Wanting to do "More..."

I was talking to my friend Kelly the other day. Although I can be quite persuasive (read: pushy) when it comes to getting friends to walk in the 3-Day, Kelly just can't do it. For a lot of reasons, she just can't make it work. And she was lamenting the fact that she wished there was a way she could do "more."

I know how she feels. Even with all that I do to help raise money for breast cancer research, I'm always looking for ways to do more. Not just in this, but in everything.

So I got to thinking.... My "big" fundraising letter went out this weekend -- if you didn't get it, it's only because I don't have your address. I pretty much send it to everyone I've ever known. But even in that, I have my limits. Right??

So I was thinking that there might be some of ya'll who would be up for mailing letters for me. Kind of like the American Cancer Society has people do. So I put this together.

If you'd like to send it to your friends, please feel free to edit it as needed. It always helps to personalize these things. You can just cut-and-paste it into a Word document, print it out and send it on. It'll be interesting to see how it works!

I'm going to keep thinking of other ways ya'll can help. I'll let you know!
- d.


Hello Friends,

My friend D'Lyn is a little bit crazy. She's never been one to just sit around the house, but these days she doesn't sit much at all. She's busy training to walk 60 miles in Komen for the Cure's Breast Cancer 3-Day.

That's right. Sixty miles. In three days. See? I told you she's crazy.

D'Lyn's path the last few years hasn't always been easy. First, her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. After a double, radical mastectomy Sue was pronounced cancer-free. But her kidneys were failing, and she couldn't get a kidney transplant because of her breast cancer history.

To support her Mom, D'Lyn walked in the 3-Day in Dallas in 2006. She and her friend Lisa raised over $6000 for breast cancer research, awareness and education. D'Lyn was hooked.

Last June, Sue was diagnosed with a tumor at the base of her skull. Everything started to fall apart. She passed away July 21.

In October, D'Lyn walked in the 3-Day again. This time she walked as the captain of Team Tiara -- a team of 17 women who raised over $38,000.

Then, in a surprising twist, D'Lyn and her friend Suzi were included in a group of 17 walkers flown to L.A. to shoot the print, radio and TV ads for the 2008 3-Day series. Their commercials are airing nation-wide. She's the “Crazy Beautiful” girl in the one that starts with, “If walking 60 miles is crazy, I don’t want to be normal.” You’ll have to look quick – she's not on there long! If you haven’t seen it, you can find it online at: http://08.the3day.org/site/PageServer?pagename=Videos#crazy

Now it’s time for the next chapter…. This year, Team Tiara already has 52 walkers signed up to walk, and they have raised over $32,000 so far. When all is said and done, their goal is to raise over $125,000. They will be walking November 7-9, but need to have their fundraising completed this summer, before the longer training walks start taking up most of their spare time.

D'Lyn's goal is to personally raise $20,000. She knows it's a big number. But this is a big disease. And it’s going to take a lot to stop it. Statistics show one out of every three people will face cancer in their lifetime. One in six women will have breast cancer. They need your help – and your continued prayers.

You can walk with Team Tiara – As a walker, you will be introduced to many “firsts.” You’ll sleep in a pink tent, take showers in a converted semi trailer, dine on peanut butter and jelly graham cracker sandwiches and become an expert on blister care. You will laugh at the kind of jokes only breast cancer survivors can come up with. You’ll cry over people’s stories and share your own. And in the process you’ll help raise millions of dollars for breast cancer research and education. You can check out the Team Tiara website at http://08.the3day.org/goto/dlynbiggs. On that website you will find a button that says, “Join D’Lyn’s Team.” Just take it from there.

You can donate to Team Tiara -- The money you donate goes directly to research, education, awareness and services…. You can donate online at http://08.the3day.org/goto/dlynbiggs. You can donate by phone – just call 1-800-996-3329. D'Lyn's walker ID number is 1434066. If you prefer to donate by check, you can make it out to “Breast Cancer 3-Day” and send it to D'Lyn Biggs, 15802 Applerock Trail, Cypress, Texas 77433. She will attach one of the new donation slips and send it to the 3-Day bank! And of course, all donations are tax-deductible.

Along the way, you can find training updates on D'Lyn's blog at www.everyonedeservesalifetime.blogspot.com

Before I go.... I’d be remiss if I didn’t remind you to “check your chi-chi’s” and make sure the women in your life get regular mammograms! Breast cancer knows no age or gender boundaries. You are your best defense!

Many Blessings,