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July 19-WalkForBoobs plans for Tampa and Toronto! Okay, so I have upcoming trips....this weekend to Tampa and next weekend to Toronto. It has been so hard this year to raise donations. I can no longer lean on my friends for money (no thats not a bad thing....they donated last year, and at this point because of the economy/etc, I can not expect more than that). Anyways, Ive had to try to be more creative than ever to get some donations coming in. I am trying to think of some things that I can do while I am traveling in Tampa and Toronto. I know in Tampa this weekend I will be introduced to a local band that is quite a regular at the Holiday Inn in Clearwater. Networking is the keyword. Ive got to work the magic, turn on the charm, convince people to help me get the word out. Toronto, I know I will be visiting several places/sites...being quite the tourist....maybe I can bring my business cards...well, duh, I ALWAYS have my business cards, but maybe I can leave a stack, print out some flyers and leave a stack of those at each place. Lets get Canada involved in saving the TA TAS! If anyone is reading this and has a good idea for fundraising while I am traveling, please throw the suggestion to me....you can email me through my Contact box, or send one to pinkfeet360@yahoo.com July 18-Motivation/Inspiration by Strangers I love my website. It is a great feeling to know that people find use out of it. I received an email today for a 'thank you' for making my website. The email was from a mother researching The 3 Day for her daughter that is walking in Tampa this year. The email made me go re-read by 2007 journal, and relive the experience. So many emotions packed in such a short weekend! I cant wait to experience it again! The 3 Day is definately something you think you know what you will expect, until you are actually living it. July 7-Thanks Shenandoah! Well we just came back from a weekend in Shenandoah VA, floating down the river, relaxing, and letting go of our worries. I was quite excited for weeks.....for a vacation....to be with friends....to meet new people....to float down the river with a beer (lets be honest!). My excitement doubled when I found out the camp (oh by the way, there was about 150 of us there for this event) was collecting aluminum cans (ok, mostly beer cans, but still.). Having received most of my donations this year by recycling, I was quite excited that I could grab up some more and take them home! IF ONLY WE HAD ANOTHER TRUCK! We brought back two full bags...when I really wanted 20 bags, but we just didnt have the room. Didnt matter, I am a few more bucks closer to my goal! June 22-Tip of the Day-Dont walk through Posts You know summer is here in Florida when the banana spiders are out. I learned this during my 6 mile walk today.....as I walked face first into a huge web between a tree and lamp post. I must have looked like a crazy person doing the maniac dance in the middle of the street right after I walked through the web. Not only does the cob web feel weird on you, you start freaking out because you dont know if there is a spider on you. And trust me, you do not want one of these humungous monsters on you!! Molly ended up going on this long walk with me. I felt bad at the door as I was leaving. She just looked at me with those eyes. I told her it would be a long one, but she didnt seem to care. (yes, Im crazy I talk to my dog). Well, we made about 2 miles and she was ready for her first break. I didnt mind the breaks. However, the longer we took with the walk, the higher the sun was getting, which means the more of a chance for over heating. The last mile, I didnt think she would make it. But she did. She slept the rest of the day away! I think Ill be leaving her home on the long walks for now on, unless its at night. June 21-Walmart Take 2 Well the day started off well. Lots of donations within the first couple hours. I had learned from the last set up, that not everyone knows or understands "Susan G Komen". I have been asked if I was Susan, and also asked what it is. Therefore, I made new posters making it more known that I am walking 60 miles for Breast Cancer. The bracelets sold well again as I hoped. I tried to make some cupcakes, however, the heat melted the ribbon icing I had put on them, so I did not even sell one. I did not think I was going to sell the Ribbon Lollipops left over from last time, but one lady decided she wanted to buy them all and pass them out at work. Was pretty cool. It felt really good that I had a friend, Debbie and her daughter, come up and help me out while I took a break. Its really great to have support doing these fundraising activities. She also brought some laughter and hugs which were much needed. It was a typical Florida day. Hot, high humidity, sunny, until it hit 1pm. Half of the sky turned black and a severe storm was threatening. I was going to wait it out (with the way FL is you never know if it will actually come to you), but I didnt want to ruin my new posters, hoping I will have the chance to set up shop again. However, the wind picked up, and I decided the storm was coming. I packed my car early and came home for a nap. To my disappointment, I woke and the storm never came. =( The day ended early with me making $130 in donations. I am still surprised on how much less I am making at Walmart this year compared to last. My ideas need to be more creative. I need to get the pub crawl, bowling party, and car washes organized. 3 months to go!! June 16-www.Mapmyrun.com Well I have found a new training motivation in a new website...www.mapmyrun.com. It really does become tiresome and unmotivating when you walk the same route over and over. I learned this last year and the furthest I walked for training before the 3Day was 9 miles. Not very impressive. Anyways, this website is cool because I can chose my route ahead of time. People also save their routes online and share them, so I can get good ideas too...discover new parts of town. Id rather walk close to home and not have to drive somewhere to go walk, seeing how gas prices are raising every week. And its amazing what is right around the corner from you that you havent stumbled upon before. Take for instance, I had no idead there was a golf course across the street from. I must be blind. I pass by this neighborhood daily, but have never noticed there is a course. Well, I will walk this tomorrow. A 5 mile walk lined up already. I am excited but nervous. I have been sore 2 days straight now since the 5k on Saturday (and that is only 3 miles). However, that was more running. I will take my time with this one. I am debating taking Molly, my puppy. It is getting so hot. She has survived the 4 mile walks, but not without having to stop a few times for a couple minutes. Maybe I can get up before sunrise. Ha! That will be funny. (I am NOT a morning person!) June 14-Back in Shape Well, it is that time again.....19 weeks in til the Atlanta walk, and training has begun in full force. Today was a very long day. Starting with a quick 1mile walk through the mall at 10am. (walking indoors always feels so good). Then later, another 1mile walk to/from the Jacksonville Landing, where I met some friends to run the Jacksonville Run for the Pies 5K. My first 5K I completed last November.....Savannah's Bridge Run....at a pace of 39min. I have to admit, there has only been a few other races since then, the last being the 1/2 Marathon in Februrary. So for me to finish at 39 minutes again, was a great feeling. However, I have to admit, there was quite a bit more pain this time around. What does this mean? It means I need to focus. Training needs to get serious again. Yea, I only half-assed the training last year before the 3 Day walk, and I survived right? So why so much effort this time? Well, Ive decided doing things the first time around adds in this extra adrenaline, that kinda disappears on you when you do it the second time around. The high does not take you so high. The focus does not last as long. I know I can be honest and say I barely survived the first day at 3 Day...the first day being the longest in miles...24/25 miles was it? That last mile, I cried to myself and I barely made it inside the gate before I sat down and cried some more...thinking I wanted to give up the whole thing. This year, I want to complete that first day with flying colors and not be so wore out. "A good feeling I have not felt in a long time."....the quote of the night. It feels good to accomplish something. It feels good to feel yourself push yourself to the limit. It feels good to know you are doing something to better yourself. It feels good to see your body progress. June 13-Strangers among Company Being part of a world wide running group, you come along some really great people. I received an email from a stranger, yet someone part of the same group,..just a little further south than me. It was wonderful to hear the awesome comments and motivation she provided. Just a short quick email explaining how our lives have past in conversation and she just wanted to share how proud she was of me. WOW is all I have to say. To have someone that I have never met before, be proud of me. How much better can that get? Word of mouth is my biggest chance to help me raise the huge goal we have every year. And I have been lucky to surround myself by people that help me in that goal. Thank you to everyone that has helped me in every way possible! The saying is true..."every little thing helps". And with every little effort we put in together, the sooner we will have a cure! May 24-Walmart-Economy effects us all Who would have guessed the world would be where its at today. The gas prices have sky rocketed, food prices soared, and its hurting everyone in everyway, even down to helping out each other. I sat at Walmart today to fundraise. It was the first time I had made crafts, and 'goodies' (chocolates, cookies, etc). I was super excited, thinking last year I averaged $200-$300/day, I just knew that I would make double this time. Little did I think that because of how much everyone is having to spend everywhere else, it would affect the way they donate as well....or even if they could afford it. I spoke with several people throughout the day, some telling me how they had to ride their bike up there to get the groceries, some explaining how prescription prices have held them back from donating more. Most of the ones that gave, always said "I wish I had more." Its not like they dont 'want' to help, its just trying times. I wished for no rain, but I forgot to wish for shade. I fundraised for 7hours, until there just wasnt anymore shade left. I walked with $148. Not too shabby. Just not what I expected. Everyone 'loved' the bracelets. I will definatley have to have twice as many for next time. I was very disappointed though that NONE of the chocolate ribbon lollipops sold! i was sure they would be a hit! I guess I will have to bring them to work and my friends. I did have a couple people take my card and ask for me to buy some more items for them. So that will be good. Im going to upload my leftover items on here, so people to purchase. May 11-New Domain name Well, looks like my "walkforboobs.com" will not be around forever. Microsoft put an expiration on it. (it used to be a free service, but now they decided to start charging). I guess this could be good or bad. I always liked the name and thought it was straight to the point. And3 day walkers are always so creative with coming up with their names. I just never understood how someone could take offense to the name. But they have. I have a sticker on my car with my web address and someone at work thought it wasnt appropriate because of the word 'boob'. ...(takes me back to my Southwest experience and the word "ta-ta"). Geez. Cant everyone see that this is a 'good' thing, I am raising money for breast cancer and having fun with it? Anyways, I have come up with a new name and went ahead and purchased it, so I wont lose it by the time 'Walkforboobs' expires. ....."PinkFeet.net" Still pretty much to the point of what it is. I think its cute and shouldnt offend anyone. Both addresses now take you to my webpage and eventually (2009), walkforboobs.com will fall off. May 11-Happy Mothers Day! I am so excited and feel like a little kid again. Ever feel like things come into your life for a reason? After analyzing and wondering why my fundraising has started off so slow, and racking my brain on what I could do, a craft fair flyer falls into my hands. Me crafty? No way. Well, maybe. Ive been researching different ideas on what to make. It makes me remember when I was younger, how my mom used to always make things. She used to love to make wreaths. I never understood it back then. I would watch her and my sister make Christmas presents and just shake my head. Well, I decided to give a run. My first idea.....chocolate Breast cancer ribbon lollipops. To my surprise it was quite easy and fast. I have decided to personalize them with an attached tag on how to do a proper self breast exam. So now, Ive been going to the craft stores daily, buying the items on sale. I am so excited to get started on some of the ideas I have....flip flops, coozies, frames, soaps, candles. I really hope they all turn out as good as I am imagining. May 3, 2008-Motivation Our Team now has 7 people signed up. Two of them are half way there. I am so happy. Yet, a little discouraged. Last year I definately had more donations by this point. I thought this year would be easier, after having experiencing it once before, but I guess I was wrong. The Can collection has been awesome! Everyone keeps bringing me cans every week, which has helped, but not quite enough. I need to step it up. My time and energy has been put towards other activities going on in my life, but I need to refocus again on what is truely important and what I have promised to dedicate myself to.....to help find a cure for breast cancer. This weekend is perfect for refocusing. I finally have a free weekend with nothing planned at all! I will decorate some collection cans and find places to set them up at. I will contact Walmart again to arrange some dates to fundraise. I will start planning my calendar for the next 5 months to reach my goal. Hopefully a final Pink Pub Crawl will put me over the top. 173 days left =$12 a day needed. March 2-Catch up! Wow! Its been a long time since Ive blogged on here. Boy, time sure does fly when you are having a good time keeping busy! Well, I completed the National Breast Cancer Marathon (well, half of it anyways) on February 17. It was held right here in Jacksonville and I feel extremely privledged to have been a part of it, for it is the only national marathon that puts 100% of its registration fees towards breast cancer research! The 13 miles was definately fun, motivating, and a reminder of what the 3 day is all about. It is a wonderful group of people that gather for one common goal.....to find a cure. It is very moving to not only witness the event, but to also be apart of it. The run itself was not as bad as I thought. I guess pure adrenaline helped out, plus some good friends ;) The marathon was put on by the Donna Hicken Foundation....Donna being a local newscaster here in Jax that has battled breast cancer twice now. As part of the goodie bag for registering, we all received her book. I have started it (I have to mention I have not read a single book since I graduated college several years ago) and can not stop crying everytime I pick it up. Not only just from sadness of what she has gone through, but also of joy, inspiration, and admiration. She is probably one of the strongest people I have ever met...well, not met, but read about. Maybe one day I will be lucky to meet her. Anyways, what else.....OH! I have changed cities from San Fran to Atlanta, basically due to I have inspired a friend to register!! I am so excited I have done my part and attracted people to participate in the fight. Jillian is a girl I met in Chattanooga when I lived there. She is fun and spunky, so I know this years walk will definitely be fun! She has also convinced a friend of hers to register as well. Together, we have become the team "Second Base". November 27-2008 HERE I COME!! Its official....I have registered for the 2008 3 Day! I am so excited to get to go to California again! I have never been to San Francisco and cant wait! Its such extra motivation to have a goal set like this. Speaking of goals, I am running the Savannah 5K this Saturday. ...my first 5k. For those that dont know..it goes over the Talmadge Bridge at a 5.5% grade. (not positive, but ive been told this is some serious stuff to go running on! ) Anyways, Im quite nervous. Ive trained very little. Dont get me wrong, I had all intentions of doing some serious training, but it just didnt happen. I think it lacks the motivation like the 3 Day. I mean, where are the benefits going?? I would much rather be "straining" myself if I knew I was benefiting someone else. I am doing this for/with friends though, so it will still be a good experience. Oct 19-21 See "2007 Tampa 3 Day" page for my 60 mile journal! Sept 27-Who Knew it took so much to Walk? My goal of $2200 for my 60 mile walk has been met thanks to some great friends and the generosity of some wonderful strangers! Together we have come closer to finding a cure for breast cancer! However, I have not stopped the fundraising! Tomorrow I fundraise again at Walmart in Orange Park. Check out WWW.WALKFORBOOBS.COM to learn more about my story and walk.
So, I have 21 days til I walk 60 miles. Being the first time I have ever done anything like this before, I am amazed at all that it takes to...well....just walk!.....
3 walking shoes, 6pairs of socks, 3 bandanas, 3 sports bras, 3 walking outfits, 1 tube of body glide, 1 package of bandaids, 1 pack of blister aids, braces, wraps, gauze, tape (prevention), 1 walking pack, 1 water bottle holder, 3 hats, 1 bottle of insect repellent, 1 pair sun glasses, 1 rain poncho(again, prevention), 1 tube of sunscreen, 1 stick of lip balm.......
....is there anything that I am forgetting?? I would love to hear from people that have done distance walking/running. Words of advice, motivation, inspiration, stories of experience, whatever.
Thanks to all that have supported me!
Sept 12-A lesson learned again-Ask and you shall receive! The past week has been going very well fundraising wise. I have come so close to my goal and its happening a lot quicker than I thought it would. I was sitting at work, quite content, when I received an email that said I just received a $100 donation! Quite excited by this alone, I also learned that this donation was from someone that I dont even know! Wow is all I have to say. The day before I had posted on My Clay Sun a blog talking about the 3 Day, my goal, and why I want to walk. I also asked that every reader make a small $10 donation. Figuring people that read my blogs are passionate about finding a cure of breast cancer as well, I figured I could easily persuade a small donation. I am extremely appreciative of the donation, being this is only the second large donation I have received. Ask, and you shall receive, even the most unexpected. Sept 8-Third Times a Charm Car Wash Yep, we decided to still hold the Third Times a Charm Car Wash despite the "10%" chance of rain that never seemed to end.
Redwing tried to 'scare' the rain away by riding his motorcyle over to OP. Instead, he ended up looking like a drowned rat. After we set up and it looked like we wouldnt get any cars to stop, Bobber came up with great 'sympathy' signs......"Car Wash Busted"...."Its raining, how about a donation anyways?" Which actually got a few cars to stop and donate. We even got to wash two cars while it was still sprinkling! And Capt persuaded a car driving by to toss her a beer! We then decided to just grin and "bare" it and stand at the corner with donation cans. Redwing and Bobber had their manly "ta-tas" exposed while Godzilla did a quick flash. We even got Godz to do a quick run out in the intersection to collect a $10 bill.....(she "doesnt even run in the hash" she said!)
All in all, after 2 hours or so, we collected $150! Not bad for a so called "car wash" that only washed 2 cars! Thanks to everyone that helped and everyone that has supported me along the way!
August 26-Breast Cancer Supporter Denied by Southwest Airlines! Well, heading off to my grandmother’s funeral this past Monday, I found myself in a sticky situation with Southwest Airlines. My grandmother passed on Monday from Breast Cancer (we all know I’ve been doing the fundraising to walk in honor of her) and I headed to VA on Southwest for her funeral. I wore my “Save the Ta-Tas” tank top along with my several “fight breast cancer” pins in honor of her. I received great compliments as I walked into the airport, as well as Starbucks giving me half off on my order because they were so moved by my 60 mile walk. I walked up and down the airport (trying to gain more training and miles) as I waited for my plane to board. I finally started to board.
As I took my first step onto the plane, I was pulled over by a flight attendant. Thinking it was another compliment on my tank top, I was smiling……which quickly turned into a frown as the lady told me I “had to take my top off, or put a jacket on because of the word Ta-Tas……This is a family plane” I quickly said, “your kidding!?.....do you realize this top is a ‘Breast Cancer Organization raising money for breast cancer??!!” She stood there saying “Im sorry.” I continued to tell my story,….how my grandmother just passed and I was on my way to her funeral….how I was walking 60 miles to fight and raise awareness for breast cancer in honor of her….how my buttons (and ribbon) shows “ta-tas” is for breast cancer.” She did not care and just said “I’m sorry.” I was absolutely flabbergasted. There was nothing I could say but “you’re kidding.” That is when the pilot came out with a smile on his face. All he had to say was “What’s the problem? You can just zip up your jacket, right?” I said, “That is not the point.” He stood there with a smirk on his face and I continued to ask “why are you smiling?” Both him and the flight attendant said he was not…and all he had to say was “I guess I am just a happy guy”. Absolutely blown away, tears falling from my eyes, as I am thinking all I want to do is get to my grandmother’s funeral, there was nothing left to do but zip up my jacket and sit down.
I have never in my life felt so belittled or embarrassed by doing something “honorable for the community.” I am sitting here raising thousands of dollars in the fight against breast cancer, yet all this flight attendant or pilot could think about was the “offensive” word “ta-tas” when seriously, lets be honest, there could be more threatening events happening on the same plane, but we decided to chose this battle!! Worst come to worst, the flight attendant approached me later and asked if I was okay. I asked if I were to wear a shirt that said “Fight Breast Cancer” because it had the word “breast” in it, I would have the same situation. All she had to say was “I did not say that.” Apparently the flight attendant was ignorant and did not know what she was saying. …What if I did not have a jacket? Would they kick me off the plane…because of ‘ta-tas’?? Absolutely ridiculous.
This is just an update on what I have been through this past week. There will be a following letter, if anyone wants to help me in this fight against this discriminating incident. The breast cancer organizations, local news, and of course Southwest will be contacted about this.
Thanks for those that have supported me
Melissa
August 20-Today is the Day-Email post Most of you already know that my grandmother has been bedridden the past several months in a losing battle to Breast Cancer. Well, today she chose to end that battle. She did not give up, however. She fought long and hard for over 10 years. Through treatments and medications, she still managed to hold the family together. To keep a smile on her face and welcome us with her warm embrace. She kept her famous dinners warm and her home made biscuits endless. And even when she lost her husband this past spring, she still tried to hold strong and never give up.
Today is not a sad day. Today is a glorious day. Today is the day where she will not wake knowing there is nothing more for the doctors to do. Today is the day where she will not feel excruciating pain any longer. Today is the day she will be happy and meet her husband once again. Today is the day she will forever rest easy.
For anyone that had ever met my grandmother, knew that she was a blessing. And that is why I am walking 60 miles in the fight against Breast Cancer, in memory of her. I will be walking from Clearwater to St Petersburg in three days in October in the Susan G Komen Breast Cancer 3 Day. I am also walking for my aunt and anyone else that has been affected by breast cancer.
Breast Cancer is unfortunately the number one cancer in American women and it is estimated 40,460 women will die from breast cancer this year. My grandmother is part of that statistic. Hopefully one day our children and our children’s children will be able to live in a breast cancer free world. Together, we can make that happen.
I am so close to making my goal of $2200, only a little over $600 to go. I greatly appreciate everyone that has helped and supported me along the way. Again, I ask you to forward this email to as many people as you know. Even a small donation of $10 will help find a cure for Breast Cancer. One hundred percent of the proceeds go towards research and programs to help raise awareness. Please help me in my journey.
Please check out my website at WWW.WALKFORBOOBS.COM
Donations can be made there or at WWW.THE3DAY.ORG/TAMPABAY07/MELISSAJOHNSON
THANK YOU
Melissa
August 13-All you have to do is ASK! I finally got out a bit today and asked restaurants for gift certificates. Ive been planning on holding a raffle, either during the pool party I want to have with the apartment, or just do a raffle on its own. Ive been collecting gift certificates from different places and today I received a few more. It started off great at the Wing House, they were all excited to help out and even gave me a tank top! The manager wants me to bring in pictures so they can post it in their news letter. I then spoke to a really nice manager over at the Ale House. We had a pretty deep conversation about all kinds of cancers. It was good to talk to someone that knew what he was talking about and really wanted to keep talking about it. I got a few more leads from a couple more places including Hooters, who is going to be giving away $5000 to a local charity next monday. It would be a long shot, but maybe I might have a chance...? August 12-Car Wash Take Two Well, the thermometer read 92 degrees and that wasnt including the heat index. We all managed to survive the 3 hours in the middle of the day and walked away with another $150. If you think about it being $50 an hour, it doesnt seem so bad, but compared to our first car wash ($400), it was kinda a bummer not to even come close to making the same. I think the heat was just too much. We held the car wash on the same street...just a little further down, but there just didnt seem to be too much traffic today. And those that were out driving, didnt want to stop and stand in the heat. All in all, I am glad I got some volunteers that have really stood by my side through this fundraising! ....making new friends, and re establishing old ones. August 11-Trail Well, despite getting some awesome battle wounds from playing in the woods again today with spiders, shiggy, and trash......I actually realized the Jax Beach hashers really do care! Tom, aka sphincter, had surprised me a few days ago by posting trail information with an additional comment ..."bring donations for melissa for her walk". I was blown away. Here I was posting information on the site all the time, thinking no one really cared about it. Well, shows I was proven wrong. We ended trail with me being presented with $50 all together! What a great, fun group of people! =) August 10-the Power of 10 I got antoher one today! Another $10 (well $15) donation from a name I do not know. It feels strange, but absolutely wonderful at the same time to see a stranger helping me out with my goal! It goes to show the networking is working! I asked several friends (and even strangers on internet blog sites) to repost my email/letter to 10 of their friends to donate $10 each.......I figured that would put me so close to my goal, I would be able to reach out and touch it! Well, I've now received about 6 or 7 of these donations. I just wish I knew who to thank, on top of the actual donator! August 3-Walmart Take Two NO RAIN CAN SCARE ME AWAY!! I was bombarded by three thunderstorms today, but it still didnt send me packing! I guess I was quite lucky cause each one only really lasted about 5 minutes or so. I thought Monday was a great turn out, but I ended up making even more....total of $238!! WOW! was my reaction, was no expecting it at all. I had several people make $10 donations today! (I even got to sell my corny ankles/bracelets I made!). The surprise today was the amount of children that pleaded with their parents to donate money. I talking about children that are five, six, maybe seven years old. I was amazed to see that at this young age, they one, knew about breast cancer and understood the fundraising for it, and two, that they really wanted to do something to help! What was the most amazing was, as I was on a quick lunch break to the Mickey D's inside, I had my can up on the counter next to me. Two children, a young boy and girl were in line behind me. The young boy read aloud my can, his eyes got all big, and he nudged his friend in the arm. Without saying anything more, he reached into his 'own' pocket and pulled out all his change and stuck it in my can. Now that was just moving. Later, as I set back up outside, the kids came out of Walmart with an older lady and she asked if the boy could have a pink ribbon. After the boy grabbed one and ran off smiling, the lady said to me "His mother was just diagnosed." It is amazing how just sitting just one day outside of Walmart how many people you meet with breast cancer or people who know someone that has been affected by it. More surprising were the ones who said they had it and survived. These are people you can walk by anywhere any day and would have no idea, no clue that they had or are going through this. There are not enough words to express to them how I feel. Especially after they thank "me" for doing what I'm doing. July 30-Walmart Today was absolutely everything I didnt expect. I showed up a little upset, because I had forgotten my comfy camping chair. However, call it luck, I found a really cool 'pink' one for only $10. (AND it has speakers for an IPOD!). I think I might have to change my favorite color to pink! That put me in a better mood. I then became quite surprised within minutes after setting up.....expecting everyone to give only spare change, I was greatly surprised when people started putting in dollars, and not only ones, but fives! People actually DO care about finding a cure for this battle! All in all I ended up raising $125! A LOT more than what I had expected! I met several different kinds of people through out the day and a lot of people that wanted to share their story as well....why they were donating. I met someone that had done the walk the prior year and she gave me great advice. She warned me to get serious about training, and gave me hope that I will find friends among strangers even though I am going to the walk alone. She got so excited reliving her experience, she claimed she got goosebumps. She was so gidy, it also got me excited to be apart of such a wonderful thing that will have a huge impact on my life. Later, an older lady sent one of her four young kids to drop in some money. She stood on the curb and watched. I thanked the girl that dropped in the money, and then looked up at the woman...I smiled, getting ready to say thank you....I saw her eyes were wide, but I noticed there was a sort of sadness in her eyes. She stood there for a long moment just quiet, almost staring, not at my signs with all the information, but at me. Directly at me. As I went to say 'thank you', she opened her mouth and whispered 'thank you' TO ME. I then realized the woman had very little hair, obviously reprocussions from radation therapy. She was thanking me for helping "her". My eyes welled up as I realized what I was really doing this fundraising for. Its not about me. and its not 'only' for my grandmother and aunt. It is for the complete strangers. The complete strangers that have been caught up in the battle out of no where. They need my help. I also met a lady from Making Strides in OP. It is a new branch and she invited me to come check it out. It is a local based organization, so all the proceeds go towards the locals here with breast cancer, so you see more of the impact you are making. I got her number and will more than likely contact her once I finish fundraising for the 3Day. Later, as the day got a little slow, a lady, probably about my age came and stood right in front of me, back towards me, looking into the parking lot. She stood there for a little bit and looked back at me and then back at the lot. I had no idea what she was doing. She then turned her head back towards me and pointed towards her calf with her head. I saw the most beautiful tattoo I have ever seen. Yet it was so simple. It was an original design with the 'pink ribbon'. Her sister had died from breast cancer. I got a lot of stories from people that they had lost their loved ones. Even people donated because they had lost their loved one to a different kind of cancer. Its like someone said the other day. If we can find a cure for one, it wont be long after where all the cancers can be gone! Well, I came home burnt (even though I sat in the shade all day), hungry, and exhausted! I cant believe how tired I am. I think more so because its been such an emotional day. I am going to have to prepare myself better to be able to walk 20miles after being emotionally drained. Hopefully Friday when I am at Walmart again, I will be a little more prepared. July 29 First off I'd like to say THANK YOU so much to everyone that has taken the extra step with me to help me reach my goal! People really do surprise you when you least expect it. Tomorrow I get to hang out at Walmart to collect donations. I have never done anything like this before and am a bit apprehensive. I have seen several different fundraisers that do this sort of thing, so it has to be beneficial in some way. Unfortunately since everyone I know is working tomorrow, I will be up there by myself. I guess this is just one of those things I need to do that will make me stronger. To do something that is outside your norm. And to do it for no other reason than to help others. July 26-"Waiting" It is so hard to have something you want so bad in the hands of someone else. All I want is to walk for my grandmother. I have come up with so many ideas for this fundraising yet, they keep getting shot down. I never realized how hard it would be to raise this money. Today I should hear about whether we can go forward with the Pool Party. I really hope so. It would be great to get together with all of our neighbors, have fun, relax, and also help benefit breast cancer. July 26-Email Post Well, it is only twelve weeks away! Since most of you have heard me talk about my Breast Cancer 3Day walk for so long, you know that twelve weeks is not very long! So far I have raised about $750! I couldn’t have done it without help from a lot of great friends! And I thank you greatly! However, I still am $1400 away from my minimum goal in order to walk in honor of my grandmother.
My grandmother is still hanging in there, for reasons we do not understand. She is completely bedridden now, the cancer eating away at her body. She is on morphine and other medications that make her sleep through the entire day. Most of the time she can not even wake up to eat or to see her visitors that have come to say goodbye. She has been this way for months now. The doctors gave up on treating her cancer over a year ago. And she has been fighting breast cancer for over ten years now. I can’t understand a world where we are so close to finding a cure, but yet men and women are dying every 13 minutes due to breast cancer! I know that if we keep up this fight, it would be obtainable to have our children and children’s children live in a breast cancer free world!
So I am still begging for you help. For those of you who have already donated, the best way you can help me is to forward this email to as many people as you know, or even just talk to people you think would be interested in helping out. I figure if I get 10 of my friends to get 10 of their friends to make a small donation of $10, I would almost reach my goal!! How easy would that be! Please help me in my journey!
You can make donations at www.the3day.org/tampabay07/melissajohnson
Or I have made a new web page that I will be updating frequently at www.walkforboobs.com there is a link of donations here as well.
Information on the Breast Cancer 3Day by Susan G Komen:
I will be walking 60 miles from Clearwater to St Petersburg in October. I am walking in honor of my aunt and grandmother who have battled breast cancer. I will be walking with thousands of other men and women who have battled breast cancer or who have loved ones they are walking for. All proceeds go to the Susan G Komen fund and the National Philanthropic Breast Cancer Fund. Walkers must raise $2200 minimum in donations in order to participate. All donations go towards research, teaching awareness, and community outreach. More information can be found at www.the3day.org.
THANK YOU
Melissa Johnson
July 8-Finally someone who understands! Well, I got the list from the 3day of other 'jacksonville' walkers that will be participating in the Tampa 3Day. I have heard from three of them. A couple are out of town, but one was able to help with the car wash! Her name is Cindy and she and her sister are doing the walk together. Sometimes I get envious that most people have partners or teams with this. I had a partner, but we broke up, so now I am in this alone. I dont know, maybe its for the better. I know it will make me stronger if anything. I just am also worried because I know my grandmother will be on my mind the entire time and it would be great to have someone I know there. Anyways, back to Cindy. I am glad I met her because she understands how hard it is to fundraise. How hard it is to ask people for help. How hard it is to reach our goal. How hard it is to make plans for events. How hard it is to prepare yourself to walk twenty miles three days in a row! We are supposed to get together again and do some walking. I really hope so. July 8 Car Wash! After a long, hot, sweaty day, we managed to raise $400 in donations! A lot more than what I had expected! We held the car wash on a Sunday. Half the team showed up late or hungover, but all in all, I believe everyone worked their hardest. (even ones that I didnt expect to lift a finger!). We started off in the medians with collection buckets, expecting to receive some change here and there. After getting the confidence to actually approach the cars, I was surprised that we kept getting dollar bills, and more than just one at a time! It was going great until the cops busted us and said we could only hold signs on the sidewalk. Well, we had some great 'yellers' that attracted some cars....even a motorhome and some lawn maintenance men that no matter how hard you scrubbed, their car was not going to get clean! We scrubbed until our fingers became pruney. We got some great tips...even an unexpected $70 from a sports car. However, what surprised me even more what the actual volunteers started chipping in money too. I thought it was great enough they were there helping, but to actually give some money, shows they care. =) 
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