Pikes Peak Challenge benefiting TBI

Exercise.. not something that I really like to do. I loved it in Georgia when the kids were younger. Simona, Tammy, Nina and I would meet at the local women's gym and work out together. It was fun social time. We rarely thought we were working out. Now, in my 40's, unemployed and alone with the kids and wallowing in self-pity (not really but I am hoping for wimpathy points) I take Scooby for a walk, go on weekly treks to the grocery store and between laundry and dishes feel that exercise should be left for the young and energetic! Kiah and the rest of his brigade, have begun their "hikes" in Afghanistan and so our fearless Warrior leader, Patty George has decided that we should walk to Afghanistan. Okay.. not literally walk, but walk the miles equal to the distance while the guys are gone. This will not only help me drop a pound or two..and if I am lucky and inch or three, but has opened a door to some new challenges. Britin, my half-crazed, Tuesday's with Dorrie, gluten free, cake eating OCD excercise guru of a friend has decided, that I should walk with her. Not that I don't need to loose a few pounds.. okay I need to loose a lot of pounds..but to hold me accountable for actually doing it! I said OK anyway! The Pikes Peak Challenge! We all know I am battling balance issues (okay be nice... I had my left hearing goods removed in 2007) and so not only am I going to be trekking the 13 miles and 7,400 vertical feet to the summit of Pikes Peak, an amazing sight at 14,110 feet, through Lord only knows what terrain! (am guessing rocks, as well as stuff like bad weather) I will have to deal with severe imbalance issues, dry eye issues due to the weather, all while trying to not roll down what I had just hiked. With all that being said... here is why I decided to do this.. really! The Pikes Peak Challenge Hike For Brain Injury Awareness is on Saturday, September 12, 2009. I will be hiking Barr Trail on 14,110 foot Pikes Peak. When completed, I will join other hikers and supporters in celebration of brain injury awareness and prevention. Survivors of Traumatic Brain Injury face many challenges. In the United States a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) occurs every 23 seconds. Based on national estimates, there are more annual incidences of Traumatic Brain Injuries than Multiple Sclerosis, Spinal Cord Injuries, HIV/AIDS and Breast Cancer put together. It is estimated that over 20% of our American Soldiers are returning home with a TBI. Did you know that there are 5.3 million persons living with disabilities from TBI and public spending is only $2.55 per person? Compare that to the 900,000 people living with HIV/AIDS which spends $18,111 per person! Amazing right? Research into treatment of TBI receives less than one penny of every Federal dollar spent on medical research. This is why I am involved! I really am training hard, with Britin and Forrest. Forrest is working hard to get his knees ready to take the challenge as well. I am hoping that you will visit my donation page using the link below and help us raise funds for this great cause. We each have to raise $150.oo minimum, I would love to double that! There is more information on the site as well! Thanks for your help! https://www.pikespeakchallenge.com/includes/donation_search.php?hiker=Felecia%20Senti