Hello, everyone! 
 
Believe it or not - we have already had our kick off meeting for the Rays of Hope teams!! Time to start getting excited about walking in Forest Park on October 28, 2007! 
 
We are very excited that this year will mark our 2nd year with a Rays of Hope team!! WOOHOO!! For new members....the monies raised through Rays of Hope goes towards finding a cure for breast cancer! The money all stays locally--for research, to help women and men who have been diagnosed with breast cancer--team members are true heroes to the thousands of men & women who have been touched by breast cancer! EVERYONE is welcome to join our team...Beat Mike Players and their friends and families.....everyone! You choose the length of the walk you'd like--2.5 miles or 5 miles--or, you can be a 'virtual walker' (explained below).

Before we go any further, I would like to say welcome to our new co-Captain, Vice President of the Beat Mike Network, Josh Pratt. He has been there for me and though he did not walk with us last year, he did help us out and our team. I would like to announce for any reason if Josh can not fulfill his position, I would like to announce that Earl McClain will take over Josh Pratt's spot. 

We have lots of exciting things in the works...lots of ideas, including perhaps doing a "PINK PARTY"....a spaghetti dinner, perhaps, with a DJ and all....we could all sell tickets and that would be an easier way for some of us to raise the money we want to raise for this important event! We are working on that now....we are checking into halls and dates and all those things right now...but we will keep you posted on that as details become available!! 
 
Now....speaking of fundraising and walking for the team.....it is time to start forming our team this year! 
 
We're excited to let you know that it is SOOO simple to register this year!!  By registering online, you can do fundraising online and show everyone who BMN really is!! This GREAT tool helps you to create your own personal webpage (it really is easy to do....trust us!) - and by doing this, you can then send emails to friends, family, co-workers--everyone you know--both locally AND across the country to ask for their support...there are no limits!!! The website even gives you emails you can choose so you don't have to write your own!! You can personalize it with your own picture, or use one of the ones they have for you! 
 
On a personal note - I did set up a page last year, since I am not good at asking people for donations....I sent it to some family/friends....I raised about $200 within a couple days!!! I could NOT believe who donated!! Try everyone you know--you never know how cancer has affected someone and they may want the chance to help. The #1 reason people don't give is because nobody asked.... 
 
So - take some time right NOW to do this....it is FREE and EASY... 
 
1. Go to www.baystatehealth.com/raysofhope and click on the "Create Your Own Fundraising Webpage" link. 
 
2. On the bottom of that page, click "Get Started By Creating Your Own Webpage Now" 
 
3. On the next page, click on the "Register Here" button. 
 
4. Read the disclaimer and click "I agree". 
 
5. Click "Join a Team" 
 
6. Go down to the bottom of the next screen and choose your team "BMN Pals" 
 
Follow the prompts - you will choose your own username and password....you can then choose your background and picture and even write your own story....check out my website...I personalized mine using a picture from a previous walk I did in Boston....you can do anything you'd like...but please use this tool....it's great and it works.... 
 
We need to know if you'd like to join us for the walk by September 10.....we have to give Rays of Hope the t-shirt count. If you are walking and would like a t-shirt this year, YOU MUST 1. REGISTER ONLINE AND THEN EMAIL MIKE WITH YOUR T-SHIRT SIZE OR 2. CALL OR EMAIL JOSH PRATT OR EARL McCLAIN (536-0002, 364-9066) OR MIKE (478-2738) TO LET US KNOW YOU ARE WALKING AND TO LET US KNOW YOUR T-SHIRT SIZE. Again....the sooner we get the count the better.....so please take a moment to register online and email me or call me with your t-shirt size.....even if you use the online tool, we'll need you to call or email us with your t-shirt size. 
 
If you cannot join us for the walk this year, we surely understand....if you'd like to do a "virtual walk", go to the website above and you can register to do that if you'd like to still get donations to help the cause. Or...stay tuned....we'll be letting you know if we are able to coordinate the spaghetti dinner, as well....all will be welcome to that, too! 
 
Thank you so much for your continued love and support over the past 2 years....take care...stay healthy.....and of course, enjoy the camping season!! 
 
Contact Info regarding website: 
Mike DiMauro 
(508) 969-9362 / (413) 478-2738 / mikedimauro31784@...

P.S. I did use Sherri Langevin's message to send this out, but it was done up well that I needed to use (with my changes, of course). Thanks Sherri and we all enjoy you!

P.S.S. Please join! We need at least ten people to join to get our t-shirts! Thank You!

P.S.S.S. For any of those who don't know what Beat Mike or BMN is well it's my fantasy sports program I run. It's first and most popular game that started was the pro pick'em game which will be in it's 9th season in September. It was like Beat Carlos of the Union News (now the Republican).