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		Hi - again... I am Gina Peters and I have signed up to participate in the Avon Breast Cancer 3-Day again this year in May 2002. For those of you who have not heard about it before, let me enlighten you...It is a 4 day event that beins with "Day Zero" consisting mostly of registrationI and safety training. "Day 1" begins with our opening ceremony. Then we take the first steps of our 3-Day journey. We walk, walk, walk and oh yeah - walk from Baltimore, Maryland to Washington, D.C. over the next 2 days. Pallotta Teamworks, the organization putting on this event, supplies us with food, drinks, port-a-potties, tents, a place to camp, communal shower trucks, entertainment each night (if you are still awake and functioning by then...), medical personel and so much support. I participated in last years event which started in Frederick, Maryland and ended on the mall by the Washington Monument. It was an exciting adventure (sleeping on the ground, using port-a-potties every chance I got for 4 FULL DAYS, showering in a semi-truck with SEVERAL other women, etc.) and a journey of celebration and support to raise money and awareness for the fight against breast cancer. Last year I walked with my "inspiration and motivation", my mom, Gloria Steelman, who is a breast cancer SURVIVOR!!! This year, I am walking with my friend, Shelly - who refused to let me walk "alone". We will begin our journey on May 3, 2002. We will walk 20 miles each day - in all kinds of weather, becoming intimately familiar with porta potties along the way, before arriving at our moveable tent city each evening. We will then get to pitch our own tent, shower in a truck, live without electricity (no hair dryers or curling irons!!!), sleep in sleeping bags, get up the next morning, take down our tents and begin our next 20 mile walk until we reach our final destination - Washington, D.C. on May 5, 2002. We will train hard for this walk and promise to be physically and emotionally prepared to complete this journey. We have too much time, energy, emotion and heart invested to allow ourselves to fail. We're sure that some of you are asking WHY we have made such an exhausting committment, and some of you are probably thinking we should be committed!
	Why I am walking... I am walking to help more women (and men) detect and survive breast cancer. I am walking to honor all those who have battled this disease (successfully and unsuccessfully). My mom is an 9 year breast cancer survivor and 1.5 year colon cancer survivor. Her friend Liz, who is also a breast cancer survivor convinced her she was overdue for a mammogram. She was diagnosed with cancer after her first mammogram when she was 49. My friend Angie's mom, Chris will be a 3 year survivor this fall. My husband's Aunt Mary is currently battling this disease. My goal is too dedicate each mile to someone special. My first mile is for Liz - without her, Mom might not be here to support me. My last mile is for my mom who will be at the finish line cheering me on. If I can walk for you or someone you know, please let me know.
	Here's Where You Come In... In addition to all that fun, I have to raise 1,900 for breast cancer research and breast health programs. If I am unable to raise the entire amount, I will be unable to walk and all the time and hard work will be for nothing... You wouldn't want that - would you??? Over 180,000 women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year, and over 40,000 will die. Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in women in the U.S., and the leading cause of death among women between the ages of 40 and 55. Every woman is at risk for breast cancer. The net proceeds from the walk will support non-profit breast health programs in every region of the country, and cutting-edge medical research on women's diseases at leading academic institutions. Last year, mom and I raised over 5,000 and the DC 3-Day event raised 6.4 Million. See, I'll do the work and you can have the tax deduction!!!

	May 4, 2002 - Shelly and I in the tent - before the RAIN!!!