Dear Friends,

On the night of June 26-27 2010, my mother and I will be joining thousands of others in Out of Darkness Overnight, a 20-mile walk throughout the night. Our goal is to raise funds and awareness about suicide and depression. But, to achieve this goal I need your help. I am asking you to lend your moral, emotional, and financial support to my ma and me.I have never felt comfortable asking for money. However, this cause is very important to me. I walking in memory of my brother Joseph and Robert.I feel like it’s time for the world to hear their story.

In January 1997, Robert was leaving a party on New Year’s Eve in Somerville to pick up Joseph at the House of Blues in Harvard Square, where Joseph worked as a waiter. Robert never made it to the House of Blues. He was struck by a drunk driver and passed away less than 2 days later. Robert was just under 21. Less than 3 months later my brother Joseph took his own life. I always remember waiting up for Joe to get home from work so we would sit on the couch and watch the Discovery Channel. My brother Joseph always took care of me without any question. I am walking for Joseph and Robert. I know he would be so proud of me and he would try to give me a piggyback ride when my feet get tired on the June 26-27th. Joseph would always call me his Cutie and would always encourage me to laugh from my heart. It’s been 13 years since Robert and Joseph left our family. I’ve struggled with depression since I could remember, and now I’m ready for a change. I’m ready to help others who have been in my place and help prevent other families from experiencing it.

Please support my mother and me in our fight to end the silence about suicide and mental illness. Will you consider helping us with a tax-deductible donation of any amount. I am going all out in an attempt to collect as much money from as many donors as possible. Your contribution along with the donations of thousands of others will have a serious impact for this cause. Net proceeds will fund the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention's research, education, survivor and awareness programs - both to prevent suicide and to assist those affected by suicide. Also, the proceeds help support programs like the Samaritans of Boston which I was just accepted into their 9-month volunteer program.

I know I am asking for a lot. But it will take a lot to help end the overwhelming silence that surrounds suicide. When you have made your decision simply go to www.TheOvernight.org, click "Support a Participant", and look up my personal fundraising webpage to donate online. Our team name is “A Brother’s Love Lives Forever.”

From the bottom of my heart I thank you for your support. I will certainly keep you posted on our progress as my ma and I train and prepare for this event.

Sincerely,
Diane Welch
Team Captain
A Brother’s Love Lives Forever

“Experience: that most brutal of teachers. But you learn, my God do you learn.” C.S. Lewis (1898-1963); Writer, Theologian, Scholar

I know I've been neglecting you lately.. I'm sorry workout blog. I did ride today..I decided that the rain was going to ruin my spin this morning. It was amazing.. I enjoy riding in the colder weather there's something about it that feels right. Maybe it's because I started really riding in the fall, or because I live in New England and spent the majority of my life in colder weather. haha.. I
I am hosting my first fundraiser event at the Uno's in the Woburn Mall. I'm super nervous but that's the point... if your not nervous about something where's the risk in doing it? It starts at 6pm and goes until whenever. All you have to do is come into Uno's and eat dinner, at the end of your meal please give the server a coupon. At the end of the night, if the total of amount of sales is under $1,000, Uno's will donate 10% of if it's over $1,000 Uno's will donate 20%. So the more business the more money we can make! Ready, set go to Uno's on Thursday.. :)

On a personal note, I saw Streetlight Manifesto the other night. I've wanted to see them for a very long time and everything just worked out so well, I felt like it was worth noting.

Okay, I promise another update by the day's end.

Another epic riding adventure.. I think so!!

Dear Diane... What were you thinking when you agreed to clean out your brother's garage? You don't even clean your own!!

So this morning's workout adventure... I'm riding to my brother's house in Revere. I have never rode that way and I'm super unsure of the route to take.. I might just take the super long way because I'm afraid to ride over by Rt. 1.. It just doesn't seem safe. I wanted to update this with pictures, but considering I don't own a camera, self portraits taken by my mac book pro will have to do! I'm running super late.. oh well.. I hope he won't notice!

Today was my first day off in almost 2 weeks. I I accomplished two miles on the treadmill this morning. Man do I hate the treadmill. I should have walked the pond with my ma. Oh well, maybe I'll walk the pond tonight....

So I went out to eat at Uno's with my ma and submitted the form for a Dough Raiser on April 29th at 6pm. It's a simple way to raise money for The Overnight. All you have to do is give the server a dough raiser coupon at the end of your meal. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention! Woohoo. I want to make fundraising as simple as possible and I think it's a great idea for all of my friends and family to come together and enjoy a night out!

In other news, the Bruins are playing tonight. EK! I'm so excited, I have a day off and I can actually watch the Bruins game!! All I need is good company and a cold beer. I wonder if Honey Moon hit the shelfs yet......

Dear New England, it's April, please don't be cold. Love, Diane

With that being said, I said in the office all day watching the weather change from sunny to rainy all day. It was really entertaining I have to admit. All day I just wanted to ride my bike. I needed to go for a spin rain or shine. I was a woman on a mission! Once I got home from work, I took the baby out. We went from Woburn, Winchester, Arlington, Medford, Somerville, and back. It took me about almost 2 hours.
I loved riding through Winchester Center, I never realized how many cute little stores are there. Oh man, it was an epic adventure, I do like riding in the cool weather, I was just happy it didn't rain. The best part of the ride was in Medford on Rt. 38, It was a long stretch of road and a police speed radar and as I rode by it clocked me at 16mph on my single speed bike haha! It was kinda priceless..
Now, tomorrow is my treadmill, jump-roping and weights training day. I don't mind the treadmill, I just have to get into my groove and the art of going nowhere. ha! I need to keep myself motivated this week with a workout schedule. So if you haven't seen Alice in Wonderland I would highly recommend it.

"I try to believe in as many as six impossible things before breakfast. Count them, Alice."
It's one of the best quotes to keep me going. Nothing is impossible, On Friday I accomplished 4 out of my list of 6 for the day. It's not complete, but it's a good motivator! woot! So tomorrow's first impossible... 3miles on the treadmill. Wish me luck!

It's not raining on my day!

I didn't remember my ear muffs the other night. I should have, it was freezing! I thought it was April!! My training is starting to pay off! I noticed it at work the other night. I lifted a full tray of dinners the other night and didn't even strain a muscle. It was great! As for training, yesterday I ran on the treadmill for 3.5miles at a steady rate. I feel like it's getting easier, but that's also because my body is moving! It was a workout though. I started with 20minutes of jumproping. Now, jumproping may seem really simple and cute, but hot damn is it a work out! I try to run and jump at the sametime. Trust me, it was very funny to watch this hand-eye-plastic rope coordination happening all at once. It's a lot harder than it seems. haha
I was excited to receive an e-mail from Nicole, my walking coach, she add my blog to the blogroll with AFSP! woot!
Other news on the fundraising front, I am planing a dough-raiser at Uno's in the Woburn Mall within the next two weeks, so stay tuned for more details. I might try to set-up a raffle too! Let me know of any good ideas!
I now have another team member! My ma is walking with me! I'm so excited, I couldn't be more proud of her! Yes, I do love my ma to pieces.. it happens!
So far together as a team we've reached $450! Woohoo, I can't believe it! Almost to $500. I think when that happens I'm buying myself coldstone ice cream!!
I'm working today in Brookline, so instead of working out I decieded to wear heels. Now, my thinking is that heels makes the legs stronger and work harder so I will be running up and down stairs all day and down coblestones.. That has to count for something, right?!

AFSP - American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

AFSP - American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

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Day Two..

Wow! I made it to my second day of blogging.. It's going to be quick only because I need to ride my bike to work.. Oh yes, the bike that is getting me around the world and in shape for the walk.
It's interesting what two tires and some metal can do to a person's life. It's amazing.. I know it's going to be cold out tonight so I'm debating about wearing ear muffs and a scarf.. call me crazy, but i would rather be toasty then freezing. I don't have a camera just yet.. until then my camera on my mac book pro will have to do...Enjoy!

AFSP - AFSP - See Who's Made Online Donations

AFSP - AFSP - See Who's Made Online Donations

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Here we go..

Hello Bloggers!

Welcome to Diane's little piece of the blogging world!! I am walking in The Overnight for Suicide Prevention and Awareness on June 26th to 27th. This 18-mile walk around Boston is to bring light to such a dark subject. I am a very self motivated person, but I need something more to keep me going. This is it. A good friend once explained that anyone can blog. Well I'm going to try. Please excuse my poor grammer and mis-spelled words. My goals for blogging is to help train for the walk, by tracking and venting. Also, including any adventures I encounter over the next few months. My mind, body and voice will become tired over the next few weeks, but everyday I will be updating this blog.

I am afraid of commitment and I realize and understand that needs to change in my life. I need to committ to myself first and by committing to The Overnight and this blog will help me overcome my fears of commitment. My next goal.. a twitter account.I have never used it before. Oh boy! The adventure with technology continues!

I started training about two weeks ago, oh boy am I out of shape. To kick off the training, I decided it would be a smart idea to ride my single-speed mid-60's pink columbia bike from my house in Woburn to the Boston Commons. What an amazing adventure, I started in around noon and made it to the Commons around 1:30-2ish. Amazing. The best ride I could have done for myself and an amazing way to kick off the training process. Now, I need to keep the motivation going.. wish me luck!!!