In about 24 hours, we will all be packing my car to head towards Philadelphia for The Breast Cancer 3-Day.  Our team of four mamas is so excited even with what looks like will be a soggy weekend.  Twenty miles a day isn't easy, but is doable.  Twenty miles with wet sneakers is a different story.  We're all doing our "anti" rain dance right now!

But even with the forecast, our excitement is building.  We may look like drowned rats or have the sniffles on Monday but we haven't come this far to quit.  Quitting is not an option.  With $10,000 raised and new sneakers and ponchos, we are ready to take on Philadelphia.  More importantly, we are ready to take the steps to end breast cancer.  Our battle won't end with the walk.  It ends when there is a cure.  Whether we walk the 3-Day again or find another event, we will keep fighting.  Shouldn't every woman?

We all know that an event like this one can change our lives. We're not sure how, but know that we will all be better for participating in the 3-Day.    We will be sure to let you all know how the weekend went.  Our next blog will be coming soon...

Over the next few months, our team of four women will be blogging about our experience in training for The Breast Cancer 3-Day, a three day walk that will total 60 miles.  The walk will take place in Philadelphia, PA on October 16^th, 17^th and 18^th.  Each week leading up to the walk, one "Mama" will be writing about her experience training for this incredible adventure. We call ourselves "Mamas with a Mission" and I'm Mama 1.

Walking!  I've been walking since I was about a year old.  How many miles has it been in 33 years?  I can't even imagine.  So why does walking 60 miles in three days seem to be such a challenge.  This event is not a race.  You have until sundown to complete your twenty miles a day.  But walking twenty miles for three days straight makes me tired just thinking about it.

I've been training, sort of.  So far our team has done three training walks; a five, ten and fifteen mile.  They honestly have not been that bad.  But seriously, if you stick four women together and set them out to walk it is bound to go quickly.  We never seem to run out of things to say.  Our fourth and final training walk is taking place in ten days.  It is our twenty mile walk and will take place at the beach.  Again, four women walking, talking and spending time at the beach.  How can it be that bad, right?

Here is my problem.  I took about six weeks off without any serious walks.  I know, I know, that is bad right?  I would do little mile to mile and a half walks but that is it.  My excuse, I'm pregnant.  I couldn't be happier but it has come at a difficult time in training.  So my plan now is that since the dreadful first trimester is over, I can kick it up a notch.  At least that is what I hope for.  I guess I'll see how it goes at our twenty mile walk.  Until then I plan on walking every day.

I've had a few friends ask why I'm still walking since I will be "with child".  My response...why not?  I've raised over $2300 to just quit.  No way!  Also, women who have cancer go through so much more then I will ever experience in this walk, pregnant or not.  And, just because I'm pregnant doesn't mean I can't exercise.  It's good for me!  I totally agree with my midwife when she said, "I wish all pregnant women would put in those extra miles". 

To find out more about The Breast Cancer 3-Day, go to www.the3day.org

Over the next few months our team of four women will be blogging about our experiences in training and preparing for The Breast Cancer 3-Day Walk.  The Breast Cancer 3-Day is a three day, 60 mile walk, and we will be walking in Philadelphia this coming October.  Each week leading up to the walk, one "Mama" from our team will be writing about her experiences through this incredible journey.  We call ourselves "Mamas with a Mission" and I am Mama 1!

My topic this month is fundraising.  Our team of four moms has a goal of raising $10,000 which is no easy task. Oh, how I truly dislike asking people for money.  The whole idea just makes me break into a sweat and also a little nauseous.  I know it is for a great cause but I sometimes wish I just had the money so I wouldn't have to ask others.  It was a huge deal for me to send out letters to all my family and friends to ask for a donation.  But if I didn't, I wouldn't be where I am today.  My family and friends have really stepped up and helped me get close to my goal.  However, if I choose to do this walk again, will those same supporters be there or if they are, will they be able to help as much?  There just has to be a better way.

Sometimes I think that there needs to be the "golden egg".  That one great idea that makes an enormous amount of money.  But big events also usually take money upfront.  With four moms with young families extra money just doesn't come easy.  We don't have $200 each to reserve a room for a swanky event.  So for now we're all just going to have to take baby steps.  A fundraiser night at Friendly's or Maggie Moo's may not bring in the big bucks but every penny counts  It is because of those generous businesses and also the help of my friends and family who are going to help me reach my fundraising goal and walk those 60 miles comes October.

To find out more about The Breast Cancer 3-Day and how you can help, go to www.the3day.org

Over the next few months, our team of four women will be blogging about our experience in training for The Breast Cancer 3-Day, a three day walk that will total 60 miles.  The walk will take place in Philadelphia, PA on October 16^th, 17^th and 18^th.  Each week leading up to the walk, one "Mama" will be writing about her experience training for this incredible adventure. We call ourselves "Mamas with a Mission" and I'm Mama 1.

My first blog will be about why I'm walking.  There are so many reasons why I could be walking.  There is the fact that both my mom and grandmother battled breast cancer.  They were both strong enough to beat it.  Or it could be for all the women who didn't win the fight with breast cancer.  I could be walking in their memory.  I have a daughter, I could be walking so that one day she won't have to.  These are all good reasons, and I'm sure they are partly the reason I am walking.  But to be honest, I'm walking because I'm scared that one day I will get breast cancer.

With having a family history of breast cancer, there is that good chance that I could get it too.  What if I'm not strong enough to beat it?  Seeing what my own mother went through brings doubt to my head.  Can I possibly be as strong as she was?  The chemo and radiation alone are a tremendous task to battle.  Or what if I didn't catch it in time?  There are so many women who give themselves regular breast exams and still don't catch it.  My mother had her lump for about a year and they just thought it was a blocked milk duct.  It was a good thing she was persistent. 

Then there are the physical changes...the loss of hair or worst yet, a breast.  I'm going to be totally honest, they are the two features that I like best about me.  Maybe that is vain, but after two children those are the parts of me that I still have going on.  I can't image going through a single or double mastectomy.  Would I still feel like a woman?  Would my husband still find me attractive?  I know he says that he loves me for who I am but still, would it be the same? 

Signing up to do this walk has brought on so many thoughts.  There have also been good ones.  The most important being, that it has taught me to cherish each day.  It might not be breast cancer that takes my life but one day something will.  Until then, I need to remind myself to enjoy life and never take it for granted. 

To find out more about the The Breast Cancer 3-Day go to www.the3day.org