Thursday, September 3, 2009

Giveaway WINNER, Bloggie Shout Outs, Success, and Thanks!

Okay, bloggies...I've been away for a few days. My kiddos have been sick (they are getting better) and I haven't been feeling the greatest either...which sucks cuz my tri is just 10 days away. I'm on an antibiotic...but I have a feeling that I'm either suffering from allergies or something viral...just because that would be my luck. I'm hoping/praying I'll be better by the time we leave for DC next Friday. We even cancelled our weekend trip to the lake for Labor Day so I can stay home and rest rather than exhaust myself further and probably push myself over the edge of getting sick. It's disappointing, but I'm sure it's the best decision in the end.

So, without further ado, the winner of my GNC Gift Card Giveaway is.....Kristen The Running Lawyer!!! Of course, she was the only entrant. But she earned herself a whopping 20 entries by not only donating $50 herself, but by also forwarding the link to her mother who also generously donated $50 as well! I am truly touched by their generosity and feel the need to tell everyone how amazing and special Kristen The Running Lawyer is to me. Not only is she motivational and inspirational (Have you read her blog?? She has time to be an attorney AND run marathons - now THAT is amazing!!!), but she has also become a good friend of mine over the past several months. We email daily, text each other randomly, and interestingly enough, we even went to the same high school, but never knew each other - what are the odds?! I know we'll meet face to face soon as we're from the same home town and only live 3 hours apart now. In fact, there's talk of doing a race together in November along with Beka the Running Dork. I am honored to be a friend of The Running Lawyer's and would like to give her an EXTRA SHOUT OUT today since she will be running the Disney Half Marathon on Sunday in Anaheim, CA! Please go to her blog STAT and leave her lots of encouraging comments and wish her luck this weekend!!!!!!!

To wrap it, I just want to add that my giveaway was directly related to my fundraising efforts for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. I received word today that I finally reached (and exceeded) my goal with a grand total of $4,060 in funds raised! The road to this race has been quite a long journey....but I'm sure it's nothing in comparison to what the families facing these diseases have had to endure. On September 13, 2009, when I cross that finish line, I will know that I have helped these families to progress towards the ultimate finish line - a cure! Additional shout outs go to everyone who has donated funds, everyone who has completed a TNT event, everyone who has offered support and motivation, all the families who have faced these diseases, all those who have lost loved ones, and all the survivors out there - including my bloggie buddy Art at Racing For A Cure. All of you are my inspiration, my motivation, and my reason for TRI-ing!

3 comments:

o2bhiking said...

Ashley - that is great about the amount of money you raised, and hitting your goal. YOU DID IT!!! Thanks for making a difference. You are going to have such a great time at the Nation's Tri. I had lunch with a friend today who did it last year for TNT (and she is doing it this year on her own as a tune up for her half ironman 2 weeks later for TNT) and she said it is a blast. So go celebrate and have a great time, and thanks for making a difference to cancer patients everywhere. Art

Lindsay said...

very cool about all those slightly-missed-connections with the running lawyer! hope you guys get to officially meet soon.

congrats on hitting your fundraising goal!

Mary McManus said...

I know the feeling of exhilaration when you exceed your fund raising goal. Congratulations and I know you are gonna rock when it comes to doing the Tri. Can't wait to hear all about it in your post race report. God bless, God speed and prayers for feeling fit for your challenge. You've been through a lot and overcome a lot to get to the starting line so you are already a winner.