Friday, May 31, 2013

Relay, Relay, Relay For Life

I do not remember if I wrote about how I got involved in Relay For Life, so I will do it now because I do not feel like searching through all of my old posts.

It would be an easy answer to say that I got involved in Relay because my Mom is a cancer Survivor.  She was diagnosed with skin cancer on her leg a long time ago.  The doctors cut a chunk of flesh from her calf and she was cancer free.  Mom does not like to call herself a Survivor because she did not have to go through chemo or radiation, but I remind her that people today do not get large chunks removed from their legs anymore.  The surgeries are far less intensive and people with her type of skin cancer are happy to have simpler procedures, and it is because of the gains made from research funded by the American Cancer Society that have led to these breakthroughs.  Mom, you were told, "You have cancer."  And you are still here; you're a Survivor!

It would be an easy answer to say that I got involved in Relay because I have lost a few aunts and uncles to cancer, including my Aunt Grace.  She is my Dad's sister, and my cousin Adam and I are the same age.  I remember once growing up Adam and I were playing board games on the floor if his bedroom. Aunt Grace came in and asked us if we wanted something to eat, and I asked for peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.  Aunt Graces took the plural, sandwiches, quite seriously.  She came back with a platter of PB&Js all cut in half withe crust removed.  So good!  We lost Grace to cancer 7 years ago.

Although these are two reasons I remain involved in Relay, they are not the reason I got started.  When I was 23 years old, in grad school and working three jobs, my best friend Brenda was diagnosed with stage 3 ovarian cancer.  At the time, her form of cancer had a 5% chance of living 5 years.  As scary as that was to hear about my best friend, I can't imagine how she felt being told that by her doctor.  I witnessed how hard chemo is on a person's body.  I saw how much pain radiation could cause to a person's skin.  I felt helpless watching Brenda not be able to keep food down.  Helpless as she felt like getting out of bed was an overwhelming chore.  Helpless that everything she ate tasted like metal.

I tried to make her days brighter.  I brought her Coke Slurpees, her favorite.  I would bring over the latest comedy albums to lay in bed with her, listen and hope to laugh.  I would drive her to appointments, and read Motherhood magazines in the waiting room.  Not a lot of choice at some of the doctor's offices she needed to visit.  When she felt up to it, we went for walks.  When she felt up to it, we went out to dinner.  Through all of it, I still felt helpless.  I could not take her cancer away.

Her battle lasted a few years, and I moved on from grad school and started working at Skyview Jr High, where Relay For Life of Northshore is held each year.  I walked to the office to ask questions and was directed to Frank Dellino's office. He is a counselor there and was on the planning committee for Relay.  He told me about the event and spoke passionately about the cause.  I was sold.  I asked Brenda if I could form a team in her honor.  She replied, "Only if I can be your Co-Captain!"

9 years later, Brenda is cancer free.  She works for the American Cancer Society, and I have been Event Chair for the Northshore event for three years.  I believe the work that we do at Relay is making a difference. I truly believe that we will have a cure for cancer in my lifetime!  Remember Brenda's odds?  5% chance at 5 years.  That type of cancer now has a 60% chance.  That is progress!

Relay For Life of Northshore is tomorrow!  We have some new attractions and some ceremonies that are amazing.  I would like to see all of you there if even for only a moment.  As Event Chair, I am usually running around like a mad man, but I will give you a hug and say thanks!  If you have kids, bring them to our Kid's Fair from 2-4:30pm.

In my last post, I suggested that of you felt inclined to, you could donate because I kept my weight off for a year.  A few people have felt so inclined.  Thank you!!
I am gonna be more direct now, I am asking you to donate.  Our event has a Goal of $200,000, which would make us Mega-Event Status.  Looking at our numbers compared to last year, we are projected to come in a little short...that is until you all come through with some more cancer fighting, life saving funds!  Use the link below and help us save more lives!

http://main.acsevents.org/goto/radams

Sunday, May 26, 2013

A Year Down, A Life Time To Go

May 25th 2013

One year ago I finished a six month challenge with myself and 127 friends and family to motivate myself to live a healthier life.  I changed the ways I shopped for food, cooked food, ordered food, and the ways I thought about activities, participated in activities and engaged myself in an active lifestyle. In those six months, I lost 85 pounds and felt blessed to have the support of so many people.  The 127 people that "sponsored" my weight-loss were not the only ones that made this possible.

Friends and family that were not in a position to give money offered emotional support, encouragement and offers of walks, hikes, recipes and the so appreciated compliments on how good I was looking.  Then one of the most generous people I know stepped up and said, I think we need to make sure this lifestyle change sticks.  Adam Eaton, a friend since we met when I was at Linfield and rooming with his cousin and his high school buddy, said this to me:

"What you are doing is great. The cause for cancer is great. The thing that is more important to me, is you. Your longevity is more important than the money you raise by losing weight. Being healthy, and living longer is worth more than anything I could donate to your weight loss.

"So I propose this, to make sure that this life-change is not done after the 6 months, after your final weigh-in, and all the money is raised, if you can keep the weight off, or lose more for a full year, I will match everything you raised next year."

Yesterday, I weighed in to see if I met his challenge.  I was nervous, and here is why.  This has been one of the most challenging years of my life.  Teaching has been challenging with my group of kids this year.  I was part of starting two new programs at school this year.  I am again, the Event Chair for Relay For Life of Northshore.  And for those of you that are not aware, I found love!  I am absolutely head-over-heels in love with Kirsten Kenyon!  We have been dating since December and I want to spend every minute of everyday with her...

Kirsten is noticing that most of my weekday time is at school. I have averaged 11.5 hours at school every work day this year.  She is also notices that every weekend morning I have Relay meetings with people from my committee or in the community.  Then week day evenings are often used for speaking engagements.  I have been speaking at many Relay events across Western Washington this year, and also for schools. Last week I was the Keynote Speaker at the high school's Honors Society Induction.  What little time we have together is cherished.  But the stress and busyness has made living healthy even more challenging.

During football season, I tailgate at Husky Games.  I watched my weight grow a couple pounds a month during the fall, and then a couple more in the winter holiday season.  I asked Kirsten to help me stay focussed on being healthy through the Spring.  I did not want to do anything drastic to make sure I was at the 85 pounds mark by May 25th.  That's not fair to Adam and his generosity.  So we started going for more walks, ordering more salads, and tracking my food more diligently.  All of the small things that make a big difference.

I weighed in yesterday and was down 86 pounds since I started this journey.  I feel like this was a lifestyle change and not a lose it quick scheme.  I have good days and bad days. I have good weeks and bad weeks. But as long as I maintain an active lifestyle with healthy shopping and eating, I can maintain my weight-loss and hopefully start losing more at a healthy pace.

I know this challenge was set by Adam Eaton, but I wanted to offer it up to all of you.  If you feel so inclined, Adam is matching the $15,000 that I raised last year, and if you want to match what you donated last year because I kept the weight off. Or if you want to donate half of, or a portion of what you donated last year.  My fundraising goal is $25,000 and I am sitting at $5500.  Use the link below and let's create a world with More Birthdays and Less Cancer!

Thank you all for all the love and support!

Click here to donate.