As 2007 comes to a close and we welcome 2008, I’d like to thank you for your support and share some updates with you. I also want to remind you that I will be traveling back to Nicaragua 12/12/07-1/4/08 with limited access to my Email. I will be staying with Bonnie, who purchased a home there while we were traveling in July (see photos). She made the “move” to live there on November 1st, 2007. Stay tuned for future Nicaragua updates.
Making Strides Against Breast Cancer:
Thanks to over 250 generous supporters of Stacy’s Circle of Friends 2007 H.U.G. Campaign, we were able to raise OVER $121,000 to help make a huge difference in the future of cancer patients and their families!! Our Stacy’s Circle of Friends walk Team this year consisted of approximately 100 participants, and San Diego saw over 20,000 walkers on October 21st who raised over $1.2 Million for the American Cancer Society!! It was quite a lot of work, with the long hours to prove it, and many fundraisers being held by many teams taking place all over San Diego. But success far outweighs the efforts that were all WORTH IT! THANK YOU for your participation in any way at all! Like I say, “do whatever you can, whenever you can, however you can.” see photos of 2007 MSABC San Diego.
Thanks to your help, I continue to hold the #1 National Fundraiser position for Making Strides. It’s not too late to still donate. If you still need ideas for holiday gifts, consider honoring someone special with a donation ☺
In addition to participating in San Diego’s Making Strides event, on October 14th I was fortunate enough to be able to participate in the Making Strides walk in Nashua, NH. My Childhood friend Victoria and I co-led “Tickled Pink,” a Stacy’s Circle of Friends team, to a #1 victory, raising nearly $18,000!! see photos of 2007 MSABC New England Style.
Stories about Victoria and I and my fundraising successes for the American Cancer Society (ACS) were featured in two recent ACS publications (you may have received a copy in the mail). A story entitled “Portrait of a Pacesetter” was featured on page 6 of the Fall 2007 California “Advances” magazine. And a story entitled ” Be the Changes” was featured on pages 20 and 21 of the Fall-Winter 2007 National “Triumph” magazine. See Press.
It could be any one of our dollars raised, that provide a patient like Pearlie a ride to treatment, that will educate someone to lead a healthier lifestyle to possibly prevent cancer or for someone’s early detection, to find a new treatment or cure for one of many types of cancer that will save the lives of our loved ones, or to convince our elected officials to support accessible, affordable care for everyone.
Many of you have asked about Pearlie, one of my Road to Recovery patients whom I shared stories about at the beginning of my 2007 Campaign. I met Pearlie in August while providing her volunteer transportation during her radiation treatment. She had a short break, and then resumed with chemotherapy in October (continuing to appreciate volunteer rides provided by myself and other volunteers of Road to Recovery). While she still is battling cancer treatment, and is feeling the exhaustion that chemotherapy brings on, her spirits and attitude remain extremely positive, and her smile always lights up the waiting rooms and treatment facilities. We recently spoke with another patient undergoing chemotherapy, who had a more frequent treatment schedule than Pearlie’s, and when he left she said, “there are always people worse off than we are.” Isn’t that the truth! Nurses and patients continue to think that Pearlie and I have been friends for many years due to our special bond and communication. We love to share how we met and educate others about the Road to Recovery program.
Road to Recovery NEEDS YOU!
Speaking about Road to Recovery and helping others… Maybe you want to get involved with a new activity as a New Year’s resolution (or to sneak in signing up for one before 2007 closes). WOW, do we ever NEED DRIVERS!! Even if you might only be able to provide just ONE ride a MONTH, WE NEED YOU! We are not able to fully serve the need in the San Diego Community (the American Cancer Society has similar programs all over the U.S.). Let me share a story to provide you with some insight.
I learned when I recently drove a patient to her 15 minute radiation treatment (which she undergoes 5 days a week), that on Mondays she often has to take the bus. WELL, on Mondays, in addition to her radiation, she ALSO has to undergo SEVEN HOURS of chemotherapy. She is at UCSD Moores Cancer Center in La Jolla from approximately 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM! FORTUNATELY, I was able to drive her this past Monday, which I was happy to both drop her off in the morning, and return to take her home after a delay in her treatment at 5:45 PM. I made this a priority when I learned that the week before, she had to leave her house approximately THREE HOURS EARLIER to take multiple buses to arrive by 9:00 AM, and then take multiple bus rides to get home AFTER that LONG day of treatment.
PLEASE, if you think that you could EVER provide a ride (they are scheduled one week in advance), your help is greatly needed. It’s easy, and EXTREMELY rewarding. They will pair you up with rides that are convenient to your home/work location/schedule. PLEASE contact Kay Clark kay.clark@cancer.org of the American Cancer society to get your application and for more details about San Diego participation (other cities contact 800-ACS-2345 for information near you).
Reflections for 2007:
I have spent a lot of time in 2007 focusing on what I “CAN” do, and trying not to focus on what I can’t. We CAN help ourselves and others to live the best and most dignified lives while we are here on this earth. Sadly, bad things may happen to good people. But, if I know that I have enhanced someone’s life while on this earth in any way, then I must remain thankful for receiving that opportunity as a “gift.” It doesn’t take the sadness away, but it does help to find Peace and Comfort when I might otherwise struggle to feel those emotions.
Opportunities present themselves each and every day. Sure it could be something big, but it could be as simple as flashing someone a smile or compliment, holding the door open or one of my favorites, exchanging a HUG! Telling friends and family how much you care about them, are grateful to have them as part of your life, and sometimes sharing simple but specific reasons why, can easily be forgotten, but shouldn’t. I have learned that if you don’t tell people how you feel about them, no matter how much you “think” that they know it, it just isn’t the case. Like me, do you ever think of writing or calling someone, but you just don’t feel that you have the “quality time” to do it “right?” I’ve learned to take just a few minutes and DO IT! Don’t keep your caring thoughts to yourself; call or write and tell someone that you don’t have much time, but you just needed to share that you were thinking about them. The more that I observe the impact of simple acts of kindness, the more natural that it becomes to “share the love.” I wish for everyone to accept similar opportunities, so that they can feel the rewards of this wonderful type of “gift.”
May you have a blessed, joyous, peaceful and safe holiday season and a prosperous and healthy New Year!
YOU’VE BEEN HUGGED!!!
Stacy
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