Crew Extravaganza

I attended a Crew Extravaganza on Saturday. It was fun.

They had us moving around in little "break out" groups to listen to some crew captains talk about fund raising, safety, tents, hydration...

There was a raffle. I didn't win.

There were prizes given out for correct quiz answers. I didn't win.

I did score a tent mate though! I've conned Mary into tenting with me. Last year she had her husband pick her up each night of the walk so she could sleep at home. I'm keeping my fingers crossed she does it again. She'd be a great tent mate but being alone would Rock!

This is the name tag I wore. I'm showing you this because of the stickers.

The blue sticker was for a personality quiz we all took. I was a blue. Most people at the extravaganza were blue. There was also orange, gold and green. Gold was my next color... almost the same score as blue. Click on the link up there and you can take the quiz too.

The hearts show how my life was affected by breast cancer.

You could have picked from parent, spouse, grandparent, other family member, friend, survivor and child.

I chose other family member (my Dad's cousin Darlene) and friend (just lots of people I know).

The organizers had us all stand when our sticker was called out so we could look around the room and get a feel for why everyone we there.

The survivors... huge loud clapping.

This extravaganza helped to get me excited about the walk!

Oh and I have a ride to and from the walk too! Thanks for setting it up Maria! Thanks for the ride Mary!

Scottie

This is a link to Scotties blog about why he as a guy walks in the 3 Day.
I just thought it was funny.
...and yes. It's the reason you would think a guy would walk in the 3 Day.

Mail

I would love love love it if everyone would send me mail while I am at the 3 Day event.

All you have to do is send a letter/card to

3 Day Camp Post Office
PO Box 25617
Woodbury, MN 55125

All Mail Must Be Post Marked By September 9th. So you can send your letter today and it will be waiting for me during the walk!

They are unable to accommodate packages.
Letters are put in alphabetical mail slots. Last year I got teary eyed reading the messages from everyone. I sure would love to see my box filled again.

Thanks

Cleared

My medical form is all cleared for the 3 Day. That was Phase I of check in.
Now I need to complete Phase II.
Phase II is where I pay for my towel service and pick my tent mate.
This is where the problem lies.
Last year I was able to tent alone and I wanna do that again.
I was really hoping to ask Mary if she would be my tent mate because she is staying at home every night of the 3 Day and I would then have the tent to myself.
I forgot to ask her.
Hopefully by our next Happy Hour she won't have completed Phase II and we can be roomies.
Cross your fingers.

Helpful Training Websites

I found some websites that walkers can use to keep track of their distance.
Last year I used this one a lot. It was nice to map out my walks from our house.
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/

I haven't tried these but we got them from the 3Day Expo so they must me good, right?
www.webwalking.com/googlemaps.htm
www.walkjogrun.net
www.mapmywalk.com

Walk on my peeps!

Hmmm...

Getting donations when you are on Crew is a lot harder than when you're walking. People are into the blisters I think. They like to see me hurt... LOL.

Thank you
Melanie
Clare
and Jeff!

My friend Clare and I are thinking of selling the lip balm we make, as a fundraiser. Maybe making a pink color balm with a fun pink label??

I should send out some letters too. Believe it or not... there are people out in the non-Internet world who don't use e-mail.
That's as odd to me as saying they don't use indoor plumbing?!

Happy Hour

The team I joined this year, The Hawaiian Ohanas, meets the first Wednesday of each month at Champps for Happy Hour. It's more like Happy Hours.
I didn't go last year... I wasn't officially on the team and it was hard to get to dinner at 5:30 when I needed to wait for Joe to get home from work.
Now though I make it most nights and love it!!
Usually the people who go are Maria, Scottie, Ardel, Mary, Terri, Maria #2 and Lynette. Lynette has been gone while dealing with some medical issues and then we get other walkers here and there.
I've meet some people who have walked in previous years and sometimes there are ladies I walked with last year... but usually those 7 are always there.
Love it!
I'll get a picture sometime.

I got a Crew Update E-mail today.
Some of the highlights~

• There are 3,700 registered walkers in this year's Twin Cities Breast Cancer 3-Day!
• Registration for Crew is officially closed as of last Monday, however we are still looking for qualified medical personnel. If you know of anyone who is interested in being on the medical Crew, please have them contact me or pass their information my way.
• Ready, Set, Crew Extravaganza!
• Who doesn’t love an extravaganza? This year we will be having one Extravaganza for Road Crews, Camp Crews, and the Health Services Crew. It will be a fantastic opportunity to meet your teammates and learn everything that you need to know straight from the Breast Cancer 3-Day gurus themselves - your Captains!
  Ready, Set, Crew Extravaganza! Saturday, August 2, 200810:00 am - 12:00 pm

I also found out I will be on the Camp Services crew.

My friend Maria is crew captain and she was able to pick half of her crew team. Mary, Terri, Jim and some others that I'm forgetting will also be with me.

Job description

Camp Services - This team manages towel service, lost & found and the camp information tent.

I've been told we are up at 4 and in bed by 9!! We'll see how I deal with that!

Expo '08

Today I volunteered at the Breast Cancer 3 Day Expo. The lady that was the Captain of my station was pretty know-it-all and I've-done-this-101-times-so-I-rock-and-you-don't. I and another girl from my station kept mocking her behind her back. That made for an entertaining day. When I act like this I kinda hope the whole karma thing is bunk.

We got to the expo at 8:15 to set up. Tables, signs, balloons and putting chairs in the classrooms where the workshops would be held.

After setting up my main job was to assist walkers and family with posters and letters.

We had a table set up where people can write letters to loved ones who were walking or crewing. There are mailboxes at camp where the mail is delivered. Last year I got a few letters that made me just cry. It was so nice to come back to my tent after one of the hardest days of my life to find so much love in those little envelopes.

The other table I was working at was for making posters. You could make one that would be posted along the walking route during the 3 Day. I made a team poster last year but never did see it??? This year I made a few for friends.

Some of my teammates from the Hawaiian Ohanas, were working today too. You might remember Scottie Bananas from last year.

And our "fearless leader" Maria with Bobbie. They were answering 3 Day questions.

This here is the ultimate in porta-potties. It truly is portable.

(Don't worry it's a piggy bank.... I want it. Bad.)

Volunteer

Because I'm not walking this year I've decided to sign up as a volunteer too. You can sign up to be on a volunteer list and whenever there is an opportunity for you to help out they send you an e-mail.
Last year I attended the 3 Day Expo as a walker and this year I will be attending as a volunteer.

This is the e-mail I received explaining what I will be doing.


Time Commitment: 8:30 am – 1:30 pm

Set-Up 8:30 am – 10:00 am
Expo 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Clean-Up 1:00 pm – 1:30 pm


The Layout:
·Located on the Expo main floor, just inside the entrance
·Tables = 3
·Chairs = 24

Duties/Activities/Responsibilities:
·Clapping & Cheering: Ongoing in this area, crew members will welcome the walkers onto the Expo main floor.
·Make-A-Sign: Using poster board and markers provided, friends and family can show their support for the walkers by making signs (which will be posted on the route during the event).
·Write Letters to Loved Ones: Using stationery provided, friends and family can write a letter to their walkers. Letters should be dropped off at the Expo Post Office in the “Camp Services” area. 3-Day staff will then ensure that the letters are delivered to the walkers on-event at the 3-Day Camp Post Office.


Optional Activities/Ideas:
·Wear silly costumes!
·Bring signs, noise-makers, etc!
·Bring candy or stickers to give to participants as they pass by the cheering station!
·Make samples of the signs for display purposes.
·Other ideas?

I think I might wear my blue butterfly wings and bring some of those plastic hand clappers so I don't overwork my hands ; )

And We're Off!

Time to start up my 3 Day blog again.
This year the 3 Day will be taking place in the Twin Cities from Sept. 19th to the 21st.
I've sent out my first fundraising e-mail.
I technically don't have to raise money because this year I will be a crew member but really.... the whole point is to raise money for breast cancer research. Does it matter if I walk or not. We just need to raise money!!
We just NEED to find a cure for breast cancer. All cancer!

I still plan on going to some of the training walks and I will be volunteering at the 3 Day Expo so look for those posts soon! This year my last post will be a run down of my crew experience. You got to see the 3 Day from the eyes of a walker and now a crew member... maybe it will get you motivated to sign up next year!!

Here is the letter I sent out. Kinda explains it all.

Hey!
Another year another 3 Day!!

The Breast Cancer 3 Day...
It's a 60-mile walk over three days to raise money for breast cancer. The net proceeds will support the combined efforts of Susan G. Komen for the Cure and the National Philanthropic Trust (NPT) Breast Cancer Fund in their mission to fund access to care and find a cure for breast cancer. This year, according to Susan G. Komen for the Cure, more than 200,000 women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer. About 40,000 will die from the disease. That's why I'm doing this - to do something bold about breast cancer.

That pesky breast cancer just won't go away! This year I'm going to try something different.
Crew!
Being a part of the crew team means that I will be supporting the more than 2,000 60 mile 3 Day walkers. I'm not sure yet what my job this year will be but I asked to be put on the lunch crew or the sweep vans (the people who pick up injured or wiped out walkers along the route). Cross your fingers for lunch!

The reason I am crewing this year and not walking is because I would like to spend more time this summer with Joe and Alex. A lot of my time last year was spent doing training walks and I missed out on a lot of Alex's summer days.
Crewing still requires a little fund raising and instead of being at the actual walk for 3 days I will be there for 4! The Thursday before we have a training day.
Follow the link below to visit my personal fundraising webpage. If you are worried about the 3 Day people contacting you, just click the appropriate box when donating. ; )
Oh and this is tax deductible so be sure to print out the confirmation e-mail for next years taxes!

I hope that you'll share this incredible adventure with me - by supporting my fundraising efforts. Thank you in advance for your generosity!


P.S. Ask your employer if they will double your donation through a matching gift program!