Guiness World Record Attempt - 7 Day Run

Well, ya'll didn't really expect me to write that our Cures Rock! Tour event in January (http://www.curesrocktour.com/) was the end of our cancer awareness stunts this year...did you?

If you caught the last day of that Cures Rock! Tour blog (check out my blog for dates January 16, 2010), you'd see that the CR Team was already talking about what was next. We were touched by the doctors and patients we met along the route...and it became all too clear that until there was a cure for cancer, we cannot stop.

Next stop? Hope. My friend, Mike, has been awesome enough to sign up for another amazing feat in order to raise awareness about blood cancers and cancer in young adults. And, perhaps, spread some inspiration along the way...(Thanks, Mike!)

We're sick of cancer...and this time -- WE ARE GOING BIG! (As if running from San Diego to Phoenix wasn't big enough!) Mike will be attempting to break the Guiness Book of World Records for the most amount of miles run in one week by an individual (May 30 - June 6 THIS YEAR!). It will culminate at the San Diego Rock 'n' Roll Marathon! The record stands at 351 miles...and he'll break it. Check out our web site at: http://www.gwr7dayrun.com/ for the info & his daily blog! (And, yes, I'll be twittering, facebooking & blogging for Cures Rock! the entire time, as I'll be there every day.)

People have asked me several times this week what I think about Mike attempting this feat. Here's what I think:

I am grateful. I am lucky to still be alive after battling cancer so many times, and I'm thankful for each day I'm on my path. I mean it. I have truly the most amazing friends in the world. In particular, Mike stood by me as a warrior in my own fight with cancer, embraced the spirit of Cures Rock! and has helped me immeasureable in growing this advocacy campaign. He hates cancer as much as I do. All the volunteers, runners, LLS and sponsors are also all in this fight for a cure.

The motto for the GWR 7 Day Run?

RECORDS CAN BE BROKEN. CANCER CAN BE CURED.

CURES ROCK! Thanks for joining Mike, the Cures Rock! crew and LLS on another adventure. Please spread the word on our GWR site & blog, my blog, our facebook page, etc.

Pictured: Julie, Suz, Colin & Mike in Hope, Arizona during the Cures Rock! Tour (January 2010)

GWR Site: http://www.gwr7dayrun.com/

Cures Rock Tour (from Jan) site: http://www.curesrocktour.com/

Cures Rock! on Facebook: www.Facebook.com/curesrock

Cures Rock! on Twitter: www.Twitter.com/curesrock

Cures Rock! Blog: http://www.curesrock.com/

LLS' Esther Scott Memorial Award

Last night, I received the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Esther Scott Memorial award. I am honored and touched to be a recipient.

Esther Scott, the first individual to receive this award in 1999, was a remarkable woman. The award is one of the Chapter's most prestigious Volunteer awards. Much like Esther herself, it's given to someone that is "Dedication Personified" and to an individual/couple whose service and dedication endures.

Dedication personified. I like those words. A few folks asked me how I do all that I do, and I just said by doing it one step at a time --- by being devoted to a cause. My cause is fighting cancer. I admit, it's "selfish giving." I'm paying it forward because of all the amazing support and help I've received from the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and Lance Armstrong Foundation during my own fight with cancer. In the end, each effort I take to fundraise may raise the "magic dollar" --- the one I like to think will be the one that goes to the researcher that then finds the cure. A cure that may save my life. The Cures Rock! campaign is about dedication to the fight to find a cure for cancer. It's about working to change stigmas, raising awareness and fundraising for charities that are doing great work. A cure won't be found by "hoping" we stumble across it....we need to be diligent in working together as a community.

So, let's all renew our dedication to fighting cancer or whatever cause is near and dear to our hearts...whether that's AIDS, poverty, education....find the "cure" you want to fight for and make a difference using your gift of running, painting, singing.... You get my point. Cures Rock! is all about finding that inner passion for your cause and using your gift to make a difference in this world. We call it, "Give 360."

Thank you to LLS for this award. I am deeply grateful, and it served to inspire me even more to help do my part in supporting the fight against cancer. CURES ROCK!

Pictured:
Julie Westcott (Cures Rock! & Give 360 Founder and Esther Scott Memorial Award recipient), Bill Martin (President, LLS Board of Directors), Gail Fink (Mentor of the Year Award) and Colin Eckleman (Champion of the Year Award)