My Fundraising Page

Racing to Save Lives

Kathleen Gage here with some exciting news.

Recently I made a commitment to do something I have talked about for a long time. Run a marathon. Well, maybe walk the marathon.

The beauty of this marathon is it is also a fundraiser for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society'. What this means is I promised to raise money for the society in order to be in the race.

I am asking for your help in me achieving my goal. I will be updating this page frequently with my training progress. All you have to do is scroll down and you will find updates.

Here's the official scoop.

I'm training to participate in an endurance event as a member of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's (LLS) Team In Training. All of us on Team In Training are raising funds to help stop leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma and myeloma from taking more lives. I am completing this event in honor of all individuals who are battling blood cancers. These people are the real heroes on our team, and we need your support to cross the ultimate finish line - a cure!

Please make a donation to support my participation in Team In Training and help advance LLS's mission.

I hope you will visit my web site often. Be sure to check back frequently to see my progress. Thanks for your support!

In health, success, and gratitude.

Kathleen

May 15, 2009 - My 55th birthday. I am in my car and hear an ad for a fundraiser for the LLS Foundation. Intrigued, I decide to check out the website when I return home.

Not only is this a fundraiser for a great cause, it is also a way for me to fulfil a longtime goal. Enter into a marathon.

I make a decision to attend the information meeting.

May 20, 2009 - 6:00 p.m. I enter the room where a group of men and women (mostly women) are gathered. Some are walking around introducing themselves to those of us who are obviously not sure what to expect.

Meeting starts on time. Kelly leads the meeting. She is full of excitement and energy to share the message of LLS and the commitment to enter a marathon.

The longer she talks the more I know this is something I need to simply commit to. When pictures of children with blood cancers is shown, I am hooked. I HAVE to join in.

The energy is contagious. We are told that we will be making a commitment to raise a minimum of $1,800. This doesn't even faze me because when I think of the kids and adults who are being impacted by blood cancer, there is no way I can't get involved.

So I fill out the registration form and step over the line.

Oh yes, I also commit to a 26.2 mile marathon. It is a stretch but one I know I can accomplish.

May 23, 2009 - First official training. Nina (a spitfire of a woman) is our coach. She is on fire to get us into the "game". However, not without proper information on how to stretch, move, hold our body, etc.

Nina says our first walk will be one mile. In the middle of it I'm thinking, "This is more like two miles.."

There is a group who will begin their training in the running area and those of us who are choosing to do power walking.

Mind you, this is not just walking. There is a very specific way to hold yourself when you "walk" properly.

After about 45 minutes and a good sweat, we all gather for a meeting on how to raise our $1,800. Lots of great ideas.

The thing I am finding most interesting about this is the response from people. Most (about 95%) are completely supportive. Some are ecstatic. A small percentage are saying, "You're too old to do this." or "I bet you don't finish." Wow!

Makes me realize there will be those who fully support the dream I have of doing this and those who won't. The ones who don't will not be included in my conversations about the race.

I learned a long time ago you have to hang out with the winners. However, the nay sayers are motivating me to stick with it. Nothing is going to stop me.

On that note, I do need financial contributions to make this happen. Would you help out? I don't care how much or how little. Just take a step to further the research. I appreciate it and so do those who have been impacted by blood cancer.

May 24, 2009 - Took a four mile walk this morning. It was glorious. Started shortly after 6 a.m. Wow! What a great experience. I was thinking about the next few months where my focus will be on my training.

On my walk I met a 76 year old woman who is in great shape. She said the thing that is so important in life is attitude. So true Maven, so true.

June 2, 2009 - I returned early yesterday afternoon from a fun week in New York City. What a great time I had. I presented at the Independent Publishers Conference, I also took time to enjoy much of what New York has to offer.

The site seeing was splendid and at times, emotional. One of our first stops was to Ground Zero. I was overwhelmed with the enormity of energy surrounding the area. A wave of gratitude swept over me as I thought of all those who helped others during the 9/11 attacks.

From there we went to the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Time Square and Central Park. As we were enjoying a nice ride through the park I noticed a group of folks in a marathon. Upon a closer look I realized they were all with Team in Training.

I stopped to chat with a few women and ask about their involvement with Team in Training. They all shared the same sentiment that participating in a marathon and raising funds for those impacted by blood cancers is one of the most fulfilling things they have done.

I felt a wave of pride just knowing that I am doing the same. I am so grateful I made the decision to join in on the Portland Marathon taking place in October.

The one thing though is I have committed to raising $1,800 for the cause. I am very confident I will do this in a very short period of time. Of course, I can use all the help I can get. So if you are reading this, do me a favor and make a donation before you leave this page.

Anything you can afford is appreciated. Not only by me, but those who cannot get out to even enjoy the day. Those impacted by blood cancers.

Prior to being in New York I didn�"t know if I would get a lot of walking in. I knew I wanted to but wasn�"t sure how it would all shake out.

You see, part of the preparation for the Marathon is training on a regular basis. Since I am in the walking division making time to walk is essential.

Not only did I walk (a lot!) I got in miles a day. Whew! It sure feels good knowing I am moving one step at a time closer to my outcome.

This morning I went on a 1 mile walk. The pride I felt as I thought about why I am doing this was amazing. If it feels this good to participate I know I will enjoy trainings no matter our rigorous. After all, having our health is one of the greatest blessings.

If you have yours and you are called to do so, please make a donation to support my walk.

June 3, 2009 - I attended a shoe clinic last evening. It took place at The Eugene Running Company. I honestly didn't know how much goes into selecting great shoes for a marathon. Actually, one doesn't need to be in a marathon to have the need for great shoes. Regardless of the level of running or walking shoes make all the difference.

I also got a few tips on proper eating for the training. Our official "nutrition clinic" takes place in a couple of weeks. I'm excited to learn how to optimize my energy through the process.

I raised some funds yesterday by sending out an email to folks on my email list. I am so very appreciative of the support for the race.

Headed out the door for a 4 mile walk. I am finding the time I take to do my practice walks is very healing for me. It allows me to gain more clarity as to why this commitment is so darned important. This process is bigger than any of us who have committed to it. It is about going beyond ourselves and helping others have a better quality of life.

Thanks for reading this and again, thanks to all those who have, and who will, donate.

Blessings

Kathleen

June 6, 2009 - I'm getting ready for our team training today. We are doing a 7 mile walk. This will be great.

Yesterday I took a 7 mile bicycle ride. It was a CT Day which is Cross Training. Apparently, switching up our training type helps to get us in the best shape for the marathon.

Donations have been pouring in. On my TNT page there are some of the donors names listed. I also have several I am sending in who paid through PayPal.

Our fundraising trainers recommended we send in donations that came in other than on the TNT website page every 5 donations or every five days. This is a great recommendation in that I can see how quickly the donations build. Makes life easier all the way around.

I am so grateful I made the decision to join in this team. The energy from others is contagious and the cause is so very important.

Thanks to all those who are helping me to help others. You rock!

In success

Kathleen

June 6, 2009 - What a great day it is turning out to be. I went on my training walk. Thought I would be doing 7 miles, but did about 8 - 9. Awesome.

Have been raising funds by way of my official web page for TNT and through a fundraiser. http://www.streetsmartsmarketing.com/Fundraiser.htm So far about 20 people have registered. I sent out the first notice about this last evening.

My goal is to get at least 100 people on the call and raise $2,000 with the call. It's all about focus and vision.

Taking it easy in that I can feel the walk taking a bit of a toll. And yet, my state of mind is fabulous.

Thanks for all the support from those who are helping me with my fundraising goals.

In success,

Kathleen

June 8, 2009 - Sunday was a day of rest from my training. I figured after the training I did the day before a day of rest would be well deserved.

Turns out that I ended up walking 2 miles when I was headed from my car to the U of Oregon stadium for an international track competition.

I recieved two tickets for a purchase of new shoes. Niki called it the 2 for 2 promotion. I had no idea how much I would enjoy the competitions.

The most exciting part was watching the athletes in action. Knowing how hard they must be working to fulfill their dream and then to have 15,000 people watch them actualize their vision. Very exciting.

I found myself filled with gratitude with the decision I made some weeks ago. I am so glad I chose to make the decision of entering the marathon. It has been (and will continue to be) life changing.

What I know to be true is our life is made of our moment by moment decisions. Many people choose without any thought to their choice. As one friend says, "They are sleepwalking their way through life."

It is when we are fully conscious in the choices that the passion goes deep.

I am very passionate about the marathon and more so about the fundraising and helping others who have been impacted by blood cancers.

Thank you for reading this and your continued support to this cause.

In success,

Kathleen Gage

June 15, 2009

Wow! A week since I have posted about my progress. Rest assured, there has been progress. I have trained most days with a very intense training on Saturday. Did a six mile power walk around Alton Baker Park. It was incredible.

Walk with Kealy which made the time fly by. We talked about what motivated us to do the marathon and raise funds. Amazingly, we both have similar goals.

Sunday I was going to take a rest day but ended up going on a fun bike ride. About 7 miles. Cross training is essential to building muscles that are not being touched during the walks we take.

Today I had a great 4 mile walk. Enjoyed the quiet of the day and the gratitude for the ability to take long walks. What a blessing it is to do that walk.

What a blessing all the folks who are supporting my efforts through your donations, emails, calls and well wishes. You rock!

June 20, 2009

Although my intention is to write frequently between business, training and life in general, postings are a bit infrequent. Fortunately my training ad fundrasing are very consistent and frequent.

As of today, I am sat 59% of my original goal. I am thinking of upping the ante soon. I have found that many people are very generous with donations. This is so very much appreciated.

I hosted a teleseminar in which two of my dear friends and colleagues joined me. Together we generated nearly $1,000 in donations. Yahoo!

My eating has drastically changed in the time I have been training. I am more conscious of what I am eating and making sure I get enough calories to compensate for the energy I am using.

For example, today myself and my friend in TNT walked 11 miles. It is likely we both burned close to 1,000 calories doing that. What this means is up the calories - healthy calories. So I increased the complex carbs and proteins. Love those steaks!

Tomorrow is likely going to be a rest day, but even on my rest days I put in a mile or two with the dogs. Just because I'm resting doesn't mean they want to. LOL

Thanks again for all the great support from everyone. You rock!

June 27, 2009

A great day of training. 9 miles along the river. Beautiful day. Met up with my friend Kim from Sweet Home. She is great for me on training days. We actually push each other to hit our personal best.

I have cut my time on each mile by 23% in the last six weeks.

What motivates me is to know that I have the ability to help so many people who really need help with research dollars and patient service dollars.

Any amount will help. Any!

Today I had the opportunity to see 3 turtles on a log in the river. It was incredible. What a great way to spend a couple hours on a Saturday morning.

My intention is to power walk the marathon, but today I did some jogging. It was fabulous.

What motivated me to begin jogging was a racoon coming down a tree. Being that it was the early morning I had to wonder what the heck the racoon was doing out in the open.

I didn't stop to chat with the critter though. I picked up my speed and moved faster than I have in a long, long time. I guess that's what it took to get my speed up and time down.

It takes what it takes.

June 29, 2009

Planned to have a rest day but by day's end found that I couldn't help but get on the bicycle for a short 2 1/2 mile ride. After a great dinner I found the urge to just get out and move was too great to ignore.

A quiet day otherwise. Tomorrow I do some cross training and prepare for the Butte to Butte marathon on July 4th.

This will be my second mini marathon in a couple weeks. Wow! Never thought I would be doing this so quickly.

Thanks for all the continued support I have experienced.

August 22, 2009 Getting ready for a morning training session. Feeling great about my progress. Today we do 8 miles. Next week it will be 18. Yippee! Gotta love the energy, vitality and health I am enjoying.

Not so for the many people with blood cancers. I really need all the help I can get with my fundraising.