2007 DFW Muscular Dystrophy Telethon

I'll get to the MDA telethon and its' meaning in my life now, but first this mornings swim practice, being part of my training and such. OMG I have to say I've never had such a non meaningful swim practice in the last few months. The whole entire time my arms felt like my legs did at my first tri, jello. My arms would not move no matter how hard I tried. I never got in the groove of practice today, which concerns me, being Prairie Man Half Iron is only 6 days out. YIKES! Hopefully Wednesday will be much better!

Now after volunteering at the DFW Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Association Telethon at Lone Star Park at Grand Prairie for my fifth straight year, I have realized so many things and it got me thinking of another goal for my first Ironman. I am so lucky I can walk and am not confined to a wheelchair. Today, like every year, I saw several kiddos and adults who are affected by neuromuscular diseases, some of whom I have become great friends with over the past five years. As I was sitting and eating lunch with my friends Sandy and Chris, while looking for my other friend Stephanie, all who are affected by MD, my mind started churning. I look at the three of them and think wow they can't be mobile without their wheelchairs and they wouldn't have those wheelchairs if it wasn't for the Muscular Dystrophy Association, who in turn provides so many services to these people and their families. I promise this little story here has a point, just keep reading.

In short, I have another goal for Ironman besides getting to the start and finish line of Ironman Coeur D' Alene on June 22, 2008! As I train and prepare for this experience of a lifetime, I would love to raise money for every mile, yes all 140.6 of them, and be able to present a check at next years MDA telethon. MDA has turned into one of my favorite organizations and its' become of such great importance to me now. My race next June will be in honor and in memory of every single adult, kiddo, and family who have been affected by this terrible disease. I haven't quite decided how this will happen and how to spread the word of my little campaign but I know and BELIEVE I can make this HAPPEN. As I start to figure this out I will let ya'll know and hope you can spread the word about what I want to do.

The telethon today was an amazing success, with DFW raising over $3 million dollars to send these kiddos to summer camp, raise money for research, and be able to provide services to these families. Mike, Steve, Kristi (NBC5 news personalities) did a great job hosting the telethon with such enthusiam while MDA did such superb keeping the telethon on its' feet. I did everything from answering phones on camera (yes I was on tv) to stuffing and sorting the pledging the envelopes, which is so much fun.

Well, that's all for now! More to come...

To Chris, Sandy, and Stephanie- ya'll are my heros and I have such great pride that you are my friends. Ya'll mean mean so much to me and I love each of you so much :)