Hello (insert one of my enthusiastic smile and waves here)!
It is that time of year again, when the weather gets cooler, the feel of fall is in the air, and the Step Out: Walk to Stop Diabetes event approaches!
This year, on October 27, 2012 is the annual American Diabetes Association's walk event. With just a little under a month to get some fund raising dollars in, I decided to take a few minutes to write the following (long-ish) note to you. *Ahem*
Reasons why I walk:
I walk for the bad days, when in-control blood sugars seem too good to be true
I walk for the days when diabetes seems like it controls me, my life and my plans
I walk for people that told me, "no, you can't do that/eat that because you're a diabetic."
I walk because of a disease I am told I will have my entire life
I walk because insulin is not a cure
I walk for others who have gone into despair and neglect their disease
I walk for the ones who say I CAN'T
I walk for the little ones diagnosed that can't understand what is wrong with them
I walk because diabetes kills more people each year than breast cancer and AIDS combined
I walk for doctors who think there are "perfect" diabetics and expect you to be
I walk for being bullied in school for having diabetes
I walk for the incorrect ways the media portrays diabetes in movies and sitcoms
I walk for those who give up and say, "I'm done"
I walk to support the friends who are with me in the fight
I walk to thank my family and friends who I have depended on to live this thing through
I walk to thank those who gave me shots when I was too young to understand
I walk to give us all hope that things can and WILL be different in the future
I walk for a cure
I walk to prove people wrong about diabetes and its hold on people's lives
I walk to be a part of something bigger than myself - to do great things
I walk to join the others who want to make a difference
I walk to prove naysayers wrong
I walk to represent those affected
I walk to make a difference
I walk because I have diabetes
I have had diabetes for 23 years, have kept good control and have led a wonderful life. I love volunteering with the ADA in the Step Out Walks, the Diabetes Gala, and most recently, the Tour de Cure biking event, (and soon to be the ADA Expo!) as well as offering my services to Camp Needlepoint in the summer, a two-week camp set up just for diabetic kids. Yeah, we're THAT awesome.
I will be volunteering at the Walk event again this year - and raising money through my online website (online donations), through checks made out to the American Diabetes Association and given or sent to myself to be turned into the American Diabetes Association on the day of the event, and of course, cash donations (online or check donations preferred, but note: I will not be rejecting ANY donations to the Walk!)
I would like to take just a minute to THANK all of you who have donated for my past events, been there as a support system, who have attended a walk event with me in the past, and/or encouraged me in my fight against Diabetes! Each event like this gives me personally more hope that someday there will be a cure for this disease. Insulin is not a cure.
Please note, do NOT feel at all pressured to donate money - that is not this email's intention. I will not judge you :) your encouraging words are amazing!! But DO remember that EVERY SINGLE DOLLAR helps the fight to do more testing, to get one step closer to a cure.
Hey think of it this way - you know that mani-pedi you want to get? Or those weekly cups of designer coffee -- What about throwing that, what, 20-30-40-50? dollars into a Walk collection envelope and feeling amazing about helping people?! (Do I feel a DIY mani-pedi party at my house coming on?!) Oh and a bonus - all donations are tax deductible - look at you, donating, feeling good AND getting a tax break out it it!
Attending this event each year is truly something. The past few years, seeing all of the people there to support the walk is incredible. It chokes me up seeing all of the people out on the walking course that day and thinking, "they are all here for the same reason." If you have never been a part of something - anything like this, I would recommend this walk as your "jumping off point." It is a casual walk - one mile or the 5K, and it gives you a taste of what an event like this is like. (for some of my runner friends, yes, you CAN make it a 5K RUN!!!)
If you want to take it a step farther, volunteer! I will be stationed for some of the event - at the volunteer check-in T-Shirt booth! There are many different areas to volunteer! You could help me in the volunteer booth, be a route cheerleader for all of the walkers/runners and many more areas! If you would like to attend the event as a walker or as a volunteer, let me know or sign up through the ADA website!
THE DETAILS!!
This year's WALK event is being held at the General Mills Campus on Saturday, October 27th, 2012
1 General Mills Blvd, Golden Valley, MN
There is free parking at this event - in the main ramp or the dedicated surface parking lots.
Check-in time starts as early as 7:30am
The Kids Dash begins - 8:30am
The Walk or Run 9:00am
You can choose to participate in the Kids Dash (If you're a kid), 1 mile or 5K Walk or Run
The official event summary:
Bring your family members, friends and colleagues to the General Mills World Headquarters in Golden Valley for a morning of exercise and entertainment! Park free on the campus and enjoy a light breakfast and aerobic warm-up before heading out to take in the fall colors. After walking or running the distance of your choice, stick around to get your picture taken with General Mills equity characters, visit with vendors or hang out in the Kids Zone! There will be fun for everyone! Come rain or shine. Please note that this is a non-competitive run/walk event.
If you would like to make a donation to my walk page, please visit my personal walk site:
Have a great weekend everyone - and maybe I'll see you in a few weeks!!
-LD
