We Need Your Help

Hi Ya’ll,

Were you wondering if I had given up on the breast cancer 3-Day? Not on your life! This year will be my fourth year to do the walk. In years’ past, I’ve written a 3-Day update by mid-July. But not this year.

This year has been a struggle. I’ve been putting off writing this letter until I had a grasp of how many miles I would be able to walk this year, but I still don’t know. My feet continue to be an issue. As of right now, my goal is to walk at least 10 miles a day. We’ll just have to see.

I’ve struggled with how to ask you to support a 60-mile walk when I’m not sure I can walk all 60 miles. But you know what? This isn’t just about walking 60 miles. This is about saving lives.

As I’ve struggled with the walking end of this gig, breast cancer has continued to take its toll. My friend Sonja passed away this spring, leaving two precious little girls without a Mommy. After months of chemo, my friend Ann’s lumpectomy is scheduled for August 31. She’s my age, with twin girls who just started Kindergarten.

And it’s not just breast cancer. My dear friend Ruthie was diagnosed with ovarian cancer this spring. As I write this, her oncologist is conferring with other doctors to determine whether or not they think her cancer has spread. Elise Goertz, a first grader at Keith, got her angel wings in January after facing leukemia for the third time.

Those stories are just the tip of the iceberg. Cancer just keeps coming at us. And we have got to do something about it.

Two years ago, I made this crazy commitment to walk 60 miles in three days (and sleep in a tent) to help find a cure for breast cancer. My friend Lisa and I walked in honor of my Mom, and we raised about $6000.

In 2007, Team Tiara was officially born, and 17 of us raised over $38,000. It’s hard to describe what that weekend meant to me – walking in memory of my Mom. It meant so much to have those dear friends, and all of your prayers, hold me up along the way.

In 2008, 60 Tiara walkers joined forces to raise $125,000. What an incredible experience!

Now it’s time for the next chapter…. This year, we already have 40 walkers signed up to walk with Team Tiara, and we’ve raised over $43,000 so far. When all is said and done, our goal is to raise over $150,000. We’ll be walking November 6-8.

At this point our fundraising is down from last year. I’m sure it has something to do with the economy. But we can’t let that stop us. Breast cancer doesn’t care about the economy. It doesn’t select its victims by race, age or even gender.

My goal is to personally raise $20,000. I know. 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. We 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://the3day.org/goto/tiaras. 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 -- Without you, we wouldn’t be able to do what we do. The money you donate goes directly to research, education, awareness and services…. You can donate online at http://the3day.org/goto/imissmymom. You can donate by phone – just call 1-800-996-3329. My 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 me. I will attach one of the new donation slips and send it to the 3-Day bank! And of course, all donations are tax-deductible. 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! As I said earlier, breast cancer knows no age or gender boundaries. You are your best defense!

Many Blessings,

D'Lyn