I have the privilege of writing a column for our parent company’s publications that gets into several of our newspapers each week. OK, so I have written two columns so far and this week’s just got out online at GoDanRiver.com. It is in tribute to the Avon Walk that I did, but also goes more broadly to this month – October (which I will now always consider to be “Pinktober” for the numerous reasons mentioned in previous posts) – THE awareness month for Breast Cancer. Please read and consider ways you, too, can participate.
It was five weeks ago yesterday that our Affiliate Marketers Give Back Team completed the 40 mile Avon Walk for Breast Cancer in Los Angeles. Our team of Missy Ward, Chris Pearson, Brook Schaaf, Lynette LaPlante, Melissa Salas, Brian Clark and myself raised over $50,000 in the fight against breast cancer. The video is about 11 minutes long (as short as I could get 16 hours of walking) but shows our fortitude to not only give, but participate.
For the last 17 weeks I have been walking and training in my beloved “Kstraw” shoes I made on Nike ID about two years ago. They are the the NikeFree 5.0’s. They have been quite comfortable as my walk around shoes and have actually been quite supportive during my walks while training.
However, after consulting with a good colleague at Road Runner Sports in San Diego, she suggested the Men’s Nike Zoom Vomero+ 4. Because of the extra focus on cushioning (which is best for the long walk) and the good look of them, I decided to make those the shoes to wear. Basically, I got the best shoes possible by shopping at RRS online – they provide so much information that the shopping part is easy. Thank you Road Runner.
I can’t wait to get them this week and start breaking them in - Just in time for the Avon Walk September 12-13, 2009.
As the Affiliate Marketers Give Back team fast approaches the halfway point in our fundraising efforts, it is time to pull in the big guns – a “not so silent Silent Auction” hosted by Missy Ward on the site she runs for AMGB. More details will be available next week. DealTaker is excited that one of our great merchant partners – Sandals - has donated a fabulous six night, all inclusive stay at any of their Caribbean Sandals or Beaches destinations. I would like to see many of our DealTaker community members make a bid to win this great item. The value of it is $4,995.
We have three weeks and two days until the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. We want our team to beat the $50,000 goal that has been set and we want to raise all the awareness we can. Please help us in this endeavor.
Over the weekend I reached persoanl highs for number of miles and time walking in one session – 6 miles and 90 minutes respectively. The great thing is that I felt great at the end of ninely minutes and could have pushed on further if not for things I had to do. I feel that when I can get up to 10-11 miles per day the week before the event, I will have plenty of endurance to go the 40 over two days – but will be worn out then.
DealTaker has always proudly supported charities around the country, most notably charitable groups for breast cancer research and support. Each year we give money in sponsorship related ways to the Komen walks in various cities. In addition to that, we are literally going to jump in feet first and raise money and give by participating in the LA Walk of the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer September 12th and 13th.
I am going to humbly represent DealTaker and our team of dedicated people by walking with the Affiliate Marketers Give Back Team led by Missy Ward. Missy has been a strong supporter of many charitable projects throughout the years and I am honored to have an opportunity to give back along with a great group of people joining us this year (including Melissa Salas of Buy.com).
The walk is one month from today and I will be geared toward training for the 40 mile walk, raising money via the support of the DealTaker community, colleagues and friends, and working to make a difference in an area that affects too many people around the world. I will post updates on the Inside DealTaker blog from time-to-time, as well as keep up with a daily journal on my own blog at KstrawWalks.
Where you can, please join me in support – either through monetary donations via my personal page on the Avon site at -
