It’s hard for Veronica Brown to think of herself as an athlete.

“No, I’m actually just a ‘big loser,’” she says. But she means that in the sense of weight loss. In 2006-2007, Veronica lost 80 pounds doing a combination of daily exercise, low-carb dieting, and Weight Watchers. Today, she is on a regimen to keep the weight off permanently.

So why is Veronica raising money for breast cancer research? “Accountability,” she says. “Losing weight is difficult, but keeping it off is a different challenge. By participating in events like the Breast Cancer 3-Day, I have something to focus on to keep me healthy.” Veronica is now training to walk 60 miles in 3 days, October 24-26, 2008, to benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure and the National Philanthropic Trust Breast Cancer Fund.

“There’s a great triumph in losing weight--that is, while you’re losing it,” Veronica explains. “Friends and colleagues gave me lots of encouragement because they could see me changing physically. Now I’m healthy, and this,” she says, presenting herself at 5’7” and 140 pounds, “is the new normal. Nobody is congratulating me for staying normal, and I don’t have any more major milestones that are related to pounds or inches.”

Training for the 3-Day is how Veronica creates new milestones. “I still need accountability and motivation to stay in shape—most of us do, especially weight-losers. That’s why, I think, you see so many people regaining weight they have lost. The challenges of maintaining the weight loss are not trivial,” says Veronica.

“So I have dedicated my health to causes, like the 3-Day, that have athletic fundraisers. These events serve two wonderful purposes for me. First, through the training, I get the milestones and goals I need to stay healthy. And second, now that I’m healthy enough to do these events, I can put myself to good use and raise money that helps others to keep or regain their health.”

To train for the Breast Cancer 3-Day, Veronica is keeping up the same regimen of cardio training she did for weight loss, combined with walks with a 3-Day training team. “The 3-Day does a great job of providing training advice, with weekly emails and a web site. It’s very helpful.”

Veronica’s blog includes this dedication: “I dedicate my good health, for which I am grateful, to helping others be healthier.” Her blog is at www.weigh-2-go.org, and her Breast Cancer 3-Day fundraising page is at http://08.the3day.org/goto/veronicabrown.