Saturday, November 26, 2011

A Livestrong Christmas

While I was happily snuggled up with my dog enjoying sleeping in on the holiday weekend, I decided to check Facebook.

It was an early Christmas gift.

There on my profile page was a "tagged" photo --- a LIVESTRONG badge, hanging from a Christmas tree...all with love from the LIVESTRONG Leader and fellow friends in San Jose, CA.

They celebrated Christmas in the park, LIVESTRONG-style. To be honest, the idea, well, rocks. This time of year, I am so thankful to my friends and family...and also to my health (cancer free!)...which allows me to enjoy spending time with all of them.

"Unity is strength" is one of the LIVESTRONG mottos -- and I think it's very true. Today, I felt the solidarity from my pals in San Jose, and they reminded me what this season is all about for me.

Happy Holidays. Cures Rock!

Pics:
1. My "ornament" hanging on the Christmas tree in the park
2. Blaine Mauldin & Ryan Moll (not pictured, but there, SJ Livestrong Leader - Ginna Baldassarre)


Thursday, November 24, 2011

Happy Thanksgiving!


Happy Thanksgiving!! Today, I am grateful for my health, family, friendships and your support! Thank you!

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Get Up. Get Moving. Get Rid of Cancer.

WRITTEN BY GUEST BLOGGER: ANGIE VANDERBURGH

Helplessness. There is no worse feeling than that. How well I remember those moments when I sat talking on a phone in a country across the world, hearing my sister say those hateful words, “Angie, I have cancer.” Emotions flooded though my veins---anger, sadness, more anger, and fear—but the worse feeling was helplessness. What could I do for her? I didn’t even live in the country where she lived!

Julie’s battle was long and all chronicled here throughout this Cures Rock! blog. I don’t need to dig through piles of stories to tell you the hell that journey can be. Yet in the midst of this journey also rose feelings that I thought odd and misplaced in this new world. Words like hope, perseverance, and humor became familiar to my vocabulary, and I knew that through prayers, kindness, letters, and roll-up-your-sleeves hard work, that there were indeed things that I could do as a family member watching a loved one battle cancer.

Even though I cheer at the thought that my twin has been cancer free for over two years, this battle won’t be over anytime soon for my family. I have other family members and children and friends that I want to make sure never journey down the road that my sister did. This is where committing my time to great organizations comes in to play. Recently, my daughter and I ran together at the Yellow Hat Run benefitting the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Next week, I’ll head down to San Diego to volunteer at the Swing Fore! Yellow golf tournament benefitting the Lance Armstrong Foundation. Thanks to a simple request at work and a very generous company I work for, my company is also one of the sponsors of the event. (Thank you Preferred Hotel Group and Preferred Golf!) In February, the Cures Rock! running team will join the Surf City Marathon and Half Marathon race in Huntington Beach, and join Team Livestrong at the Livestrong Austin Marathon and Half Marathon, to continue to raise funds that go toward finding a cure.

Helpless? I don’t think so. It’s all perspective. Perhaps I won’t be the one in the lab finding the cure, but I might just be the one that raised that final dollar needed to fund the research that found the cure.

Feel free to join us in raising funds by signing up for an incredible day of golf at the Swing Fore! Yellow Livestrong Golf Tournament THIS COMING MONDAY, November 7th! Your involvement will earn you an incredible day of golf, a membership to Preferred Golf for 1 year (a $295 value!), lots of cool swag, and—best of all—a part in helping to end cancer forever.

See you there!
Angie

Note: To join the Cures Rock! Running team at the Surf City H.B. race, select the "Cures Rock Running Team" during registration and post here so we know you joined! To join the Cures Rock! team fundraising for Livestrong at the Austin race, go to www.teamlivestrong.org, search for the race and choose our team when you sign up! Post here so we know you joined!

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

LIVESTRONG Blog » Calling All Patients Affected by Recent Drug Shortage

If you're a patient, healthworker or family member that's been affected by the recent drug shortages, the LIVESTRONG Foundation has a place to share your story....check out their blog from yesterday: LIVESTRONG Blog » Blog Archive » Calling All Patients Affected by Recent Drug Shortage

Lance Armstrong's "Tour de France" Dedication to Julie

A great reminder that I had armies of support beside me in my fight. (Thanks, Lance!) Even with the recent media, this video isn't about the bike...but the fight against cancer. LIVESTRONG!

Stage 2 Dedication: Julie Westcott -- powered by http://www.livestrong.com

Guinness World Record Broken to Fight Cancer

We *Heart* Our Fans

Cures Rock! on Facebook

Donate & fight to kick cancer to the curb!

500 Miles. 17 days. 2 States. 1 Mission to Cure Cancer.

500 Miles. 17 days. 2 States. 1 Mission to Cure Cancer.
January 1 - 17, 2010
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