You're Invited to the Stand Up To Cancer Telethon!

Okay, so I can't really invite you to attend the Stand Up To Cancer telethon.  But I can encourage everyone to stay home tonight in your comfiest pair of sweatpants and watch the telethon along with me!

The Stand Up To Cancer telethon is a major fundraising initiative for the charitable program of the same name.  The money raised by the SU2C telethon will be used to fund collaborative, rather than competitive, cancer research in an attempt to bring the most promising findings to the public as soon as possible.  SU2C does this by focusing their research dollars in two ways:

Dream Team grants, which are awarded to multi-institutional groups of scientists who work collaboratively, rather than competitively, to develop new treatments quickly in order to save lives now. You can learn more about SU2C's first five Dream Teams here.

Innovative Research grants, which support groundbreaking cancer research projects that are high-risk but could also be high-impact and have the potential to significantly affect patient care.  To learn more about the first recipients of SU2C’s Innovative Research Grants, click here.

Through these two avenues of support, the SU2C program aims to bring scientists together to work on cancer research with the greatest likelihood of directly helping patients and their families as soon as possible.  Unlike many organizations, SU2C doesn't limit itself to just one type of cancer.  Instead, SU2C recognizes that every one of us will be touched by cancer in some way and therefore aims to fund research that could potentially impact how multiple types of cancer are treated in order to benefit as many people as possible.   In short, it's a great program and one highly deserving of your support!

The Stand Up To Cancer telethon will air tonight, September 10th at 8pm EST/PST and 7pm CMT.  You can find the telethon on all three of the main networks as well as a number of cable networks.  

If you would like to donate to Stand Up To Cancer, you can do so here.  Or, if you want the chance to talk to your favorite celebrity, you can wait until tonight and call in live.  To learn more about Stand Up To Cancer, please click here.

Please note that I got a lot of this information from the Stand Up to Cancer website and their Wikipedia page, as well as from my own knowledge of the organization.

Search Amazon.com for Stand Up to Cancer CD

Celebrating Earth Day the 3 Day Way!

Happy Earth Day!  In honor of this important day, I thought I would throw out some ideas about how to celebrate Earth Day the 3 Day way.  Enjoy and be sure to hug a tree today and every day!

1.  Plan a training walk in a National Park!

In addition to being Earth Day, we are also in the middle of National Park Week.  Did you know that there are 392 national parks that never charge an entry fee?  That means you can plan your training walks for one of these gorgeous parks without it costing a dime.  Moreover, to encourage everyone to get out and explore the national park system during National Park Week, more than 100 national parks that usually charge entrance fees are going fee free until April 25th.  In addition, many national park concessions are also offering their own discounts to make the fun even more affordable.  So what are you waiting for?  Head over to the National Park Service website and start planning a training walk in the park today!

2.  Recycle your old sneakers!

As a 3 Day walker, I go through a lot of sneakers.  With all the training that we do, we wear out our sneakers pretty quickly.  Most 3 Day walkers will burn through at least two pairs of sneakers per season.  So at the end of all that walking, you're going to end up with some old sneakers.  Rather than tossing them in the trash, recycle them!  The website Run the Planet has compiled an extensive list of sneaker recycling programs from around the world to help you decide the best way to recycle your old kicks at the end of the 3 Day season.

(Thanks @PosingforPink for the great link!)

3.  Get outside and walk!

One of the best ways you can help out the planet is by walking as much as possible.  As 3 Day walkers, we're pretty much already doing that (right?).  We walk a lot.  So rather than trying to walk more miles, how about making your training miles count for double by donating them to the BeeWell for Life program by Bumble Bee Foods.  The BeeWell program was started in 2009 to raise money for the Breast Cancer Network of Strength (formerly the Y-Me National Breast Cancer Organization) to help make a difference in the lives of those touched by breast cancer.  From now through the end of Breast Cancer Awareness month in October, Bumble Bee will make a $0.15 donation to the Breast Cancer Network of Strength for every mile that you log into your BeeWell for Life Account.  It's free to set up and hey, we're all walking the miles anyways!  So take five minutes, set up your account and make all those miles that you're walking in the great outdoors count twice as much!

(Thanks Betties for Boobies for the great link!)

4.  Invest in reusable water bottles!

Did you know that Americans buy an estimated 29.8 billion disposable plastic water bottles every year?  Did you also know that 8 out of 10 of those water bottles will end up in a landfill where they can take up to 1000 years to degrade?  As 3 Day walkers, we need to drink a lot of water.  As Leanne reminded us in this post, proper hydration is critical to surviving training and the 3 Day event in good health.  Do something good for yourself and for the planet by investing in a reusable water bottle or two today.  There are a ton of options out there to suit all tastes.  Some popular brands include Nalgene and Camelbak plastic bottles and Sigg aluminum bottles.  Find what works for you and then use our handy Amazon search box to do your earth friendly shopping!

5.  Plant a garden!

Flowers and plants help to keep the planet healthy by taking in carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen.  Growing your own fruits and veggies helps to cut down on the greenhouse gases that are generated during the production, packaging and transportation of commercially grown produce.  Plus, if you grow your own goods, you can be sure that they are pesticide free, which is good for your own health as well as for the planet.  And besides, we've done enough damage to planet.  We can certainly afford to add some natural beauty back into the world.  If you're thinking about starting a garden, please consider purchasing some (or all) of your garden plants from our collaboration with Flower Power fundraising!

Image borrowed from this great Cafe Press shop.  Thanks!

Search Amazon.com for Earth Day

Thinking About Joining Relentless Optimism?

Dearest friends and family -

You've all been reading about my 3 Day adventures here on Kristen Walks for months now.  If you've been contemplating becoming a member of Relentless Optimism and joining us in Boston in July, now is the time to do it!  Every new member of our team that registers between now and midnight on Friday, April 23rd will get $25 off of their registration fee when they use the promotional code GOTEAM.  You can find the link to register for our team on the Relentless Optimism team page.  Simply click where it says "Register to Join Team" and follow the directions!

Maybe you're thinking about walking with us.  Maybe you want to put your medical skills to work as part of the Medical Crew.  Maybe you're thinking about joining the crew in whatever capacity you can.  Whatever your reason, please register today!  The more people that register for the 3 Day, the more money we will raise for breast cancer research and the more lives we will save.  It is as simple as that.

So what are you waiting for?  Join Relentless Optimism today!

Search Amazon.com for Pink Sports Bras

Calling all Medical Professionals!

The organizers of the Susan G. Komen 3 Day for the Cure are currently in need of people for their  Health Services Crew!

Because of the physical toll that walking 60 miles in 3 days can take on a body, the Medical Crew are some of the most important crew members on the 3 Day.  The Health Services team, as they are officially called, are the largest crew team on the event, comprised of nearly 100 medical professionals.  RNs, MDs, EMTs, physical therapists, chiropractors and athletic trainers help keep the walkers, crew and volunteers on the 3 Day healthy, hydrated and happy during the event.  If you or someone you know is a licensed medical professional in one of the states hosting a 3 Day event this year, please think about becoming a part of the Medical Crew!

Joining the 3 Day Medical Crew is a four day commitment (three days on event and a 1/2 day of training before the event).  There is a $90 registration fee (just like for the walkers) that covers all of your expenses on the event.  You will live in the pink tent city with all of the walkers and crew and will fully be a part of the 3 Day experience.  There is no fundraising required for crew members, but it is always appreciated and encouraged.  If you are interested in helping us out in this way, please visit www.the3day.org or call 800-996-3DAY to register today.  You can also become a crew member of Relentless Optimism (our team for the Boston event) by going to our team page on the 3 Day website and clicking "Register to join team" in the box where our team members are listed.

I know I have a lot of friends who are doctors, nurses, ATs and the like.  PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE consider joining us in Boston and being a part of the awesome Medical Crew!!

Mel checking in with the Medical Crew at lunch on Day 2, Atlanta 2007

PS - According to today's KomenLink newsletter, if you register between April 12 – 23 and use the promotional code TEAMKOMEN at checkout, you will get a $25 discount off the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure™ registration!  An added incentive to register for the Medical Crew!

World Cancer Day

In addition to being Facebook's birthday, today is also World Cancer Day!

World Cancer Day is marked on February 4 to raise awareness of cancer and to encourage its prevention, detection, and treatment. It is led by the International Union Against Cancer (UICC), a global consortium of more than 280 cancer-fighting organizations in over 90 countries. World Cancer Day targets the public through global communications marking, and encourages policy makers and UICC member organizations to make cancer a political priority.  (from Wikipedia)

Across the internet and around the world, the members of the UICC, including the American Cancer Society and Susan G. Komen for the Cure, together with the World Health Organization have been asking how we will be marking World Cancer Day.

Today, I will be thinking of those I have lost to cancer, including Marcia who we lost last April:

 

I will be thinking of those that I am so grateful to still have with me, including my mom, a breast cancer survivor of two years:

 

And I am doing what I have always done - spreading the word about the need for more money for cancer research and encouraging everyone I know to get involved.  Back on the National Day of Service, I wrote about a few ways that you can get involved in the fight against breast cancer.  Today, I have another challenge for you:  learn something new about cancer.

Take some time, whether its today or a few days from now and become a little bit more educated about cancer.  And I'm not just talking about breast cancer, either.  Look up how often you should have a pap smear or a prostate exam and why.  Learn about the early warning signs of lymphoma, myeloma or other blood cancers.  Find out which freckles are the sketchy ones that you should have checked out.  Remind yourself what you're looking for on a breast self exam.  Find out about why quitting smoking is the best thing that you can do for your health.

Learn the stats behind breast cancer or lung cancer or leukemia and use them in your fundraising endeavors or to motivate yourself to make a donation to an important cause.

Learn about your family history with all kinds of cancer.

The theme of World Cancer Day is "Cancer Can Be Prevented" and in my experience, the most effective tool we have to keep ourselves healthy and happy is to be educated.  So that's my challenge for you today:  learn something new about cancer.

For more information about how cancer can be prevented please check out this information pamphlet and visit www.worldcancercampaign.org/.

Happy Birthday Facebook!

Apparently, it's Facebook's 6th birthday today.  Did you know that Susan G. Komen for the Cure was on Facebook?

Susan G. Komen for the Cure Facebook Page

Susan G. Komen 3 Day for the Cure Facebook Page

You can also find me over on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/kscincotta.

You're Invited to the Pink Tie Affair!

Because I encourage raising money for breast cancer research in all forms, I thought I would pass on this flier that landed in my inbox today.  If you're a local Atlantan, come out and support the Winship Cancer Institute at Emory University on Friday, February 19th!

Get Involved!

In honor of today's National Day of Service, I thought I would remind everyone of some of the many ways that you can get involved in the ongoing fight against breast cancer.  While there are many, many other ways to get involved, this post highlights just a few of the activities that I've been a part of that benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

First and foremost, I encourage everyone to consider participating in the Breast Cancer 3 Day.  It is a lot of work to do the fundraising and the training to walk 60 miles, but it is one of the most rewarding experiences that I've ever had the opportunity to be a part of.  You can read more about it on the official Breast Cancer 3 Day website.  And if you can't walk, consider getting involved with the crew.  They are an indispensable part of the 3 Day experience and I strongly encourage people to consider that as an alternative to walking in the 3 Day.  There are 3 Day events in 15 different cities, so even if you can't join us in Boston, think about walking in your own city.

Also, if you do decide to take on the 3 Day challenge, consider becoming part of our team, Relentless Optimism.  We are always open to new members, regardless of what city you choose to walk in.

Melissa & I at the 2007 3 Day Finish Line (L) and Kelly & I at the end of Day 2 of the 2008 3 Day (R)

If you are looking for a less time-intensive commitment but still want to help raise money for Susan G. Komen for the Cure and breast cancer research, you should sign up for the Race for the Cure through your local Komen affiliate.  For those who don't know, Race for the Cure is a 5K Run/Walk that benefits the local chapters of Komen for the Cure, with the majority of the money that is raised going directly back into your community.  I have walked and/or run in at least five separate Race for the Cure events in three cities and I can promise you, it is well worth the early Saturday morning.  Plus, free t-shirt!

For those that are in Upstate New York, the 2010 Race for the Cure will be held at the State Fairgrounds in Syracuse on Saturday, May 15th.  You can find all of the details about registering for the race and donating to participants at their official website.

Syracuse Race for the Cure 2007 (L) and 2008 (R)

With Marcia & Tommy at the 2007 Syracuse Race for the Cure

For those of you that are in Atlanta, like me, the 2010 Race for the Cure will be held on Saturday, May 8th at Atlantic Station.  All of the details about registering for the Atlanta Race for the Cure and donating to participants can be found at the official website.

Hannah, Anjali & Suzanne at the Atlanta Race for the Cure 2007 (L) and the balloons over Atlanta during the Atlanta Race for the Cure 2008 (R)

For everyone else, you can easily locate a Race for the Cure event near you at this website.  I can't urge you to get involved in this great event enough.  If you don't think you can handle a 5K, there's almost always a 1 mile walk option instead!  If my 90 year old grandmother can do it, what's your excuse?

Mima (second from right) walking in the 2007 Syracuse Race for the Cure

If you are more interested in political activism that athletic activities, consider signing up for the Komen Advocacy Alliance.  The Advocacy Alliance is the legislative advocacy arm of Komen for the Cure.  This is a no-cost, no-commitment way to harness the most powerful tools we have for breast cancer advocacy: our voices as citizens.

Finally, I would be remiss if I didn't mention the easiest way to get involved: DONATE!  You can use the widget at the top, right hand side of my blog to donate to my fundraising efforts for the 2010 Breast Cancer 3 Day.  Or, if you prefer, you can take part in one (or more!) of my fundraising contests which you can read all about on our team blog.

There are so many ways to get involved in the fight against breast cancer.  Try one of them, try all of them.  Just get out there and get involved!