Sunday, February 15, 2009
Monday, November 10, 2008
Montgomery Advertiser Video
This video was created by the Montgomery Advertiser in conclusion to one of their writers running 5 Komen Runs this fall. Four other women and myself were featured in it. The writer and runner, Kym, lost her mother at 17. Kym's mother was only 40. Her blog tells of her journey.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Breast Cancer 3-Day Komen
There are very few words that could ever describe my experience...something so inspiring and powerful. Everyone should have something they are completely passionate about in life, a cause that helps better others. In addition to my relationship with my Lord and Savior, at the top of my list is this. Over 3,500 individuals walking for one cause...to find a cure for breast cancer. Although absolutely mesmerizing, I quickly moved from being in awe of the masses to being in awe of the individuals.
The grandmother standing near us at Opening Ceremonies, who was diagnosed 6 months ago with triple negative breast cancer; the doctors have no idea what to do with this type. Her daughter was walking for her, for her granddaughter. Her comment to us, with a smile on her face: "This might not be able to save me or even you...but I feel certain that it will save our granddaughters."
The lady who just weeks ago was in a terrible car accident and not expected to live. She couldn't walk, but her dear friend pushed her in a wheel chair...right into the Closing Ceremonies.
The mother who was diagnosed years ago with breast cancer and has lived to watch her children grow up, walking in memory of her friend who didn't live to watch her child grow up.
The team, Kat's Courage, who was walking in honor of their friend because they were the ones who have continued to rally around her as she courageously battled this disease. She found a lump while breastfeeding her baby a year ago and is just finishing up her treatments.
Each person held a story. Each story so personal that it created a passion that could not be contained. The husband walking for his wife. The daughter walking for her mother. The mother walking for her daughter. The woman walking for her sister. The man walking for his friend. And the grandmother walking for all of the above.
Each of my team members from the Tutus for Tatas had ribbons attached to their tutus (yes, we actually wore them when we walked!!!). Among my ribbons were:
our survivors: Linda D., Pat T., Sarah M., Martha J., Nancy F., Shelley, Mary Ethel G.
our angels: Janet G., Kym's mom, Kelly's mom, Kathy M., Susie D., Linda S.
our friends fighting the battle: Kathy F., Kat
I had a fabulous time doing the Komen 3-Day Walk. The months of training paid off...although I did end up with several blisters, a sore knee, and tendinitis in my ankle. The rain on Friday, the 1st day, prevented us from sleeping in tents. But a sweet friend loaned us a bed for 2 nights!!! What a hot shower and a toilet that flushes can do for a 3-Day walker! From the Pit Stops (where we would refresh and rehydrate) to the Cheer Stations (where people we didn't even know thanked us for walking) to the miles and miles and literal miles we walked, the Breast Cancer 3-Day made a tremendous impact on my life.
Since it is so hard to express in words the magnitude of this experience, here's a slide show/video we put together. Enjoy! :)
and let us continue to "...run with perseverance the race marked out for us."
The grandmother standing near us at Opening Ceremonies, who was diagnosed 6 months ago with triple negative breast cancer; the doctors have no idea what to do with this type. Her daughter was walking for her, for her granddaughter. Her comment to us, with a smile on her face: "This might not be able to save me or even you...but I feel certain that it will save our granddaughters."
The lady who just weeks ago was in a terrible car accident and not expected to live. She couldn't walk, but her dear friend pushed her in a wheel chair...right into the Closing Ceremonies.
The mother who was diagnosed years ago with breast cancer and has lived to watch her children grow up, walking in memory of her friend who didn't live to watch her child grow up.
The team, Kat's Courage, who was walking in honor of their friend because they were the ones who have continued to rally around her as she courageously battled this disease. She found a lump while breastfeeding her baby a year ago and is just finishing up her treatments.
Each person held a story. Each story so personal that it created a passion that could not be contained. The husband walking for his wife. The daughter walking for her mother. The mother walking for her daughter. The woman walking for her sister. The man walking for his friend. And the grandmother walking for all of the above.
Each of my team members from the Tutus for Tatas had ribbons attached to their tutus (yes, we actually wore them when we walked!!!). Among my ribbons were:
our survivors: Linda D., Pat T., Sarah M., Martha J., Nancy F., Shelley, Mary Ethel G.
our angels: Janet G., Kym's mom, Kelly's mom, Kathy M., Susie D., Linda S.
our friends fighting the battle: Kathy F., Kat
I had a fabulous time doing the Komen 3-Day Walk. The months of training paid off...although I did end up with several blisters, a sore knee, and tendinitis in my ankle. The rain on Friday, the 1st day, prevented us from sleeping in tents. But a sweet friend loaned us a bed for 2 nights!!! What a hot shower and a toilet that flushes can do for a 3-Day walker! From the Pit Stops (where we would refresh and rehydrate) to the Cheer Stations (where people we didn't even know thanked us for walking) to the miles and miles and literal miles we walked, the Breast Cancer 3-Day made a tremendous impact on my life.
Since it is so hard to express in words the magnitude of this experience, here's a slide show/video we put together. Enjoy! :)
and let us continue to "...run with perseverance the race marked out for us."
Thursday, October 23, 2008
3....2...1...
and we're off!
Hebrews 12:1c "...let us run (or walk!) with perseverance the race marked out for us."
Addie, Anna, and I will be traveling to Atlanta tomorrow to meet up with my sister, Mary Anna. (Paul will be meeting us on Friday) They will drop me off at a hotel where my team is spending Thursday night. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday...I'll tell you ALL about it when I get back!
Please be in prayer (James 5:16) for:
- safe travel for everyone
- good health and no injuries (Philippians 4:19)
- strength (Isaiah 40:31) and perseverance (Hebrews 12:1c)
- good weather!
- no blisters!
- good rest at night (Psalms 3:5)
- breast cancer survivors (Psalms 116:7)
- those currently battling the disease (Isaiah 43:1b-3b)
- breast cancer awareness
- a cure
- that God will be glorified in all that we do! (I Corinthians 10:31)
Philippians 3:14
"I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."
Friday, October 17, 2008
Pink Out Game
The Faulkner University Volleyball Pink-Out Match was Thursday night. The team has raised over $5,500 through the Silent Auction and Awareness Dinner and Pink-Out Game, all of which will be donated to breast cancer research. Some of the funds will go to my 3 Day Komen Walk (which is next weekend, by the way!) with the rest going to Passionately Pink and the Susan G. Komen Foundation.
Addie, my granddaughter, just chilling in the Hospitality Room at the Survivors Reception
Kari (who loves Addie and Addie loves her right back) and Addie's Rie Rie (me)
Addie, Coach T, and her niece.
T made Addie and her niece their very own itty bitty shirts that matched ours!
Addie, my granddaughter, just chilling in the Hospitality Room at the Survivors Reception
We were so honored to have Kym Klass and her daughter join us for the Pink Out Game. Kym has run 4 of the 5 Komen Runs she committed to this year. She is running these in memory of her mother, who was diagnosed with breast cancer when she was Kym's age, 37. Her final run in Macon will be the same weekend of my 3-Day Walk in Atlanta. You can watch her video and read her blog here.
Kari (who loves Addie and Addie loves her right back) and Addie's Rie Rie (me)
Addie, Coach T, and her niece.
T made Addie and her niece their very own itty bitty shirts that matched ours!
(photo taken by Ryan Bartels, Faulkner University)
the team with some of the attending survivors
the team with some of the attending survivors
Make sure to check out my granddaughter's blog for a few more pictures!
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Faulkner University Volleyball Awareness Dinner
Doug Amos (the MC and a good friend)
Kim Hendrix (the keynote speaker and local news anchor for WSFA)
Me and Addie (my granddaughter)
(the cutest baby ever...but I am a little biased! :)
do notice the breast cancer ribbon on her dress!
Paul (my son-in-law), Me, Addie, and Anna (my daughter)
Addie with "T", the Assistant Coach who co-organized the event.
She's one of Addie's favorite friends!
Addie and Tori (the head Volleyball coach) and some team mates
Mr. What's-His-Name (Terry Brown, who Anna started calling this when she was a child!) and now "Little What's her Name"!
Addie figured out his face was scruffy like her daddy's.
Carrie (a team member and one of my students), Addie, and Toni (the team manager)
Addie LOVED both of these girls!
what a mess!
Addie, Sharon Paulk (my department chair and dear friend), and Me
the dress Anna and I made for the silent auction
Doug Amos, who has a precious little girl close to Addie's age, bought it!
It was a great night, and we all came away incredibly blessed by the servant hearts of the volleyball team and Kim Hendrix's message. The girls were successful in raising both awareness and money for breast cancer.
Monday, September 8, 2008
Faulkner Volleyball Team Benefit Dinner
The Faulkner University Volleyball team has adopted the theme "playing for the cure" for the 2008 year. Each home game is considered a "pink out" game, and the girls will wear their new pink jerseys in an effort to help raise awareness of breast cancer and the needs for funding its research.
On Tuesday, September 16th, the Faulkner Volleyball team will host a Breast Cancer Awareness Benefit Dinner featuring Kim Hendrix (a local news anchor) as the guest speaker. In addition to the awareness dinner, there will also be a silent auction.
I teach math at Faulkner, and the reason I'm writing about this event is first because the Awareness Dinner has the same goal as the 3-Day Komen walk I'm participating in: to raise money for breast cancer research. Secondly, I am thrilled that the team has committed to donate part of the proceeds from this Dinner and Auction to my walk. I am so honored that they would do this!The basics:
Tuesday, September 16
Faulkner University Rotunda
Auction: 5:30-7pm
Dinner: 6:30
(doors open 5:30)
Tuesday, September 16
Faulkner University Rotunda
Auction: 5:30-7pm
Dinner: 6:30
(doors open 5:30)
cost: $25 per ticket
Please consider purchasing a ticket and supporting this great cause!
You can email me (mmr0917@gmail.com) or my daughter Anna (arwamsted@gmail.com) to obtain tickets.
photography and graphics by Ryan Bartels-Faulkner Univeristy
Please consider purchasing a ticket and supporting this great cause!
You can email me (mmr0917@gmail.com) or my daughter Anna (arwamsted@gmail.com) to obtain tickets.
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