Friends,
It has been a surprising, wonderful, exciting journey. This year the Long Walk in Grand Rapids will come to an end. By the end of this year, I will have walked the length of every street in Grand Rapids to raise money for a great cause, the MS Society.
Multiple sclerosis affects millions of people, including our co-workers, friends, families and loved ones. MS is an unpredictable, often disabling, disease of the central nervous system that interrupts the flow of information within the brain, and between the brain and body. Millions of people are affected by MS and the challenges of living with its unpredictable symptoms, which range from numbness and tingling to blindness and paralysis.
Since beginning the Long Walk in Grand Rapids in 2009, I have walked over 550 miles in the city to bring awareness and raise money for the MS Society.
Please support this effort by telling your friends or donating at the MS Society website. Look for information and a Donate link at walkinggrandrapids.blogspot.com, or search Walk MS for Daniel Mish on the MS Society's secure site.
Thanks for all the support!
Sunday, August 31, 2014
Thursday, December 05, 2013
500 miles: the video
OK, so there is a reason that I have not posted videos in the past, and the following video is evidence of that. I tried a sample that turned out pretty good, but this was just a disaster. It actually came out upside down and I had to edit it to flip it for viewing. The fact that it is an extreme close-up selfie is not fixable. Someone asked why I didn't just record it again...
Well, it is because this video is a live record of me walking my 500th mile in the Long Walk in Grand Rapids - I can't do it again.
So, for what it is worth enjoy. Maybe if I autotune it, it will be better to watch. Also, note the special date of this walk. It's at the end, so you have to watch the whole thing....
I will also update the first 500 miles log and the maps soon.
Well, it is because this video is a live record of me walking my 500th mile in the Long Walk in Grand Rapids - I can't do it again.
So, for what it is worth enjoy. Maybe if I autotune it, it will be better to watch. Also, note the special date of this walk. It's at the end, so you have to watch the whole thing....
I will also update the first 500 miles log and the maps soon.
Thursday, October 31, 2013
Generic Donation Site
The MS Society has closed my individual donation site. Thanks to everyone that made contributions to the walk!
If you would still like to make a donation, I am updating the Donate link to point to the MS Society's main donation page. I will not see the donation applied to my personal page, but as long as the MS Society benefits, it works out for me. I would appreciate knowing that you donated and, if you are comfortable, how much. Just leave a comment on this page. I moderate all comments left here, so it will not be public unless you specifically ask me to publish the comment.
The walk is nearing completion. I hope to finish this year's last few miles before the snow flies (and accumulates). I will post the details when I hit 500 miles.
If you would still like to make a donation, I am updating the Donate link to point to the MS Society's main donation page. I will not see the donation applied to my personal page, but as long as the MS Society benefits, it works out for me. I would appreciate knowing that you donated and, if you are comfortable, how much. Just leave a comment on this page. I moderate all comments left here, so it will not be public unless you specifically ask me to publish the comment.
The walk is nearing completion. I hope to finish this year's last few miles before the snow flies (and accumulates). I will post the details when I hit 500 miles.
Sunday, October 27, 2013
It's Worth It
The year is coming to a close, with the donation site closing on 31 October and the final miles toward 500 for this year. So, if donating has been on the back burner now is the time.
I have always found walking the streets of Grand Rapids very enjoyable. Sometimes it is difficult to get started and out on the street. I sometimes wonder if it is worth it, if the walk and the donations are helping. Life gets busy in the summer and I sometimes have to take a break from the walking schedule. Honestly, the past couple of weeks have been slow for walking.
This past week a colleague at work stopped by my desk to let me know that a friend that has MS was going through a new therapy involving her own adult stem cells. She said there is promise in the therapy and the research and she wanted to take the opportunity to let me know and to thank me and the other employees that participate in Bike MS fundraisers (they actually ride bikes in the event! 8^). Know that the work the MS Society really does help and your donation is changing lives. It is worth it.
Between walking in the evening and a marathon walk on Saturday, I have put in 10 miles in two days. I am within striking distance of mile 500 to close out the year. Next year I hope to complete the final streets of Grand Rapids. Please consider helping with the final $150 toward my goal of $500 this year. If donating is not in the cards (and even if it is) please consider sending this link on to friends and family.
Later this year I will post the latest maps and details of the walk. To see the first 400 miles check out the link to the right and click on the details tab.
Thanks for your support!
I have always found walking the streets of Grand Rapids very enjoyable. Sometimes it is difficult to get started and out on the street. I sometimes wonder if it is worth it, if the walk and the donations are helping. Life gets busy in the summer and I sometimes have to take a break from the walking schedule. Honestly, the past couple of weeks have been slow for walking.
This past week a colleague at work stopped by my desk to let me know that a friend that has MS was going through a new therapy involving her own adult stem cells. She said there is promise in the therapy and the research and she wanted to take the opportunity to let me know and to thank me and the other employees that participate in Bike MS fundraisers (they actually ride bikes in the event! 8^). Know that the work the MS Society really does help and your donation is changing lives. It is worth it.
Between walking in the evening and a marathon walk on Saturday, I have put in 10 miles in two days. I am within striking distance of mile 500 to close out the year. Next year I hope to complete the final streets of Grand Rapids. Please consider helping with the final $150 toward my goal of $500 this year. If donating is not in the cards (and even if it is) please consider sending this link on to friends and family.
Later this year I will post the latest maps and details of the walk. To see the first 400 miles check out the link to the right and click on the details tab.
Thanks for your support!
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
The First 400 Miles
Every year I have walked at least 100 miles. Last year I finished my 400th mile.
A lot of people ask how I track this. As I have said on this blog before, it is decidedly low tech, mostly because I have not found anything that tracks what I am doing. Most apps track distance and what I do involves a lot of doubling back, especially on dead-end streets.
So, what I do involves a paper map (actually two) and a magic marker to make sure I do not repeat streets (though this has happened, probably too often), Google Maps to measure distance (disclaimer, I do own Google stock, but not enough for this plug to make a difference), and a simple spreadsheet to track the miles, totals and street names.
I have not shared this spreadsheet so far, for logistic reasons. This spring I converted this to a Google Spreadsheet and now I am making the log of my first 400 miles public. By the end of this year I will update with up to 500 miles!
All of this is for the MS Society. MS is a disease that attacks the central nervous system. It affects many people in many different ways. If you do one thing after reading this message find out more about MS. If you do two things, tell someone else about it and share a link to this blog. If you do three things, and it is within your means, make a donation. I am registered as a virtual rider for the MS 150 bike ride, even though I am walking instead of riding. If you donate through the rider site, the donation total will be reflected on the site. If you donate directly to the MS Society, please just let me know with a comment on this site.
So if you live north of Fulton street in Grand Rapids, look for your street in the spreadsheet of my first 400 miles.
If you know me, ask for a few business cards to share with friends!
And most of all, thanks for listening!
A lot of people ask how I track this. As I have said on this blog before, it is decidedly low tech, mostly because I have not found anything that tracks what I am doing. Most apps track distance and what I do involves a lot of doubling back, especially on dead-end streets.
So, what I do involves a paper map (actually two) and a magic marker to make sure I do not repeat streets (though this has happened, probably too often), Google Maps to measure distance (disclaimer, I do own Google stock, but not enough for this plug to make a difference), and a simple spreadsheet to track the miles, totals and street names.
I have not shared this spreadsheet so far, for logistic reasons. This spring I converted this to a Google Spreadsheet and now I am making the log of my first 400 miles public. By the end of this year I will update with up to 500 miles!
All of this is for the MS Society. MS is a disease that attacks the central nervous system. It affects many people in many different ways. If you do one thing after reading this message find out more about MS. If you do two things, tell someone else about it and share a link to this blog. If you do three things, and it is within your means, make a donation. I am registered as a virtual rider for the MS 150 bike ride, even though I am walking instead of riding. If you donate through the rider site, the donation total will be reflected on the site. If you donate directly to the MS Society, please just let me know with a comment on this site.
So if you live north of Fulton street in Grand Rapids, look for your street in the spreadsheet of my first 400 miles.
If you know me, ask for a few business cards to share with friends!
And most of all, thanks for listening!
Saturday, June 29, 2013
Interesting walks
I've been taking photos of some interesting things on my walks, so I thought I would share some.
Here is a mailbox that is over 20 feet tall. It is made from a dead tree and has an eagle sculpted on the top.
One of my first walks this year was when the cottonwood was flying. This looked like a blizzard. I wish the picture did it justice. Yes, the white spots on the picture that look like snow are cotton from the cottonwood trees.
These are streets that really are not streets. The first is never used, has no houses on it and the woods next door are growing over the pavement. The second is -- well honestly I don't know. It looks like there was never a street and the person that lives next door parked their car there. But it does have a Street sign, so I walked both of these.
Here is a mailbox that is over 20 feet tall. It is made from a dead tree and has an eagle sculpted on the top.
One of my first walks this year was when the cottonwood was flying. This looked like a blizzard. I wish the picture did it justice. Yes, the white spots on the picture that look like snow are cotton from the cottonwood trees.
These are streets that really are not streets. The first is never used, has no houses on it and the woods next door are growing over the pavement. The second is -- well honestly I don't know. It looks like there was never a street and the person that lives next door parked their car there. But it does have a Street sign, so I walked both of these.
Monday, June 10, 2013
Donations gladly accepted
Friends,
The donation site is back up and the link to the right is up to date. Follow the link to the MS Society's secure site. Don't like to follow links or don't know me? Just go directly to the MS Society's site and donate. Let me know about the donation so I can track my progress.
For newcomers to the site, this is where I track my progress on the Long Walk in Grand Rapids. I am walking every street in the city of Grand Rapids from end to end. So far, I have walked 400 miles and will complete 500 by the end of this year. I will likely complete the Long Walk by the end of 2014. Read more in the older posts on this site.
For everyone else, thanks for your support! Whether you donated money, encouragement or just shared the link to the blog with friends, you have helped in the fight against MS.
Please share this blog with friends!
The donation site is back up and the link to the right is up to date. Follow the link to the MS Society's secure site. Don't like to follow links or don't know me? Just go directly to the MS Society's site and donate. Let me know about the donation so I can track my progress.
For newcomers to the site, this is where I track my progress on the Long Walk in Grand Rapids. I am walking every street in the city of Grand Rapids from end to end. So far, I have walked 400 miles and will complete 500 by the end of this year. I will likely complete the Long Walk by the end of 2014. Read more in the older posts on this site.
For everyone else, thanks for your support! Whether you donated money, encouragement or just shared the link to the blog with friends, you have helped in the fight against MS.
Please share this blog with friends!
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