun as going down.
On day two we had some folks come out and see us at the cheering station, which gave us something to look forward to in the afternoon. Back at camp we pitched those darn tents again, and it was no easier! And then, the sisters' husbands and kids came to camp that night for dinner and that was really fun. We wandered around the campsite and looked at the fun stuff.
We had some dinner and hit the tent early. I won't lie. There was some pain. I remember waking up in the middle of night and wondering if my poor feet could carry me to the porta potty. Instigating little sister had some wicked blisters, there were some sun burns, but we all went to sleep happy.
On day two we had some folks come out and see us at the cheering station, which gave us something to look forward to in the afternoon. Back at camp we pitched those darn tents again, and it was no easier! And then, the sisters' husbands and kids came to camp that night for dinner and that was really fun. We wandered around the campsite and looked at the fun stuff.
We had some dinner and hit the tent early. I won't lie. There was some pain. I remember waking up in the middle of night and wondering if my poor feet could carry me to the porta potty. Instigating little sister had some wicked blisters, there were some sun burns, but we all went to sleep happy.
Day One - 2005
Day One started at 0 dark thirty. Les collected each one of us and dropped us at the starting point. We packed our bags, badly. I didn't even remember to bring a pillow! (Yes, there was a list of suggested items, yes a pillow was on it so were a whole lot of other things I didn't see when I didn't read it.) We loaded our bags onto the truck, headed out for opening ceremonies, and then hit the road.
In 2004, the walk was in October. October in the desert: not so cool. Actually, just shy of wicked hot. We walked in pairs most of the day, the faster walkers waiting for the slower at lunch and the last pit stop so we could all roll in together. There were lots of teams that first day, lots of people in cute matching shirts, or with pom poms and props. Everyone was all happy and motivated. There were cheering stations along the route, but none of us had told anyone about them that first day - so we had no one in particular there to cheer for us, but you would have thought we did. People brought out water and ice cream and candy and just handed it off to everyone as they walked by. Kids stand on the side-lines holding their hands out for high fives as you go by. It is as intense as it sounds cheesy. I mean intense.
By the end of day one, we were HOT, tired, sore, and maybe a little wilted. We were walking the last few blocks into camp and there were people on the side walks cheering. There was woman on the side of the road who was completely bald holding a sign that said thank you for walking for me. There is no way to see that and not have everything stop hurting at least for a minute or two.
We waited in line for about an hour for a shower, and then hit the camp cafeteria for dinner. I had laughed at first when I heard lights out was at 9pm, but we were all in our tents before then. That was after we pitched them. I gotta tell ya, we are not campers. Getting those things pitched was no small feat.
In 2004, the walk was in October. October in the desert: not so cool. Actually, just shy of wicked hot. We walked in pairs most of the day, the faster walkers waiting for the slower at lunch and the last pit stop so we could all roll in together. There were lots of teams that first day, lots of people in cute matching shirts, or with pom poms and props. Everyone was all happy and motivated. There were cheering stations along the route, but none of us had told anyone about them that first day - so we had no one in particular there to cheer for us, but you would have thought we did. People brought out water and ice cream and candy and just handed it off to everyone as they walked by. Kids stand on the side-lines holding their hands out for high fives as you go by. It is as intense as it sounds cheesy. I mean intense.
By the end of day one, we were HOT, tired, sore, and maybe a little wilted. We were walking the last few blocks into camp and there were people on the side walks cheering. There was woman on the side of the road who was completely bald holding a sign that said thank you for walking for me. There is no way to see that and not have everything stop hurting at least for a minute or two.
We waited in line for about an hour for a shower, and then hit the camp cafeteria for dinner. I had laughed at first when I heard lights out was at 9pm, but we were all in our tents before then. That was after we pitched them. I gotta tell ya, we are not campers. Getting those things pitched was no small feat.
Year One - 2005
So I think it was Spring, or maybe the end of winter - early 2004. My little sister called me and said something about a thing she was gonna do and a friend did it last year and would I? Of course. The middle sister fell for it too. So then it is Spring, our cousin has signed on and we finally realize we've committed to waking 60 miles in three days and camping in tents for two nights.
So we're totally newbies. We have no idea what we're doing and we have to raise $2K each for the honor of walking 60 miles in three days. whoa.
Instigating little sister did a lot of the heavy lifting that year and it's not as well documented as I would like. Our primary fundraiser that year was a dinner/dance and silent auction. Kinda like prom for adults. It was way fun, look:
That's us the night in question. Sister 1, me, Sister 2, cousin.
Here we are with our families. It took Mom a couple years to get on board, but she's all about the three day now!
So we had this great event and raised a bunch of loot, sent a lot of letters and raised some more loot, did practice walks on the weekends, raised some more loot, and headed out for our first three day event!
So we're totally newbies. We have no idea what we're doing and we have to raise $2K each for the honor of walking 60 miles in three days. whoa.
Instigating little sister did a lot of the heavy lifting that year and it's not as well documented as I would like. Our primary fundraiser that year was a dinner/dance and silent auction. Kinda like prom for adults. It was way fun, look:
That's us the night in question. Sister 1, me, Sister 2, cousin.
Here we are with our families. It took Mom a couple years to get on board, but she's all about the three day now!
So we had this great event and raised a bunch of loot, sent a lot of letters and raised some more loot, did practice walks on the weekends, raised some more loot, and headed out for our first three day event!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
