100 Miles for #GynCAN

Yesterday not only began the month-long #GynCAN Challenge (to blog/post daily to social media for September’s Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month), it also started the other month-long initiative-- the GynCAN100.

This 100-mile walk/run raises funds for the Foundation for Women’s Cancer, the leading non-profit organization dedicated to all (and only) gynecologic cancers (details on how to donate are at the end of this post).

I thought I was pretty well-prepared for this.  I’d been training for the past month, ensuring that I was sufficiently recovered from surgery and radiation to log these miles.  I’d also bought myself a comfy new pair of  running shoes (appropriately striped in “GynCAN purple”)!

But panic set in over the weekend when I managed to lose my Fitbit while out running errands on Saturday. Yikes!!! Thankfully, the local Best Buy store had a Fitbit One in stock, so I was back in business by Monday and ready to roll.

I put on my sunscreen, a festive “GynCAN purple” top, had my peach ribbon uterine cancer survivor wristband and hat on, and my iPhone was loaded up with great tunes!

Ready to kick off this 100 miles!

Today’s route was a loop around Burnidge Forest Preserve’s prairie and woods. Pretty familiar territory for me now, and yet, I’m continually fascinated by how quickly it changes from week to week.  The greens are now giving way to yellows—goldenrods are heralding the eminent arrival of Autumn to the prairie!

Since I always carry my iPhone with me for picture-taking and tunes, I’m also now using it to do some “bonus fundraising” with a fantastic free app for iPhone/Android called Charity Miles.

At the start of each walk, I launch the app and pick one of their featured charities. The app tracks my progress, and a corporate sponsor then pays the charity 25 cents for every mile I walk.  Is that not the coolest idea ever?!!!

This month, I’m selecting StandUp2Cancer, a great all-around cancer charity that has been funding some research projects lately for gynecologic cancer.  After September, I’ll likely mix it up a bit with a few of their nature-focused charities as well, like The Nature Conservancy, the World Wildlife Fund, and the National Park Foundation.

After a final walk around the campground loop last night, my Fitbit stats were looking pretty darn good for Day 1—over 10,000 steps!

I’ll be updating my GynCAN100 “Thermometer” (on my homepage’s sidebar) every day to publish my progress at reaching 100 miles.

I’ve never gotten into the habit of daily exercise before, but now that improving my health and losing weight is an urgent priority (if I am to avoid a nasty cancer recurrence), I’m hoping that this daily month-long activity will finally become a permanent habit.

But I’m going to need all the support and encouragement I can get!

So dear readers, Fitbit Friends, (and fellow GynCAN100 walkers!), call me out and give me a good virtual flogging if I start slacking off this month!  I need to average 3.33 miles a day (23.41 miles per week) to reach this 100 mile goal by the end of September.

Last, but not at all least, I would be forever humbled if you would please consider a donation (of any amount) to the Foundation for Women’s Cancer.

It’s an easy online tax-deductable donation process that accepts payment via credit card or PayPal.  Please notate your donation in honor of “WinnieViews – GynCAN100” and reference our email address (winnieviews@gmail.com) on the form.

Your donation will help fund medical research & education for all gynecologic cancers.

From the bottom of my heart, I thank you for whatever support you can give!