I have moved!

The other night after the wonderful story in the Manitoulin Expositor, my daughter Kat took a look at my blog and said "Mom, you gotta move to tumbr.  You'll get a lot more hits there."  So here is the address.  Thank you to Kat for setting it up for me and making it look so beautiful!

http://adventurousorange.tumblr.com/

See you on tumblr!

Claras Joints In Motion Auction Page

Well the FB auction page is up and I have a few pictures posted.  I continue to seek donations from various businesses and individuals in and around the community.  Please visit my page and share it with all your friends. 

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Claras-Joints-In-Motion-Auction-Page/372759099419475

I've got one wonderful lady who has offered to help me with my fundraising and has given me some fantastic suggestions.  I look forward to implementing them in the future and meeting my goal. 

I have purchased my envelopes and 100 stamps.  I've made 100 copies of my donation request form and my letter.  Its amazing, when I sat down and really had time to think I I realized I do know 100 people who I can ask.  I will be stuffing the envelopes tomorrow and hand deliver as I see the people.  So far this fundraiser has cost me nearly 100 dollars, for printing, envelopes and stamps.  I hope it works.

Please share this blog with your friends, the more people who know about my fundraising efforts the better.  Please help me help the the Arthritis Society assist the millions of people who suffer from this disease.

My own RA has been moderate, the flare up stopped  after 9 days and I am back to my usual routine.  I'm able to walk and even wore high heeled boots for a day. :)

Clara

JIM Fundraising.....the PLAN!

Hi All!

I feel a bit abash at the fact I have not posted in a while.  Life as it does sometimes gets in the way of the best laid plans.  I am thankful for Sarah from JIM Ontario for giving me the nudge by inviting me to the fundraising conference call.  I met others who are currently fundraising for their individual events.  They shared what they have done to raise their funds and offered some excellent suggestions as well.

Being in a relatively remote location compared to those who live in the larger cities such as Toronto, Markham or Pembroke; Manitoulin offers it own different challenges.  Number 1 I don't have a large number of "people" who I ask for $100 donations.  Number 2 My "company" or workplace does not offer a fundraising matching policy. 

One great suggestion was to have a Facebook Auction.  I am working out the details but to put it simply I would have an array of items. I would create a FB page and load images.  I would post the rules of the auction and set a date for the auction to be held.  I am thinking about March 31.  I will open bidding at 6 am and close bidding at 12 midnight.  The successful bidder will be that last one at midnight on the 31st.  I will then contact the winner and we will work out the details for payment and delivery.  I've already got some pretty good prizes and am continuing to make requests for donations.  I will have the pictures loaded for viewing two weeks prior to the auction.  I've just decided the 31st will be the date.  Keep an eye out and once the page is up please share with your friends.  The more I have bidding the better this fundraiser will go.

I am having another pie sale this coming Thursday February 23th.  I will have available 10 apple pies, 11 Lemon Meringue, 10 Banana Cream, 10 Coconut Cream, 3 Raisin, 3 Cherry, 3 Mixed Berry $10 each.  Pick up between 3 and 6pm.  Pre-Orders accepted.

I am continuing to work on my fundraising page.  All the funds I have raised thus far do not show up yet but they will.  If you wish to make an online donation please go to my web page at http://arthritis.akaraisin.com/pledge/Participant/Home.aspx?seid=2152&mid=9&pid=762930  You will receive a charitable donation receipt for anything over $15.00.

With your help and the help of others I will be able to meet my fundraising goal!!


Miigwetch.

Coin Boxes and Pies

I am afraid the coin boxes are a bust, I dropped by Richie's Supply today to fuel up and the box was there right where the public could see it but without someone pushing it I think the coin boxes are a bust.  I have to rethink my strategy.

On another note my son and I were discussing the pie sales, it got to the point were we figured out how many pies it would take for me to reach the $8000.00 dollar mark.  I think I previously stated I have $510.00 raised thus far, if I were to bake and sell 749 pies then I will have reached my goal....can I do that ? Can I really bake 749 pies and sell them by the deadline?

It takes me nearly 1/2 a day to bake 30 pies but I am never sure I will sell them all.  Perhaps I will make 50 pies every two weeks that would be 100 pies a month.  Is that even doable?  Help me out here folks, give me some ideas on how I can fund raise to reach my goal.

Its late and my brain is burnt from trying to figure this one out. :)

You all have a great night!

Fundraising Updates

So I delivered the coin boxes last Wednesday.  I am not sure what my expectation was but seriously I was not expecting the surprise I got today.  I had to deposit some cheques and saw the coin boxes by the tellers wickets.  The coin boxes sat there EMPTY!! Not even a penny!  I was shocked to say the least, the bank manager said they usually make at least $600.00 a month for other organizations.  This was just one bank so I am hoping there will at least be something in the coin boxes in Gore Bay or Ritchie's Supply.

The newspaper article is not going to well, an appointment was made to meet with the reporter but due to unforeseen circumstances we never met.  I emailed her today to give her some information along with some photo's.  I am hoping she will be able to develop a story out of that.

The donation letters have gone out, it won't be long before I hit up my doctor for a donation.  After all he is the one who is always harping about me getting more active! 

On another note, my son has started a raffle for a painting by Stan Panamick. See picture above.  He is selling tickets $2 each or 3 for $5.00.  The draw will be March 12th.  If you are interested in purchasing tickets you can contact him at jtcb09261988@gmail.com and he will get back to you.

On a positive note, I added another $50.00 to the pie sale total which brings that total to $360.00.  Making my fundraising total $510.00.  $7490.00 more to go!

Catch ya'll later!

Weigh In

Today is the day.  Today I started my training for the Iceland Trek.  Not much of a work out but more of a beginning.  I got myself weighed at the Health Centre.  184lbs.  I am not pleased with the number but at the same time I am not overly disapointed either.  I've weighed a lot more in the past and I know that I will not weigh nearly as much in the future.

Crew from Germany, not ALL of us got to ride a bus!

9 years ago I went to Germany, I was far more overweight than I am now.  For six days I carried a 37lb back pack and managed to hike in upwards of 20km a day.  PLUS I climbed 425 uneven steps up the side of a mountain in Lorelei along the Rhine River....a real huffer and puffer.  My Sister and I took it easy going down the mountain by the road way. Did I mention SHE got to RIDE the BUS up to the top of the mountain while her much older and out of shape sister had to climb the stairs?  Jump ahead 6 years to this past July where I hiked throughout the streets of Madrid, Spain for 6 days at approximately 20km per day.  My back pack wasn't nearly as heavy as Germany but it weighed enough.

Taking a break after a long, long day in Madrid!

So, I wasn't in such great shape for either Germany or Spain but I will be for this trek.  I am not really sure of the terrain I will will be trekking through but you can be assured it will not be cobble stoned streets.  There are a few hills around here as well as the bluff that I will be using for my training.  I've already marked out a 20 km route and have timed my walking speed to be nearly 4 hours for the full 20km.  Not great but doable and I can definitely improve upon it. 

I had a flare up this past week that was a real kicker, it nearly knocked me on my bottom and it took me a few days to get back on track.  Man I hate those days when the pain is unbearable and all I want to do is crawl under the covers and whimper in pain, but I am back and on the attack....watch out world, here comes Clara!

It Began

Yesterday after work I delivered coin boxes to the Bank of Montreal in Mindemoya and Gore Bay.  Nelson at Ritchie's was also kind enough to place one in his business.  I will be driving out to Little Current and ask both the BMO and TD banks to have the coin boxes in by their wickets as well.

These coin boxes will be in each of the businesses for the month of February.  I have been in contact with the local paper and am waiting to hear back about a story on my journey.  Its not only going to be a story about my efforts to fund raise but also to see if what doctors say will actually happen.  If I lose weight the symptoms of Arthritis and Diabetes will decrease.  We will see.

Letter campaign will begin today as well I am going to send out 100 letters to local businesses.  I will contact them within 7 days to see if they are willing to support my cause.

I will also make contact with our Local Radio Station 100.7 the island to do an interview so I can get my information out there, that I am fundraising for the Arthritis Society and how they can contact me.

Another pie sale will be held in two weeks hopefully we can raise another  $310.00 maybe more now that people know how delicious my pies are. :)

Wish me luck!

5,10, 30 minutes how do you measure your day?

Every appointment I have with my Rhumatologist begins with him asking, "how is the stiffness? How much time does it take for the stiffness to go away? 5, 10, 15 minutes?  I now measure my mornings as a 5 minute morning or a 20 minute morning based on how long it takes for my joints to become flexible.

I am in a full blown flare up which means every inch of my body is in pain.  My ribs, spine, shoulders, neck, elbows, wrists, hands fingers, knees ankles and toes.  The pain is so bad that I have only had 7 hours of sleep in the last three nights.  I am fuzzy brained, I can't remember the easiest things and can fall asleep sititng up for brief moments of time.  My left hand is so swollen it was usless to help with anything today.

A while back I had the bathroom taps changed into the lever kind, I no longer need to grip the tap but can merely push it with the entire hand or wrist....a simple convenience that allows me to turn on the shower without the help of m daughter.

My flareups usually last 7 days and I do try to keep moving to keep my joints flexible, but there are times where it is sooo much easier and less painful to lay in bed.  I did walk today, an abreviated  walk but I walked.

This morning was a 60 minute day, with no real relief from the stiffness or pain.
Pain Level out of 10  today is a 9.

I've taken a sleeping pill to help me get some sleep this evening.  Gonna need my wits about me tomorrow.

Goodnight and thank you for following along.