Walked 3 hrs for American Cancer Society!

Good morning everyone, I'm, pretty excited about another accomplishment - I walked for the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life last night. The event runs all night and is supposed to be for teams - someone always on the track walking. Teams have been raising funds since the winter. Then, the teams were able to set up tents/tables, etc. on the infield of the track. Some even decorated for a theme - one group was the Survivors and decorated their group of tents like the show. They all wore bandanas around there head, as well. I just found out about the event on Thursday, so wasn't able to plan for a team. However, they were more than glad to have me walk by myself. I told them that I will still get donations this week and send them in. When it was dark, they lit luminaries around the track. All of the bags were purchased "in honor" of someone that had passed due to cancer or that was/is fighting cancer. The coincidence of the whole event is that today is the two year anniversary since my father died of lung cancer. Of course, I purchased a luminary in his honor. I guess that the bottom line is that Dad always lovingly would ask me to lose weight. He would tell me that he loved me very much and that he just wanted me to be healthy and to be able to live for a long time and raise his grandkids. Well, I am now healthy enough that I walked for a total of three hours last night. The first two hours, I walked at a pretty quick pace. The last hour, I slowed down because the joints and muscles were starting to hurt. So, I guess that I walked in honor of my dad and in thankfulness for my new found health. Not quite the Ragbrai but an accomplishment for me, none the less. Thanks for listening and celebrating health with me, God bless, Andrea

What an awesome awesome awesome accomplishment. Not to mention the inner joy to do this for your dad. You are a great inspiration for all of us. DeAnne

That is so wonderful Andrea! You are setting wonderful examples for all of us~! ((((((((HUGS))))))))) Tammy

Job well done Andrea! You are truly an inspiration to all of us. Lost my mom to colon cancer. What a great way to honor your dad. Carolyn

Hello Andrea, that is awsome i'm so proud of you. your doing great keep it up. take care see ya wednesday Laurie

WTG GF!!! Relay for Life is an AWESOME event!!! We had ours here about a month ago, and Kelley and I went up and walked, we walk every yr. for it also...just didn't have the time to get a team together this yr. but have had alot of fun in the past with having a team!!! Jodie was on a team this yr. and her team won for the most collected in donations, they made and sold some really cool bracelets for breast cancer! I too walk for my dad who died from lung cancer, and I have a sister who is a survivior of breast cancer...it is such a good feeling and also a healing process for me to get out there and walk for a good cause!!! Andrea..you truly are an inspiration to us all, we are blessed to have you! Love ya, Janet Schmidt

Janet, Wow that Jodi and her team collected the most money. I bet that you and Kelley walked longer than three hours, didn't you? How long did you walk? By the way, that sure is a cute arm in your new pic Really, love the new picture! You're just too cute!!! Hugs and blessings, Andrea

Thanks all. Really just needed to talk because the anniversary of losing my dad. You all are a wonderful family of support for me. By the way, there are a couple more races coming up in September if anyone is interested. There is a marathon that I WON'T do, but it has a 5K (3.1 miles) and a half marathon (13 miles) that I might do. Let me know if you are interested. Thanks again for listening, God bless, Andrea

Hey Andrea, Congrats on the inpsiring walk... you are such an angel among us. Julie Brown's mom died of breast cancer this April, and I know of sooo many of us that it's touched through friends and family members... It would sooo great to get a WLS team together next year. I am definitely interested in the walks...as probably a couple of our Clinton ladies. Please let me know.... I will mention it at the meeting next Tuesday. Paula

Cool, Paula, A WLS team is a great idea. We'll have to talk more about that in the winter because I think that's when sign-ups are. God bless, Andrea OK - check out the websites below for more race info: (the marathon has a half marathon and a 5K run/walk - there's no way I would do a marathon!) www.qcmarathon.org www.runwithcarl.com