226 days to go

I am officially launching my fundraising efforts for St Jude!  I have mentioned it before (including in my last post), but now everything is officially set up!  The fundraising commitment I signed up for is $2,500, but I would personally like to raise at least $2,620 ($100 per mile, of course!).

I would personally love your support as I train to run my first marathon (226 days away - gulp), but more importantly, the money that I raise will help provide treatment and fund further research on childhood cancer.  As I am running 26.2 miles, I would challenge you to donate $26.20 (a dollar per mile).   However, I know times are tight and every dollar counts.  Check out my donation page here.

If raising money to help treat and potentially cure cancer some day wasn't enough, I am also doing a few different giveaways that you can potentially qualify for when you donate...

~~Opportunity 1~~  As a part of my daughter's birthday run... if you run the virutal race and submit a picture and donate at least $5 you will be eligible for a $25 prize package that will be awarded at the end of the month. (Please see the link for complete details)

~~Opportunity 2~~ When I reach my first milestone,  $500 (1/5 of my fundraising total), one lucky donor will be will randomly selected to receive a $42 gift certificate for Running Skirts.

I have already had a few people commit to doing Natalie's birthday run, and I am SO excited... if you missed my last post regarding making her birthday wish come true, check it out... Natalie's Birthday Wish.

Help me Make Her Dream Come True

This weekend Natalie ran her second race (the first was a one mile run last September), and she was super excited about the fact that she got her OWN race bib.  A few weeks ago Skirt Sports was running a great sale so I scored Natalie a running outfit and then I decided that every little girl needs her very own running shoes so we bought those too.  She was one well dressed little girl for her race!  It seems like the combination of her own running outfit and her first race bib lit the "running fire" within her (at least temporarily).

         

After her race, she decided that she wanted to do a "birthday run."  So, what's a Mommy with a blog to do?  I decided I would set up a virtual, very unorganized, and last minute race for my favorite little girl!  So, my bloggy buddies - I have a favor to ask of all of you.  Natalie's birthday is on Saturday, my big girl will be turning FIVE (where has the time gone?) and I would LOVE it if you could run your mileage in honor of her!  And, in return Natalie will draw a picture for each person who shares a photo of themselves before/after/during their run.

I am not very crafty, but I made a cheesy race bib.  I asked her to draw a picture, and she drew the heart on the bib - hearts are her favorite thing to draw right now.  Of course, I asked her to write the "Happy Birthday" on it but I think she did a fantastic job.  

One thing I love about running is that it has opened up the world of raising money for charity to me, and therefore my children.  Prior to running I didn't feel like I had anything to offer so to speak, I felt like I would fail if I tried so I just avoided it.  When I decided I was going to run my first marathon in Memphis this December as a Hero for St Jude, I discussed it with Natalie and told her all about how I was raising money for sick kids.  I didn't expect her to really get it - but she wanted to help.  She went on a scavenger hunt that night looking for any spare change she could find to put in the piggy bank to donate.  I was touched, when did my little girl grow up and become so selfless?  

I share this story because today I took the plunge and signed up to run my first marathon for St Jude as a Hero - a commitment to not only run 26.2 miles, but also a commitment to raise $2500.   Personally though, I would like to raise at least $2,620 - $100 for each mile that I will be running.  I haven't been able to set up a fundraising page yet, but I would love your support on this endeavor.  I will share the link as soon as I get it up.  

Because of my daughter's desire to help the cause, I do plan to do a special giveaway for those who both participate in the virtual run as well as donate to the fundraiser by April 30.  Obviously, the giveaway will be delayed due to the delay in getting the fundraising site up, but I wanted to tie it in with this run.  The prize is yet to be determined, but will have a value of at least $25! 

 The details of the "Birthday Run"

 - The virtual run can be a run and/or walk of ANY distance, time does NOT matter

 - Natalie would LOVE to see photos of you wearing your bib (feel free to fill in your name or blog address) - you can either link them here, or email them to Natalie at harningn at gmail dot com

 - If you share a photo of you with your bib, Natalie will draw a picture and it will be mailed to you as soon as we can confirm your address.

To participate in the giveaway: 

 - complete the "birthday run" 

 - make a donation of at least $5 to St Jude (once I get the site up!) by April 30, 2012

 - winners will be announced on my blog on May 3, 2012

If you know any friends who run and/or walk, please share this with them, I would love to make my little girl's wish of a "Birthday Run" come true. 

*Disclaimer: If the fundraising site is not set up by April 23, I will extend the deadline to donate to 7 days from the date of set up and winners will be announced on my blog no more than 3 days after the donation deadline!

**Disclaimer 2:  This is my first attempt at trying to organize something like this, so please let me know if I missed something.

ETA:  Finally got my fundraising site log-in info, its not totally customized yet, but I can accept donations now!  Thanks in advance for any donations you may make! Every dollar helps, please donate if you can... visit my donation page.