Anyone ever do the 3 day Susan Komen walk?

Brewster

If so, I have a couple of questions...do you camp out during the walk?  How did you go about raising the $ required?  What happens if you are unable to come up with it all? 

I'm strongly considering signing up for it.  Just had a few questions.  Thanks.

DevonPow

I do the Avon  2 Day walk every year (39.3 miles, 2 days, $1800), and used to work for them full time as a Waker Coach/Trainer. They are very similar in terms of set up, fundraising, etc,(the main difference is in distribution of funds). so I could certainly help you out with any questions.

Mrs.LB705

DO IT!!!!  I'm about to do my seventh in October, and it is truly, TRULY life-changing!  I've done it twice in the SNOW (!!!!), LOL, and it's STILL amazing!!!

Feel free to email me Mrs.LB705 @ hotmail.com with specific questions.  I can give you lots of fundraising ideas, etc.

GO FOR IT!!!  You really won't regret it!

Linda

DevonPow

Ha - maybe I could actually ANSWER your questions! 

You do camp out overnight. The walk staff transports all of your gear, so you aren't responsible for carrying anything while you walk. With the Avon Walk, the Wellness Village (where we camp out) has a dining tent (hot dinner and breakfast), shower trucks (nicer than it sounds), yoga tent, massage area, medical area, etc. Port a potties for bathrooms (as along the entire route - you learn to love them). The walk provides the 2 person tents. If you don't walk with someone you know/ask to tent with you are assigned a random, same sex tent partner.

For fundraising, I find is it very do-able as long as you ASK ASK ASK. You can;t have any fear - ask everyone; your doctor, your hairdresser, your neighbor.

If you don;t raise the full amount the worst that happens is that you aren't allowed to walk (the $ you did raise still goes to them). Avon has an option called "deferred commitment" where when you check in the day before the walk you acknowledge that you haven't raised all the funds, agree to walk anyway, then you get an additional few months to continue fundraising. If, after those few months you still haven't finished fundrasing you can be held resposible for contributing the remaining amount. That is the only time you are ever held accountable for the funds, and you have to sign off on it. But really, fundraising and training aren't bad - you just have to set your mind to it!

JOEBunny

I would love to do this for my mother (who had BC), so I am responding to come back later. 

Mrs.LB705

Oh sorry, now I see there WERE questions there already!

Yes, I do camp.  It's part of the whole experience for me, although the two times it snowed I definitely DID NOT camp!  (We weren't allowed to anyway.)

If you can't raise the $2300 (and you WILL, so don't even think this way!), the only thing that happens is that you can't walk.  If you choose, you can donate the difference on your own and walk anyway, but you aren't bound to make up the difference unless you actually show up and do the walk.

There are a ZILLION ways to raise the money--and the easiest and best way is just to ASK!  I remember someone getting all up in arms on me last year for asking on here . . . and my response was (and always has been/will be) that even if I raise $5 more by asking (and possibly ruffling some feathers), it was worth asking.

Email me at the address I left above for more detailed fundraising info!

Brewster

Thanks everyone!  I really, really want to do this!

Mrs.LB705

You won't regret it, you really won't.  It's an incredible experience, start to finish.  This year I am actually walking with my college roomie/BFF who was diagnosed last May (thank God she is cancer-free now), and this past walk in October was sooooo much more emotional for me, I know next year is going to be heart-wrenching, walking with her!

SaraSmile

One of our pre-school teachers sells the Pink stuff - I bought a bracelet off of her for $10 and it's real nice .... which is a way to raise the money.

ebb7

I'm just a lurker here on Parenting, but as someone currently battling breast cancer (at age 33), I THANK you for choosing to become involved with Susan G. Komen. I've always loved the organization and although have never done the 3-day walk, did the annual walk every year for the past 10 or so. I never dreamed that breast cancer would hit so close to home!