Surfing the Net. On occasion I like to read travel journals and I came across a great one by Matt Harding. He has traveled to many of the places that I wish to go and has some great stories and pictures. I highly recommend that you check out his 'dancing' video. Yes you read that correctly - dancing video. A travel buddy gave Matt the idea of dancing everywhere he went and recording it on his camera. It's well put together.

Check it out. http://www.wherethehellismatt.com/

I sent off a box of printer cartridges today to Funding Factory. About 25 cartridges in all. My dad's company has sent in another box as well. All together we expect over a hundred dollars in total when these boxes are counted. All from empty printer cartridges!

Would your company be interested in supporting my Team Diabetes campaign? The funding factory program features free collection boxes and shipping, online accounting, and a business component that enables companies and individuals to collect cartridges and cell phones in support of our efforts.

Benefits to your company:
- Environmentally friendly disposal of printer cartridges and cell phones
- Community recognition for recycling efforts
- Continual support to Team Diabetes without extra cash donations
- Enables employees to dispose of cartridges and cell phones from personal use

Please visit www.FundingFactory.com for more information about supporting my Team Diabetes campaign through FundingFactory’s Business Support program. If you choose to register, please identify ID number 50948 as the beneficiary organization. That’s us!
If you have any questions about this program, please contact Taylor Shantz at tshantz@hotmail.com.

Pictures on the Net. You can check out all of the Iceland Pictures on my dad's website at

http://mikeshantz.com/Iceland.htm

My dad was a great spectator and took loads of pictures on race day and we took lots of pictures sightseeing along the southern coast.

Words of Encouragement. Last week my dad sent out an email to friends and family and a bunch of his work contacts about our trip to Iceland and the Team Diabetes cause. Here are some of the responses;

Sounds like you are pretty proud of her. From what I know of her, you deserve to be. She seems like a great girl.

Let me know where to send a cheque

So glad to hear you and your daughter are so supportive of the cause. It's a condition close to our family as well (hubby) and there are very few people I know that do not have a close family member or friend not affected by diabetes.

The Road to Rome?!? What? Okay so I just just posted that I was going to Rio 2008 - but things change. I was trying to register in a destination that farthest away possible from now. I think I deserve a break from fundraising for a while (it's like a part-time job!). But National is not sure whether or not they will be traveling to Rio in 2008 and will figure this out after recruitment for 2007. So Rome 2008 was the farthest into the future they would allow me to register for. So I guess I'm going to Rome!! Not a bad second choice I'd say. But just beware that I get some wiggle room if they do decide to go to Rio in 2008 (or somewhere else entirely) I can switch. Excellent.

Another catch. The Rome race has two categories; Full marathon and 4K. Ouch. So inspired by Waleah and Mike's triumphant 42.2km race in Reykjavik I've decided to attempt the full. Oh dear. Thank goodness there's an eight hour time limit and not less. I might just use all of it....

From Reykjavik to Rio de Janeiro. This past August I joined many other athletes from various parts of Canada to participate in a 10km run in Reykjavik Iceland for a reason much more important than the personal challenge completing this event represents. As members of the Canadian Diabetes Association’s Team Diabetes Canada, we participated to assist the Association in their efforts to help people with diabetes make a change for the better by raising a minimum of $6000. In total Team Diabetes participants in Reykjavik this year raised over one million dollars for research and advocacy!

With this accomplishment under my belt I have decided to continue to support the Canadian Diabetes Association by remaining apart of the Team Diabetes program. I hope to participate in the half marathon event in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 2008.

Back in Canada.

On Wednesday I woke up in Dublin at 4:30am and began my journey home. Eighteen hours later I was back at home in Ottawa. Very exhausted. The next day Charles, Tanya and I made the 6 hour drive up to Sudbury to visit my parents. I’ll be happy to relax here for about a week before school starts!

I had a fantastic trip and wish that I could have extended it more! I met a lot of people who had been traveling and working in Europe for months and I felt a pang of jealousy. I’m very happy what I accomplished in the two short weeks that I had in Europe. I think the highlights of the entire experience were;

- Supportive spectators during the 10km race; especially the guy with the accordion!
- The Glacier Lagoon (Jökulsárlón) in Iceland
- Hiking to the summit of Slieve Donard (2786 ft) in Northern Ireland