Team Spotlight: St. ChristoCURES

Now that the Massey Challenge is well underway, I plan to start featuring a few of the incredible teams that are out helping us work toward our $500,000 goal.  This seems like a great week to start, since I had the chance to spend lunch yesterday hanging out with these guys: 

They are some of the awesome gents from St. Christopher's School here in Richmond and who make up team St. ChristoCURES.  They are huge supporters of the Challenge, raising tens of thousands of dollars each year.  Amazing.

I mean, check out this picture of their truly awesome team on 10K day last year:

Yesterday we hosted them down at Massey for a little tour of the Goodwin Research Lab:

They also got some more information about what is happening at Massey and I shared my story and our plans for the Challenge this year with them.  They're already raring to go, with their team page set up and plans to get the rest of the school involved with a presentation during Chapel following the holidays.  I cant wait to see what they do this year!

These amazing young men are a great example of how by banding together, we can make a huge impact in the work being done at Massey.  And they're about half the age of most of us, y'all.  So really, if they can do it, why cant we?

Thanks St. ChristoCURES for all you do to help us make a difference in the lives of those living with cancer!

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Have a team you think should be in the spotlight?  Drop me and email and let me know!

The Week Richmond Went Crazy For Massey

This week has literally been non stop.  Between Joe's Inn, Lululemon, St. Christopher's, the Bizarre Baazar, and Sweet Frog, it feels like all of Richmond has jumped into the excitement of the Challenge and has taken on a role on the road to the cure.  And my feet and my eyeballs feel it!  This little cancer solider is tired.  But in the really good, really fulfilled way.

This year the Massey Challenge committee has partnered with several amazing Richmond businesses to get the word out into the community, and as I mentioned on Monday, our first two events were this week. 

Monday found us at Joe's Inn down in the Fan:

I failed as a picture-taker on Monday (partially due to my need to get the day's run in, as detailed here), but thats okay, because the night was a wild success, bringing in $1,200 for the Challenge!  Thank you to everyone who came out to support us, and most of all to Joe's Inn for their wild generosity!

Tonight brought us into Carytown where Sweet Frog donated 25% of proceeds from 5-9 to the Challenge!

Lauren, Matt, and I high-tailed it over from Biz Baz in order to get some creamy goodness.  Numbers aren't in yet, but from the looks of things, Sweet Frog's generosity gave the Challenge another great bump this week.

Biz Baz and St. Chris will need their own posts later this week.  There is just too much excitement for one night and one post!

On nights like tonight, when I am so utterly tired and feel a little run ragged, its so uplifting to think back on all the great memories made this week, the partnerships formed, and the progress made toward ending cancer as we know it.  It keeps me going.  I love living in such a supportive city.  I love RVA.

Absolutely Everybody

Cara is like the third sister in my family.  At exactly 6 months younger than me, our best-friend moms raised us together.  Most days we were surrounded by music - the Beach Boys, Alabama, anything on light 104.1 - our moms immersed us in 1970s and 80s middle-age-pop-culture like no-ones business.

The songs we could probably still sing for you word for word would shock you. 

So it shouldn't surprise you that I have theme songs.  One for each year.  For different life situations.  And yeah - for this $25,151 journey.

I didn't really set out to find a theme song.  But a few weeks back Tim handed me an unmarked CD as I was leaving his place with a "this might be good for the drive".

(As an aside, never turn down an unmarked CD from Tim.  Without fail it will contain the strangest and most fun collection of music ever compiled in one place).

This song was in the middle of it:

How can it not be the theme for my challenge?  It makes me shut my office door and dance like a lunatic.  And it sums up what I've been telling y'all - ABSOLUTELY EVERYBODY has a part to play in the fight against cancer!

I'm warning you now - you havent heard the last of this song.

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In other news, I had an awesome meeting with Brooke of the Short Pump Lululemon store today.  Not only did she once again look so adorable that I nearly quit my job upon arrival at the office so I could wear their clothes all day long too, but she enthusiastically hopped on board the Challenge train!  Whoot!  As Becky put it - those ladies over there are firecrackers and we are so excited to partner with them!  If you've never checked out Lulu please do.  But I'm not responsible for any resulting addiction.

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And its not too late to join us tonight at Opening Night of the Bizarre Bazaar and support the VCU Massey Cancer Center.  You can score your tix here.  I'll be there and promise hugs to all supporters who want one tonight! 

Can't make it but still want to support Massey this holiday season?  Click the "donate now" button to the right to join the fight!  We need absolutely everybody to help us win this war!

Running Streak - Week 2 Rehash

I am super proud to report that week 2 of my running streak is complete!  Here's the breakdown:

Wednesday      November 21, 2012     2.02 miles
Thursday         November 22, 2012      2.09 miles
Friday              November 23, 2012      2.41 miles
Saturday          November 24, 2012      4.01 miles
Sunday            November 25, 2012      1.27 miles
Monday           November 26, 2012      1.04 miles
Tuesday           November 27, 2012      1.01 miles

13.85 miles total.  Still not crazy far.  But I did set a couple of pace PRs in there, so the happiness continues. 

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The streak almost came to a crushing halt last night, when my laziness and snugness in bed in the morning kept me from running before work.  This was a problem due to our (widly successful - yay!) event at Joe's Inn last night (more on that in another post, but for now - THANK YOU to everyone who came out!).  Fortunately, my buddy Jay is about as "I'll try anything once" as I am, and he suggested we simply do a one mile run around the fan and back to Joe's.  When I pointed out the problem of my 3" heels and no shoes, Jay agreed to run the mile in socks and our office-wear with me.

We did.  And Paul met us after with a beer as our reward.    

They say it takes a village to raise a child.  I think its going to take a village to make sure this streak makes it to day 150!

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In other news - after Black Friday, Shop Local Saturday, and Cyber Monday, today is Giving Tuesday!  All donations made to my goal of $25,151 today will be matched, y'all!  No better day to donate here!

A Great Week To Support Massey!

I'm finally out of that turkey-induced-coma and back on the fast and furious Massey Challenge train.  Which is a good thing, because these folks have lots of ways for you to support the Challenge this week!

TONIGHT - Come out to Joe's Inn in the fan between 6pm and 9pm - 10% of proceeds from the night will benefit the Massey Challenge!  And we'll be there to get you and your team all signed up and ready to Run 4 Massey!

WEDNESDAY - The Bizarre Bazaar is back and Wednesday night you can attend the Opening Night Shopping Spree to support Massey Cancer Center!  Even if you cant make it Wednesday, come by the Massey table over the weekend to learn more about the Challenge and how you can make an impact on the amazing local research happening here in Richmond!

THURSDAY - 25% of proceeds from the Carytown SweetFrog will come back to the Challenge!  Head out between 5pm and 9pm for a sweet treat!  We''ll be there again to help you get started with your own fundraising mission!

Love all these local businesses supporting Massey and the Challenge!  Thank you everyone for all you do to support us!

Thankful

Happy Thanksgiving!  I have so much to be thankful for this year, but even so, this holiday always takes me back to the year Hodgkins was such a huge part of my life - likely because my radiation ended just in time for me to celebrate Thanksgiving with family.  I am so thankful to be in remission and that I happened to live so near the Massey Cancer Center.

I'm also thankful for the friends who made that year bearable.  One in particular.  So I'm going to say thanks to her today.

Loren and I met the summer before our senior year of college.  Ill be honest - I didnt like her at first (don't worry - she knows this already!) but we quickly became inseparable.  The following years brought lots of fun together, like annual birthday pictures with the Fells Point Elvis:

Tons of miles logged while hiking:

Her attempts to teach me to ski, perfecting our performance of Ice, Ice, Baby, slumber parties, and establishment of our "designated drinker" regimen, which would allow us to play beer pong while also keeping one sober driver.  She once left me as collateral with a bouncer so she could go inside and use the phone (yeah - before cell phones).  This may or may not have happened because we spent all of our money at quarter bottles night.  And we had more than $5 with us.

We've also had bigger stuff in our friendship - a months long non-speaking fight.  Weddings.  A divorce.  When my dad passed away, Loren didn't bat an eye before calling out from work and driving my brother and I to Connecticut through a snowstorm.  She is THAT kind of friend.

My step-dad once told me that there are very few people in the world like Loren.  Its true.

So it shouldnt be all that surprising that Loren logged a LOT of miles traveling between Baltimore and Richmond while I was sick.  She visited almost every other weekend to hang out with me, even when I couldnt do much.  But one weekend, when Tim was throwing a party on one of my "better" weekends, Tim and Loren decided I should come to Baltimore for a weekend before getting my next round of chemo.  There was really only one problem - I needed daily shots of Neupogen and couldnt give it to myself.

It shouldn't shock you that Loren volunteered to do it.  Even though she had never given anyone a shot before.

Evan loaded up the syringe, packed it in a cooler, and told Loren to call him when it was time for the shot.  One of my funniest memories ever is Loren trying to cradle the phone while holding the syringe listening to Evan tell her what to do.  And she did it. 

Later that night we were off to the party, and our "designated drinker" system came in handy since I wasnt drinking. 

(This isnt from that party, but I felt it was a good representative).

A guy noticed the band-aid over my injection site and kept asking about it.  Over.  And over.  Finally, Loren had enough and yelled at the guy "She has CANCER okay?  Now shut up!"

Tim and I thought our 5'3" friend was about to drop the peoples elbow on the guy.

He was very apologetic.  And probably scared.

It was one of the funnest weekends I had that year.  And I wouldnt have had it without Loren being willing to give me that shot.

Loren - Im so thankful for your friendship.  You're amazing.  And I clearly love you since I willing posted such unflattering pictures here.

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Who are you thankful for this year?  Why not honor someone who helped you through a hard time by making a donation in their name to the VCU Massey Cancer Center?  You can do so here.

25% There!

We did it!  25% of the way to $25,151 before Thanksgiving!  Thats $6,299 raised in just 21 days!  I am so thankful for all of my generous donors!

Whats left?  $45 a day for the next 143 days.  To quote Tim's mom, it'll be easy peasy!

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Tim and I took the running streak to the National Mall tonight amid Thanksgiving preparation:

Miss Carole would call us so simple :)

Now to finish the Thanksgiving preparations!

Streaking - Week 1 Rehash

I have to admit right up front - this running streak thing is harder than it seems.  When its cold and dark and your only 10 minutes in the day really do come at 6am, it would be a lot easier to say forget it and roll over for one more snooze session.  But having called myself out here, I am excited to report that I have successfully completed week one of my Massey Challenge running streak! 

Here's the run-down of my week of runs:

Wednesday - 1.82 miles
Thursday - 1.27 miles
Friday - 1.6 miles (this is an estimate since Becky and I didnt take my GPS with us.  Oops!)
Saturday - 2.68 miles
Sunday - 3.99 miles
Monday - 1.01 miles
Tuesday - 1.01 miles

Week total - 13.28 miles

Yeah - Im not breaking any records yet.  But I stuck to a week and for a non-runner like me, Ill call that a win.

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In other exciting news, guess who teamed up with the Challenge this morning?

Yes, I picked the pink Health Warrior Chia Bar to snap a pic of because its pink.  But its also tasty.  And gluten, dairy, and soy free.  And 100% vegan.  And did I mention tasty?  Y'all need to check them out.  Thanks for partnering with us, guys!  We're excited to have you on board!

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And Im still just $39.00 away from 25% of $25,151.  2 days to Thanksgiving peeps - lets get this milestone done!!  Click here.

Back in Time

I was digging through history tonight, looking for some pictures for a very special post later this week.  I found a journal of sorts I started when I was diagnosed with Hodgkins.  I didnt write in it but I did tape every single card or note I received during that year inside. 

Or I thought I didnt write.  Turns out I had forgotten what I scrawled on the opening page:

Its funny ten years later to stumble upon that quote.  And to think about how I had no idea when I selected that just how glad I would be for the things I cannot change.

Massey Around #RVA

I always get excited when I find the Massey Challenge around town.  Seeing others as motivated to support the Massey Cancer Center keeps me excited and constantly has me trying to find new ways to bring the Challenge out into our community.  Yesterday it seemed that Massey was everywhere.

We found Micah at the Lakeside Farmers Market:

You can read more about Micah and his awesome family here.

Later we were off to check out the opening of Center of the Universe Brewery in Ashland, Virginia.

 And guess who we found there?

Awesome!

Are you out showing your support for Massey?  Drop me a line to let me know and I just might come say hi!  Remember - Massey cant run without you!

Lets All Visit Harry Bear

First things first - yes, I trust my life to a man named Harry Bear.  That is his real name.  And he kicks oncology ass.  I see him every six months and hes on the front line of making sure I stay cancer free.  I decided to take you all on a visit with me last week.

At 9am I roll in to this place to get testing started:

I see all my other doctors Downtown, but I'm happy Dr. Bear is out at Stony Point because the nurses there are super good at putting in IVs and I'm a super hard stick.  So it works out.

First up is a mammogram.  Thats a pretty easy process once you get over the fact that you cant wear deoderant or lotion until the test is over - and have hit the rodeo often enough to remember to bring some with you for after.  See, don't I look so smiley in the changing room?

I am allergic to most pain killers in rotation, so in addition to the normal hospital armband, I get to wear a snazzy extra one with every single allergy I have listed for the nurses and doctors to see:

The mammogram doesnt usually take very long - maybe 30 minutes?  So then I head over to radiology for an MRI.  No matter how often you go, you still have to fill out LOTS of paperwork every.single.time.

 Ill be honest.  This is not my favorite test.  See:

First you have to change into one of those awful hospital gown things.  And then you usually have to wait for a pretty long time.  And its cold.  This is why my hat always comes along.

Then you get an IV.  I do not like IVs.  My chemo was administered through an IV and I still never got used to it.  Now, after so many IVs (I get them for all of my CT Scans too), its nearly impossible to start one in any place that doesnt hurt like a m0*her*#!&er.  Confession - I always cry.

Then, ladies and gentlemen, after you hang out again in the cold with an IV in your arm, you get to finally get the MRI done.  Recall we are dealing with a breast MRI here.  In the interest of narrowly avoiding TMI territory, I will simply tell you that it involves lying on your stomach for 25 minutes in a crazy loud machine without moving and feeling very much like you finally understand how cows feel on the daily. 

Im not much of a complainer, but this is not my idea of a good time.      

After thats done, Im free to get dressed and be on my way.  It usually about 5 hours all said and done.

A week later I come back to hang out with this guy:

We discuss whether my thoughts on surgery have changed - a discussion that has become such old hat that when he asked me this week what I was planning to do I said "go for a run."  He laughed and said "no, about your breasts!"  Duh.  Then he gives me my test results, does a physical exam, and I'm on my way.

This week was another good visit - 6 more months cancer free! 

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I'm hovering around $360 away from reaching the 25% mark on the way to $25,151!  So close!  Push me over that milestone before Thanksgiving by clicking here - and pass my blog onto your friends and family and encourage them to pitch in!  Together we can get to $25,151 - and find a cure for cancer!

An Open Letter To My Hero

Dear Dr. Ginder:

10 years ago today, you told me that I could travel home for Thanksgiving.  I didn't need more radiation.  We could consider my cancer in remission.

In some ways, that day feels very long ago.  In others it feels like just yesterday.

You are someone I never really wanted to meet.  I have never liked needles, or hospitals, or the smell of saline.  Or, frankly, doctors.  But from the moment I walked into your office, I could tell you were different.  You have always listened to my concerns - even if they were ones I found in the far reaches of the Internet that really had no valid medical basis.  You let me throw my temper tantrum when Kevin told me that I needed an extra round of chemotherapy and I.just.didnt.want.it.  You always took my calls - for big things ("the Neupogen is making my bones hurt so badly I cant stand it") and small ones ("is it normal that broccoli makes my tongue hurt now?").  You never once made me feel like your time was more important than me, or that you were more important than me.  And even now, 10 years later, you still never do.

Cancer changed me.  When you met me I only wore flats and I had yet to discover the real fabulousness behind the color pink.  I was so shy I could hardly make eye contact with someone I didnt know well, nevermind talk to them.  I hated my job and thought that maybe law school was something I might be able to do one day.  I was a passive actor in my own life. 

(I think you know thats not true anymore!)   

And having you as my physician, and having the special privilege of knowing you as a researcher, has changed me.  You have taught me how to be compassionate, how to work tirelessly for something you believe in, and how sometimes you have to do the right thing even when you dont like everything that goes along with it (I will always remember how badly you felt after that broccoli incident).  You've taught me that giving someone your time when they need to talk can be the greatest gift ever - even if it throws your plans for the day totally off.  And that none of us is more important than anyone else.  We all have a duty to care for each other - and you do that for your patients and for the researchers who work alongside you with strength, grace, and wisdom.   

There is nothing I could say to adequately thank you for saving my life.  But I hope I use the days you have given me in a way that will make you proud. 

Love,
Kaity

Photo Credit: Doug Buerlein

On Becoming A Streaker

Not that kind, you dirty readers.

The Runner's World Holiday Running Streak is starting up - challenging folks to run at least a mile per day from Thanksgiving through New Years Day.  I love a challenge, so I hopped right on board.

But if you know me at all, you probably know that the bare minimum isn't my kind of thing.

So, my dears, today starts my personal "Monument Avenue 10K Running Streak" - Ill run at least a mile a day between today and the April 13, 2013 race.  That 150 days.

This seems easy today, when my neighborhood run will look like this:

Check back with me in December when I'm running through snow in Connecticut.

I'll be checking in each Sunday with a report on the week's progress.  Want to join me?  Drop a comment to let me know!

Building for the Future

The Massey Challenge is in full swing and it seems like I find myself in front of a new group each day chatting about all the ways we can do our part in moving us ever closer to a cure for cancer by accepting the Challenge.  Tonight had me with the Massey Alliance Board, and beforehand I had the chance to join them on a tour of the in-construction McGlothlin Medical Education Center. 

Several floors will be dedicated to Massey, and it was amazing to get a peek into the space were so many breakthroughs will be born.

I mean, how can your mind not go to great places when you are surrounded by views of our great city like this:

At the end of the tour, Matt and I both agreed - this place gets two thumbs up!

PS - I'm only about $500 away from reaching 25% of my goal!  Lets make that happen!  CLICK HERE TO DONATE!