Strength in Full Bloom Virtual Run

A virtual race is a race that can be run at any location. You can walk, use the treadmill, run outside or participate in another race. Or ride a bike, (or a horse) or swim; just get out and move. You can "run" your race at your pace wherever you like.

The Strength in Full Bloom 5k/10k virtual run proceeds will go to my Ovarian Cancer Research Fund Team Hope fundraising goal.  As a woman, and the daughter of a woman lost to ovarian cancer, I feel that it is so important that we focus on cancers that directly affect women.  Because, unfortunately, not much is known about ovarian cancer and it always seems to be diagnosed way too late, more research and effort should be put into this terrible disease.

When I decided to participate in the Esprit de She triathlon in Illinois and be a part of Team Hope, I had no idea how I would meet the goal I had set for myself.  Because this cause is important to me, I looked at the various talents and resources I had at my disposal and came up with a few ideas.  If you’ve perused my Team Hope blog, you’ve seen that I’m also giving away prints of some of my photographs through four different raffle drawings.  After deciding to raffle prints of my photographs, I decided to host a virtual run, and thus the Strength in Full Bloom 5k/10k was born.

The "entry fee" for the SiFB 5k/10k is now a direct donation, with every penny (the cost of the medals and shipping has been covered!) going directly to OCRF Team Hope.

***MEDALS ARE IN HAND***
Medals ship upon registration!

3.5" diecast medal with glitter paint and sublimated ribbon

To register, simply click on the link below and
             donate $25.00 to the OCRF.


             OCRF DONATION PAGE


On the OCRF page, click on GIVE NOW in the upper right hand corner, not register now. Look for an email from me to obtain your mailing address.



I chose a lotus flower on the medal because the lotus symbolizes perseverance through difficulty – something so beautiful struggles to survive and thrives in mud.  I made the lotus in two shades of teal, the color which represents ovarian cancer (along with a few other female-specific cancers) and the colors that the OCRF uses.   The running woman, with Run for Her on her leg, is to encourage each of us to run for your mother, your sister, your aunt, your grandmother, your cousin, your friend, your girlfriend, your wife, and most especially, yourself.  It is up to us to make the difference, to speak out and let our voices be heard.  So I’m running for the mother I lost, and for my aunts and cousins, but most especially for myself.  I hope that all of you are as proud to earn this medal as I have been to design it and present it to all of you, go run (or walk!) and revel in that strength you have blossoming inside you!   

And please, post photos and stories on the Facebook page once you’ve run your Strength in Full Bloom 5k/10k.

Check back here and on the FB page for updates on the ship date for the medals, etc.

Thank you for participating!

Blythe

“The lotus is the most beautiful flower, whose petals open one by one. But it will only grow in the mud. In order to grow and gain wisdom, first you must have the mud --- the obstacles of life and its suffering. ... The mud speaks of the common ground that humans share, no matter what our stations in life. ... Whether we have it all or we have nothing, we are all faced with the same obstacles: sadness, loss, illness, dying and death. If we are to strive as human beings to gain more wisdom, more kindness and more compassion, we must have the intention to grow as a lotus and open each petal one by one. ” 
― Goldie Hawn