Fibro Feelings – Arthritis Walk 2011
Recently The Helpful Hubby and I volunteered at our local Let’s Move Together Arthritis Walk, put on by the Arthritis Foundation. This year’s event was wonderful – we had more participants, more teams AND more donors and were able to raise over $35,000! That money goes to many areas, including funding research and local programs.
Although the festivities don’t start until 9am, we start set up at 6:20am. I was SO happy when I saw a drive-thru Starbucks just blocks from our event site! Besides the caffeine, I needed the extra warmth due to the drizzling rain we had during two hours of our set up. Beyond overall set up help, it was my responsibility to set up our door prize tent and train volunteers on how to sell the raffle tickets. I was so happy that we ordered a chair for the door prize tent this year, because it gave me a place to sit down every now and then, which really helped me keep a handle on my foot pain.
As a fundraiser I also got to pick up my event t-shirt, blue awareness ribbon and button/pin for being a “3 year walker.” I must say that the pins and ribbons were quite nice! I made 150 ribbons and over 100 pins the week of The Walk. =) Did you know that May is Arthritis Awareness Month? We are hoping participants will wear their ribbons a few more times this month to help support the cause. I also enjoyed a few snacks and water from the AOII food tent and met a few doggies that had arthritis. One of them had even just had surgery to help hers! The kids seemed to REALLY enjoy our bouncy house, face painting and ring toss.
I had my mostly healed sprained ankle double braced and it did pretty well. It was only a little more swollen by the time we got home. Event tear down finished up at 12:30pm and The Helpful Hubby and I went out to eat for some Korean food on the way home. I was so fatigued that when we got home I started putting my cell phone in the fridge and walking away with my box of left overs. The six hours of physical work did leave me flared up for a few days, but raising $35,000 is totally worth it!
What types of health-related events have you attended?
You may also be interested in reading:
Fibro Feelings – Arthritis Walk
Fibro Feelings – Arthritis Walk 2010
One of our walkers & her dog came in matching blue & white tutus!
Posted: May 26th, 2011 under Fibro Feelings.
Tags: Ankle, Arthritis Awareness Month, Arthritis Foundation, Fatigue, Feet, Flare-up, Pain, Pets
Comments
Comment from Chelle
Time May 26, 2011 at 6:40 am
Felicia,
My husband and I attended the St. Baldrick’s headshaving for pediatric cancer research in Syracuse, NY on March 27, 2011. Justin got his extremely long hair shaved off in honor of his friend’s little girl, who passed away last July at the age of three from AML.
It was very emotional and a wonderful way to raise money. There were about 500 “shavees” and the event raised over $300,000 for pediatric cancer research. It really was amazing. Justin himself raised over $2,000!
Such a great feeling.
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Comment from Kelby
Time May 26, 2011 at 8:44 am
I’m so proud of all the money you guys raised!! That’s awesome!! 
I am also super jealous of the tutu’s! What a great idea!!!
Kelby recently posted: Emergency Dog Kit
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Felicia Fibro Reply:
May 26th, 2011 at 10:25 am
Does that mean you’ll be making matching tutus for you and your dogs next year??
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Comment from Stasha
Time June 8, 2011 at 3:30 pm
You are so selfless and inspiring, Felicia! Thank you. (Not to mention super cute, but that is just bragging to everyone I have indeed met you)
Keep going, keep walking, keep making us proud and humble.
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Felicia Fibro Reply:
June 8th, 2011 at 4:32 pm
You are too kind, Stasha! BTW – you were stylin’ when we met! I still remember your cute outfit.
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Felicia Fibro Reply:
May 26th, 2011 at 10:24 am
How sweet of your husband to shave his head in honor of a friend’s daughter. $300,000 is an amazing fundraising amount!! What did the event organizer do with all the hair that was shaved?
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