End of Semester - Not

Being the alumni blogger for the UB Blog has definitely been an interesting and fun thing to do.  While it is the end of the semester for my fellow bloggers, I will keep plugging along in my job with no end in sight (well, at least for the next 20 years - give or take a few.)  It has been fun sharing my thoughts and I hope I was able to entertain with one or two of my postings. 

I am not sure if I will be back in the fall, it all depends on my work and the one thing I gave myself for my 41st birthday - a registration to run/jog/walk/crawl the Disney Half-Marathon.  So, between now until we head to Orlando in January 2011, we will be steadily working to be able to finish the Half Marathon in less than 3.5 hours. I will also be trying to lost 40 pounds during this time as well.  All this takes time and dedication.  If I may...let me tell you a little bit about what I am doing and why.

I have joined a running team - Team All Ears -  of 100 like-minded individuals who are training for the 2011 Walt Disney World Half-Marathon (13.1 miles), Full-Marathon (26.2 miles) or Goofy Challenge (running both the half and full marathon totaling 39.3 miles). Deb Wills, the founder of the site and a very close friend of mine, will be a 25 year breast cancer survivor in 2011 and has been one of the top fund raisers for the Avon Breast Cancer walk each year. Last year, she has put together this team to help join in raising funds. You will be amazed by her story and the effort she puts into raising money for this cause.  She was actually honored to speak at this year's DC closing ceremony - it is an inspirational speech.

Besides Deb, I know or have known many women (and one man) to battle breast cancer. Whether they have been co-workers (Laurie, Lynn and Janet), family (Grandad Warble), or friends (Deb and Susan), I am walking for each one of them. Just the week I wrote this, I had heard about 3 more women touched by this disease...and what I want to say is enough is enough.

Most of us have been touched in some way by cancer. Whether we lost a parent, friend, family member, or colleague, we have all been touched by this deadly disease. I have committed myself through training between now and the half-marathon to raise money for the 2011 Avon Breast Cancer Walk in memory of those that have been lost.  More importantly, I am committing myself to run for those that have beaten the odds and are with us today because of the research that has been funded by efforts such as this. The goal of each All Ears Team member is to raise $500, but I am challenging myself to raise $2500 since this is such a worthy cause and means so much to me.

If you are interested in helping me with this cause, please feel free to email me (ttosten@gmail.com) and I can give you more information.  Additionally, please feel free to share this with people you believe might want to support breast cancer research, my efforts and the efforts of the All Ears Running Team.

It has been a great "semester" writing for you...and if you see me running, jogging, walking or crawling along the road....honk your horn.  It is all for a good cause.

Til next time...