3Day training update

September 13- I donated the money from Mother's coworker and our neighbor online.
I walked Levi but after I did my chest really hurt.
September 14-I ordered some postcards to send as reminders from Vistaprint.
I emailed a restaurant about possible sponsorship.
I went to the Nike store to look at shoes.  The salesgirl who helped me was named Sarah.  She told me her mom had had breast cancer.  I told her and the other salespeople about the 3Day to tell them what I needed the shoes for.  They all seemed to know what it is.  I gave Sarah my information and my card, and she may want to walk next year.
The donation from Mother's coworker posted.
September 15-Sarah added me on Facebook
September 16-I got a blue sleeping bag at Target, that's rated to 30 degrees.
My twitter friend Jay gave $25, and he filed for matching.
September 17-A friend sent me an email in response to a follow-up I sent everyone.  She promised me a donation in a couple weeks.
We went to the Nike store.  I took my old shoes in and put them in recycling.  I got some white shoes with a pink swoosh.  They're not Nike plus, so I have to get a sensor case.  I got pink laces at Reebok where Mother got shoes.  Sarah helped me at Nike.  The lady who rang me up told me her sister was fighting breast cancer when I told her about the 3day.  I gave her my card.  She thanked me for walking.
I got Nancy Brinker's book Promise Me at Wal-Mart.  I was so glad it was there; I thought I'd have to order it.
September 20-My friend Sara gave $20.
My friend Barbara gave $50.
September 21-I posted a prayer request on Kevin and Taylor's facebook page, and they wrote me back.
I called the church and got on the prayer list.
September 22-I put my donation link on a lot of my Facebook friends' pages.
September 23-The postcards I ordered came, and they look great.
September 24-I gave all my virtual pets' friends pink plushies and wrote them about the 3day.
September 26-I gave out some of my postcards at church.
September 28-Mother gave my postcard and business cards to a coworker at Home Depot-she told her about the 3day and how much we need to raise, and the girl said she could do it (her parents are wealthy).
September 29-My cousin Wendy gave $25.
September 30-I got foot lotion at Ingles for after the 3day.
October 2-We went to Dahlonega and talked to people in several stores about sponsoring me-I got several outright nos, but there were also a few who seemed interested.
October 3-I talked to the Starbucks manager about hanging up my postcard-she told me she couldn't, but to talk to Kroger's customer care.  I did, and the boy there let me hang up my card.  He also told me that the manager might let me have a fundraiser.
I got a pink ribbon bear, socks, and notebook, and also pink star sunglasses at Target.
I got a hot pink breast cancer shirt at Wal-Mart.
October 4-I logged almost 5000 steps.
October 6-I walked 1.34 miles. My sensor died about 2/3 of the way through my walk.  I also logged about 1700 steps.
When I turned on the radio this morning, Kevin and Taylor were talking about the 3day walk and those who walk in it.  What they were saying really encouraged me about the walk.  I wrote them a note on their Facebook page thanking them.
My twitter friend Lori gave $25.
October 7-Kevin and Taylor wrote me back.
I did an online chat with the founder of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Nancy Brinker, about her book Promise Me, put on by Prevention Magazine.

Discouragement and the 3Day

It may just be brought on by a bout of hormonal emotion, but yesterday evening and today I have felt great discouragement about my 3Day journey, especially the fundraising efforts.  Over the long weekend I addressed envelopes to all our extended family, and I also edited my  fundraising letter, mostly by trimming it considerably.  Last night, and really the night before, my mom raised the issue that I should not ask for a donation of $50, because she knew some in her family would not be able to do that.  I told her, several times, that those who run the 3Day have said that it's best to name a figure, instead of just saying "give what you can", which is what she was wanting me to put.  (I think I see where the fundraising advice is coming from--we as outsiders do not really KNOW anything about anyone else's financial situations or their ability to afford anything.)  She, as usual, would not listen to me.  Sometimes I feel like I am the only positive person here.  My mother, and as a result, my grandnephew, is angry a lot and very negative.  I am doing my best to keep a positive mindset about this whole process, but it is very difficult here, because I seem to fight opposition at every turn.  It seems like no matter what I say at times, it starts an argument with one of them.  My grandnephew in particular has a very short fuse.  I avoid conflict here at every turn; yet sometimes it cannot be avoided, like when I am alone with the boy.  
Also this weekend, I edited my letter a bit and distributed it to some at my church, along with my donation forms.  I am going to print them out and put them in some mailboxes around my home, which is in a lakeside community where a lot of summer people come up on the weekend.  I have also sent out several emails to friends. I have kept my facebook status and twitter status mainly about the 3Day, always including my fundraising link, yet they have resulted in NO donations.  The only donations I have gotten as yet have been from a girlfriend at church, my neighbor, and from a friend of my virtual pet Elizabeth.  I do not know how else to promote this to my friends.  I have thought of sending them all personal emails.  I am totally underwhelmed at their response, and totally disappointed.  I was also hoping to spread this abroad at our church some, but I could never get a firm answer from our leadership about doing it.  I had the thought of trying to get someone to walk with me, so I am not in Atlanta in October among a sea of strangers, but I couldn't get anyone to even express interest.  Again, I am totally disappointed.
I am hoping to take advantage of the increased population in our neighborhood until Labor Day by possibly having a pink lemonade stand and maybe selling homemade pretzels and other baked goods.  My grandnephew could help me.  I am loving the fundraising ideas I hear from the 3Day community, but most of them take money to do or put on, and that is in short supply here.
I have to fight this discouragement with all that is within me, and remember "God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams!" (Eph. 3 20).