Fitness Challenge

OK, so I started this on the PA board and thought I would extend it to us Jersians too. There is a walk on OCTOBER 18 of this year in PHILADELPHIA (I know it's a stretch for some, but for others, it's pretty close) It is a fundraiser for Diabetes.  The name of the walk is "Step Up To Fight Diabetes"  You can google it.  Basically, it is it a ten mile walk in Philly and during that ten mile walk, you end up climbing 1000 stairs, inclduing the museum ala "rocky"  During the day and the walk they provide a light breakfast, lunch, snacks, water, and energy drinks (which post op we probably can't have) You can register by yourself, or you can be part of a team.  I am hoping to head an "OH team" if you will, if I can get enough people to do it with me (A team consists of 5 people, one being the "captain" and four others.  The captain is the first one to sign up and register the team.  On the pa board, I offered to be that person, but also said if somebody else wanted to head it, that would be fine with me....so we shall see where this leads us) The catch, which I just found out about today, is that in order to be "elligible" to walk, each walker needs $1000 in donations.  Now, before you freak out, there are multiple possibilities.  Once you register, you will be mailed a packet including donation forms.  This will allow you to fundraise the "old fashioned way" with friends family, and neighbors.  Also, once registered, you will have your own web page (or the team webpage with divisions for each walker)  The webpage allows you to upload photos of yourself, your training, and I believe a little bit of a blog section (I guess kind of like our profiles here on OH).  ON THIS WEBPAGE is the ability for people to give online donations to you.  So, you can send an email with the link to other friends and family (and heck, they could pass it on to their friends and family if they felt willed to) and people could visit the link and donate.  There's also the possiblity (but I don't know if this will happen) that our "team" could host a larger fundraiser event and then split the proceeds accordingly.  That would take a lot of planning and coordination based on how far away most of us are from each other, but it's an idea. So, if anyone is interested, please let me know.  You can respond to this or you can PM me or my personal email is:  [email protected]  If you are interested and have an idea for a catchy team name, probably that deals w/ either diabetes or weight loss surgery or whatever, lemme know.  This could be an absolutely FANTASTIC day with a lot of fun and support. Think about it.... Pam

Pam: Good luck and good for you. Just remember to watch your fluid intake very carefully. I was a medical volunteer for the Avon walk in NY this past year and we had very hot weather and ended up with quite a  few dehydrated walkers (including two that had RNY). With us we don't even need the weather to be hot do remember to sip, walk, sip, walk, sip, walk, and good luck. Linda

Pam, I think this is just what I need to get myself motivated. I need a real fitness goal and this could definitely be it. I live very close to you, so I might be able to help you coordinate things if you need it. you can email me @[email protected]. I'm going to check out the website now. Thanks for the info.

No prob.... We don't have a team together as of yet - and I'm not sure there will be a team from OH due to the $1000 minimum of fund raising - people are a little put off by that.  I have to say I was too.  People can still enter individually, and I'm seriously considering it. I'm glad it helps to get you motivated - so yes, we could figure something out! Pam