1 Minute to Bring 1 Million in LIVESTRONG Grants to Your Local Community

Hundreds of qualified hospitals, cancer centers and community organizations have applied to be part of four different programs— Creative Center, Artist in Residence Outpatient Art Program, LIVESTRONG® at the YMCA, Camp Kesem and the Certification for Advanced Palliative Care—and your voice will be the deciding factor. 

Thursday 3/28 is your last change to vote to help decide where the grant money will go to this year.  There are some really, REALLY (did I say "really!!"?) cool programs. Just tonight, a fellow young adult cancer survivor friend was telling me how her daughters have attended Camp Kesem in Southern California for the last 5 years...and they love it.  How cool is that, folks?  Your VOTE can help ensure program like that stay in your local regions.













Visit vote.LIVESTRONG.org before 5 p.m. CT on Thursday, March 28 to bring cancer support programs to a community near you. It only takes a moment, but it’s a powerful way to show your support for cancer survivors and help make a difference in their lives right now.

Moving Forward with LIVESTRONG

Tonight, this blog goes personal.  I hope you can all respect that I'm writing from my heart as a 3x cancer survivor. I equally respect that we may all have differing opinions, as we wrap our minds around Lance Armstrong's interview today.  

I will speak candidly...I go by what I know...and, it's about more than the bike. LIVESTRONG is bigger than one person. I watch LS volunteer leaders up late at night trying to figure out how to better support cancer patients and families in their local communities. I see countries that had zero pain meds in their borders start providing them to suffering end-stage cancer patients in pain. I see support for cancer survivorship issues, fighting on behalf of patients to get their insurance companies to pay for clinical trials.... ---- people may think that this "doesn't apply to them" but one day it might. And the gap this charity fills is very different than a lot of other charities (equally amazing, but just different focus). There is more to that charity than just one hero (Lance). There are hundreds. Thousands. They will have my support because they had my back when things were tough for me...including Lance. He is a hero to cancer survivors, and nobody can take that "win" against cancer away...EVER.

Am I saddened and frustrated by all this...and a little heartsick? Sure. I'm not perfect either though, and I've chosen not to judge. Today, I lean on what I know... The cancer hero that stayed in my corner (even during the TdF) and the charity that continues to be here to support me through all the complications that survivorship can bring a person. And, withdrawing support from a charity providing unique services to cancer survivors, isn't something Im willing to do. I respect other's opinions, but it hurts the wrong people. In San Diego, where I live (and all around the world), those funds go to grants for important local charities... many that you know and love. How sad if those stop? Thanks for reading today. Regardless of what you may feel today, I know that you are all in the my corner of kicking the Big C to the curb, and for that tonight, I have a lot of gratitude.

CURES ROCK. (Cancer does not.) Onwards in the fight!!

P.S. For those reading, in case you were wondering what the LIVESTRONG Foundation does for people impacted by cancer...www.livestrong.org/wecanhelp . If anyone is in need of these wonderful services, please do not hesitate to call Livestrong at 1 (855) 220-7777. For the official statement from LIVESTRONG tonight: http://blog.livestrong.org/2013/01/17/official-statement-from-the-livestrong-foundation-2/