LIVESTRONG Challenge Newsletter: August 2008
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When I first heard that I had cancer, I was shocked and scared. Since I was on so many medications, I don’t remember much about the first three months, but I have been told and shown pictures of what happened to me during that time in the hospital. I had a drug reaction called Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis, also known as TENS. I also had an ulcerated colon which lead to GI bleeding. When the doctors found the part of my colon that was ulcerated, I was taken into surgery to remove the bad part of my colon. I got better quickly after the surgery but then had to finish my chemo and radiation. When I first got out of the hospital, I couldn’t walk and had to use a wheelchair. I had to go to physical therapy to gain back my strength in my hands and legs. Cancervive Peloton Project  During the spring of 2005 a group of cycling friends from Calgary decided to organize a cycling trip to Austin, Texas. Their purpose was to arrive in time to participate in Lance Armstrong’s annual fundraising cycling event and in the process raise funds for cancer survivorship programs. The idea rapidly spread and the Calgary to Austin Peloton Project (CTAPP) was established.
I had to get involved. I anticipated an interview process, a tough screen and requests for examples of my leadership skills along with professional references (seriously, I thought being able to associate myself with this wonderful organization must surely be a feat!). What I quickly realized was quite the opposite. The LAF takes its tenant of "empowerment" from survivorship support through to its philosophy on volunteer opportunities with the foundation. After a great meeting with a LIVESTRONG Challenge staff member over lunch, I was asked to join the Local Organizing Committee for the Austin LIVESTRONG Challenge. That was April of 2005, and I have been a Mentor to LIVESTRONG Challenge participants for three years now. The Challenge Mentors each have strengths and talents that they use in guiding challenge participants to reach their individual goals. To contact Amy, please send an email to AustinMentor@lafmentor.org. Thank you for participating in the LIVESTRONG Challenge and for supporting the LAF's mission to inspire and empower people affected by cancer. City Specific Inquiries: General Inquiries: |
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Ride for the Roses There is still plenty of time to raise funds and join us at the Ride for the Roses! The pinnacle event of the LIVESTRONG Challenge series, the Ride for the Roses, takes place during the Austin Challenge weekend and features a number of exciting incentives, a special Welcome to Texas dinner on Friday evening, airfare and hotel accommodations, special private rides with Lance, and much more! Invitations to Ride for the Roses are issued once a participant in any city reaches the $10,000 fundraising mark, so keep up with the great work. The deadline to qualify and receive a Ride for the Roses invitation is October 1, 9 am CST. Please send any questions to livestrongchallenge@laf.org. Missed out on past newsletters? Check out the brand new archive! Austin Riders Can Run Too! As a registered Austin rider, we’ve made it simple for you to register for the 5K for free. Simply login to http://my.livestrong.org and click on LIVESTRONG Challenge from the left-hand menu, and then click on the link to opt in to the 5K. Unlike last year, riders will not be automatically registered for the run - you must register via my.livestrong in order to receive a 5K bib so that you can participate. If you are currently registered for the 5K and would like to do both events and require further assistance, please contact Sarah Appolito for assistance. LIVESTRONG Challenge Philly and Austin - Volunteer Today! Austin is the capstone event and there are still many volunteer positions available. Be sure to be a part of the finale as a volunteer and help bring the 2008 LIVESTRONG Challenge series to a close! Our volunteers in Portland and San Jose expressed their enthusiasm about the event saying it was incredibly satisfying and a great experience. We need your help to recruit volunteers for our final two events which will make the LIVESTRONG Challenges in Philly and Austin an overwhelming success. Volunteer registration is now available so join today at www.livestrongchallenge.org
Sponsor Profile: Nike Nike is not only the presenting sponsor of the LIVESTRONG Challenge, they support the LAF in numerous other ways, including this month's Nike+ Human Race. On August 31, 2008, race the world in the Nike+ Human Race 10K. Run with one million other people around the world, all on the same day. There are two ways to participate:
The race will benefit three global charities, including the Lance Armstrong Foundation. Choose to support the Foundation when you register, then use the Nike+ pledge tool to get your friends and family involved. Every mile you run supports the Foundation’s fight against cancer, so spread the word and start logging miles! Lance is running in Austin, TX on August 31- where will you run? Register now at nikeplus.com.
Same Great Resource - Now in Spanish One of the exciting ways the LAF has recently expanded its reach to those affected by cancer is the introduction of the LAF’s Spanish-language Web site. Available at www.livestrong.org/espanol, this new resource features much of the same information found on LIVESTRONG.org, including information on the common concerns of cancer survivors, contact information and access to LIVESTRONG SurvivorCare (staffed by bilingual professionals), Spanish-language Survivor Stories, and the ability to download or order LAF resources translated in Spanish, such as worksheets and brochures. If you, a loved one, family member or friend are in need of Spanish-language cancer survivorship information, make www.livestrong.org/espanol your first destination for support. Additionally, you can help us continue to meet the needs of the Hispanic/Latino community by taking this survey (in Spanish) about the new site. 2008 LIVESTRONG Summit Highlights If you weren’t able to attend the Summit, check out the Keynote Speeches , videos of the Summit tracks (like Advocacy, Elections or Fundraising) and winning cancer commercials. Read more about the 2008 LIVESTRONG Summit. Looking for LIVESTRONG Gear to wear for the Challenge?
Visit the LIVESTRONG Store to see the new fall arrivals as well as old favorites and stop by the LIVESTRONG trailer at the Phily and Austin Challenges for great finds on event! Stand Up 2 Cancer Produced by LAF friend, acclaimed movie producer and cancer survivor Laura Ziskin, the Stand Up 2 Cancer event is the first of its kind in the cancer community. By raising philanthropic dollars for accelerating ground-breaking research, Stand Up 2 Cancer will have an enormous impact in facilitating the goal of making cancer a national priority. The Stand Up 2 Cancer special will feature LAF founder and chairman Lance Armstrong, as well as live performances by legendary recording artists and stars from film and television and filmed content giving viewers insight into cancer. Stand Up 2 Cancer is a program of the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF), a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, and was established by a group of media, entertainment and philanthropic leaders, whose lives have all been affected by cancer in significant ways. The LAF encourages everyone to tune in on Sept. 5 and take a stand. |
Meet Justin Graf
A Note from Amy Payton, Your Austin Mentor
