This March 2012, I will be doing something BIG! I am pledging to run 100 miles to fight Prostate cancer.  I'll be joining Team Winter in an ambitious nationwide fundraiser to draw awareness and raise money for the Prostate Cancer Foundation. This is definately a big commitment, but Prostate cancer is a big problem, one that isn't talked about enough. This March I'm hoping to change that. I'm doing this in hopes that one day my Husband, Son and Brothers won't ever have to hear the horrible 'C' word, Cancer.

I will be running each mile in Memory of my best friend's Dad, Wayne Hartmann, who lost his fight to prostate cancer in 2004, after a long hard battle.  Wayne is missed every single day by both of his daughters.  In his memory, I fight because No Daughter should have to lose their Dad!

Prostate cancer is actually more common than breast cancer. 1 in 6 men will develop the cancer and men are 35% more likely to develop prostate cancer than women are to develop breast cancer. 

Additionally there are several different types of prostate cancer and they spread at different rates.  The reason why I am participating in this event, is to help spread awareness to this disease, in hopes that more men will get tested early and we can save lives. Additionally we want to raise money for cancer research to develop more treatment options, and find better ways to detect the cancer early and determine the rate of which it will spread.

A DONATION OF ANY AMOUNT IS GREATLY APPRECIATED AND TAX DEDUCTIBLE.

         I ask that you join Team Winter!

 To participate you need to raise at least $100 by March 1st 2012 and pledge to walk or run 100 miles throughout the month of March. That’s about 3.2 miles/day. You can walk/run alone or encourage others to join the team and gain miles with you! If you are unable to participate, a donation would be greatly appreciated or please spread the word about the need for prostate cancer research to further bring awareness. All proceeds go to Team Winter and they will make a lump sum donation to the Prostate Cancer Foundation (www.pcf.org).   

(TO JOIN-please click on the right hand side of the page where it says, “join the team” and create a ‘log in’ so you can track your miles and donations. You will get your own webpage to forward to others for donations. Please be sure once you join to add "Team Winter" to your projects.)

TEAM WINTER wrote -

Team Winter (www.teamwinter.org) Is non-profit organization started in 2008 by 9 y/o runner and triathlete, Winter Vinceki. After losing her 40 y/o dad to prostate cancer, Winter set a life-long goal to get as many blue ribbons out there as pink ribbons. 1 in 6 men are affected by prostate cancer, more common than breast cancer, yet there is so little awareness! Now at the age of 12, Winter shows no signs of slowing down. She has already helped raise over $300,000 for prostate cancer awareness and research. She has athletes around the world racing for Team Winter and is bringing up the next generation of triathletes as the IronKids Ambassador.

Winter did her first Olympic Distance Triathlon (1 mile swim, 25 mile bike, 6.2 mile run) at the incredible age of 9. Winter has now set her sites on a more global mission for prostate cancer awareness. Starting in 2012, Winter will set out to raise global awareness for prostate cancer. Over the next 2 years, she will be joined by prostate cancer survivors and other extraordinary individuals. Together they will tackle marathons around the world. Their first goal is "Pole to Pole" and hitting the equator in between via the continents of Antarctica, Africa and the Arctic Circle. Be a part of this journey either by fundraising for Team Winter or just by following along and sharing her amazing inspirational story with your friends and family. Winter will be making good on a promise that is engraved on the back of her dad's gravestone. "Cancer, I will chase you to the end of this world and stomp you out like you stomped my dad out!"

Team Winter will have captains from every state and many countries who will lead the effort in getting individuals around the world to take part in the Million Mile March. If a 12 y/o can endure 26.2 miles in a day, we surely can run or walk 100 miles in March 2012.