The 3 Day Man

Breast Cancer Surgery Statistics

2011-07-12T08:44:00.000-05:00

Team Player

2011-05-31T22:41:00.000-05:00

I have finally dusted the cobwebs off of my running shoes and kicked off my 3-Day training regime. 60 miles in 3 days! I can’t wait. Although I must admit, I’ve taken a little hiatus from my fundraising to pursue another altruistic venture; I’m ramping back up in full force to help raise money for breast cancer research.

With that being said, I’d like to point you to my team’s newly redesigned Web site. http://www.teamtiara.net. I hope you like the site, as I really wanted it to reach out and say I’m pink, yet professional.

Why join a team for the 3-Day you ask? Well I’m so glad you asked that question, as I was able to speak to a woman named Georgia on our training walk kick off shindig this past Saturday on this very topic. Let me start by answering why I initially joined a team and the benefits I’ve experienced with Team Tiara…

In 2010, when I signed up for my first 3-Day walk, I had no real intention of walking with others. I attended a Getting Started meeting and figured, well, it wouldn’t be so bad to meet a few people to walk with during the event. I hopped on www.the3day.org and honestly, picked the team that had the highest fundraising at the time. I assumed a group who could raise that much money must know what they were doing. With a bit of selfishness, I figured I could learn a thing or two on how to be a successful fundraiser by partnering with these ladies.

What I gained though was a group of women (and one other man – Anthony) that really cared for one another. We corresponded through e-mails and countless letters of encouragement were sent en-masse throughout the yahoo group. Fundraising ideas were doled out by the truckload and although most of the larger events were held in Houston, there was no reason that one could not extend them to other locations throughout Texas.

So selfish motives aside, when the event took place, I felt like I was a part of a well-oiled machine. Walker Stalkers were on the streets, pouncing at the opportunity to help a member out. Team members were there every mile, cheering and always lending a smile. I was so thankful to be a part of such a large team, as it not only gave me an opportunity to meet so many wonderful people, but it also provided countless pats on the back and encouragement when it was needed the most.

Through the entirety of the event, we ate together, had our tents in the same area, and laughed together. I enjoyed it so much that I reenlisted with the same team with motivation to increase Team Tiara’s ranks in 2011.

So would I recommend joining a team? Absolutely! Would I recommend Team Tiara…absolutely! Should you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask.

March Madness–Charity Brackets

2011-03-02T07:38:00.001-06:00

March Madness is right around the corner and many of you will be glued to the warm glow of the television during this glorious tournament. In fact, many of you may join various pools and brackets to make the tournament a bit more interesting in your eyes. Why not join a charity tournament, one that will not only make the tournament more intriguing, but also helps find a cure for breast cancer through the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure foundation.

This year I will be hosting a charity bracket pool on CBS Sportsline. The site does all of the heavy lifting and only takes a couple of minutes for you to sign up for an account. So here are the rules:

Entry fee is $10 – a paltry amount for the enjoyment you will gain…and remember, it all goes towards a great cause.
50% of the proceeds will go directly to the charity, while the other 50% will be used to pay off the overall bracket winner. This amount will increase as more players sign up, so please don’t hesitate to pass this around to friends, family, and coworkers. There is no limit who can sign up…the more the merrier.
It is extremely easy to sign up, simply point your browser to: http://the3day.mayhem.cbssports.com/e
Once you are registered on CBS Sportsline, the bracket does require a password: charity
At this point you are registered and once the brackets become available, just pick who you think will win each game in the tournament. The system will handle the scoring and determine the winner via the scores.

Again, this is for a GREAT cause and the entry fee for the pool is only $10.
For questions or more information, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Payments can be made in cash, via PayPal, or directly to my 3-Day site (tax-deductible) if you prefer an electronic method.

http://www.the3day.org/goto/the3dayman

Embarrassment

2011-02-25T07:45:00.001-06:00

Prior to walking in 2010, I wasn’t exactly sure what it meant to be a 3-Day Man. Sure, I knew I would be walking 60 miles in 3 days, camping in a pink tent, and taking showers in the back of semis, however, I was still a bit oblivious to what it would actually look like on game day. As a male 3-Day walker who wants more men to come join, lets unveil exactly what it means to be a man during this grand event.

First and foremost, you must get over any embarrassment you have by wearing pink. Granted, you don’t have to wear pink, but you’ll be surrounded by 2,800 other (at least in the Dallas/Fort Worth adventure) bubbly, energetic women all wearing hot pink outfits and you’d probably feel a bit out of place wearing anything else. So drop your pride and call it Salmon if it makes you feel better. Just remember why you are walking, it is not to make a fashion statement, but to honor and love those that have come before us, are here with us now, and those that are yet to be diagnosed.

Second, you will be part of the minority. Expect a lot of extra attention because of this fact. If you are a wallflower, this walk will provide you with all of the extra attention you’ve ever wanted. Enjoy the attention as you pass countless number of people in the cheering stations, thanking you for walking. However, as mentioned earlier, be humble and remember the real reasons you are on the walk.

Third, it is ok to cry. If you don’t tear up walking past these cheering stations, than I don’t know what to say. Granted, I have no problem showing my emotions, however, when you walk through these crowds and you see little kids holding signs letting you know that their Mommy is their hero, my heart just swells up. Don’t be ashamed to show your emotions on the walk…share your experience and reasons for walking with your fellow walkers and listen to theirs. It is an opportunity of a lifetime!

Finally, just enjoy the experience. Yes, you WILL be called on stage to dance as a man. Yes, you WILL make a fool of yourself, unless you are part of the 1% of men that can dance to fast music (I am not a part of that select crowd). Yes, you WILL end up on someone’s Facebook page. But you know what? In the end, it is all about spreading the word and getting more people involved in helping to find a cure for breast cancer.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me. I am a 2011 Susan G. Komen for the Cure Ambassador and am here to help you along your journey. Let me know how I can help you!

You can help support my 2011 walk with a tax-free donation.

Ambassador Corcoran Reporting for Duty

2011-02-23T13:19:00.000-06:00

Ambassador

I have the great honor of being a 3-Day for the Cure Ambassador for the 2011 calendar year. I look forward to spreading the good word about the 3-Day for the Cure and being a part of something spectacular. Should you have any questions about the 3-Day event, training, or anything related, please don't hesitate to contact me. In the meantime, I'll try to brainstorm some future blog posts that will help you get ready for your 2011 3-Day for the Cure adventure. I feel a new sense of urgency to post items in a topical format =).

Super Bowl Squares

2011-01-31T08:38:00.003-06:00

You're invited to join my 3 Day Charity Super Bowl Squares pool! What a great way to give to charity and have a chance to win up to $500.00! Please feel free to forward this link to anyone that you think would enjoy stepping up to the challenge!

If you wish to make a tax deductible donation directly without playing, please visit the following site: www.the3day.org/goto/the3dayman

How to play

Random numbers (0-9) are assigned to each axis the grid (hidden until start of the game).
A winner is determined at the end of each quarter based on the last digit of the score.
Squares cost $5 each (pick up to 10 )
Prize distribution (Up to $200 total –Half of the proceeds are going to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure):

1st Quarter 25%: Up to $62.50
2nd Quarter 25%: Up to $62.50
3rd Quarter 25%: Up to $62.50
4th Quarter 25%: Up to $62.50

Payment

Easiest way to pay is to PayPal my account: acorcoran@gmail.com for the number of squares you desire. In the comments, please place the numbers of the squares you will be picking to ensure I have an accurate count. This is on the honor system.
For locals, I will accept cash/check donations.
Half of the proceeds will go directly to the Susan G. Komen 3 Day for the Cure to aid me in my fundraising goal of $2300.00

Please use this link to join:

http://officepicker.com/users/respond.php?game=5361&code=3day
Secret Code: 3day
Game ID: 5361 if you are already registered.

Reflections

2011-01-17T09:18:00.001-06:00

As I look back on 2010, one of the memories that I hold dear is the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure. The thought of walking honestly started in 2009. I was driving in my car, listening to the radio when an ad played (and continued to play for the next few weeks) talking about the 3-Day. I thought wow that would be a neat goal to work towards. Not only would it get me off of my couch, it would also allow me to do something to give back to those that have given so much of their lives to my upbringing (my mom). So needless to say, nothing happened (in terms of the 3-Day in ’09)…the thought quickly faded and the walk went on without me, as it had for many years previous to that moment.

In 2010, the ad once again came on as I was driving to work. This time, it struck a chord…knowing that I was so lazy in the past; I wanted to act quick before the fire faded. I signed up for a getting started meeting and quickly became enamored with the idea of walking for my mom. I still had some selfish ambition to get off the couch mind you, but this time, I really wanted to say thanks for all of the time, love, blood, sweat, and tears my mom poured into my upbringing. She did a fabulous job, but please don’t tell her that, it might go to her head.

As I left the getting started meeting, I was on fire…but quickly thought, how in the world am I ever going to raise $2300.00?! I have never fundraised in the past, nor do I know a lot of people that I felt comfortable enough asking for their hard earned money. Everyone said that this was easier than expected and the walk was the hard part…yeah right. So in 2010, I started simple and non-obtrusive; email. I was blown away by the response. I honestly never believed that I would get the response I got. A lot of people responded to my initial email blasts with donations! The generosity was amazing,

While I reached my goal in 2010 of raising $2300.00, the one thing that I was a bit one-sided on was the reason for these donations. Why were people donating the money they donated? I decided in 2011, the one thing that I wanted to know is the reason for the individual’s donation and honor that during my walk. Is it for a loved one, a friend, a relative, themselves, or just because they want to help? These reasons are the reasons I walk and I don’t want them to be lost in the donation. I want to honor that this year in my 2011 walk, so as you consider donating, please think of the person(s) that have impacted your life and let me know the reason.

Upon the donation, I will add them to my Web site for a constant reminder, as well as to a special cape that will be worn ALL 60 miles of my journey, Thank you for your sacrifice, as every dollar counts!

Scentsy for the Cure

2011-01-17T07:13:00.002-06:00

Despite my best efforts to avoid actual fundraisers, I decided to succumb to the reality that raising the funds will not be as easy as it was last year. Think about it, last year mentioning the event to people had the whole shock and awe effect, however, once its over and you try the same tactic for year two, the amazement has worn off. Granted, it is the same cause, but its not as easy to raise the $2300 the second year. With this being said, I’m kicking off the new year with my first fundraiser.

Thanks to Melissa Elliot, our local Scentsy rep, she has partnered with me for a win-win situation. Not only will you be able to purchase some amazing products for yourself, or as gifts to loved ones (Valentine’s Day is right around the corner), but you’ll also be helping us find a cure for Breast Cancer. Its easy, no need to attend a home show, just point your browser to the following Web site, make some purchases and voila! You’ve bought something that will last for years to come, as well as helped support me in my 60 mile journey.

There are a few key promotions I’d like to point out for your shopping experience:

Love, Life, Hope Scentsy Warmer
Created to honor women with breast cancer Love, Life, Hope’s simple pink-and-white stripes and black accents spread a message of hope and support to breast cancer survivors and their families. One hundred percent of the net profits from the sale of Love, Life, Hope will go directly to The National Breast Cancer Foundation to support their breast cancer awareness and education programs.
Bundled Discount
Buy 3 full size warmers, 4 plug-in warmers and 9 scents bars for $150. This is a $200 value! This is a Melissa Elliot special, so in order to take advantage of this deal, you’ll need to e-mail her directly: mel.easley@gmail.com

Thank you in advanced for your support! If you want to donate additional funds to the cause, please feel free to visit the tax-free donation site directly.

Gmail Fundraising Signature

2010-12-28T12:48:00.001-06:00

Do you use Gmail’s Web interface for your day to day communication? Why not enhance it with a snazzy 3-Day signature to help your fundraising efforts in 2011? This post will walk you through a simple set up utilizing the Chrome Web browser (should also work in FireFox) and a few add-ons to enhance the Gmail experience.

First step is to download the Chrome browser. I am not saying you have to do this, but this article is assuming you are using it.
Once installed and running, you will want to install “WiseStamp”.
After WiseStamp has completed installation, visit Gmail and you should notice a new icon in the upper right hand column. This is the administrative interface for WiseStamp.

Now that you’ve completed the above steps, it is now time to customize a signature for your 2011 3-Day journey!

Log into your 3Day.org Participant Center site.
On the left-hand side, you will see a navigation link entitled, “Fundraising”. Go ahead and click on that.
Under the Resources heading, click on the link for “Widgets and Facebook Application”.
Click on the city in which you will be walking. In my case it was the Dallas/Fort Worth link.
Choose the widget of your choice. One is supposed to be for the walkers and the other for the crew, however, just choose the one which you enjoy best and click on the “Get Snippet” button.
Select the entire contents of the snippet and copy it (control-c) to your clipboard.
Go back to the window where WiseStamp’s administrative interface was open (or just open up Gmail and click on that new icon for WiseStamp).
Now you want to click on the far right button in WiseStamp, which says “HTML”. this allows you to edit the HTML source of your new signature.
Paste (control-v) the contents of your snippet captured above into this text area and hit save.

That is all there is to it! You now have a fancy new signature that will attach itself to all e-mails you compose in Gmail.

Of course, there are additional configuration options, such as detailing which emails it should attach the signature to, social networking links that you can add to you signature for additional flair, etc.

Have fun and get to spreading the word! If you found this article useful, please don’t hesitate to donate to my 2011 3-Day journey!

Christmas Season

2010-12-15T06:34:00.001-06:00

Imagine life without breast cancer and what that would mean for countless families during this festive season. More joy, more hugs, more lifetime moments. That’s what I’m walking for — because I can.

The Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure is a 60-mile walk for women and men who want to make a personal difference in the fight to end breast cancer. As a walker, I will raise at least $2,300 and walk an average of 20 miles a day, creating awareness about breast health with every step. Funds raised impact breast cancer research and community-based breast health and education programs.

If you want to celebrate the holidays with hope for the future, register to join me, or support my efforts with a donation. Call 800-996-3DAY or go to The3Day.org today.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Facebook for the Cause

2010-12-13T07:16:00.001-06:00

How do you use the social networking king, Facebook, to help fundraise, spread the word, and keep others informed of your 3-Day progress? I’m sure with the number of people out there using this tool, some great ideas are in abundance.

Facebook provides a quick and easy way to get your point across to a great many people, but also is one of the easiest mediums to ignore. Have you had success in your fundraising through this particular method? Susan G. Komen provides the widget that helps alert people to when a monetary donation is made, however, I don’t believe this actually spurred any of my “friends” to take that next step.

It didn’t work too well for me in regards to the fundraising aspect, but the one thing it did provide was a place for others to provide short snippets of encouragement, inspiration, and other messages during my training that might have otherwise never been received. To me, this is just as important as the monetary donations, as training for a 3-Day walk is quite the challenge.

Although the above questions refer to the fund-raising timeframe prior to the walk, what about Facebook’s use while on the walk? Did you use the “check-in” feature to provide your friends with your whereabouts and status? Did you post pictures during the walk? Of course, while following all of the rules and regulations revolving around cell phone usage.

Let us know how you use Facebook to help your 3-Day journey?

Breast Man Walking

2010-12-08T06:49:00.001-06:00

Although I’ve heard that men can be diagnosed with breast cancer, I recently had the honor to talk with a couple involved in the 3-Day, whose husband had been the one affected by this disease. We all know breast cancer can occur in men, yet we often associate this disease with women just due to the overwhelming statistics.

“Breast cancer in men is rare. However, an estimated 1,970 new cases of male breast cancer will be diagnosed in the United States in 2010. Overall incidence of breast cancer is 1.3 per 100,000 men, compared to 123 per 100,000 women.” For more in depth information, I encourage you to visit Breast Facts for Men.

While talking with the Giller’s, they mentioned that they sell t-shirts to help raise money for their 3-Day journeys. I wanted to provide you an opportunity to donate to the cause and although the proceeds of the t-shirts do not directly impact my 3-Day journey, they do help the Giller’s on their own journey. In the end, all proceeds go to the same place to help find a cure.

The shirts are selling for $25.00 (which includes shipping) and are in honor of Kathy Giller’s husband, a breast cancer survivor. I’ve attached a picture so you can get an idea of the shirt’s design (printed on front and back). If interested, please contact Kathy directly: ksgiller@gmail.com. Let her know you found the shirt through this blog!

Donation Cards: Part Two

2010-12-03T07:27:00.001-06:00

So for those of you that are interested in doing donation cards for this year’s 3-Day, I wanted to provided you the final fruit of my labor.

In my earlier post, I showed what I thought to be a classy card that clearly depicted the essentials for my fundraising effort. When I showed the card to Lora, she liked it, however, said that it really should be pink. I was trying to create a more masculine looking card, then realized that she was absolutely right. The card needs to jump out and quickly remind someone why they have received this card, so back to the drawing board I went and what you see here is the final result. Please feel free to use any portion of this for your personal use, as the end-goal is the same; to raise more money for breast cancer.

For those of you interested in creating such cards, I found an excellent deal ($10 was the grand total with shipping) for VistaPrint and I’m unsure to when it expires.

URL to Deal:
http://www.fatwallet.com/redirect/bounce.php?afsrc=1&mid=14919474&url=http://www.vistaprint.com/anniversary

500 premium cards
Free unlimited logo/photo uploads
195 full color backside options
Upgrade to Glossy or Matte paper stock free
$10 includes shipping and handling

Donation Cards

2010-12-01T14:12:00.001-06:00

For last year’s walk, I used e-mail as my primary source of fundraising and was able to meet my goal. This year, I have a feeling things are going to be a bit more involved in order to reign in the donations.

While reading through a variety of friendly Tweets on the subject, the idea of a business card came about. I was intrigued as VistaPrint usually runs deals that allow anywhere from 250-500 cards to be printed for the cost it takes to ship the product. The best deal I found right now was 500 cards for $3.00 + shipping.

Several others mentioned that the cards really helped them spread the word to others and provided a great method for word of mouth donations. It just makes sense, as emails are very easy to delete, verbal discussions tend to get lost in the shuffle, mailers are wonderful, but let’s be honest, they are expensive, so business cards seem to be a great middle ground for the budget conscience.

I’ve come up with design that I felt spread the word and was friendly on the eyes and wanted to hear about your experiences with business cards. Has it helped? How many did you go through? Would you do it again?

Vibram FiveFingers

2010-11-30T12:42:00.001-06:00

After finishing the 2010 Dallas Fort Worth 3-Day without having any foot issues, I've been thinking about doing the 2011 walk using Vibram's FiveFingers (or as I call them, Hobbit Feet).

I'm not sure what my fascination is with these shoes, but one of my good friends absolutely loves them and recommends them to his fitness clients. I think they would be wonderful conversation starters during my training sessions and may open up the doors for new donations. These shoes are absolutely ridiculous looking, who wouldn't want to know more?!

The one thing that I lack is a good source of information about these particular shoes and how well they held up during similar adventures. Has anyone walked all 60 miles in these shoes? How was the journey? Did you bring a pair of sneakers just in case? Did you wear socks?

I ask all of these questions to help me in my decision making process, as I walked in a pair of New Balance shoes and had zero problems (not even a blister). I hesitate when it comes to major changes and I can't think of a larger change when it comes to a 60 mile walk than a shoe swap.

I've tried to contact the company directly with no luck, so I turn to the my fellow 3-Day walkers for guidance.

Take 2

2010-11-29T11:03:00.001-06:00

Did you find fundraising for your second walk to be a bit more challenging? Did the awe factor wear off when the same people that donated to walk number 1 received a letter that you were going to do it again and needed their support? Did you find that you had to do a bit more work the second year to raise the necessary funds?

Although the cause is the same from the previous year, I have a hunch that raising the money will be more of a trial. The same fundraising tactic that worked last year, may not have the same dramatic effect as it did last year. I want to ensure those that donate understand the real reason I am walking, so I need to get to work revising my initial fundraising letter.

While my mother is still the inspiration and the reason that I walk, there is so much more that I can talk about having last year’s walk now under my belt. I’d like to focus on the community involvement (A.K.A the cheering stations), the friendships that were forged on the walk, the stories that people shared about loved ones. This is the real reason for the walk. We all have a person that has impacted our lives and it is important to make a stand against this disease.

I walk because others can’t. I want to ensure that when you donate to my walk, that your voice is heard. Your money will be going to help fund breast cancer research and bring us all one step closer to finding a cure. I’m not asking you to walk 60 miles with me and camp in the freezing cold, I’m just asking that you help the millions of women (and men) that suffer from breast cancer. I’ll do the heavy lifting.

This holiday season, I do not want gifts that will simply collect dust, just donations. This donation is your gift to me and the millions of others that you will bless.

The Web

2010-11-23T07:42:00.001-06:00

In an effort to better spread the word about this blog, I’ve signed up for an account on Technorati. Now, I am not sure what type of activity will stem from such an affair, however, one of the steps is to “claim your blog”. To verify that you are actually who you say you are, you must place a key inside one of your posts.

If you are not familiar with Technorati and have a blog set up, I highly recommend that you sign up for a free account and go through the claim process. It can’t hurt to start spreading the word and draw more visitors to your site.

QZ6EVRPUQXPG

Another way that really helps draw attention to your site and your cause is cross-linking. If anyone else has a blog relating to breast cancer awareness or the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure and would like to “share” links, please let me know and let’s start networking!

I figured instead of trying to find a zany way of placing that key and relating it to the 3-Day or breast cancer, I might as well do a post about posting. You won’t see any more of these in the future, however, I felt it was important to draw as much traffic to the site as possible. Not for my own recognition of course, but to help increase the awareness of breast cancer, as well as a selfish plug for donations for my 2011 3-Day journey. These are tax deductible of course!

There I did it, I was able to relate a technical post to breast cancer!

Thankful

2010-11-22T06:47:00.001-06:00

Although thanks should always be given throughout the year, the Thanksgiving holiday serves as a reminder for this very sentiment. We are all so busy with the hustle and bustle of daily life that often times we forget to step back and give thanks for all we have been provided. The increased usage of smart phones doesn’t seem to actually be increasing my smarts! In fact, I let it serve as one of the many distractions that keeps me from giving thanks on a recurring basis.

Although Thanksgiving is just one day, I urge you to put down your distractions for a bit and look around. Look at all of the things that you have to be thankful for. I have a beautiful wife and two wonderful children. Although they should serve as a constant reminder to me, there are times that I take all of it for granted. Oh yes, I admit it, there are times when I “expect” certain things and when those things don’t occur in a timely manner, my irritability meter rises.

I dedicate this post to my family, who have inspired me, walked with me, cheered me on, and have challenged me to help fight the cause of breast cancer in 2010 and again in 2011. Thank you for your help, your inspiration, and the time you’ve taken to allow me to train for the event. You are truly a gift. I thank all of my past donors who allowed me the ability to walk 60 miles in 2010 and pray that existing and new donors will be able to join me in the cause in 2011.

During this Thanksgiving season, remember all of the people you are thankful for. I challenge you to think of someone who has been affected by breast cancer and be thankful that they have impacted your life. And now it is your turn, take some time this Thanksgiving to make a real difference. Help donate to the my 60 mile journey in 2011. All donations are tax-deductible and with your donation, please provide a name of why you decided to donate. This name will be donned on my living cape and will serve as a reminder of how people never forget those that have impacted their lives.

Perspective

2010-11-18T07:16:00.001-06:00

Not to get too deep with you on a blog, but I’ve been thinking a lot about perspective lately and how having the right perspective could solve most of the problems we experience on a regular basis.

Let’s take some fairly common examples that can easily escalate to mental meltdowns. Yes, I’m being dramatic, but it is all to prove a point. Let’s take the common cold or even escalate it to the flu. Albeit an annoyance and something that shouldn’t necessarily be taken lightly (well, at least influenza), it makes us feel completely miserable. I’m not going to dismiss the way an illness can make us feel, however, I wonder how often we just take a step back and think about the people that are going through illnesses much worse than the ones mentioned above and how they must be feeling? I’ll admit I don’t. However, that is the whole reason behind this post.

During this Thanksgiving season (and going forward), I want to ensure that I maintain a proper perspective. I can’t imagine what my mother was going through, physically and mentally, when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. How difficult it must have been to take care of her day to day activities as best she could, while still maintaining her daily routine as much as possible. How selfish must I have been (granted, I was a high school boy) to complain about my common cold, or a stomach ache, while she was going through such turmoil.

Such perspective is a kick in the rear for me, making me realize that others are out there fighting such a terrible disease, while I was sitting back without a care in the world. This was the reason I walked 60 miles in 2010 and plan to walk an additional 60 miles in 2011. I want to stand among others that are taking an initiative and focusing on the important things in life.

Help me accomplish my goal by donating to the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the cure. I need to raise a minimum of $2300.00 in order to participate. Let’s work together to help reduce these statistics:

About 1 in 8 women in the United States (between 12 and 13%) will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime.
In 2010, an estimated 207,090 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in women in the U.S., along with 54,010 new cases of non-invasive (in situ) breast cancer.

The Real Super Heroes

2010-11-16T07:32:00.001-06:00

In the 2010 DFW 3-Day for the Cure, I was sporting a pink cape for all 60 miles. The real reason behind this accessory is that I didn’t have anything pink going into the walk, so Team Tiara’s captain D’Lyn graciously allowed me to sport her treasured wardrobe item. I was much appreciated, as it provided me some inspiration for the 2011 walk.

When you think about a cape, what is the first thing that comes to mind? Is it Superman, Zorro, or maybe Wonder Woman? Not sure who comes to your mind, but for me, images of superheroes quickly come to mind. With that imagery in place, I realize that I am not the one who should be portraying the superhero, but those that have personally affected by breast cancer. They are the real heroes, providing us encouragement, inspiration, and hope. We walk, cry, and raise a boat load of money for these heroes and I want to do my part to honor them.

In 2011, for every donation I receive towards the walk, I would like you to submit a name of a person that inspired the donation. Please let me know if they are a survivor, or are no longer with us, as I would like to honor them during the walk. For each name I receive, I will create a ribbon that will be applied to next year’s cape. This cape will be a reminder of the real super heroes in our lives and will serve as an inspiration to our other walkers on the 60 mile journey. Reminding them that although they may in temporary pain, it doesn’t compare to the constant barrage of treatments that those listed on the ribbons have gone through.

I will list all of the names on this blog, so we can keep them in the forefront of our minds as we take this journey together. Thank you in advanced and let’s honor those super heroes by making a donation to the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure.

A Challenge

2010-11-12T07:55:00.001-06:00

As you sit in your comfortable house, or in your office, or even on your mobile device reading this post, do you ever think what it would be like walking 60 miles in 3 days? Does it sound easy to you? Would it be a perfect milestone for the physical goals you have set for yourself or plan on setting for yourself during this next year of more broken New Year’s resolutions? Have you been looking for a way to make an impact?

More often than not, the thought of walking 60 miles in 3 days has not even entered the minds of the masses, however, I would like to change that and issue a challenge to you. Join me next year for the 2011 DFW Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure. Walk alongside me and our 3,500 closest friends in an effort to raise money for breast cancer research.

Most of us have been personally been affected by this terrible disease and now you’re given a chance to honor, to thank, or to memorialize those individuals that have made an impact in your life. It may be a family member, a close friend, a co-worker, or maybe…it is you. I would like you to take a few moments to think about those around you who have been impacted by breast cancer. Picture their faces, their smiles, now write their name(s) down on a piece of paper. After you write down those that touched your life, I want you to look down at that piece of paper and let each person know that you are going to do something to honor them in 2011.

Not only are you going to honor them, but you are going to do something insane. You are going to walk 60 miles in 3 days for them! But you won’t be doing this alone, you will have the full support of the Susan G. Komen foundation, the 3,500 other DFW walkers, and the entire DFW community.

I’d like to challenge you to sign up for the 2011 DFW 3-Day for the Cure. Why wait? Registration is open now! While you are going through the sign-up process, go ahead and register under the ‘Team Tiara’ name. You won’t believe the amount of support that this team will provide you before, during, and after the event.

If you are on the fence, please don’t hesitate to contact me and I’ll be more than happy to share my experience with you. If the walk sounds too daunting for you, no worries, I have other avenues in which you can participate. Please feel free to donate to the cause. As a walker, I need to raise a minimum of $2300.00 to participate and every little bit helps. When you donate, please include the name of a person that has been impacted by breast cancer. I will be doing something to honor that individual during the walk (more details to come in a later post).

Please check with your HR department to see if your company participates in a matching gift!

The 2010 DFW 3-Day Overview

2010-11-12T07:16:00.001-06:00

(An overview written by the the3day.org team)

The 2010 Susan G. Komen Dallas/Fort Worth 3-Day for the Cure began on a chilly morning with an emotional Opening Ceremony at Collin Creek Mall. We were greeted right out of the gates by the first of 11 private cheering stations at the University of Texas at Dallas. Along the route, the Richardson fire department was out cheering and taking pictures with their pink t-shirts. We passed 4 local elementary schools throughout the day with children out to cheer. Lunch was at beautiful Valley View Park and was followed by a walk along the White Rock Creek Trail before we arrived at camp, our home away from home for the weekend.

We arose early on Saturday morning after a chilly night, ready to hit the Brookhaven College jogging trail. After pit stop 1 we crossed the first of 3 pedestrian bridges, where Citibank was cheering us on. There was a huge outpouring of community support along the way - more than 21 private cheering stations. The New Balance cheerleaders greeted us at pit stop 2 along with the school mascot of DeGolyer Elementary. Lunch was hosted at the Hockaday School grounds, and students were out cheering and helping direct traffic. As we passed the last public cheering station at Valley View Mall, we strolled by a continuous mile of private cheering stations - very invigorating! Next we headed into the town of Addison and into the Komen Corral at pit stop 4. We crossed the Addison suspension bridge and were on to the final stretch. That evening, we gathered back at camp for a Candy Coburn concert.

We began our final day of walking with a warm bus ride to Ursuline Academy. Sunrise brought warmer weather in the 70s and bright skies. We enjoyed a scenic route through the gorgeous Highland Park area and another tremendous day of community support all along the route. We received many treats, stickers, bracelets, beads, water, candy and doughnuts. Lunch was at the beautiful Reverchon Park with a pink fire truck for all of us to sign and take pictures with. We exited lunch on Katy Trail and crossed into the historic West End. We passed the American Airlines Center, the JFK Memorial and Pioneer Plaza into pit stop 4 at Main Street Garden. The final miles took us through Deep Ellum and our incredible journey ended with a celebratory Closing Ceremony at Cotton Bowl Plaza with our friends and family there to greet us.

The money we raised will help Susan G. Komen for the Cure® save lives.

Tiara in Training

2010-11-10T09:28:00.001-06:00

In a previous post, I talked about the main reason I got started walking in the 2010 3-Day for the Cure, however, there are many other ancillary reasons. One of those reasons is for my daughter (Julia – 4.5 years old – shown to the right wearing her official Team Tiara “hair pretties”).

Although I would love her to join the team to help find a cure for breast cancer, I also hope that she won’t need to. I can’t imagine a life without my daughter and am so thankful for the research that has been done to this date that increases the survival rate. When I think of my daughter, I think of innocence, joy, love, kindness, and many other wonderful attributes. I’ll be honest, I don’t ponder the thoughts of her being diagnosed with breast cancer, but with such alarming stats, we can’t just put on blinders.

Can you imagine that this year alone, it is estimated that about 207,090 new cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed in women just in the United States? Men aren’t excluded from these stats, albeit much lower, it still does happen. It is estimated that 1,970 new cases of male breast cancer will be diagnosed this year in the US. For more information, please visit komen.org or call 877-GO-KOMEN.

Although I don’t sit around and fret about my daughter getting diagnosed, I do want to be proactive in helping the cause and increasing the mortality rate of those that do become infected with this disease. I’d like to be a positive influence and while I can do that in many ways, the direction I have chosen is to partner with thousands of other walkers in the Dallas 3-Day for the Cure. I don’t want my daughter to become another statistic and I am doing everything I can to aid in that fight.

I am currently saving up the funds necessary to register for the 2011 Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure in Dallas. Once I have the registration complete, I will share with you all on how you too can be a part of the effort! I’ll do the hard part and all I need from you is your support and prayers.

Why Team Tiara

2010-11-09T07:50:00.001-06:00

During the 3-Day, one of the most common questions that came about during conversations was how I found Team Tiara.

I believe most teams are formed from a bond someone has with another person, whether it be a family member, a personal friend, a coworker, etc., however, I was a stranger in a strange land when it came to choosing a team to walk with. But why choose a team at all you ask? For me, this was a no-brainer; I don’t enjoy doing activities alone. I do better when I have others with me, whether pushing or pulling me along and I knew I would need this type of motivation to walk 60 miles. With that in mind, I went out randomly to the 3-Day site and found Team Tiara.

However, I didn’t just want to join a team for the sake of joining a team. I did have certain criteria in mind when performing my search. The first thing I was looking for was a group that had a similar faith base. It was important to me to find a team of others that I could pray with and for. When I read through the team’s Web site, it was clear that these members walked for the same reason I was walking.

Secondly, I wanted a team that had done the event before, that could take me under their wings and mentor me. Team Tiara has been around since 2005 and has been walking ever since. This was great, not only did I have a group of faith-based walkers, but a group that had been around since the inaugural DFW 3-Day! I figured two for two on the criteria, so I went ahead and sent the coordinator, D’Lynn Biggs, an e-mail out of the blue, just asking a few questions to see what type of initiation was required to join their team. Unfortunately, I am not allowed to disclose the trials that I had to endure to become an official member of Team Tiara, but they were well worth it!

After I joined the team, I realized the one criteria that I left out was location. The team was centralized in the Houston area, while I was in the DFW area. Although not a huge trek, I did realize that I would be unable to partake in all of their local fundraising events. At first, I thought, great…who am I going to train with?! This was solved by utilizing the tools provided by the 3-Day website to locate training walks around your area. During these walks with Team Steps, I ran into two other Tiaras; Shannon and Alexia. This year, I think I might lead some training walks in the Frisco area as an extension of Team Tiara.

So, now you know why I joined Team Tiara and after getting to know the men and women involved with the team personally, I knew I made the right choice. Not only did they support one another, but they went above and beyond by making sure all of their team members had everything the needed (including bling) to make their 3-Day event that much more enjoyable. I can’t thank them enough for their dedication to the cause and look forward to walking with them once again in 2011.

If you are new to the 3-Day event, or a veteran that is looking to join a group, please check out Team Tiara and should you have any questions, I will be more than willing to answer them.

Who is this Masked Man

2010-11-08T10:22:00.001-06:00

Being that I am new to the 3-Day Blogging scene, I wanted to take this opportunity to tell you a little bit about myself (a five minute synopsis). The portrait to the right is a self portrait, so don’t hold it against me.

My name is Aaron Corcoran and I was born and raised in St. Louis, MO. After graduating from high school in 1995, I moved to Baton Rouge, LA to begin my college career. During my undergraduate years at Louisiana State University, I fell in love with my wife-to-be, Lora. We courted for a few years prior to our engagement, then married in May 2003. We continued our graduate studies at LSU.

A few years later (April 2006), we had our first child, Julia. She is the epitome of frilliness. If she could wear a princess dress on a daily basis, she would without hesitation.

During this timeframe, it was impressed in our heart to move out of Louisiana, so we packed up and moved to Dallas, TX (Frisco for those that are familiar with the area). Although it was difficult moving away from my family and our church family, we knew it was the right place for us to plant our roots.

We became involved in the local church, met wonderful friends, and truly feel at home.

After settling into Frisco, we had our second child, Aaron Jr. (October (Halloween) 2008). He is the complete opposite of Julia and is a boy’s boy. Destruction and messiness follows him wherever he goes. He is my little tornado of love, as he is such a caring and loving boy.

So what does this have to do with the 3-Day? Well, you’ve already read my first post, but there are so many other reason’s I walk. I can’t imagine what my life would be should my wife, my daughter, or even my son contracted such a horrible disease. I walk so they won’t have to! I want them to grow up where a cure exists, so I joined an amazing group of people (Team Tiara) who share the same vision and with the help of friends and loved ones, I was able to raise the necessary amount to walk in the 2010 Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure in Dallas.

After that, I realized I can’t just stop there. Although we (the DFW walk) raised over 7 million dollars that will aid in this vision, so much more is needed. I am now saving up to register for the 2011 walk ($90 registration fee) and will begin my fundraising to once again walk for those who have been impacted by this horrible disease.