Monday, December 19, 2011

Top 5 Reasons To Donate To Strength For Life Before 2012

1. High Impact Donation
The level of impact your donation can make when giving to a large scale charitable organization is a point of concern for many would-be contributors. Strength for Life is a small 501c3 organization. It was founded on Long Island in 2007 by Jacqueline Errico (my mother :)) and Debbie Hughes in memory of friend and mentor Evelyn Knapp. Strength for Life has made huge strides since inception - touching the lives of hundreds of cancer patients and survivors - however, it is still in it's early phases. This means your donations (no matter the size) are HIGH IMPACT.
Your donation goes directly to fund programs such as Wellness Retreats which are offered at no cost to participants.
In fact, if you're local to Long Island, it may be possible to volunteer at a Wellness Retreat Weekend so that you can experience first hand the difference your contributions make!

2. Tax Savings
"Tax deductions may be made in the tax year that the actual money or goods were donated. So you have until December 31, 2009 to take advantage of tax deductions for this year. If you want to donate money, but do not have it right now, then you can charge that money on your credit card (be responsible) and you can still take the donated money as a tax contribution in this year."

"Calculate your savings: Each dollar that you contribute will yield you a tax savings of your income tax bracket. For example, if you are in the 25% income tax bracket, then your tax savings is 25% of your contribution amount (for $100, that would be $25 in tax savings)."


Read more: http://www.mydollarplan.com/make-your-charitable-contributions-before-year-end/#ixzz1gzOv1Y2p


3. Charitable Donations Make Great Holiday Gifts!
Make a Strength for Life Donation in honor of a loved one.
Donations make special and unique holiday gifts! Especially true for your family members who have all they need -- making a donation in their name will in essence provide two additional gifts, an opportunity to participate in a Strength for Life program for a cancer patient/survivor and a tax advantage for you.
If you'd like a certificate of donation in honor or on behalf of a loved one, email me at deechriss04@yahoo.com with the subject line "Donation Certificate" and include the name of your loved one for whom the contribution has been made.

4. The Vacuum Law of Prosperity - Nature absolutely abhors a vacuum.
From Bob Proctor's "You Were Born Rich"
"Please understand you can never give too much of anything. Nevertheless, when you do give, fully expect to receive something in return. Very rarely will you receive from that source to which you gave. But, receive you must, just as surely as rain must fall when two clouds collide."

Giving
To get he had tried, yet his store was still meager.
To a wise man he cried, in a voice keen and eager;
Pray tell me how I may successfully live?
And the wise man replied "To get you must give."

As to giving he said "What have I to give?"
I've scarce enough bread, and of course one must life;
But I would partake of Life's bountiful store.
Came the wise man's response; "Then you must give more."

The lesson he learned; to get was forgotten,
Toward mankind he turned with a love new begotten.
As he gave of himself in useful living, then joy crowned his days,
For he grew rich in giving.

Arthur William Beer

5. If Not You, Then Who?
Make it your personal responsibility to make a difference - after all, if you don't do it, who will?

Support my "Run Disney" Strength for Life Fundraiser
I will be running the Walt Disney World Marathon on January 8, 2012 in an effort to raise funds for Strength for Life and support their mission to
FIGHT CANCER WITH EXERCISE. 

Contributing to my cause is safe & simple: http://www.active.com/donate/deerunsdisney


Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Training & Fundraising Update

I'm in the last leg of my training schedule -- after this weekend's 3 hour run the official taper begins.

My last "real" training run - a 23miler at marathon-like pace - was successful and I feel pretty prepared heading into this race. I finished my 23miles in 4hours and 2minutes at a 10:33 average pace. (December 2)

This past weekend I ran in the Wantagh Annual Snowball Race. It's a 5 mile run and I finished in 40:37 - an 8:08min/mile. I beat my last years time for the same race by over 6 minutes. The race starts and ends at Mulcahy's. I'm glad no one told me they weren't serving beer this year until after the finish or else I may not have been in such a hurry. ;)  Kidding. 

I'm feeling a little faster and more confident going into the Walt Disney Marathon than I did in 2010 before the Marine Corps Marathon (which I got sick during --probably from nerves-- and finished in a painful 6:06:39...walking the last 6miles. YUCK)

I'm looking forward to a better run in Florida!


As for my fundraising efforts... I need your support! I have collected $778 so far... 1/3 the way to my goal of $2500.

All donations go directly to Strength for Life (www.strengthforlifeny.org) to help fund their life changing programs such as Wellness Retreats and Exercise Classes. 
All programs are provided at no cost to participants - YOUR donations make them possible!!

Strength for Life is on a mission to FIGHT CANCER WITH EXERCISE ... I'm on a mission to CRUSH my Marine Corps Marathon time... SUPPORT US BOTH!! http://www.active.com/donate/deerunsdisney 

Many thanks to all who've already contributed!!




Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Training Update

I just finished my speed workout for the day. 
I'm not running this marathon to "race", or to break any time records (except my own), but I find that speed workouts are a great way to add variety to a training program. 
Today's run was a 3x800 workout on the track. 800meters is equivalent to a half-mile or 2 laps around a standard size track. In this workout, the goal is to run 800meters above race-pace 3 times, with rest in between. 
There are many recommendations regarding how many repeats to do, how fast to run them in, and how much rest to separate them by. This is what my workout this morning looked like:
400m - warm up 
800m - above race-pace
200m - walk
200m - slightly below race-pace
800m - above race pace
200m - walk
200m - slightly below race-pace
800m - above race pace
200m - walk
200m - cool down
STRETCH. 
The result was a 2.5 mile workout (by far the shortest I'll do all week), 24 minutes, 242 calories burned, average heart rate of 159 with a max heart rate of 190. Very different from every other workout during the week.

Hal Higdon agrees that speed training has a place in a marathon program: http://www.halhigdon.com/marathon/MaraAdvanced1.html

If you're training for any distance and need a 'change of pace' ;) hit the track and try this out. As someone who's not a fan of running small in circles, I can attest to the fact that this is short enough to make the track bearable. 

**Want to know how running 800 repeats can predict your marathon time? - Check out this article from Runners World** http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-238-244-255-624-0,00.html

PLEASE support my cause! I will be running the Walt Disney World Marathon on January 8, 2012 in support of Strength for Life - Fighting Cancer With Exercise http://www.active.com/donate/deerunsdisney - EVERY donation counts. 


Monday, November 7, 2011

Week Two

Week two of fundraising. 
Week 18 of training. 
Only 8 weeks left of both. 


Monday is always the most difficult to get motivated so I thought I'd read and share a little inspiration...
Here are some of my favorite testimonials from the Strength for Life website:


"Jacqui and Debbie are physical and spiritual leaders who are highly motivated individuals who will forever remain in my heart.  They will spiritually and physically energize your body, mind and soul. Besides all of the information you receive and challenges they present you with, they keep the time moving with some good old fun! God Bless you Jacqui and Debbie, and all of your helpers.  I hope to see you both in the near future."
Sincerely, Patrick Dockweiller, Proud Member of SPOHNC



I have such a thankfulness and appreciation for everything they’ve done for me – my arm is so much more mobile than post surgery and I know it is due to all the ball pushups and wall presses and resistance band training that I’ve done with Jacqui. The knowledge that we walk away with from a wellness weekend is invaluable, also I have changed the products I buy and the way we eat.  Thank you so much for all of your love and dedication.  I will continue to promote Strength for Life everywhere I go. May your wellness weekends be blessed with a glow of positive attitudes and life.  God Bless you both.” Xoxo RK 


My experience with Strength for Life was wonderful.  Sharing this weekend with a “sisterhood” of new friends, as well as with treasured ones.  Debbie and Jacqui are my new found “angels.
 They created a weekend full of new experiences for me.  Zumba was amazing. I need to find a zumba class so I can look like Penni! Laura’s (Feng Shui Manhattan) was very interesting.  So much wonderful information! Thank you so much for including me this weekend.  Thank you for all you do for Strength for Life.  You’re both amazing!” ~ Donna M.





For more testimonials, videos and information about Strength for Life, visit www.strengthforlifeny.org. 
By supporting my marathon, you are helping even more people to experience the programs that Strength for Life has to offer - at no cost to them! 
Please help me reach by fundraising goal, EVERY donation counts! http://www.active.com/donate/deerunsdisney 

Have an inspired Monday! 

Thursday, November 3, 2011

CBS NEWS: "Exercise called "wonder drug" for cancer patients:What can it do?"

More supporting evidence...
Check out this article posted in August 2011 by CBS News:
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162-20089410-10391704.html


From the article: "Macmillan's chief medical officer, oncologist Dr. Jane Maher, said in a written statement that health care professionals need to undergo a "cultural change" and make exercise an integral part of cancer care."
Support Strength for Life's Mission of Fighting Cancer With Exercise!
Every Contribution Counts!

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Music to Run To

A good playlist is really important for me to stay motivated through a run - especially a long one!
I take a unique approach to creating playlists in that I repeat the same song for an entire mile. It helps me pace and stay focused to know that (for example) I only have to listen to 20 songs on a 20 mile run and then the run will be over. It's a little mind trick that works well for me.
I'm ALWAYS looking for new music (figures right? since I'm basically playing a song out the first or second time I run to it) so if you have recommendations - send them my way!
Here are a few new (to me) songs that kept me moving on my last two runs...
Heartbeat - The Fray - love it.
Fix A Heart - Demi Lovato
Starting Over - JLo
I'm Into You - JLo
Baby/Where Did Our Love Go - Rachel Crowe (the adorable 13 year old on the X Factor - can't help but smile when you hear her!)
and Marchin On - One Republic (which is not new but I find motivational because it makes me think of this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=klEeO5wiv7s


I've raised $115 so far... $2385 to go... Help me reach my goal: http://www.active.com/donate/deerunsdisney

Day 2 - Training Update

After two days of rest I was back outside in the cold this morning for a hilly 55minute run around Cold Spring Harbor. Feet, ankles and body feel almost 100% recovered from Sunday's 20 mile run through the relentless cold wind out in Southold which I'm extremely happy about!
I am in week 17 of a 26 week training program. The first ten weeks of this program were really focused on speed and maintenance and were in preparation for the September 18, 2011 Philadelphia Rock 'n Roll Half Marathon, so real Full Marathon training only began about 6 weeks ago. 
Last week's mileage totaled approx 35 -- this week will be lighter to ensure adequate recovery -- probably totaling around 23.
9 Full weeks of training left until the race and $2,400 left to raise... 

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Day 1 "RUN DISNEY" Strength for Life Fundraiser





Hi All, 
I've created this blog as a way to track my progress of training and fundraising for my "Run Disney - Strength for Life Fundraiser". As an introduction to this cause, here's a copy of the email I sent out today:


Friends and Family, 


On January 8, 2011 I will be running the Disney Marathon in support of Strength for Life. My goal is to raise $2500 to benefit Strength for Life's programs through this effort. 
Strength for Life is a non profit organization on a mission to fight cancer with exerciseTheir goal is to INSPIRE, STRENGTHEN and EMPOWER cancer patients and survivors by creating a multidimensional approach to treatment and recovery. 
Strength for Life provides Exercise Classes and Wellness Retreats at absolutely NO COST to participants. Medical research has shown that when exercise is part of a treatment plan, recovery and quality of life is greatly enhanced. 
Your donation will help make Exercise Classes and Wellness Retreats available to more individuals and ultimately support Strength for Life in their effort to expand outside of Long Island!
No donation is too small!!! Please visit my donation page and make a contribution.

Learn more about Strength for Life at www.strengthforlifeny.org and remember...
we make a living by what we get, we make a LIFE but what we GIVE. 

Thank you in advance for your support.
Best Always, 
Dee