Eva Schmidt: Cancer Survivor

Eva Schmidt: Cancer Survivor
Originally uploaded by Jordan Chan

911 Angels,

Happy Spring !!! I came across this beautiful photo of Eva Schmidt; a breast cancer survivor in Flickr. And although I don't know Eva, she serves as a reminder why year after year .. we walk. We walk because so many need us. Eva is just one of many. And I love that next to her name, we are able to type the words SURVIVOR!!!

We have 4 new registered walkers in the last week.. 1 returning walker and 3 new!!!

I am SO excited that Teresa Zagalo has decided to walk again for the 3rd year... and SO very impressed that within just a few days of registering she has ALREADY banked $1,440.00 into her account !!!! In fact, those 911 Angels of Fire are ALWAYS so inspiring. There are only a few of them but they raise a lot of money and they raise it fast!!!! Jen, Margaret and Teresa ... Please share your fundraising tips in hopes of motivating others on the team!!!

Welcome Kehau - SJPD 911 Angel .. 1st year joining our team and within just a few days has already raised $300 with 5 donations!!! Woooohoooo!

And Welcome both Andrea Atkinson and Catalina Cortese both representing Sunnyvale DPS !! (Catalina used to be one of our SJPD calltakers) and it is very nice to have yet another agency represented on our team!!

Congrats to those of you who continue to fundraise ... so far our team has collectively raised $8,476.00 !!! Last year we made a goal to raise $10,000 by March 25th and we succeeded !!! I think we can bypass that goal this year!!!! If you have not already done so be sure to personalize your avon walk webpage and send personal emails out to all your friends, family and contacts to let them know about your commitment to walk. That act alone should get donations rolling in. SEND A REMINDER EMAIL THIS WEEK .... because come April 1st, we have 100 days left until the walk and it's countdown from there!!!!

For those of you just beginning your fundraising .. let's set realistic mini goals on our way to raising $1,800 or more each....

By April 1st - $500
By May 1st - $1000
By June 1st - $1500
By July 1st - $1800

Hold small fundraisers (or big) in the next few months to help you achieve those goals. Garage sales are perfect right about now while your spring cleaning... plan a few of those in the next few weekends.

Please be sure to RSVP to the team meeting on April 1st. http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=105700636119668
Bring your list of fundraisers and dates that you have planned so we can put it on the calender!! We will also plan Training Walks on both sides of the weeks, morning and nights. We will also start planning this years "Pink Party" and discuss team shirts for the walk. Hope to see you all on April 1st !!!

Fundraising Update:

Wiley, Margaret $1,650.00
Burnham, Jennifer $1,447.00
Zagalo, Teresa $1,440.00
Doering, Linda $566.00
Keys, Onne $500.00
Parker, Dashawn $465.00
Chavez, Martha $450.00
Church, Tammy $410.00
Doxie, Tara $325.00
Ah Yo, Kehaulani $300.00
Tuck, Jennifer $268.00
Mahi, Leinaala $265.00
Doxie, Alex $165.00
Cano, Clara $100.00
Martinez, Marie $90.00
Tu, Uyen $35.00
Atkinson, Andrea $0.00
Cortese, Catalina $0.00
Ferreira, Todd $0.00
Hern, Jennifer $0.00

Again, Special Congratulations to the 911 Angels of Fire for a phenomenal job on fundraising thus far ... Top 3 !!! Keep up the good work everyone and keep on steppin' !!! :)

Tara Doxie
Team Captain - 911 Angels

Special Offer - $100 Fundraising Credit!

Refer a Friend or Family Member to Register Today!
Shake out the Cold & Join a Great Cause…Together.

Great News! The 2010 Avon Walk for Breast Cancer San Francisco is off to a fantastic start, but we've set our sights high! So we need your help, and we'll help you out in return!

From now until Monday, March 22nd when you refer a friend or family member to walk in the Avon Walk San Francisco, you’ll each receive a $100 credit toward your fundraising goal!

Don't miss your opportunity to take advantage of this fantastic $100 promotion!


Here’s how it works:

Step 1: Recruit a Friend or Family Member - Invite someone to join you!
Invite someone to join you! Tell a friend, family member, neighbor, co-worker or anyone with whom you’d like to share this extraordinary experience.

Step 2: Have Your Friend or Family Member Register
Have your friend or family member register online at avonwalk.org from now through Monday, March 22, feel free to forward this email right to them! Registrations may also be taken by phone by calling (415) 834-0404.

Step 3: Tell us Who You Referred
Click here to reply to this email and provide us with your friend’s name (both you and your friend’s full first and last names please, so we can make sure you both get your credit).

That's It! Both you and your friend will already be $100 into your fundraising and that much closer to making a significant impact in the fight against breast cancer.

Want to Help Your Friend/Family Member Take the Next Step? Encourage them to join one of our upcoming in-person or phone Introduction Meetings or better yet, attend a meeting together! Held weekly in a variety of locations, Introduction Meetings are the #1 way to learn everything they’ll need to know about the Avon Walk. Plus, they’re a great way to meet others who are IN IT TO END IT.

On The Fence About Making The Commitment?

Dear Friends,

For those of you who are apprehensive about making the commitment to participate in the 2010 Avon Walk ... you have similar concerns that I will address. Yes, it is true that a big part of the commitment we make as participants of the Avon Walk is that we will raise a minimum of $1,800.00. I agree it is a big commitment and one that takes a lot of thought and consideration.

There are 2 areas of concern that most people have when registering ... #1 is fundraising and #2 is training to be physically ready to walk a marathon and a half in 2 days.

The 1st year I joined (2002) Tina Cortese, Linda Doering and I registered together ... Tina was concerned about fundraising, I was NOT... I thought that would be the easiest part. I was concerned more about finding time to train and being physically ready. Tina on the other hand wasn't concerned about that so we made a promise to each other that we would help each other out in each of those areas!! We made the best team because not only did we get in lots of training after work but we raised enough money for 2 more walkers to walk with us ... so my best friend and Debbie Aguilar joined our team !!! That was our 1st year as 911 Angels and Tina, Linda and I raised $14,000.00 alone !!!! That walk happened to be a 3 day, 60 mile journey... As a team, we stuck together and we were ready physically and financially!!

This is my 6th year participating in the Avon Walk as team captain for the 911 Angels.. many of our walkers return year after year despite the financial and physical challenges we might face. The feeling of great accomplishment and knowing the profound difference we make in the lives of so many breast cancer victims and survivors is worth all our time and energy. Being a part of the Avon Walk is an experience I cannot begin to put into words. I created a video that might give others a sense of what it is like to be a part of such a great cause.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3FjfCRRndM

I will be frank and honest up front ... the commitment to train and raise the money will take a lot of time and energy but at closing ceremonies you will come to realize, among the sea of faces of so many survivors that the sacrifice we make is so small in comparison to the loved ones who suffer through such a traumatic diagnosis. Knowing the difference we have made with the money we worked so hard to raise makes a profound difference and simply changes each and every one of us. I can honestly say that each team member walks away a completely different person. With hearts wide open, we register year after year ... because we know how important it is to find a cure for cancer and how far the hard earned money goes.

One of the best parts of being a member of the 911 Angels is that we plan team fundraisers. Many of our supporters are our co-workers who sponsor us in many ways through our fundraisers. We usually have one big fundraising event "The Pink Party" which requires a lot of planning and preparation for the silent auction, food, decorations and entertainment. The money is distributed among participating active team members.

However, we know that we cannot rely on team fundraisers alone so we each make the commitment to have "solo" fundraisers. For example, I have garage sales in the spring. My family is going to plan a few car washes, bake sales, and home fundraising parties. My personal goal is to raise my own $1,800.00 so that money raised in "team fundraisers" will go to help another team member who might be struggling to raise the money. But, as a team we expect EVERYONE to actively fundraise.

Once registered as an official walker with the Avon Walk you will be given a webpage for you to personalize and send out email to your friends and family announcing your commitment. Many walkers are surprised at how supportive family and friends are when donations from that act alone start rolling in.

If you are unable to reach your $1,800.00 goal there are options ... many walkers show up at registration (Friday night) soliciting other walkers for "extra" donations. That works for many people but our 911 Angels have never had to resort to that ... we raise our own money!! :) If say you are $300 short at the time of registration, Avon will allow you to defer payment on a credit card but they will not charge your card for at least 2 months in which case you can continue to fundraise for donations after the walk. (We had a few walkers do that last year because donations were expected to come in after the walk).

However, do not let that discourage you as there are soooo many fun and exciting fundraising ideas listed in this guide:
http://info.avonfoundation.org/site/DocServer/SF10_The_Complete_Fun...

Many of our 2010 walkers have already began fundraising on their own. We are having our 1st team meeting this week to discuss fundraising and training. If you decide to join, please let me know and I will send you an invite to the meeting.... if you are still on the fence, join us anyways because we will do a GOOD JOB convincing you why you should join our AMAZING TEAM !!! :)

Despite the decision you make to join our 2010 team, I know we can count on you to support us either way!

xoxoxo

Tara Doxie
911 Angels Team Captain

"Making your mark on the world is hard. If it were easy, everybody would do it. But it's not. It takes patience, it takes commitment, and it comes with plenty of failure along the way. The real test is not whether you avoid this failure, because you won't. it's whether you let it harden or shame you into inaction, or whether you learn from it; whether you choose to persevere." - Barack Obama