Friday, July 9, 2010

Susan G. Komen 3 day Cure Walk

Dear Family and Friends,
This year, I'll be participating in a very special event called the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure. The event will take place in Chicago on August 6-8th.
I'll walk 60 miles over the course of three days with thousands of other women and men. Net proceeds from the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure™ are invested in community-based breast health programs and breast cancer research. The research funded focuses on decreasing breast cancer incidence and mortality in the next decade.
I've agreed to raise at least $2,300 in donations. I've set my personal goal at $3000. So I need your help. Would you please consider making a donation? Any amount is greatly appreciated! Keep in mind how far I'm walking - and how hard I'll have to train. Donating is easy, you can donate online at http://www.the3day.org/
Just click on Donate and search for my personal fundraising page by entering "Megan Grier" or look up my team at "Pump Up the Pink." OR, contact me and I will get you a donation form and mail it to the address on the form. You can also call 800-996-3DAY to donate over the phone.

When some former Williamsburg gals did a fundraiser event two years ago to fundraise for their 3-day walk, I became inspired and interested in the event. One day shortly before my maternity leave my hygienist, Kari, told me that a former co-worker of hers from Dr. Molly Moreland and Dr. Steven Bender's Iowa City office, Pam Pump, had been diagnosed with breast cancer. While I was home on maternity leave, I started thinking of different goals to get in shape again post-baby. I thought of 5K runs, maybe a half marathon, maybe a few days of RAGBRAI...and then one day I saw a commercial on for a food company giving a percentage of sales to the Susan G. Komen fund and a lightbulb went on. The 3 day walk! I "googled" it and instantly got goosebumps that I was on the right path. When I returned to work, I talked to my employees to see if anyone was interested in joining me in the walk. Kari Honsey and Kathy Grier excitedly joined in. In our dental patient pool, I have met a lot of breast cancer survivors, have several battling breast cancer now, and experienced loss of some good friends due to breast cancer. Kari told her friend, Pam, that we would like for our team to honor her, with our team name being Pump Up the Pink. Another employee from Kari's former office (Marcia), Pam's son (Tanner in Texas), and a friend of his (Sara) have also joined our team. We are making team t-shirts for the walking days that have names listed on the back of all of our family and friends, as well as anyone whom a donation is made in honor of, who have had breast cancer.


What started out as a fitness goal has turned into such a humbling journey.
One in eight women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. That's why I'm walking in the 3-Day for the Cure. Because everyone deserves a lifetime.
I hope that you'll share this incredible adventure with me - by supporting me in my fundraising efforts.
Thank you in advance for your generosity!


Sincerely,
Megan Grier, DDS