My favorite point-of-view so far....

This is the best article/blog/opinion I've read about the Susan G. Komen/Planned Parenthood debacle yet! Helen (an 82 year-old blogger), I am giving you my own personal standing ovation! Kudos!

Pink Razors

I think Helen & Margaret are my new heroes. :)

Where I stand: I will no longer be supporting the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation

Dear Friends and Family,

I want to thank you all again for supporting me and donating towards my participation in the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure 60 mile walks over the last two years. The experiences that I’ve had while training, fundraising, and participating in these events have been incredible.

By now, you’re probably familiar with the news related to The Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation that happened last week.

Without going into too much detail, last Tuesday, the Susan G. Komen Foundation made a decision to cut off funding to Planned Parenthood, an organization that provides much needed screening and care to the under-insured and uninsured. The decision outraged many Komen supporters (including myself) and caused a huge amount of backlash against the Foundation. Early Friday morning, just over two days after the news broke, the Susan G. Komen Foundation reversed their decision.

There are plenty of news articles relating to last week’s decisions.

Here is a recent one from the Huffington Post

Here is a copy of the statement that was released by Nancy Brinker and the Susan G. Komen Board of Directors


I am still so upset an discouraged by this whole fiasco. To say that I am disappointed with the Susan G. Komen Foundation is a major understatement. After giving the matter much thought, I have come to the decision that I will no longer participate in any Komen events. Although I'm glad that Komen reversed their decision, I question the sincerity and long-term ramifications. The damage has been done in my mind - too little too late. We've also learned a whole lot more about them in the past few days. I no longer trust them in the way that I would need in order to continue walking or raising funds in their name. I think that at best, Komen bent to political pressure, which I am already upset with, and totally disagree with. At worst, they are taking a political stance which is even more upsetting. I don't know what would need to happen for me to reverse my decision. I'm very proud of what we have all accomplished in the past, but I can no longer in good conscience support this Foundation. It makes my heart hurt, but they have given me no choice.

I have always told you, my friends and family who have supported me through two walks, and two years of training, that you were in the journey with me. You inspired me, and kept me going. I made a promise to all of you that I we were in it together. That promise was what made this decision clear – I couldn’t ask for you to support a cause/foundation that I no longer trusted.

At this point, I'm not sure what I will do moving forward. My team, The Warming Hut Hotties, will be having a meeting in about a month for an open discussion. It is my hope that we will be able to move forward together and find another worthy cause to train, walk, and raise money for. If we’re unable to agree on a solution together, I am determined to find one on my own. There are plenty of great causes out there that need our support.

I thank you again for all of your support over the past two years. I hope that we’ll be able to find another deserving group/cause to support together soon.

With deep appreciation and gratitude,
-Trina

Komen apologizes for 'recent decisions,' pledges to continue funding Planned Parenthood

Komen for the Cure just released the following statement from Nancy Brinker and the Susan G. Komen Board of Directors:

We want to apologize to the American public for recent decisions that cast doubt upon our commitment to our mission of saving women's lives.

The events of this week have been deeply unsettling for our supporters, partners and friends and all of us at Susan G. Komen. We have been distressed at the presumption that the changes made to our funding criteria were done for political reasons or to specifically penalize Planned Parenthood. They were not.

Our original desire was to fulfill our fiduciary duty to our donors by not funding grant applications made by organizations under investigation. We will amend the criteria to make clear that disqualifying investigations must be criminal and conclusive in nature and not political. That is what is right and fair.

Our only goal for our granting process is to support women and families in the fight against breast cancer. Amending our criteria will ensure that politics has no place in our grant process. We will continue to fund existing grants, including those of Planned Parenthood, and preserve their eligibility to apply for future grants, while maintaining the ability of our affiliates to make funding decisions that meet the needs of their communities.

It is our hope and we believe it is time for everyone involved to pause, slow down and reflect on how grants can most effectively and directly be administered without controversies that hurt the cause of women. We urge everyone who has participated in this conversation across the country over the last few days to help us move past this issue. We do not want our mission marred or affected by politics - anyone's politics.

Starting this afternoon, we will have calls with our network and key supporters to refocus our attention on our mission and get back to doing our work. We ask for the public's understanding and patience as we gather our Komen affiliates from around the country to determine how to move forward in the best interests of the women and people we serve.

We extend our deepest thanks for the outpouring of support we have received from so many in the past few days and we sincerely hope that these changes will be welcomed by those who have expressed their concern.

My thoughts:

First of all, my head hurts. Seriously. This has been weighing on my mind and my heart for the past 3 days. It's been a roller-coaster of emotions. In the words of "The Fantastic Mr. Fox", this is a Cluster-Cuss.

I've got to step away and pull my thoughts together. My initial reaction is that this announcement is just Too Little, Too Late. The damage has been done. As my friend, Grant says, "The decision to change seems to be more based on the public reaction than thoughtful reasoning."

Where I stand: The Susan G. Komen Foundation pulling funds from Planned Parenthood

As many of you are aware, I've participated as a walker and fundraiser in the Susan G. Komen 3Day for the Cure for the last two years. This year, I planned to walk again to support a cause that I believed in. To say that I am disappointed with the Susan G. Komen Foundation is a major understatement. I do not agree at all with their decision to stop awarding funds to Planned Parenthood. I have been trying to wrap my head around this for the last 24 hours, and I'm still not sure how this decision will affect my personal involvement going forward. Two days ago, I was excited about planning fundraisers to help meet my $10,000 goal. Today, I'm trying to decide whether or not I want to continue to participate at all. At this moment, I feel that I can not continue to support an organization who made such an important decision that I am so adamantly opposed to. This is a big decision, and I'm trying hard to give it the proper amount of time, thought and research that it deserves.

My position on this issue has become more clear to me as the shock wears off and I have had time to have good discussions and really think about it. I think that at best, Komen is bending to political pressure, which I am already upset with, and totally disagree with. At worse, they are taking a political stance which would make me even more upset. The wheels are turning now, and I'm determined as ever to fight the fight. Stay tuned....

Hey! I know that pretty pink butterfly!

Hey, that's Monica!

I checked my mail today, and found a lovely surprise! My friend, Monica, is featured in a beautiful photo on the cover of the brochure for the 2012 Avon Walk for Breast Cancer!

Monica is a fellow Warming Hut Hotties teammate, and has participated in the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure walk for the last couple of years. She has become a dear friend who I have had the privilege to walk and train with.

This photo was taken during the Avon Walk in San Francisco last July when a bunch of Warming Hut Hotties went to cheer on the walkers (Walker Stalking). We all wore out deeleeboppers and butterfly wings. :)

I really love this picture of Monica (and our teammates in the background). She looks so beautiful, and it really shows the spirit of the event.

Glassybaby Fundraiser Total

GREAT NEWS!! Just got the total tally of money raised from my glassybaby fundraiser last month. The total from the event at my house was $372.60, and the total from the online orders was $225. Grand total: $597.60. Such a GREAT start to my 2012 Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure fundraising! THANK YOU to all who came to my event and ordered with my promo code online!! (glassybaby is not legally able to tell me who placed orders online, so I can't thank you all individually.)

A very special Thank You to the glassybaby company, and all of the wonderful people who worked so hard to make this fundraising event a great success.

I’m hoping to host another glassybaby fundraising event in the late Spring or early Summer. Stay tuned! :)

Glassybaby Fundraiser for the Susan G Komen 3-Day for the Cure

Yesterday evening, I hosted my first fundraising event for the 2012 Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure. This will be my third year participating in the 3-Day. It is also the 10 Year Anniversary of my team, the Warming Hut Hotties. Last year, I raised $7,855.00. This year, I'm upping my goal to a whopping $10,000.

I've been a fan of the company glassybaby for a few years now ever since my friend, Paula, moved to the Seattle area and brought one to me me as a gift. I have bought one or two additional glassybaby in the years that followed, including more as gifts, but this year, after moving into our new home, I really got the glassybaby bug.

One thing I love about the glassybaby company is their goodwill efforts. They have donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to various charities and organizations over the years, and often host events benefiting specific causes.

I spoke with them when I was at a glassybaby event in October about the possibility of hosting an event with them to go towards my fundraising for the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure. They were immediately interested, and we talked about the possibility of hosting an event next Spring or Summer.

They contacted me later that week asking if I would be interested in doing a Holiday event in late November/early December. After a lot of back-and-forthing, we came around to having a fundraiser event at my house on Wednesday, December 7th.

The event started at 5:00, and the glassybaby van pulled in front of my house around 3:00. Over the next two hours, the glassybaby team unloaded hundreds of glassybaby from the van, and filled my house with their beautiful vessels of glass. It was really an astonishing process to watch.

The evening was a great success! I had slightly fewer people come than I was originally expecting, but those who did come seem to have thoroughly enjoyed the products. 10% of all sales from last night's fundraiser will go towards my fundraising efforts. Last night, we raised almost $400 towards my fundraising.

Glassybaby is also being extraordinarily generous by offering me an online promotional code to share with friends who were not able to come, or who live out of the area. 10% from the sales of each Glassybaby bought online by my friends will also be donated to my fundraising account! If you're interested, please visit the glassybaby website and type in the promotion code "3day" (one word, no quotes) when you check out. Orders must be placed between December 8th and December 31st. Their website also offers free shipping.

It was a wonderful evening with friends, family, light and giving.

I took several photos from the evening - it was really pretty amazing to see hundreds of glassybaby fill my house and backyard with beautiful light. I wish I could keep them all! ;)

Many, many thanks to all who came. It was a lovely evening, and I hope you all enjoyed it as much as I did.

My thanks and gratitude to the Glassybaby company for being so being such a delight to work with, and for being so generous towards my cause. The event last night went so well that we are hoping to do another in the late Spring or Summer!



The Glassybaby Van comes to my house!


Unloading the Glasybaby boxes


The main display in the dining room
(we also showed a video of how glassybaby are made)


The backyard
(my favorite, I think)






I showed Linda's DVD slideshow of the 2011 3-Day




The backyard lit at night


The fabulous Glassybaby team!

Warming Hut Hotties Reunion

The Warming Hut Hottie Reunion and Re-commitment party was held at the Sports Basement in the Presidio yesterday afternoon. It was a wonderful time - so great to have a chance to reconnect with many teammates since last month's event.

Linda decided to have the reunion at the Sports Basement in the Presidio. She arranged it so that 10% of all sales by any of our teammates or friends went to The Warming Hut Hotties/In Our Lifetime.

We are the Hotties, so of course there was plenty of yummy food and drinks for all.
Marsha also treated us all to brand-spankin'-new Deeleeboppers! (Thank you, Marsha!)

Linda has been working hard putting together a "Walkcumentary" to show at the reunion - a slideshow of hundreds of photos taken during the event. It was beautiful, and brought back so many wonderful memories. Thank you, Linda, for giving us yet another gift.


the check-in table, along with a huge box full of new deeleeboppers, courtesy of Marsha


This was the total team fundraising amount as of the week before our event in September. The team total for the San Francisco/Bay Area 3Day Walk for the Cure is now up to $189,426.98!!


The team sits down to watch the Walkcumentary


Our lovely Linda speaks briefly before starting the Walkcumentary


The impressive AV setup!

Sneak Peak of the Warming Hut Hotties 2011 Walkumentary by Linda

Our amazing and wonderful training walk leader, Linda, has just posted a sneak peak of the Walkumentary Video that she is creating for our Reunion Party. She did an amazing job. I've gotta say - If I had never walked with this team before, this video would sure make me want to sign up! :)

My Thank You Card to my Sponsors

This is the Thank You Card that I made and sent out to everyone who sponsored me for the 2011 Susan G. Koman 3-Day for the Cure. I had already sent out a Thank You over email, but thought it would be nice to send a card in the postal mail, too. (Because, isn't it always nice to receive a card in the mail?)



side note
I just looked and saw that our team, The Warming Hut Hotties, has raised more than $182,000 and still counting!

Day 3

3 Day, 60 Miles. We did it again!!

After coming home last night, eating dinner and taking a nice soak in the tub, I was too tired to write my final blog post about the amazing event of the last 3 days.

It was an amazing 3 days filled with love, hope, compassion, and a whole lotta walking. I came home with 2 small blisters, 2 tired feet, and 1 full heart. In the end, the San Francisco Bay Area Susan G. Komen raised over $3.9 million! AMAZING!!

Yesterday was the 10-year anniversary of September 11th. We started the day by walking the first mile in silence in honor of all who lost their lives 10 years ago. It was an emotional way to start the day. I started walking with two of my closest friends, arm and arm with each other. As we walked that first mile, we brought in additional friends into our fold and linked arms as we walked in silence. We were all in tears. It added an additional layer of grief and hope to our day.


Flags at half mast down the aisle as we walked out of camp


the beginning of the route, and the beginning of the mile in silence

We all boarded the ferries which took us to Tiburon. One really neat thing about this walk is that it would be the opposite route of what the Warming Hut Hotties walk during the Sunday of our 40-mile back-to-back weekend. We walked through Tiburon, Marin, Sausalito, across the Golden Gate Bridge, down into Crissy Field, and over to Fort Mason for closing ceremonies.

Some of my favorite photos from the day:


Love this shot. We had a couple of participants in wheelchairs this year


My friend Janine (who was part of our training group last year) at the cheering station with her daughter, daughter's friend and adorable dog!


Furry Hottie!

The best surprise of the day came when I got a message from Dick that he was driving out to one of the cheering stations!! He met me along the route at a grocery store (two of my friends are vegetarian, and the vegetarian lunch options hadn't been very satisfying to them over the last few days, so we stopped off at a store that we knew and brought our own sandwiches to lunch.) Dick had lunch with us, and even drove a few slightly injured Hotties up to the Golden Gate bridge so that they wouldn't have to walk up the steep hill before crossing. I love my husband so much. Thank you, Dick!!

Dick and Trina at Mollie Stones

The weather turned out so much warmer and clearer than expected, and it turned out to be a gorgeous day! The walk across the bridge was just spectacular. SO much better than the cold, windy, foggy conditions last year.


View of the bridge before our walk up and over

The last Pit stop of the walk was in Crissy Field - so close to the Warming Hut!


View from the last pit stop

Our team waited for all to arrive and gathered together to walk the last couple of miles together.


A gaggle of Hotties walking towards Closing Ceremonies

Before Closing Ceremonies started (at 5:30) all of the walkers assembled in the holding area a few blocks away from the Marina Green.


Almost there!

Many walkers were able to see friends and family outside of holding before heading to Closing Ceremonies.

My dear friend, Alisa, and her beautiful daughter, Sophie.
Alisa is a 12-year Breast Cancer Survivor.
She is an inspiration to me, and everyone who walks


Me with my friend, Jim.
Jim is walking in all 14 3Day walks around the country this year. San Francisco was his 6th walk. He's almost half way there. GO Jim!!


3Days, 60 Miles DONE!!

Our team walked arm-in-arm to closing ceremonies. We were all given shirts for participating: White shirts for the walkers, grey for the crew, pink for the survivors.
The survivors entered the ceremonies last, as all of the walkers raised their shoes in the air to honor them.


raising our shoes in honor of all of the survivors who walked with us


the circle of survivors raise the flag at the end of Closing Ceremonies

In the end, the 2011 San Francisco Bay Area Susan G. Komen 3Day for the Cure raised more than $3.9 Million. Our team, the Warming Hut Hotties raised over $176,000 and my supporters helped me raise $7,605. I couldn't be more proud to have had the opportunity to participate in this amazing event.

My deepest thanks to all who helped me during this amazing journey - my team, my friends, my family, and especially my husband. I love you all so much. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Day 2

Day Two Complete! 40 miles down, 20 more to go!

This is my second year of participating in the Susan G. Komen 3Day walk. Of the 5 event days that I've walked so far, I think this one was my favorite so far. (and that's a BIG statement!)

We went to the East Bay today! None of the 3Day or Avon walks have ever gone through the East Bay before, so it was extra special. It was an extraordinary day. Not only was the route lovely (beautiful neighborhoods, with lots of great architecture and cute stores!) but the community was very involved in coming out to CHEER the walkers on all day! The local police and firefighters all came out, as well as cheer leaders, Safeway store employees, and lots and lots of citizens! Thank you all so much for coming out to cheer us on. After walking so many miles, we're all pretty tired, but having you there clapping for us and giving us high fives really helps us boost our energy and dedication!

The morning started early, with the first ferry leaving around 7:00am. We left camp at around 6:30, walked the 1.5 miles to the ferry port, and took it over to the port of Berkeley. As we walked towards the port on Treasure Island, we watched the sun rise over the bay.


Sunrise over the Bay


Hotties on a Boat!

Our team has temporary tatoos that say "Hottie" on them. Many of us have it on the back of our calves.


Hottie Calves. (yes, those are my enormous calves/cows on the far left

Turquoise Blue seemed to be the color of choice today!


Pretty Hotties in Turquoise Blue

Hands down, the highlight of my day was seeing my family! My sister was working today at UC Berkeley, and had a chance to come out and meet me along the walk for about 15 minutes on Campus before we reached the cheering station at the UC Berkeley Clock Tower. Unfortunately, I was too caught up in the moment to remember to take a photo (bad sister!) but my friend Alisa got one for sure. I'll remember to post later!

My parents, and their neighbors, Ron and Bonnie came to Cheer us on at Lake Merritt!! SO happy to see all of them!!


Dad, Mom, Bonnie and Ron meet me at the Cheering Station! Thank you SO much for coming out!!

We had a wonderful lunch around mile 15(!) on Lake Merritt. It was very pretty and relaxing!

Lunchtime Hotties!

We also got to play with the Oakland Fire Department a little!



As I mentioned, all of the cheering stations, and various cheering along the way today was just wonderful. It means so much to us. This is an example of what we see along the way:



We walked through Downtown Oakland, down to Jack London Square, and boarded another Red and White Ferry.


Hotties on the ferry



We still have a few injured walkers with us, but the medics to a WONDERFUL job caring for them and taping them up so they can continue walking.

Lizelle and Yumi and their pretty knee tape art

Back at Camp:


Day Two, 40 miles complete!


Foot Massage!

Our team was the largest team as well as the highest fundraiser. Our team leader, Linda, also got a special (HUGE) tent in honor of her planning the most training walks. Linda hosted a "Mocktail Party" at her tent for all of the Hotties.


Happy Mocktail Hotties

We also were served a special dessert during dinner for being the top fundraising team.
The dessert: a tower of cupcakes!!


Tower 'o Cupcakes!

Along the Walk Day 1

Day One was WONDERFUL!!! The weather was perfect (in my opinion, anyway) - overcast and probably low 60s for most of the day, with the sun peering out in the afternoon, and maybe in the high 60s.

We started at the Cow Palace, made our way to Ocean Beach, had lunch at the overlook just past the Cliff House, walked (and climbed lots of stairs) on the Lands End Trail (a Hottie Favorite), through Sea Cliff, Pacific Heights, down to Alta Vista Park, down Gough Street to Bay, past Fort Mason, into Fisherman's Wharf, then caught a ferry to Treasure Island!! Once we docked on Treasure Island, we walked another mile or so to camp. *phew!*


The Check-In line - at the Cow Palace, heading out to start today's 20 miles!


Our wonderful Hottie, Marsha, an incredible woman, friend, and Breast Cancer Survivor. She will be found several times along the route, handing out tissue, candy, and fresh fruit to all of the walkers. Her shirt reads, "LOST: My Boobs FOUND: My Life". Love you, Marsha.


Look at this cute couple! They were just married last week! They had "Just" "Married" on their backs, with little tin cans trailing from their backpacks!


"The Facilities" for the next 3 days. This is what you'll see every 3-4 miles at the pit stops - a very long row of Port-O-Pottys

The view at lunch. It was too bad it was so overcast, otherwise a gorgeous view of Golden Gate Bridge

Julie, Alisa and Monica carrying the "Patience" flag


Three Hotties (Jim, Yumi and Lizelle) at the Medical Tent at lunch. :(


The sun finally came out! I think that's Alcatraz in the background


Each of the Pit Stops have a theme. Today's Pit Stop 5 had a "Prom" theme! Special thanks to the San Jose Police Officers for taking vacation time off and volunteering to keep us safe along the route! Love these guys!


Monica, Tanzeem, me and Julie, waiting to board the ferry to Treasure Island

The Red and White Fleet Ferry that we took to Treasure Island


Tired Hotties - asleep on the ferry ride


The amazing view from Treasure Island!


We made it to Camp!


Day One Complete!! 20 miles down, 40 more to go!!