3-Day Walk for Breast Cancer for my 40

3-Day Walk for My 40 Years

I’m celebrating my 40th birthday this year by participating in the Breast Cancer 3-Day Walk in Boston July 24-26.  The Event consists of pounding pavement (and dirt and gravel I presume) to the tune of 20 miles a day for 3 days straight.  Not exactly a clear winner of “ways I want to spend a summer weekend.” But it is a clear winner in meeting my desire to celebrate my big birthday by giving back. As an added bonus, this event is helping me get in shape while I fundraise to help others. Who doesn’t love a two-fer?

When I signed up for the 3-Day I thought, and told others,”Walking, now that is something I can do. It isn’t like I’m running a marathon or anything.”  Then one person replied,”Right. You are doing 3 marathons.”   Now that I’m at about Week 13 in the training plan, I’m find the subtle hint to treat this undertaking seriously is good advice.  Walking will never be intimidating but that “60-mile” part of the equation is worth respecting.

I love the audacious goal and the structured training plan designed to help me achieve it.  NYC is a great walking city and the all the extra “forced” outdoor time has frankly been welcome. Riverside Park, just one block away from my apartment, is my usual stomping ground. A day’s exercise can now take me by the USS Intrepid, the Circle Line, Chelsea Piers and the West Side heliport.  I admit I now obsessively check how much milage I’ve clocked in a day — including workouts and walkabouts –  using the Google maps pedometer site.  Which is often a reality check showing again how small mighty Manhattan really is.

Of course, the awareness and money raised by me and the other women on our team (christened Think Pink  and led by the incomparable Shari Brooks) helps us all. With very low overhead, last year’s 3-Day events directly contributed more than $79 million to breast cancer research, education and community health programs.  And we’ve never needed it more: 1 in 8 women in the US will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. 

I’ve set a personal fundraising goal of $2,300 and what better time to kick things off than Mother’s Day? My first mini-goal is to gain 7 contributors by this Sunday, Mother’s Day — one for each year I’ve been a mother.  My 3-Day page includes an easy online donation form and all donors — regardless of amount — are recognized on my page’s Honor Roll.   You can even choose to honor your own mom when you make a donation.  So join me in celebrating Mother’s Day by helping moms everywhere!