Sorry it took so long for me to let everyone know the outcome of the fundraiser day, with wrapping up the silent auction, being sick and away this weekend I have gotten a little behind. But I am proud to announce that the fundraiser and silent auction was a huge success last week!
The grand total raised that day was over $4,000!!!! That broke down to be $2,355 made off of the silent auction, $200+ made from the Coins For Colitis jars and $1512 donated from Dogfish Head Ale House. Dogfish was so wonderful to work with and so generous, I hope you will please support them when you are able too. It also helps that they have awesome food and beer!
This money will go a long way to improving the lives of so many children and adults that face these disease. I could not be happier with the outcome and have a lot of you to thank for coming out to the event and bidding on my silent auction items. I feel so blessed to have so many friends and family that were able to come out and support me. I thank you from the bottom of my hearts and I will think of each of you as I run the 1/2 marathon...the Lord knows I will need something to focus on!
Monday, April 26, 2010
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
FUNDRAISER TODAY!
Today is the big day for the fundraiser and silent auction at Dogfish Head Ale House. Dogfish will donate 15% of all proceeds on any food, drinks, gift certificates and take-out for the day to the foundation. So please consider coming for lunch, happy hour or dinner.
Chris and I will getting there around 6/6:30pm and will be floating around all night. Sadly I have just about lost my voice and am under the weather due to allergies, so it would be extra special to me to see so many of you out today!
For more information on the event look on the left hand side of the blog. Thank you everyone for your support!
Chris and I will getting there around 6/6:30pm and will be floating around all night. Sadly I have just about lost my voice and am under the weather due to allergies, so it would be extra special to me to see so many of you out today!
For more information on the event look on the left hand side of the blog. Thank you everyone for your support!
Saturday, April 17, 2010
New Silent Auction Items
This week has been a flurry of activity getting everything set up for the silent auction...now I know why the people at Dogfish thought I was crazy when I told them I was doing it all on my own! Anyway, I am pleased to announce that we have a few more auction items, including: Autographed Ovechkin and Fehr player card from the Capitals, a contemporary rug and a pet basket. Quite an assortment, but that means there is something for everyone so please come on out and bid or just enjoy dinner and drinks!
This morning I was only able to participate in half the practice because my tonsillitis is acting up again, but still got in 4.5 miles. I then had the pleasure of throwing the football around with Nicholas who is now seven and at age three was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease. As his mom, Theresa puts it, "Despite all that he endures - a daily regimen of medications, regular hospital visits, many missed days of school, and frequent pain and discomfort - Nicholas is a happy, fun loving, well adjusted, sports enthusiast! We are constantly awed by his strength and perseverance!" Nicholas has basically only known life with this disease and I know that it frustrates him because he feels alone because he doesn't know kids in school that have this disease. A portion of the funds that I am raising will go to Camp Oasis that lets children like Nicholas spend a week with other kids that have been diagnosed. This allows the children to see that they are not alone and build friendships with people that understand them. I know how much being part of CCFA for me has been as an adult so I can only imagine how important it is for a child.
This morning I was only able to participate in half the practice because my tonsillitis is acting up again, but still got in 4.5 miles. I then had the pleasure of throwing the football around with Nicholas who is now seven and at age three was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease. As his mom, Theresa puts it, "Despite all that he endures - a daily regimen of medications, regular hospital visits, many missed days of school, and frequent pain and discomfort - Nicholas is a happy, fun loving, well adjusted, sports enthusiast! We are constantly awed by his strength and perseverance!" Nicholas has basically only known life with this disease and I know that it frustrates him because he feels alone because he doesn't know kids in school that have this disease. A portion of the funds that I am raising will go to Camp Oasis that lets children like Nicholas spend a week with other kids that have been diagnosed. This allows the children to see that they are not alone and build friendships with people that understand them. I know how much being part of CCFA for me has been as an adult so I can only imagine how important it is for a child.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Dogfish Fundraiser in ONE WEEK!
I am very excited that the fundraiser is only one week away. If you have not looked already, I have posted on the left hand side all of the silent auction items that we will be auctioning off. The silent auction will run from 11:30am till 9:30pm.
Please consider coming out, we will be there all evening starting at 6pm, so bring friends and come out for lunch, happy hour or dinner. Fifteen percent of all proceeds will go to finding a cure for Crohn's and Colitis. Don't forget carryout food and beer as well as gift certificates will have a portion of the proceeds donated. At 8pm we will have Over The Line, should be an awesome time!
If for some reason you can't make it, please consider making a donation or talk to me about having a proxy for a silent auction item. Thank you so much for your support!
Please consider coming out, we will be there all evening starting at 6pm, so bring friends and come out for lunch, happy hour or dinner. Fifteen percent of all proceeds will go to finding a cure for Crohn's and Colitis. Don't forget carryout food and beer as well as gift certificates will have a portion of the proceeds donated. At 8pm we will have Over The Line, should be an awesome time!
If for some reason you can't make it, please consider making a donation or talk to me about having a proxy for a silent auction item. Thank you so much for your support!
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Life Changing
I met with my team again yesterday morning. It is really great to see how many of them have made connections and are running together during the week together. I am really optimistic about how many people are going cross the finish line for Crohns Disease and UC!
One of the participants that was at the practice yesterday is running for her brother. He was diagnosed in the last year or so with Crohn's disease. Many of you have read about how I felt when I was diagnosed, but for him it was much harder, it meant that he had to give up his life long dream of being in the military. Shortly after he was diagnosed the severity of his disease forced him to quit his job and reevaluate his life.
I am sorry to say that this is something that happens frequently to people with these diseases. Either they have to stop work all together, reduce their hours or switch jobs. Many doctors feel that stress contributes to Irritable Bowel Disease so those that are in stressful professions often times have to give up their career. I have been lucky that my illness is currently under control, but there were times I worried about having to give up my job or loosing my job because of all the sick time I was taking. Hopefully, one day no one will need to make a choice between their job and their health!
One of the participants that was at the practice yesterday is running for her brother. He was diagnosed in the last year or so with Crohn's disease. Many of you have read about how I felt when I was diagnosed, but for him it was much harder, it meant that he had to give up his life long dream of being in the military. Shortly after he was diagnosed the severity of his disease forced him to quit his job and reevaluate his life.
I am sorry to say that this is something that happens frequently to people with these diseases. Either they have to stop work all together, reduce their hours or switch jobs. Many doctors feel that stress contributes to Irritable Bowel Disease so those that are in stressful professions often times have to give up their career. I have been lucky that my illness is currently under control, but there were times I worried about having to give up my job or loosing my job because of all the sick time I was taking. Hopefully, one day no one will need to make a choice between their job and their health!
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Happy Spring!
After taking almost 2 weeks off of running, I decided that I should start training again for our Boston 1/2 marathon. While I am regretting a little bit having another 1/2 marathon in a few months, I was reminded today why I am doing this again.
Today I met my teammates for a lovely 60 minute run along the canal in DC. The weather could have not been any better. The practice was led by the other mentors Julio and Mayra. Julio was diagnosed with Crohn’s in 1999 and has had an up and down experience dealing with the disease. In total, he have lost close to 30 inches of his intestines, withered in weight to less than 125 pounds (he is 6’2”) and was so anemic that he was literally a walking heart attack. Last year Julio and Mayra participated in the Team Challenge program and I am happy they are mentors with me as they are an inspiration. Last year alone they raised $11,000 to help find a cure.
I recently read Julio's blog and this is what he wrote for why he is doing this again, "I do it as I reminder I am in control of my life not this disease; I do it to be an example for my wife and my son to never let challenges prevent you from pursuing your dreams; I do it for others afflicted with Crohn’s, Colitis or any other debilitating disease who struggle with their illness and need a ray of hope that they too can lead a full life in spite of their situation; but most importantly, I do it for the glory of God because in the end that is all that matters."
I find this statement so powerful because that is why I am doing this again. Even though 8am is very early to be running on a Saturday, in the end it is worth it if one day there can be a cure for these diseases.
Today I met my teammates for a lovely 60 minute run along the canal in DC. The weather could have not been any better. The practice was led by the other mentors Julio and Mayra. Julio was diagnosed with Crohn’s in 1999 and has had an up and down experience dealing with the disease. In total, he have lost close to 30 inches of his intestines, withered in weight to less than 125 pounds (he is 6’2”) and was so anemic that he was literally a walking heart attack. Last year Julio and Mayra participated in the Team Challenge program and I am happy they are mentors with me as they are an inspiration. Last year alone they raised $11,000 to help find a cure.
I recently read Julio's blog and this is what he wrote for why he is doing this again, "I do it as I reminder I am in control of my life not this disease; I do it to be an example for my wife and my son to never let challenges prevent you from pursuing your dreams; I do it for others afflicted with Crohn’s, Colitis or any other debilitating disease who struggle with their illness and need a ray of hope that they too can lead a full life in spite of their situation; but most importantly, I do it for the glory of God because in the end that is all that matters."
I find this statement so powerful because that is why I am doing this again. Even though 8am is very early to be running on a Saturday, in the end it is worth it if one day there can be a cure for these diseases.
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