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Charities we have helped:

United Cerebral Palsy

Old Fella Burke County Animal Rescue

The Warrick Dunn Foundation

Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation

American Cancer Society

Ronald McDonald House

"What Have I Gotten Us Into?"

In last week’s letter I announced our intent to walk the equivalent of a marathon and raise money for the American Cancer Society.  I had asked my friend Dalvin to join me because I knew that he would be up for the challenge.  He’s a good friend like that.

When I started getting responses, pledges, and some outright donations, my plan became a little too real.  My thoughts immediately turned from “Let’s try to use the site to benefit a worthy cause” to “Oh my God… now I actually have to walk a marathon!”

This week’s letter is to my walking marathon buddy Dalvin to thank him for joining me in this worthy endeavor.

You can donate to the American Cancer Society through our donation page by clicking here.

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Dalvin,

What have I gotten us into?

A few weeks ago I had this great idea to walk an entire marathon and asked the one person I know I could count on to join me – that was, of course, you!

The premise of this event was simple – by creating an endurance challenge that I’m not sure that I can complete, I could raise money for a great cause while simultaneously forcing myself to get into some kind of shape.

I know what you’re going to say.  “Dude, we’re walking… what’s the big deal?” 

The big deal is that I am WAY out of shape.  My weight is back to all-time highs and I haven’t ran or worked out very hard in months.  This afternoon I walked two laps around the reservoir, which is three miles and roughly 11% of the 18 laps we will be doing on July 11th.  I would like to pretend that the slight pain in my calves and lower back was nothing.  I would love to tell you that it seemed like another 16 laps would be a snap.  But I can’t.  It’s going to be hard.

If I had attempted to walk a marathon today, I think I would have a lot of trouble making it around that reservoir 18 times.  So there is one thing left to do… I need to train.  That’s right – I have become so out of shape that I have to train for a walk!

And I’m not talking “just get out and walk a few laps each day for a month”.  In order for me to get to a point where I can comfortable walk 27 miles, I need to train like Rocky before he fought Ivan Drago.  I need to quit shaving.  I need to pull ox-carts.  I need to climb snowy mountains.

Alright, maybe I’m overdoing it.  I’ll probably just spend some extra time on the elliptical in the gym.  But my point is simply that even though “walking a marathon” may sound like a formality, it’s not.  I hope you aren’t taking it lightly either.

A few people have pledged donations only if I can complete the 27 miles.  I’m not sure if I should take that as a form of encouragement or a bet against me.  But I’m going to be ready, and I hope you will be too.

Thanks for joining me in this project.  I don’t know that I would have had the guts to try it on my own.  Hopefully we’ll be able to drum up some further support over the next month and we can have ourselves a grand old time while raising money for a great cause.

I never thought I’d say that I was looking forward to taking a long walk with another man on a nice summer’s day… so I won’t.  But this should be an interesting day in the least.

Thanks again,

Scott

 

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