Keep on trucking!

Break time! Peanut butter, Gatorade, feet repair, you know taking care of business. At 27.5 miles, 32.5 to go. Is my math right? Kinda delirious lol
Thanks supporters!!!!

8 Miles in... 52 to go!!!!

About to ascend our very first big hill! Just snacked on PBJ crackers and Grape Gatorade! Don't worry I have tums! Thks for everyone's support!

Packed and California bound: Ready, Set...

Well it's almost here. Nervous! Excited! I've met so many friends already... On the unofficial Facebook page for the San Diego walk. And on the Susan G. Komen message boards. We are coming from all over: NYC, London, DC, Atlanta, Seattle, Ohio, Mexico... All to walk 120,000 steps. Some of us have fought the disease, are still fighting it. Others like me, can't stand the fact this disease is still so common.
I hate knowing every 8th woman or more is going to have to fight this! We need a cure, we need an easier way out, we need to not accept this. We don't have to. There is power in numbers- financial, spiritual, and invincible! And don't forget to sponsor me, still collecting donations!

Why do YOU walk?

To get somewhere! And that somewhere is a world without breast cancer. Any cancer. Sadly, we haven't quite arrived... but we ARE headed in the right direction.

This year it hit home that a world without cancer just isn't a reality. I know it's hard to believe but we are finding ways to beat it.

I'm living proof - this year I was diagnosed with benign cancer, and my scare was quick and required surgery, and I came through the other side with some new

perspectives. It was minor blip, but it's amazing how a minor blip makes you think.

And talk about connecting the dots:

This year, I also had the privilege to work with Susan G. Komen nearly exclusively at my day job at Bank of America. The people in that organization are truly inspiring and passionate. And then there's the walkers, volunteers, supporters and the whole community. My experience with Komen, and my personal experience, led me to reflect on the people in my life who have fought the disease, those who have lost, those who have won, and still are fighting.

I thought of my Grandmother who past away two years ago, near San Diego, in her nineties - but a breast cancer survivor having been diagnosed in her 70s and beating it.

I thought of my sisters, my mother, my nieces, my aunts, all of my family and relatives, my best friends, my co-workers, my teachers, all the great women in my life. And I thought about how every one of them is at risk. I dedicate this walk to all of them- and my supporters. I truly cherish you and believe everybody deserves a lifetime.

So that's why I walk, and it's kind of hard to put into words. It's a feeling. And at the end of the day, it's easier to explain by doing vs. telling. So you'll have to listen to my 120,000 steps, that's the real answer to the question; "Why do YOU walk?"

Every $1 counts... Sponsor me here: John-Paul's 3 Day for the Cure

What The Heck is the Komen 3 Day for the Cure? So Glad You Asked...

It's simple. Nearly 50,000 people walking together, across 14 cities, for 60 miles in three days- to end breast cancer. We each a must raise a minimum of $2,300 to check-in and participate - many of us raise much more. We stay in a big camp with pink tents. An awesome volunteer crew feed us, entertains us, and makes sure we are on track.

The course is about 20 miles a day. We start at the opening ceremony on Friday and walk to camp. About 20 miles. The next morning we walk around the San Diego area, in a giant 20 mile circle, ending back up at camp. The third day, we walk the final 20 miles and end up at the closing ceremonies. We do this to we bring attention to the cause. and to celebrate those we've lost, those fighting, and for a cure for those who will be diagnosed.

Every 8th woman on the planet will be diagnosed in their lifetime. Every 76 seconds a woman (or man dies). If this isn't waking you up - get some coffee! If it's caught early there is a 98% cure rate in Stage 1 (in the US), less so in developing countries.

So we walk, we get blisters, we cry, we curse the pavement, but we don't care - we keep walking and pushing each other on. All the money we raise, the blood, sweat and tears - all go to kicking breast cancer's butt.

So that's it - so of course I'm scared and nervous - but I am also joining one of the most amazing communities in the world. Veteran 3 Day Walkers who are there for another year, another round. Pushing me up the hill, and over the finish line. Helping me pitch a tent, roll out my sleeping bag, and helping me with blisters, and passing out, and in the end - helping me and you- my supporters - make a difference. Here I go... =^,,^=

Learn more here: www.the3day.org

Sponsor me here: John-Paul's 3 Day for the Cure

Someone Give Me A Beat!

Thanks for following my blog-on-the-fly. Last minute training, packing, and jitters. Thursday I leave for California - alone on a jet plane with some good walking shoes. I've already met so many people on the Komen message boards and the unofficial Facebook page, my co-walking family has embraced me, and are already a guiding light.

Today I am so thankful for the support of my family and friends, coworkers, whether it was monetary, spiritual, it all helps. I'm grateful for all of you.
Check back here and watch Facebook for links to new posts as I try to document this amazing experience.

While iPods and headphones are not allowed, for safety and liability, on the walk, I have my external hot pink speakers - of course.

Give me suggestions for my 60 mile sonic odyssey. Now remember I am playing to a broader audience... we are talking cheesy pop and dance power songs, perennial rock classics, anything that moves dragging, sore feet across a finish line. Lots of them! My 8,000+ feet actually. Suggestions please! =^,,^=

Every $1 counts... Sponsor me here: John-Paul's 3 Day for the Cure

Let's talk about YOU!

I need to keep you reading this for two minutes. My day job is in Marketing, so I’ve been thinking about how to do this. I could use some scare tactics or maybe promise you something incredible. A new iPad! But people love talking about themselves, so I’ll keep you interested by asking a few questions about YOU.

So, are there any great women in your life?

Think for a second about your mother, your grandmother, your sister, or your daughter. How about an aunt? Are you picturing them? What about your partner, wife, girlfriend? Niece, cousin? What about your best friend? I can’t imagine too many of us without great women who have impacted our lives. A teacher, a coach, a co-worker, Julia Roberts?

Newsflash #1: chances are most of got here because of a woman. You could, I suppose, be a gay man or woman adopted by two gay men, but if that’s the case just think about Madonna or Lady Gaga. Great, even award-winning women.

But back to the women in your life. There’s something that THEY should know, and something YOU should know:

1 in 8 of them will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime.

The chances are good you already know someone has been affected. Yeah I know I didn’t want to be a downer about that, but I had to tell you. I mean 1 in 8? Are you getting this? WTF? Pardon my french, but that’s just not cool.

Newsflash # 2: there is no cure, and breast cancer isn’t like having to go to the dentist to have a cavity filled. It’s not routine and we shouldn’t think of it as something that can be fixed between the holidays and summer vacation.

We have made great strides in early detection and preventative education, and even some great improvements in medicine. But we’d be doing the people we’ve lost and the people they have touched- a huge disservice to throw in the towel now. The fight is not over.

Newsflash #3: The survival rate actually reversed this year, not in our favor to be clear, for the first time ever. Again, WTF!? Pardon my french.

Newsflash #4: We are closer to ever to finding a cure. Now more than ever we need to full throttle it and end this disease now. There are major changes that will happen to the disease in the next 10 years - and so many lives can be saved- if we ACT now.

Enough with the dang flashes! This is where YOU come in.

Please do every woman who means something to you a BIG favor, donate whatever you can - in their honor. I am walking 60 miles, for all the women (and men afflicted with this disease), past-present-future- in San Diego this November - and I have to raise at least $2300 to do this. And almost all of that will go right to the next punch in Breast Cancer’s ugly face!

Let’s take this chump out… THANKS KIDS!!!!! =^,,^=

Donate now! (see links below if you haven't already had teh chance to donate)

https://secure3.convio.net/npt/site/Donation2?idb=1629198166&df_id=3088&FR_ID=1627&PROXY_ID=5969983&PROXY_TYPE=20&3088.donation=form1