Last year, for my 50th birthday I completed 50 miles and 50 smiles!
For the month before my birthday, I ran 50 miles (roughly 1.6 miles/day) and then gathered 50 smiles. To count as a “smile”, I did a little something special for a friend or family member that put a smile on their face. My golf buddies made me count 1 smile just for telling them about my campaign! The month culminated in a run with my daughter and sharing my smiles with my family on August 16th!
Now for my next birthday: 51 Miles and 51 Smiles! Here’s the new plan:
- 51 Miles: I’ll run 51 miles in the month before August 16th
- 51 Smiles: This year I plan to capture 51 smiles from you, my friends and family member AND from our favorite charities. Here’s how it works: I’ll make a donation in an increment of $51 to two of my favorite non-profit organizations. Then I’ll ask you to make a donation (in any increment of 51 you like…$.51 or $5.10 or $51 or $510) to your favorite organization. Just let me know about your donation, and I’ll find a way to make you smile! I’m looking forward to your encouragement in running as well as making you and the people your organizations serve smile! Look for regular progress updates on Facebook and on this site.
My donation will be to Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd for so many positive changes in the works and to Plymouth Christian Youth Center, the wonderful agency improving the prospects for kids and families in North Minneapolis!
It’s making me smile to write this! 1 down!
I hope you join me in smiling all the way to August 16th!
Julie
#1 by Sarah - July 13th, 2010 at 07:45
This is fantastic! What a great idea to give the gift of health to yourself and the gift of giving to others. Well done!
#2 by Carol - July 14th, 2010 at 20:44
Good for you, Julie! Happy birthday! I’m sending a smile your way & supporting a rider in the Pan Mass Challenge (for cancer research).
#3 by admin - July 15th, 2010 at 07:32
Thanks Carol! And Awesome that you are supporting the rider in Pan Mass Challenge. I know how much you like to bike! Lydia Emmet W. has piped in on FB and she is a big biker for AIDS donations!
On birthdays…. Lorri V’s is tomorrow! I start running tomorrow and aim for August 16th!
Thanks again! Smiling and healthy…hear we come!
#4 by Jen King - July 15th, 2010 at 16:27
Hey Julie! This is great! Keep up the hard work! Today I donated to the Susan G. Komen foundation and also ran 1.5 miles. Can’t wait to run with you! Way to go!
#5 by admin - July 16th, 2010 at 11:32
THANKS JEN! LOVE that you ran 1.5 miles and LOVE that we will run together … tomorrow? When??? And thank you so much for bringing a smile to the Susan G. Komen Foundation!!!!!!
#6 by Bill Hague - July 23rd, 2010 at 06:56
Thanks for bringing a smile to my face with your support of Girls on the Run Chicago, Julie. And just think of the smiles of the young women who are part of this program!
You’re the best!
Bill