[FWDLK] Fw: Update on my fund-raising efforts so far.

[Douglas Sylvester <DSylvester@xxxxxxxxxx>]

We have raised over $700 of the
1800 that is needed to participate in the Avon walk.

This summer I will be walking nearly 100
miles over the course of two weekends as a participant in two Breast Cancer
events. Once again I am honored to be walking with thousands of others
who have made the same courageous commitment: to help raise awareness and
funding for this devastating disease. We will sleep in tents, shower in
semi-trucks, and push ourselves far beyond what we ever thought we were
capable of doing.

This probably isnât the first time youâve
heard something like this from me and it probably wonât be the last. Why
do I continue to push myself to participate in these events? Why do I keep
talking about breast cancer? Why do I continue to fundraise and train?
Why? Because when I first started participating in these events I only
knew one person that had been touched by breast cancer. Now I know more
than I can count. The numbers are not improving. The more people I talk
to and the more money I raise to fund the fight against breast cancer -
the sooner the numbers start turning around and the sooner a cause and
a cure are found. 

I truly believe that finding the cure to
one cancer will be the key to unraveling the mysteries of many cancers.
Too many people have had their lives torn apart by this disease. I refuse
to sit idly by and watch it happen. So why do I continue to do all this?
Because I can. 

This year I signed up for two walks. For
each event my teammates and I will be walking 26.2 miles on each Saturday,
then 13.1 miles on each Sunday for a grand total of almost 40 miles.The
second weekend one will be 60 miles over 3 days. To participate in each
event every walker must raise a minimum of $1800 - thatâs $3600 for both
events. The Avon Breast Cancer Crusade will manage the money raised from
these events. 

The mission of the Crusade is to fund access
to finding a cure for breast cancer with a focus on medically underserved
women, the underprivileged, the elderly and the under- or uninsured. The
funds are awarded to medical research into the possible causes, prevention,
treatment and cure of breast cancer; clinical care for breast cancer patients;
support services for patients and their families; educational seminars;
and early detection programs. One of the things that attracted me to the
Crusade is that they are looking at the whole picture - cause, cure, care
and support.

This is where you come in. I canât do this
alone. To participate in these events I am required to raise a minimum
of $3600 by May 19th 2006. $3600 is merely a drop in the bucket
of what is needed in this fight but it is still far beyond my personal
means. 

There are two ways you can donate to this
cause and support my efforts. You can go to www.avonwalk.org, click on
âSponsor A Walker,â click on one or both cities that I will be walking
in, then enter my name and it will lead you to a page where you can pledge
on-line by credit or debit card either as a one time gift or a pledge over
time. 
Here is my personal link : http://walk.avonfoundation.org/site/TR?px=2016510&fl=en_US&s_tafId=55166&pg=personal&fr_id=1160

If you are out of breath just reading that,
you can also just mail a check made out to  âAvon Walk for Breast
Cancerâ directly to me and let me do all the ugly paperwork for you. Either
way your gift will be appreciated more than I can possibly tell you.

One of the things I discovered as I was going
through my own cancer experience is that I am blessed with an amazing circle
of family and friends. This was shown to me over and over as people came
out of the woodwork to offer love and support. I feel privileged to have
you in my life. This event is one way that I can try to offer some of that
support back to those who need it now.



Thank you 
Douglas Sylvester

Note:  As in the past, I walk in memory of my grandmother Ann Daniels.
She was and is an inspiration to those who knew and loved her. I also walk
in honor of Nancy Lucciarini and so my niece Morgan, will never have to
go through what my grandmother and Nancy have been
through.

Please forward this email to anyone who you might know
that would be interested in supporting me in this cause.


"What we have done for ourselves
alone dies with us;
What we have done for others and the world is immortal" -Albert Pike