Date: 2010-02-27
To: Springer Mountain, Georgia
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

                    WELCOME                              Randy and Doyle's                      "WALK FOR THE KIDS"                                                                                  This being my 1st entry, I would like to thank all of my friends and family for their words of encouragement. " WHAT ARE YOU CRAZY "........." YOUR OUT OF YOUR MIND "........" WHEN YOU SAY YOUR DOING THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL YOU MEAN YOUR FLYING OVER IT, RIGHT? "......." ARE YOU ****ING NUTS"                   The more research I do and the closer I get, I realize that they may be onto something.                                                                          People constantly obsess about turning 30..40...50.....60 .....70 years of age. On my 60th birthday I made a comittment to not worry about what I cannot do and make an adventure with what I can do. I will be starting the "AT" with my dog Doyle on March 17, 2010 at Springer Mountain, Georgia.   When I first told my wonderful wife of my plans, her first response was that it was a "great idea". Then she realized the scope and time involved and she contributed one of the quotes near the top of the page.                         I am a retired Ironworker from Local #7 Boston. I enjoyed my 30 + years as an Ironworker but not as much as I am enjoying my retirement. One of the reasons I am able to enjoy it is a result of the kind of shape the job will keep you in. After retirement I have kept active and get to the Gym quite often. That in itself was nowhere near the kind of shape I need to be in for the AT. I Have been doing a daily routine of the gym {walking, stretching, and weights) and putting weight in my pack, as well as Doyle's pack and walking 2-3 hours daily. The trail will either put me in the best shape of my life or.......Yeah yeah the best shape of my life.                          The title Randy,s "WALK FOR THE KIDS' Is in reference to the JIMMY FUND. There will be information on how to contribute in support of myself and Doyle. For anyone interested in joining Doyle and me on the trail I will be setting up 3 different beautiful and historic locations you can join us. You will be in areas where you can walk for an hour, a day or a week. All I ask is that you have your family and friends sponsor you by contributing to the JIMMY FUND through my trail journals page. The meeting locations will be:            Shenandoah National Park, Virginia                                         Harpers Ferry, West Virginia                                             Mt Katahdin, Maine                                                                                                                                   I will be adding approximate dates and details in my future journals.  I have been fortunate to have Danielle Grossman from the Jimmy Fund helping me with the fundraising for the walk.   This will be my adventure of a lifetime although Doyle might never talk to me again. And I invite you to join us on the trail or through the journal on our "WALK FOR THE KIDS"                                                Thank You                        Randy and Doyle                                  Danielle Grossman      Jimmy Fund Walk      10 Brookline Pl West       6th Floor      Brookline, MA 02445                                                  You can send checks directly to Danielle...Payable to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. You may call her to donate by credit card. 617-632-5029                     danielle_grossman@dfci.harvard.edu