Hike for Discovery

1st Group Fundraiser went well

Phew!  I wasn't sure how it was going to come off, but our Wine Tasting and Silent Auction was a nice time.  The small crowd - around 32- seemed to enjoy the evening.  This whole experience for me has been such a learning experience.  If I ever am involved with this type of event again, I will know things to do, but also things NOT to do. 

The club house at Tartan Fields is beautiful.  I felt so special just being there.  For that matter, I felt special just driving through the neighborhood to get there.  I clearly have chosen the wrong profession if I ever want to have a chance of living in an area like that!

As a team, we profited around $1000.  I'm not sure yet how much of that will go directly to my fundraising account.  Probably somewhere around $150.  I did way more than my share, I think, of contributing to this event.  I donated many of my own items to the silent auction - 3 Longaberger baskets, and other new things that I've had but haven't used.  I was glad to be able to contribute everything.

I posted a photo album to the right if you would like to look.

Our next group fundraiser is a road block next Saturday.  That's where we'll be standing in an intersection with buckets, collecting change from drivers who will be so kind as to roll down their windows!  If you see us in Westerville next weekend, be kind!

I'm getting closer and closer to $4400 every day!  Check it out at www.active.com/donate/hfdcoh/kathy and make your tax-deductible donation if you haven't yet!   

In The News....

Check out today's edition of The Pataskala Standard. 

After reading that, I wish I would have told the reporter more details about the mission of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.  Sometimes, in the urgency of raising funds, I forget that a huge part of this endeavor is educating people about the society. 

Next week, I will be posting a link to an article that is scheduled to appear in The Daily Jeffersonian.

Tomorrow is our Wine Tasting and Silent Auction.  I'll try to remember to take my camera, so I can post a photo album of the event.  This is the first of two group fundraisers we have scheduled.  Our next group event is May 3, when we will be soliciting money at intersections in Westerville.  Be generous with your change if you drive by!

Want to see my big fundraising total in print?  I'm over the $3000 mark now!  Look!

Raffle

With the help of some generous teacher volunteers in my district, I have put together a raffle.  Prizes are a Longaberger basket combo and gift certificates/cards to Target, Borders, and Barcelona Restaurant.  Tickets are $5 for 1 or 5 tickets for $20.

Click on the link for a picture of the basket.  If you want to purchase raffle tickets, please let me know.  I am hoping to make $500 from this raffle.  I need your help to spread the word.  kitkat_915@yahoo.com

Download raffle_poster.doc

What? No layers?

This weekend's group hike was at Clear Creek Metropark.  I tell ya.... you need to check it out.  It's a beautiful place, nestled in a rural setting.  Hard to believe it's in the "metro" park system.  And this was the first group hike that we didn't have to get all dressed in layers.  It was actually a decent temperature.  It was drizzling on the drive down, but the rain held off for the hike, and the sun actually shined at the end.

We did about 7.5 miles up and down the hilly trails.  And there are some big hills, too!  Phew!  They really get the heart rate up and the sweat dripping down.

I've really enjoyed getting to know the other members of my team.  That's been a great part of this.  We're all in it together.  I hope to stay in contact with the team after the event... maybe get together for some hikes. 

When you share the common bond of raising $4400 with someone, you really appreciate the other people involved for having the courage to commit.  Still $1400 to go for me, but how great that so far - because of MY efforts - $3000 is going to the work of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society!  $1400 to go.... have you donated?  www.active.com/hfdcoh/kathy   

And the Official Time Is....

I had a pleasant surprise today when I checked the marathon website.  They now have my REAL time listed.  I crushed my time from the October half marathon by 3 minutes and improved from last April by almost 4 minutes!  I'm so excited!  My official time was... 3:06:09!

Oh yeah... still collecting money for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.  www.active.com/donate/hfdcoh/kathy . I have a couple of raffles planned and our group Wine Tasting and Silent Auction is April 25.

Across the Finish Line

The morning started out fairly mild.  The sun was peeking through the clouds a little at 7:30 a.m.  The weather man said the day would feel colder than the temperature because of the clouds and wind.  He was right on.  That wind was gusting pretty good at times.

Today was the Capital City Half Marathon.  It was my third time to walk a half marathon and Dad's first.  We both successfully crossed the finish line.  I finished around 8 minutes before Dad.  We stayed together until around mile 9 and I decided to stick with my game plan and give it all I had for the last 4 miles.  Our pace was good up to that point.  Dad did a good job of keeping up with my rushes of adrenaline!

Ok... according to the clock at the end, I finished at 3:09:55 and Dad finished at 3:17:50.  Although that is what goes down in the stat book, we actually didn't cross the starting point until between 3 and 4 minutes after the clock started.  So really, our times are better than they appear.  I know I was doing good at the end.  I did a couple miles at a pace of 13 minutes.

You can check the marathon website if you want.  You can see the results and there should be a link to photos by the end of the week.  Our bib numbers are 2247 and 2248 if you want to look.  I'll probably put up another posting with the link to the pictures later in the week.

Morgan County

I wasn't able to attend the group hike again last weekend.  I did my cashier duties for an auction back home near Cambridge.

Although Brett did the hike on Saturday, he was still up for an adventure on Sunday so I could get my hike in.  We went to the AEP Recreation Land in Morgan County.  We hike first on a path that we don't think really existed.  It was on a map, but we never did really find it.  Then we got back in the truck and found The Buckeye Trail and hiked along it.  It had some challenging spots, especially when we went off trail up and down a very steep hill. 

It was a nice day, but too bad there's so much driving outside Columbus to get to hilly terrain.

Positively Recommitted

I really put a lot of thought into whether or not I would sign my recommitment papers last week.  I know I have dwelled on this a lot on this blog, but I'm freaking out about the prospect of being responsible for paying the difference between the donations I collect and the $4400.  It's just that I am proudly debt free and I feel uneasy anytime I use a credit card.

I wanted to share some reasons that I decided to recommit.

For one thing, the week before recommitment deadline, I received a check in the mail from someone I don't even know.  This person obviously saw my fundraising letter, because she sent her check in one of my provided envelopes.  Someone who I sent the letter to shared it with her.  How cool!  She doesn't even know me and she's writing a check to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society in support of my hike!  Thank you, Lora!

Brett received a donation from someone who lives in his home town.  She emailed him to explain why she was moved to donate.  Also in that email she commented on how she wanted to do a walk that involved fundraising for a cause, but wasn't brave enough to try to raise the money.  Wow... that was really the first time I thought that I was "brave" for doing this.  I sure don't feel like it!

Misty, at 3 Belles Consignment Store, was extremely supportive when I told her that I was consigning clothes and putting profits toward The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.  I didn't ask for a thing, and she offered 25% of the store's share to my fund.  She also kicked in money from the account of someone who wanted to donate their balance.  (Blog post explaining my consignment fundraiser.)

These are some reasons I stuck with the program.  Mostly, I recommitted because of each of you who has donated.  You donated to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society because I asked you to.  You donated in support of my hike.  I couldn't let anyone down.

I was thinking about this and before I logged on to start my blog post, I checked my email.  Woo hoo!  There was a notification that I received an online donation!  It was from a complete stranger...someone I have traded a couple emails with at Thrivent Financial for Lutherans.  Thank you Kevin!

www.active.com/donate/hfdcoh/kathy

A Hiking We Have Gone!

What an incredible day yesterday was.  The sun was shining, the sky was beautifully  blue, and I spent over 5 hours hiking!

Brett and I first met up with our Hike for Discovery team at Clear Creek Metropark.  This has become my favorite Metropark.  It's just off Route 33 between Lancaster and Logan.  The team has become a bit smaller since Recommitment; we lost 5 team members, who apparently weren't confident that they could achieve the lofty fundraising minimum of $4400.  Our hike took us deep into the wooded unimproved trails, up and down some steep grades.  This was my first time trekking up and down these hills with my backpack loaded to my minimum requirement of water to take in The Grand Canyon.  The added weight really makes it more difficult.

After just over 2 hours at Clear Creek and covering around 5 miles of terrain, Brett and I headed to Hocking State Forest.  We didn't go to the usual Hocking Hills tourist spots, like Old Man's Cave.  We took the trails less traveled.  We hiked on bridle trails that took us across a stream, through some muddy patches, along a ridge following a powerline clearing, into woods, up and down steep hills, near cool rock formations, around a waterfall and then back across the stream a few more times as the stream and trail intertwined.  I was very glad to have waterproof boots!  We stopped along the way and ate the lunch we had packed. 

We figured that our path was approximately 3.5 miles.  We saw little tiny frogs living in mud puddles.  Brett thinks they are called spring peepers.  We saw globs of eggs in the puddles, too.  Brett saw some turkey tracks and did some turkey calls, but didn't get any turkey responses.

It was a very nice day in scenic settings for both hiking adventures. 

www.active.com/donate/hfdcoh/kathy 

A Day of Visiting

It's a rainy Spring Break week.  It's ok.  I really didn't have anything planned other than a trip to Zanesville.  Of course I have fundraising on my mind at all times, so I didn't hesitate to ask for donations when the opportunities presented themselves!

I had a tax appointment in Dresden last night and a doctor appointment in Zanesville this morning.  I stayed with my old Longaberger pal Angie last night.  We played a little Guitar Hero and watched some of the Buckeyes game.

After my Dr. appt. today, I headed up to WHIZ.  That's where I worked from 1994 - 1998.  I had nice visits with Erin, Gary, Carolyn, Tom, Jan, and Brian.  Then it was over to Muskingum College for a surprise visit to my brother the professor.  I also had visits with Professors Harman, Rao, and Alesandrini (both of them).  I headed over to Montgomery Hall to visit Kathy and then downstairs to talk to Janice.

What does my day of visiting have to do with my Hike for Discovery?  Well, it really gave me a sense of validation.  Many people I visited were aware of my fundraising and fitness goals and I received many comments in support of what I am doing.  Those positive words really go a long way.  I am so privileged to have met so many kind and caring people along the many paths my life has taken me.  Although I don't see these people very much, that they still have an interest in me is really a blessing.

Tomorrow (well actually today since I'm such a night owl during spring break) is Recommitment deadline for Hike for Discovery.  I am definitely going to go through with Hike for Discovery.  This means that I become personally responsible for what I may not raise of my $4400 goal.  Scary.  But at least I have the ambition to try!

www.active.com/donate/hfdcoh/kathy