Good Deed Week #21

Good Deed #141 - #143. I did it! I joined Team in Training! I accepted two new challenges and adventures—I decided to run in my first marathon AND raise $4,000. I’m not sure which task is more daunting at the moment, but I am both excited and nervous. I joined Team In Training (TNT) with the hope of helping to stop leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma and myeloma from taking more lives. My commitment to this challenge is not light-hearted. I know physically I can cross the finish line on Oct. 19th, but I need your help to raise the $4,000.

A key element of the TNT experience is training in honor of a local blood cancer survivor whose courage provides motivation and inspiration. I will be training and running with Kaden’s mom. Kaden was 2 years old when he was diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia on June 9, 2006. Kaden will be in treatment until Fall 2009—that is 3.5 years of treatment!


So, what is Team In Training? The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team In Training (TNT) is the largest endurance sports training program in the world. Participants raise funds to help find cures for leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma. Since Team In Training’s inception in 1988, more than 360,000 participants have raised over $850 million to support the Society’s research and patient services programs. Last year TNT raised $18.5 million dollars through The Nike Women’s Marathon.

Currently, I have already gone to an informational meeting, kickoff meeting, and our first training run (3 miles). I will update the blog constantly with all my training and fundraising success. But, I'm graciously asking you to please donate and to please share my donation page with your friends and family. I can't do this alone.

Please support me in the race to fight blood cancer! Click to
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Good Deed #145. Okay, after reading about Team in Training and then reading this good deed, you might think I have lost my mind (which is very possible). But, Brian and I signed up to adopt a Boise Hawk's Baseball player for the summer. The player will arrive in mid-June and will be in Boise for 38 games of a 76 game season. I'll keep you posted on which player we adopt and how it is having a roommate for the summer.

Good Deed #146. On Saturday, I worked with Boise Life to clean up Table Rock. The flat topped outcropping of sandstone with the white “B”, cross and dozens of communication antennae overlooks the city and the entire valley. From Table Rock you can easily see in excess of 100 miles into Oregon and Owyhee County. The sunsets are spectacular, the forested mountains at Bogus Basin seem close enough to touch. You can look DOWN on airplanes landing at Gowen Field and it is a great map lesson for young and old alike to identify streets, the Depot, Capitol Building, and other landmarks. Unfortunately, many teenagers and adults use Table Rock as a trash dumpster. In the few hours we were there, we vacuumed layers of broken glass, painted the graffiti bench, and filled more than 30 bags of trash and recyclables. Thanks to Boise Life for organizing this outing!





Good Deed #147. While at the grocery store, I bought a "buddy poppy" and donated to the Veterans of Foreign Wars for Veterans Assistance Programs.

Good Deed #148. For Memorial Day, I donated to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund which relies on our support to continue their programs that advance the education and healing that began with the raising of The Wall. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial stands as a symbol of America's honor and recognition of the men and women who served and sacrificed their lives in the Vietnam War. Inscribed on the black granite walls are the names of more than 58,000 men and women who gave their lives or remain missing. Yet the Memorial itself is dedicated to honor the "courage, sacrifice and devotion to duty and country" of all who answered the call to serve during the longest war in U.S. history.

Good Deed Week #20

Good Deed #133. Today there are close to 700,000 children in the U.S. with at least one parent deployed, according to the American Psychological Association. Additionally, Pentagon reports indicate close to 19,000 children have had a parent injured in the military since September 11, 2001. As the U.S. reaches its 6th year at war, it becomes increasingly clear that kids are suffering the most. The children of deployed, injured and fallen heroes just may be the strongest and most forgotten heroes today. For some kids the adjustment to a deployed or injured parent can be difficult to understand. But, there is hope -- Camp Cope. I recently made a donation to this great organization with the hopes of giving one kid a chance to smile again.




Good Deed #134. Today, there is an estimated 200,000 homeless dogs and cats roaming the streets and beaches of Puerto Rico. With 4 shelters/4 control agencies on an island the size of Connecticut, 90% of these animals will either die of starvation, illness, or murder. That is why I donated to Island Dog, Inc., which is an animal welfare organization focused on raising public awareness concerning the sufferings and cruelty animals endure in Puerto Rico.


Good Deed #135. Brian and I were walking downtown and saw a cell phone laying in the grass. We picked it up, realized it was still working, so we dialed "home". A man answered the phone and was confused how someone was calling from "his phone". Once we explained that we found it laying on the street, he realized he was in fact missing his phone. We arranged a date and time to meet and we returned his cell phone - he was extremely grateful!

Good Deed #136. I have worked closely with Operation Smile throughout the years, so it was only a matter of time before I made a donation. Operation Smile volunteers repair childhood facial deformities while building public and private partnerships that advocate for sustainable healthcare systems for children and families. Together, Operation Smile and donors create smiles, change lives, and heal humanity.


Good Deed #137. Wheelchair softball was born 30 years ago in the Midwest by a few individuals with spinal cord injuries and lower extremity impairments, who still wanted to enjoy America's greatest pastime. Today, the National Wheelchair Softball Association (NWSA) governs over 30 teams nationwide. Including, my favorite team the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC) Cubs. The RIC Cubs have been in existence since 1993. During the last 10 years, they grew in numbers and talent. The RIC Cubs were National Champions in 2002! In support of RIC Cubs, I donated to the NWSA.



Good Deed #138. I donated to another great organization in New Orleans. The St. Bernard project is a nonprofit, grassroots organization that began rebuilding homes in August 2006 in St. Bernard Parish. The mission of the St. Bernard Project is to remove barriers for families who wish to move back into their homes in St. Bernard Parish. Mainly, they are a rebuilding organization that uses volunteer labor and donations for building supplies to rebuild homes. On average, it takes us 8-12 weeks and $12,000 worth of building supplies to completely rebuild a house that has been gutted to the studs.

Good Deed #139. I bought a discount card to a pizza restaurant and the proceeds of the card went to a local high school dance team. Mmmm...yummy pizza and a good deed.

Good Deed #140. I am still knitting the baby blanket for Operation Baby Blanket.

Good Deed Week #19

Good Deed #127. When my bestest gives me an idea for a good deed -- I listen. She told me about a baseball league that one of her students plays in and it immediately won my heart. Not only is it baseball, but it is a league that provides children with mental and/or physical challenges an opportunity to play as a team member in an organized league. There is something about playing the game of baseball that lights up youngsters’ eyes, but for children facing physical and mental challenges, that opportunity can often be a difficult first step. The Miracle League gives these children the opportunity to get out in the sunshine, and enjoy playing the game of baseball in its purest form. To help the Miracle League, I made a small donation. Thanks, Erin!




Good Deed #128. I bought several calling cards and I am mailing them to the Midwest Shelter for Homeless Veterans, which is a not-for-profit transitional living facility that provides assistance to U.S. veterans of any era the opportunity to return to useful and productive lives by providing them with the skills for independent living.

photo courtesy of Catholic Explorer

Good Deed #129. Driving home on Saturday, we stopped and bought a small necklace from a lady selling homemade items. After we made the purchase, we learned she had been waiting patiently for four hours and we were the only people to stop all day.

Good Deed #130. On Saturday, I ran in my very first race in celebration of Rich's mom who is a two-time breast cancer survivor. The Boise Race for the Cure had more than 14,000 participants who either ran or walked for the cure (video of all the people). It was a true honor running in this race.

Start of the Race

Mid-race


Check out the guy behind me!


The final sprint

For more pictures visit: http://picasaweb.google.com/bwelch23/RaceForTheCure

Good Deed #131. For Mother's Day, I purchased an e-card for my mom from Charity: Water. 100% of each e-card goes directly to funding sustainable clean water solutions in developing nations. Upon receiving the card, my mother will be able to choose a country where the money will go. The great part, the donation will provide clean drinking water to another mother for 20 years! Happy Mother's Day, Mom! Love you!!!!!

Good Deed #132. After running in the Race for the Cure, I decided I would sign-up for an orientation meeting with Team in Training. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team In Training is the world's largest endurance sports training program. The program provides training to run or walk marathons and half marathons or participate in triathlons and century (100-mile) bike rides. Since 1988, more than 360,000 volunteer participants have helped raise more than $850 million. More details to come after the meeting, but if I decide to go this route - I will need the support of all my friends and family and all your friends and family and all their friends and family. It will truly be a community support project.

Good Deed Week #18

Good Deed #120. In just three years, the price of staple foods like wheat, corn and rice has almost doubled, and this past week, World Bank President Robert Zoellick said that if left unchecked, global food shortages could set the world back seven years in the fight against extreme poverty and global disease.

In addition, The World Bank estimates that this current crisis threatens to push 100 million more people deeper into poverty. That's why the G8 must take emergency action to counter high food prices with more and more flexible food assistance. But even more important for the long term, is the need to make long overdue investments in agricultural development.

That is why I signed a petition telling President Bush, his representative at the G8 and the leaders of the most powerful nations in the world that I support urgent action.

Good Deed #121. A few weeks ago I joined Operation Quiet Comfort (OQC). OQC provides meaningful support to our wounded warriors and the amazing medical professionals who care for them. To help their mission, I bought items for their "Project Go Bags," which are transition kits filled with items to help comfort a wounded service member until they reach the next level of care, or get well enough to return to their unit.


Good Deed #122. Even with my absolute fear of bears, I do not wish any harm on them at all (for those who don't know about my near death experience with a bear). Sadly, though each year bears are killed so that their parts can be sold in Traditional Asian Medicine (TAM) shops in the United States and internationally. In a recent undercover investigation, the World Society for the Protection of Animals found that the trade in intact gallbladders had actually increased since their previous investigation in 2000.

Unfortunately, state laws pertaining to the trade in bear parts are inconsistent and, in some cases, non-existent. The solution is clear: a unifying federal law is the only viable solution for bears! U.S. Representative Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) recently introduced H.R. 5534, the Bear Protection Act of 2008, to protect North American bears. The Act specifically bans the import, export and interstate trade of all bear parts and products, while closing loopholes in existing state laws.

To help this cause, I was the 21,445th person to sign this petition. The goal is to get 30,000 signatures - if you are interested in signing please visit: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/918445507

Good Deed #123. Keeping with my commitment to send care packages to my adopted soldiers every month or month and a half, I once again bought several goodies for the three remaining guys. (One guy is home on leave for a few weeks and the other finished his deployment.)


Good Deed #124. This weekend Brian and I bought flowers to spruce up our front yard. However, we did not buy the flowers that came in the plastic containers; instead, we bought flowers in recycled cardboard carriers. And, when we got home we reused coffee cups as the planters. Please note, you can't see the bright pink Susan Komen Race for the Cure cup unless you stand directly over the pot (which I am doing when taking this picture).


Good Deed #125. On Saturday Brian and I joined the Parks and Recreation Department and participated in Tending our Foothills. The goal is to help maintain the 85 miles of trails and thousands of acres of open space in the Boise area and help keep it in pristine, safe, and operable condition. Brian and I were assigned to the Oregon Trail (yes, the Oregon Trail - the same one you played in Elementary School). Even today, you can see the ruts from the wagons and can see the impact they had on the environment. To help protect this historic landmark, our team laid down fresh gravel/sand on two different trails and fenced/closed off a social trail. A "social trail" is a trail that people create from constantly taking the same path that is NOT a designated trail. By going off trail, individuals were not only causing environmental problems, but were also damaging the Oregon Trail. Overall, it was a very successful event and we can't wait to help out again next year.

Oregon Trail Signage


Oregon Trail Ruts


Trail One that we worked on


Trail Two we worked on


Fence we put up to close a social trail


Post we put up with the natural debris we put
on the social trail to make it difficult to walk on

Good Deed #126. On one of our many errand runs this weekend, Brian and I stopped at a girls soccer team lemonade / snack stand. All the proceed from the sales were going to support their team. By the time we got there, they were all out of pop (yes, that is what they call it out here), hot dogs, candy, and pretty much everything besides chips. So, we bought two bags of chips and donated several more dollars.