Social media keeps me going

Oh, my aching feet!

That’s the unavoidable first reaction to having crossed the finish line of the Chicago Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure 60-mile walk to raise funds for breast cancer research. Then it’s quickly overshadowed by my gratitude… that I made it through my fourth 3-Day event… that my loved ones, friends and colleagues all contributed to $4,320 raised… and, most of all, that any pain I’m feeling is nothing compared to the physical and emotional pain of cancer itself.

Foot pain and exhaustion were expected. But a surprise was that the gratitude and encouragement I felt as I walked the 60 miles was largely due to social media. I really didn’t expect that Facebook and Twitter would be the vehicles of my encouragement throughout my fundraising and endurance effort!

We wanted to find a way to communicate with my sponsors and friends throughout the event to show my gratitude for their support. So, my “Team Captain” Kristin was on site at several strategic points of the journey with flip cam in hand – at pre-walk dinner, opening ceremonies, first and second night camp, tent village tour, and much more. Kristin taped and posted several video updates (a few samples linked below), and her sense of humor silently displayed in on-screen captions provided added motivation for followers to keep coming back. I knew I wanted to stay in touch along the way, but I was amazed at the huge positive impact it had on me to be energized by everyone’s posts in response.

Pre-3-Day Launch
3-Day Camp Tour

All in all, I have to say that, had I not had social media and real-time electronic communication, I would still have finished the 60 miles, but I would not have done it with my head held high, a smile on my face, and constant focus on my friends. I truly cannot express how much it meant to me to have this connection with so many people I love throughout the journey!

Next August (August 5-7, 2011, for anyone who’d like to mark their calendar to follow me – or even walk with me!) we’ll be celebrating year FIVE of my participation in the 3-Day, and we will certainly not be without video, Facebook, Twitter, mobile uploads, email and any other e-tools that may be available by then!

Today, I have a renewed view of social media and what it can mean as an outreach vehicle in our communities. We’re the event planning people (that is, it’s in our DNA to be social) – and social media is a natural as a tool to communicate in our business as well as a way to generate support. I know the MOC and Co. team is now inspired to find more ways to use social media to help our clients and to support the causes we care about.

Anybody want to share your ideas? C’mon and tweet me!

Mary