tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64902715715502766422024-03-04T23:26:36.542-08:00Good Plus OneIn an 15-16 month time period my father was diagnosed and ultimately lost his battle with leukemia, my daughter Isabella passed away and my wife was diagnosed with cancer while pregnant with our son Jaden. These events shaped me. They led me to a life of endurance sports and charity. They led to the belief that blessings come out of the worst of times and now they have led me to the 2017 Ironman World Championships.Christopher Wilnohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15338764820117255167noreply@blogger.comBlogger64125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6490271571550276642.post-17575407468346298762020-01-16T07:31:00.001-08:002020-01-16T11:45:33.138-08:00Wake Up Call<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifCTAiFLnZBkJ4SFfHmosMkYZqQ7ixu09N60xHUnIcukH81LYnfgzlihkOA39ha0BBMzAlD5QGu2ff-lRInkOc7pIWPd6LKySPqjdabMw2QHe_z248qmmU5fpeEAwylPHWyq138g-twnY/s1600/Isabella+Twitter+Photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1245" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifCTAiFLnZBkJ4SFfHmosMkYZqQ7ixu09N60xHUnIcukH81LYnfgzlihkOA39ha0BBMzAlD5QGu2ff-lRInkOc7pIWPd6LKySPqjdabMw2QHe_z248qmmU5fpeEAwylPHWyq138g-twnY/s320/Isabella+Twitter+Photo.JPG" width="248" /></a></div>
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I have written a lot of Isabella posts. This will be likely be the last one. What started with a phone call 16 years ago
is ending today with a story about a very different phone call. More on that to come.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLNr3ioybpPuP92ZJdAT0JZDsoN9fSLklWfNi-5W5e6NQuejfxIcTGlKfmPv5yfO7v-SZN4LH4KMxaxnRIYdF_PPtcR64MjUCIfN7is77Bu6BZYois1_6ryPtLeyjXxaDiSSvu-cVMGOM/s1600/post.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLNr3ioybpPuP92ZJdAT0JZDsoN9fSLklWfNi-5W5e6NQuejfxIcTGlKfmPv5yfO7v-SZN4LH4KMxaxnRIYdF_PPtcR64MjUCIfN7is77Bu6BZYois1_6ryPtLeyjXxaDiSSvu-cVMGOM/s200/post.jpg" width="150" /></a>It really is amazing how a phone call can alter the
direction and perspective of your life.
On July 31, 2003 a phone call from my wife not only disrupted our 4<sup>th</sup>
wedding anniversary but changed my life forever. We were two days away from the expected birth
of our daughter Isabella Soleil when God decided he needed an Angel more than
we needed a daughter. To date, and
hopefully until the day I leave this Earth, that is the worst day of my
life. You all know the rest of the
story. Approximately 6 months later my
father passed away from leukemia (specifically AML) and shortly thereafter my
wife, Crea, was diagnosed with cancer while pregnant with our son Jaden. Five years later my wife’s cancer would
return and years after that my older step daughter Tiana would be diagnosed
with the very same type of cancer.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvkS4IkklrXnchlunziTvu2Jmi7Zj6TEBRGDdln_44hD34bpUGD25T39l6SmAVmBk1hHUd29bJJdV5HWe7lsdQcrfxw0wCeoQ8P-LA6gRRhqMEv5K3_8bnzhIw9yt8CZobgsO2vxz6yOk/s1600/Cooking+with+Dad2-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="386" data-original-width="561" height="136" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvkS4IkklrXnchlunziTvu2Jmi7Zj6TEBRGDdln_44hD34bpUGD25T39l6SmAVmBk1hHUd29bJJdV5HWe7lsdQcrfxw0wCeoQ8P-LA6gRRhqMEv5K3_8bnzhIw9yt8CZobgsO2vxz6yOk/s200/Cooking+with+Dad2-1.jpg" width="200" /></a>Life can change paths in an instant and doesn’t always seem
fair and this short time frame certainly ingrained the lesson on my being such
that I will never forget it. I have
shared my story a lot. Some would accuse
me of being too open with the personal accounts of my life but my hope has
always been that my story would find its way to those that needed to hear
it. I firmly believe that Blessings come
from the worst of times. I firmly
believe that if we are breathing, our purpose here is not yet fulfilled. Even if we are taking those breaths at a dark
time in our lives……..there is more left for us……….more things to
accomplish………more lives to impact………more blessings to receive. Even if you are curled up in a ball, you can battle
back, you can stand up and fight. Some
unbelievable things came from my difficult moments. I met amazing people I otherwise would not
have. I accomplished things I certainly
never thought possible. Five Ironman
finishes. Countless marathons. A few century rides. An ultra marathon and over $400,000 raised to
fight cancer. Along the way I like to
think I impacted a lot of lives as I shared my story and coached others to
train for half and full marathons while also raising money to fight cancer.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBnPy4Bho_2w7lhFgcfRpcgjWb48NMk5kvN7Cn1Dh0u5QxfC7FdkAncEK6r_VhtASxtMdx_iJT9HfO-gBD0qiLTpm7ChGw70isg969h7bhT-3KcANcJdc1Q01QiyKcPTtFjInfeG4YCog/s1600/Group+SD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="453" data-original-width="604" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBnPy4Bho_2w7lhFgcfRpcgjWb48NMk5kvN7Cn1Dh0u5QxfC7FdkAncEK6r_VhtASxtMdx_iJT9HfO-gBD0qiLTpm7ChGw70isg969h7bhT-3KcANcJdc1Q01QiyKcPTtFjInfeG4YCog/s200/Group+SD.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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While I can put positive words to a tough series of events,
I have never found a path around the sadness that resulted from the loss of
Isabella. If you have ever witnessed me
share my story…………..whether it was at Isabella’s memorial service or 16 years later…………I
cannot speak of this loss without getting emotional. I just cannot get through the words that
speak of the night we lost her without crying.
It took a long time to do so but this past year I decided to accept it
is okay not to be okay. I came to the
understanding I will never fully recover because Isabella took part of me with
her to Heaven. How can you get back to
100% if only 90% remains? While this
realization provided some comfort and helped me feel less ashamed at the
unwavering sadness, it didn’t do much to ease the actual sadness. I know it probably doesn’t make sense that I
accepted I would never be whole yet still try to find that path around sadness but
losing a child is a whirlwind of emotions and I just want to find a more stable
emotional mindset about all of it. I
have faith………..complete faith………that I will see Isabella again. I have faith God had a greater need for
Isabella………..truth be told both of these thoughts are the only way I made it
through all of this but this understanding and faith does zero for the
emptiness I feel when I miss my little girl.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXl8RDbWEczFUATXvLKN3hVILcZBCeUpeCnO8Il2baJTI8weJx1DuMzgcbnV2BmMl7h2Znbi2JNrhRR6mbRb5H297oqiyGphuq9dvnf8JyFeLFbhZ7YfWc3Z6FKPbk4PDWe31ME6Nf648/s1600/finisher+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1065" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXl8RDbWEczFUATXvLKN3hVILcZBCeUpeCnO8Il2baJTI8weJx1DuMzgcbnV2BmMl7h2Znbi2JNrhRR6mbRb5H297oqiyGphuq9dvnf8JyFeLFbhZ7YfWc3Z6FKPbk4PDWe31ME6Nf648/s320/finisher+4.JPG" width="212" /></a></div>
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What does all of this have to do with Light the Night? Good question my friends. Light the Night is another fundraising arm
for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
Most of my time with LLS has been as a coach and participant for Team in
Training. Of the $400,000 I have raised,
approximately $275,000 was with Team in Training. Beyond the funds I raised, as a coach for
Team in Training, my amazing Westside teams raised millions of dollars. I also participated in the Man and Woman of
the Year campaign in 2014 where We Will Find a Cure (WWFAC) and I raised
$126,000 in ten weeks. Every time I ever
raised money for LLS, I was doing something I was afraid of. I was petrified to run 26.2 miles, I was
afraid of riding 100 miles, I was afraid of completing an Ironman, I cried at
the start line of my 50 mile ultra from fear of not being able to see it
through and I was very afraid of failure for the Man of the Year competition. My pushing past fear comes from and is for my
Dad. He could stare fear in the face and
push forward. It seemed to come natural
for him. For me it is a bit forced but I
try to conquer fear to honor who my Dad was and what he meant to my life. It is my way of letting him know in Heaven
that I was watching his life and learning from his actions.<o:p></o:p></div>
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You might think fear was not a factor for Light the Night
but you would be very wrong. True, there
is no crazy endurance distance to cover and there is no lofty fundraising
goal. You walk about 2 miles and you can
do so only raising $100. Easy stuff. That being said, I have steered clear of
this event ever since I learned about it.
What it lacks in athletic intensity, it makes up for in emotional
overload. At the event, everyone carries a lantern. Survivors carry White lanterns. Supporters carry Gold lanterns and those
walking in memory of someone carry a Red lantern. You relive your story. You look it dead in the eye.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEnYbA87eh2w0VtRiJiKFDVyOXYy6kdNFVT4Uw8_DK-kq4pL5GtWW-2TqNu1_gDOAksis68x1J6FFGl4N-yyCcHz_IfKeWJUApkwvwnTODR2UBJOkxNE2Yo5biufD-xnJKJxXF_TCQ_Qk/s1600/IMG_0484.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEnYbA87eh2w0VtRiJiKFDVyOXYy6kdNFVT4Uw8_DK-kq4pL5GtWW-2TqNu1_gDOAksis68x1J6FFGl4N-yyCcHz_IfKeWJUApkwvwnTODR2UBJOkxNE2Yo5biufD-xnJKJxXF_TCQ_Qk/s200/IMG_0484.jpg" width="150" /></a>The Red lantern was my fear.
It was the dark cloud of sadness that is never too far away as it
pertains to Isabella. I can always find
a way to keep that cloud out of reach but the Red lantern was the bridge to
that cloud. For an entire evening I would stare sadness in the face and I was
never ready to do that until 2019. This
year was different. I reflected a lot
about Isabella. I came to accept I would never be whole again and I came to
accept that was okay. Everyone handles
things differently. I know great people
that have suffered great losses and they handle their pain much better than I
do. Don’t get me wrong, I think I stood
tall in the face of these losses. I
fought back. I raised money. I honored promises and I will continue to do
so. I just cannot escape that
cloud. Light the Night was all about
that cloud and that emptiness. I hoped
the evening would allow me to expel my sorrow and see things differently moving
forward.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijNLYXMBpbqXIUxVZJIuMgwFfS56heZG9rThrPZ2wM1UpuykSMEXw27vYscfHffFO7m6oR3YPmsK3nVnyQ4cBmA8WXidZP8NyGQjHyMbuWXlZ9qNUdnYI71vDyY42CpB93y5DU_1i5pVQ/s1600/IMG_0468.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijNLYXMBpbqXIUxVZJIuMgwFfS56heZG9rThrPZ2wM1UpuykSMEXw27vYscfHffFO7m6oR3YPmsK3nVnyQ4cBmA8WXidZP8NyGQjHyMbuWXlZ9qNUdnYI71vDyY42CpB93y5DU_1i5pVQ/s320/IMG_0468.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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The funny thing is the night accomplished exactly what I
hoped for but in a manner I never saw coming…..with a phone call. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Thalia, Crea and I arrived very early to the event….it is my
nature to always be early. We checked
in, got our lanterns, grabbed some food and took a seat. I could feel the emotions starting to well up
as the clock inched forward to the start time.
The Red lantern was staring me in the face as a reminder of what was to
come. I did my best to stay occupied and
helping with this task came the opportunity to meet Rod Carew. It really was unbelievable timing. Thalia was only 2 days removed from learning who
Rod Carew was when we found ourselves standing before him in conversation. He was so genuine and kind. He spent a lot of time talking with Thalia
about softball which helped to motivate her.
Underlying this pleasant diversion was the fact Rod Carew was one of my
Dad’s favorite players. We talked about
him all of the time. We watched him play
all the time. So the distraction turned
into a reminder my Dad was no longer with us which brought my thoughts back to
Isabella. I actually got choked up
talking to Rod Carew just because of the history admiring such an awesome
player.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The evening creeped on.
We ended up back at our seats. I
kept taking walks trying to hold it together.
I had built this event up in my head and heart for many years. We eventually were minutes from the start of
the event. Minutes from my plan to purge
my sadness and march into the future with a different perspective. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Then the phone rang.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxersJTKZbA8sgJ2vfLLdh1NWXtbRY6Cd6uM5vP8-oFwX3BBlHLLDBUftogue7wex4eyAEnHORKrLkQ6sYphrArlstaqFr86r8JB_UNXooMKULSXes7dlPf9JPfWv7TVngszyWMD2CzQU/s1600/IMG_0416.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1160" data-original-width="1544" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxersJTKZbA8sgJ2vfLLdh1NWXtbRY6Cd6uM5vP8-oFwX3BBlHLLDBUftogue7wex4eyAEnHORKrLkQ6sYphrArlstaqFr86r8JB_UNXooMKULSXes7dlPf9JPfWv7TVngszyWMD2CzQU/s320/IMG_0416.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqOYiG2PiYgkARG3v-gbSUf-pfPh0kAejVEIEGo6AvDA631Ih1ZyeoNaCCpP0gig2pMMaw_PeO9UHrqRWCWu0twGYrJ3gEZgITkw1ZZr3wDKL0i5YcdP1fR8-JBhf7k0iDme4dL1lpc-w/s1600/IMG_5500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1203" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqOYiG2PiYgkARG3v-gbSUf-pfPh0kAejVEIEGo6AvDA631Ih1ZyeoNaCCpP0gig2pMMaw_PeO9UHrqRWCWu0twGYrJ3gEZgITkw1ZZr3wDKL0i5YcdP1fR8-JBhf7k0iDme4dL1lpc-w/s320/IMG_5500.jpg" width="320" /></a>It was my son, Jaden, calling from North Carolina. Without going into great detail, 5 weeks
earlier I had dropped my 14-year-old son off 3,000 miles from home. He was attending a school in North Carolina catered
towards children with ADHD. It had been
a rough few years trying to help him be happy let alone successful. There was a lot of tension in our home trying
to figure things out. I had not always
been the best Dad. My son is literally
the smartest person I know. He has
tested above college level for a long long time. That being said, ADHD made executive functioning
a challenge for him so traditional schools were not a good fit. He could ace the tests but the little things
held him back. As much as the public
schools say they understand and will help, there is no way to completely adjust
to his needs in a school of thousands.
Jaden and I flew into Atlanta. We
had some good food, caught a Braves game, toured around where I grew up and
played a lot of Minecraft at his request.
More importantly we started to rebuild a friendship. I tried to do a better job understanding his
challenges and he tried his best to meet me half way. Dropping him off at the end of the trip and
driving away was gut wrenching. Flying
home alone was gut wrenching. Not being
able to talk to your son every day was gut wrenching. I was praying he found friends and found
himself but it was all a mystery as communication with Crea and I was
infrequent at best.<o:p></o:p><br />
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The phone rang and I was ecstatic to hear from my son. I was also petrified because the first month was
sure to be a difficult time in a space so unfamiliar to him. Everything about this new school would test
his comfort zone and invade his safe space.
He went from being alone in his room most of the day to being bunked in
one room with 8 people. He went from
avoiding people socially to having to interact all day with a lot of
strangers. I was so proud that he took
on the adventure hoping it would be a path to improvement…….to finding a better
way to work around his challenges………..to friendships and interaction and
confidence. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhho-J02l733KcaEk1rZa8lb7AkKvW6sz4sTBDxp0_igkQfvcoVQ4zK6xrKH0sXr9LfPUsad6Y3x4a-njj-YedRDnJz5JiL5VCxdvJh_L70i3ByRyUR0srTeZ5OrCON42jeYt4VarEl78U/s1600/IMG_5621.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhho-J02l733KcaEk1rZa8lb7AkKvW6sz4sTBDxp0_igkQfvcoVQ4zK6xrKH0sXr9LfPUsad6Y3x4a-njj-YedRDnJz5JiL5VCxdvJh_L70i3ByRyUR0srTeZ5OrCON42jeYt4VarEl78U/s320/IMG_5621.jpg" width="240" /></a>The call was everything I feared. Jaden was not in a good place. He was hurting. He was sad.
He was scared. He missed
home. I know I keep playing on the
distance from home but he was only 14 at the time (he is 15 now). To hear such pain in your son’s voice without
the ability to make a difference face to face was so distressing. I wanted to give him a hug and dry his tears
and tell him it would all be okay while looking him in the eye. That would not happen today. Only a phone call.<o:p></o:p><br />
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As difficult as the call was for Crea and I, it was the
first of two enlightening moments as it pertains to Isabella. For the entire call, I forgot about my
sadness and the Red Lantern. I let go of
that pain because my son needed me. God
had given me this amazing gift. As tough
as ADHD can be, I would not change anything about my son. God made him.
He has amazing talents that we will learn to tap into and ride to a
successful future. He is here. Despite the fact his Mom had cancer during
pregnancy and during his birth, Jaden was here.
My time with Isabella will come when my time here is finished but as I
said above, if we are still breathing, there is more left to accomplish and my
son needs me to be present and focused.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0IxqxlvyaHOfmJsLGo3EoTXJfnQ34WOBMpUmQOfs5vIvkrFdcu3le2z6PCHjeXU_xM6q-PHHyitre_lCIaWtA64qzc3SSL_EYKgWkk1pLuhrhO2KTEpBHVERLGv5mxEa2olOS50VyMro/s1600/IMG_0475.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0IxqxlvyaHOfmJsLGo3EoTXJfnQ34WOBMpUmQOfs5vIvkrFdcu3le2z6PCHjeXU_xM6q-PHHyitre_lCIaWtA64qzc3SSL_EYKgWkk1pLuhrhO2KTEpBHVERLGv5mxEa2olOS50VyMro/s320/IMG_0475.jpg" width="320" /></a>The second wake up call, albeit similar in nature, was when
I paused the conversation with Jaden to hand the phone to my daughter,
Thalia. She immediately burst into
tears. Despite all of the fighting and
animosity that Jaden and Thalia may show each other, she was hurting. Her brother was far away for the first time
in her life. When she walks upstairs to
her bedroom, he is no longer across the hall if needed. I honestly had no idea of her suffering until
her face showed so much pain. My
daughter needed me. She is an amazing
gift and one I speak of often when it comes to talking about Isabella. Thalia would likely not be here had Isabella
not passed away. Crea and I were going
to have two children. Thalia would have
been number 3. If you know me, you are
well aware I could not imagine a life without my princess. I always appreciate her but seeing her pain
took me away from my own pain. It helped
me see past the loss of Isabella and gain crystal clear focus on what I have
versus what I lost. <o:p></o:p></div>
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After the conversations with Jaden were over, I hung up the
phone. Light the Night began. It was unbelievable and I highly recommend that
you participate in the future. It is a
great way to fight back, honor and remember.
I did shed a tear or two but not for Isabella. When Crea held her White Lantern and stood in
the Survivors Circle, I shed a tear of gratitude that God spared my soulmate,
gave me two amazing kids and provides me the opportunity to see my Angel in
Heaven when my time here is through.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgKg6AeP2eQ_eLpQB6NpFLueuzvSAKrtFg4PDL-Gvh9FUl42JwqmvhkG2M92sxcguSKURX-pRDyEnEmUxq8vi2hRC6ApzS4IbzgaC4RN_s31N-gh7bXwcWJDfWrSSpSqPYsnSTx52uuXA/s1600/t1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgKg6AeP2eQ_eLpQB6NpFLueuzvSAKrtFg4PDL-Gvh9FUl42JwqmvhkG2M92sxcguSKURX-pRDyEnEmUxq8vi2hRC6ApzS4IbzgaC4RN_s31N-gh7bXwcWJDfWrSSpSqPYsnSTx52uuXA/s320/t1.jpg" width="240" /></a>Thanks for reading.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Christopher D. Wilno</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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PS To my
dearest Tiana, if you are reading this, in my eyes you are my daughter. I view you as my own but reference ‘step’ in
writing only because I often refer to Isabella as the first child for Crea and
I. ‘Step’ is just a way to avoid
confusion to people reading that do not know our family.<o:p></o:p></div>
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PPS We raised
over $8,000 for Light the Night all in Thalia’s name. She was a top 10 fundraiser and we are
grateful for the support. In a few years
she will be in high school and will participate in the Student of the Year
Campaign for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society where we hope to raise more than
$50,000. We hope you will join us in
that battle when the time comes. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Christopher Wilnohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15338764820117255167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6490271571550276642.post-5213759796019367922017-05-01T07:50:00.003-07:002017-05-01T09:52:38.401-07:00April 30th Weekly Update<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
MAKE SURE TO VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT <a href="http://www.wewillfindacure.com/">WWW.WEWILLFINDACURE.COM</a><br />
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Well this felt like a recovery week on all levels. It certainly was for training which my body needed. On the fundraising front, a late week push helped generate some funds but I had expected the week to be more about planning anyway and we made good progress there.</div>
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<strong><u>Fundraising</u></strong></div>
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We generated approximately $1,800 this week. Not much has been coming in the mail any more from my letters. I will send a second round over the summer that will hopefully generate more funds. We did good out of the gate but there was less participation than I had hoped. I am super grateful for everyone though. Many folks have given to me over the years and this venture might be the straw that broke the camel’s back. Later in the week I sent emails to all of my prior teams and that generated most of the funds that were raised. We had non-monetary wins/progress though.</div>
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<u>Community Team</u></div>
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The biggest announcement ties to Community Teams. This will allow anyone to create their own page for this journey and raise their own funds that roll up to the total for the Road to Kona. As I keep saying, I want this journey to be for everyone touched by cancer and this will allow you to join the battle and fight back. You do not have to do a race. You can send letters and emails (I can help), you can have a garage sale, you can sell lemonade………whatever you want to do to raise funds is fine by us. There also is no minimum. You can raise $10 or $10,000. If you do want to incorporate a race it can be any distance you wish……….1 mile, 5K, 10K……..anything goes. If you choose to go the race route and want me to build a schedule for you, I would be happy to. I should pause here to mention a good friend of mine Javier Rivera is helping to lead the Community Team effort. He has already created an individual page and has spoken to folks that might be interested in joining. Javier and I met at Team in Training. He was a participant for my team and went on to great things. He has coached many seasons, he is currently on the Board of Directors for LLS, he is a fellow Ironman and he does all of this for his Mom who is a survivor. Our goal is to get a research grant in her name!!! Our goal is also for the Community Team to raise $30,000.</div>
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I will write a separate post on the Community Team and put it on our home page but I also want to point out that anyone who raises $300 will get a virtual or live entry to our Road to Kona 5K. It comes with a t-shirt, medal and if you join us live, all you can drink Bloody Mary’s or Mai Tai’s. If you feel you are ready to do this, you can create your page now with zero obligation. Just click the link below. Once you get to the site, click on JOIN AS INDIVIDUAL on the left side of the page and follow the instructions.</div>
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<a data-mce-href="http://events.lls.org/pages/ocie/wewillfindacure" href="http://events.lls.org/pages/ocie/wewillfindacure">http://events.lls.org/pages/ocie/wewillfindacure</a></div>
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<u>Logo</u></div>
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We finalized our logo and I really like it. I am a sucker for turtles. A huge thank you goes out to Teresa Weiss-Paczkowski of Elena Trevino Design for all her efforts to produce this logo. They have been there to support my efforts since I was in the 2014 Man of the Year campaign. They designed the original logo and they volunteered their services to produce the Gala program which helped to generate more fundraising dollars. Please check them out at:</div>
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Website: <a data-mce-href="http://www.elenatrevinodesign.com" href="http://www.elenatrevinodesign.com/">www.elenatevinodesign.com</a> (website is being remodeled)<br />
FB: Elena Trevino Design<br />
Twitter: teresa paczkowski @tpacart<br />
Instagram: teresa_elenatrevinodesign</div>
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Anyway, the logo is above. This allows us to produce t-shirts. We will have this design on the front and the quote that has driven much of my experience at Team in Training on the back:</div>
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<strong>“It always seems impossible until it’s done”</strong> Nelson Mandela</div>
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It really is a great shirt and we hope you will like it. The logo and the t-shirt allow us to finalize the medal so that we can launch our virtual 5K and lock down our date for the live 5K in Venice, CA currently slated for Saturday, September 9<sup>th</sup>.</div>
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I believe that is it for fundraising. There was certainly a lot of work and planning but not all of it is newsworthy.</div>
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<u>Paloma Sol</u></div>
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This is my daughter’s site <a data-mce-href="http://www.palomasol.com" href="http://www.palomasol.com/">www.palomasol.com</a> . She makes unbelievable jewelry. She is also a cancer survivor. She has, without any intimidation by me, agreed to donate 25% of your purchases back to this mission. Check out her amazing work and use the code ROAD2KONA for free shipping and to make sure she knows to set aside the 25%. I will write a separate post about this as well.</div>
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<strong><u>Training</u></strong></div>
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As I mentioned above, this was a recovery week. I always ramp up 2 weeks and then recover the third week. That means this week ramps up but my workouts will be challenged Tuesday and Wednesday because I am old. By old I mean I am having a Colonoscopy on Wednesday. Truth be told I am a little freaked out. I have spent so much time fighting cancer that I always feel it is out to get me………like it is some living breathing entity that seeks revenge.</div>
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Anyway, I only trained 106 miles last week. The toughest swim was a 3,000 yard swim. It was my longest of this training season and felt good. It was certainly a boost to the confidence. On the weekend, I had a brick workout that had me ride 3 hours and run 1.5 hours. I rode 50 miles and ran 9.62 miles. The best part of the week is that I remained pain free. It is unbelievable to train without any pain…….it has been so long</div>
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That is it for now. I hope you will join via a donation or via the Community Team.</div>
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<strong>Christopher D. Wilno</strong></div>
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Christopher Wilnohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15338764820117255167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6490271571550276642.post-69588113096527937822017-04-24T07:08:00.005-07:002017-04-24T07:08:48.990-07:00Week Ended April 23rd: Strong Results<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
This post can also be found at <a href="http://www.wewillfindacure.com/">www.wewillfindacure.com</a> </div>
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It was a strong week for training and fundraising although I really need to improve on reaching folks that do not know my story. That is the only path to reaching $130,000 and to date all donations have come from individuals that personally know me and/or my wife. I have said this before but on some days it feels like this journey <u>could</u> be easy if we could just get 100,000 people to donate $1 each. The challenge is how to get this journey in the hands of 100,000 people. I am an open book so feel free to share your ideas.</div>
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<strong><u>Training</u></strong></div>
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I will let two Instagram posts do the talking but this was the best training week I have had since my biking accident in 2013. If you made it to this post without reading my story, someone opened the<img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-300 alignright" data-mce-src="http://www.wewillfindacure.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/insta-13.1-300x198.jpg" height="198" src="http://www.wewillfindacure.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/insta-13.1-300x198.jpg" style="float: right; height: auto; margin: 0.5em 0px 0.5em 1em; max-width: 100%;" width="300" />ir door in 2013 while I was on the bike and it has been a huge setback. This week things went differently for me though. The overall stats are that I trained 195 miles consisting of 3 swims, 2 straight runs, 2 trainer rides, a 2 hour ride and one 5.5 hour ride followed by a 15 minute run off the bike. I did all of this with zero pain which stresses me out to put in writing but to hell with superstition. The most amazing workout was a 13.1 mile training run. It was the first time since my accident that I ran without the fear of pain. I was able to let my mind escape and just enjoy the run through some amazing landscape. I followed this up two days later with my first tempo run where I allowed myself to run at a sub 8 minute mile pace. That is a big step mentally for me. I have been utilizing extremely conservative run-walk intervals in the spirit of staying healthy. I will continue to do so because finishing the race is far more important that pushing myself to an injury. If my confid<img alt="" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-301" data-mce-src="http://www.wewillfindacure.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/insta-6-300x189.jpg" height="189" src="http://www.wewillfindacure.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/insta-6-300x189.jpg" style="float: left; height: auto; margin: 0.5em 1em 0.5em 0px; max-width: 100%;" width="300" />ence continues to improve, I will allow myself to push from time to time. My weekend was mainly about the bike. Seven and a half hours of total riding split up into a 2 hour ride on Saturday and a 5.5 hour ride on Sunday. I cleared the 90 mile mark on the long ride with 5,600 feet of climb. It was good mentally to get in the distance. I now enter a recovery week which is a good thing because I am most definitely sore as I type this Monday morning.</div>
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<strong><u>Fundraising</u></strong></div>
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We had a good week raising approximately $4,800 towards our $130,000 goal. On the surface it sounds like we are way ahead of things but most of these funds are from letters and emails I have sent out. I have budgeted out various ideas and I have a path to $70-75,000 which means we still have a very large gap to close………or we need 60,000 people to each give $1. We also did a lot of filming for the video to be featured at <a data-mce-href="http://www.wewillfindacure.com" href="http://www.wewillfindacure.com/">www.wewillfindacure.com</a> . It will take some time to edit but a huge thank you goes out to Paiwei Wei for taking time out of his busy schedule to shoot all the footage and help to produce the video itself.</div>
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I expect this might be a slower week on the fundraising front but we have a lot to accomplish. We will launch our community teams, we will finalize our logo thus finalize our t-shirts and thus be very close to launching the virtual 5K and locking down a date for the live event in Venice, CA. There is so much to do but nobody said ending cancer would be easy.</div>
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Thanks for your time and for following this journey. If anything here inspires you, please share our story. If you would also consider a donation, we would be grateful. This journey is about everyone touched by cancer. Join us.</div>
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<strong>CHRISTOPHER D. WILNO</strong></div>
Christopher Wilnohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15338764820117255167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6490271571550276642.post-15599735333728701862017-04-17T17:50:00.001-07:002017-04-17T17:50:20.680-07:00Week Ended 04/16/17: Community Teams<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
Note: we are keeping a blog at <a href="http://www.wewillfindacure.com/">www.wewillfindacure.com</a>. This is copied from our website but I want to make sure you know to visit our main site tied to #Road2Kona.</div>
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A lot happened on the #Road2Kona this week and I believe the most important is a development that allows 'you'.....yes I mean you..... to join the journey and raise money on your own. We will announce more details this week but this news ties to a Community Team. Beyond my personal fundraising page, you will be allowed to create your own site and raise money however you choose. You can choose to do a sporting event, send letters and emails, hold a car wash………..however you choose to spread the word and for whomever you choose to spread the word. There is no minimum. You can raise $25 or $2,500………whatever the total it will be considered a part of the We Will Find a Cure total that is generated for the Ironman World Championship. Once we finalize our t-shirts, I will be sending a shirt to everyone that raises $250.</div>
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As far as fundraising goes, we had a good week. Someone stepped up with an offer to match up to $2,500 through today, April 16<sup>th</sup>. We have raised $2,450 as of my typing this post so we are very close although I did see the $2,500 anonymous donation come through so I suppose they exercised some faith in us. If you check out our <a data-mce-href="http://pages.teamintraining.org/ocie/ironworl17/cwilno" href="http://pages.teamintraining.org/ocie/ironworl17/cwilno">fundraising page</a>, we cleared $10,000 and technically there is another $5,500 of match that is on the way but I would rather count the matches once they hit. A huge thank you to everyone that donated this week to help us achieve success. I am truly grateful. While this is a great start, we have a long way to go and I absolutely cannot do this on my own. This journey needs support via financial donations, spreading the word, getting press, items/experiences we can auction off, etc. Please visit Ways to Help to learn more.</div>
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Other things I would consider wins this week are:</div>
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<li>a local magazine, Fountain Valley Living, returned my phone call and is considering my story for the June edition.</li>
<li>my daughters elementary school is going to include my story in their weekly email in a few weeks.</li>
<li>a friend of mine works at Compass, a technologically driven Real Estate Company. They offered some philanthropic help and my friend is going to push the virtual option for our 5K once we are up an running. The 5K, and especially the virtual option, has a chance to be one of our biggest fundraising ideas.</li>
<li>our new logo should be close to complete which will allow us to finalize the t-shirts and the 5K. Our live option will be held at the end of the summer but the virtual option can launch immediately.</li>
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On a training front, it is more of the same. I still have another 40 minutes to put in on the trainer. If you assume a 16.5 mph pace I will close the week at 186 miles. My coach went a little heavy on the bike this week and scaled back the run which was probably genius to allow my ankle to feel better. Same as the last few weeks, I have struggled with pain. Frustration set in this week so I simply cut<img alt="" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-296" data-mce-src="http://www.wewillfindacure.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/mandela-quote.png" height="267" src="http://www.wewillfindacure.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/mandela-quote.png" style="float: left; height: auto; margin: 0.5em 1em 0.5em 0px; max-width: 100%;" width="189" /> out my walk breaks starting with my Friday run. I would not say it is a smart move but I honestly am not sure. I am so far removed from surgery that the pain is a mystery. I have taken it so easy that it would not make any sense this is still a tendon issue. I have had many MRI’s on the surgical site and the tendon appears fine. My theory is to run in a manner I was always accustomed to and pray that things will work itself out. I believe I said this in a prior post but I have to put this race in God’s hands. If I am meant to get to the start line, it will happen. I just have to put in the miles and raise the money……..the money being by far the most important.</div>
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One last thing before I sign off. I was able to meet the Orange County IronTeam Saturday night thanks to an invite from coach Monica Jan. My family and I visited where they were camping out this weekend and I provided a Mission Moment. It was nice to share my story with folks that had never heard it before. As you would expect, it was a great group of people that are giving up their time to make a difference in this world. To close out my talk I used a quote from Nelson Mandela which is really sticking with me on a daily basis these days. It is included at my fundraising page:</div>
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<strong>“IT ALWAYS SEEMS IMPOSSIBLE UNTIL IT IS DONE”</strong></div>
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This quote can apply to so many things in all of our lives. How many things have you accomplished that you never thought possible? Most of what I have done since my father’s diagnosis would have been on that list. A cure for cancer might sound impossible but I believe we can get it done. We can change the world………….I just need you to join me.</div>
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Christopher D. Wilno</div>
Christopher Wilnohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15338764820117255167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6490271571550276642.post-31389244407873672302017-04-09T19:18:00.000-07:002017-04-09T19:39:14.874-07:00Week Ended 04/09/17: Fundraising and TrainingNote: we added a blogging feature at our website so you can see every post at <a href="http://www.wewillfindacure.com/" target="_blank">We Will Find a Cure</a><br />
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One more week in the books. It is freaking me out how fast it is going but such is life. Time to kick things into high gear:<br />
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<b><u>FUNDRAISING</u></b><br />
Consistent with prior weeks, I made a lot more progress on planning and behind the scenes items and prepping for what I hope will be donations. That being said, I am grateful to have raised another $1,200 this week. I also have some commitments for donations as well but we will not count those until they appear. I wanted to point out here that if you read anything and want to get involved or offer grand ideas, I am very open to that. Like I have said and will say many times again, this journey is for everyone that wants to fight back against cancer. Perhaps it is a financial donation. Perhaps it is sharing this journey with others. Perhaps it is an idea we can put into action. It all helps. here are some specific things that transpired this week:<br />
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<li>Mailed hundreds of letters to friends and family that I know in real life and some that I have only met virtually over the years by sharing my story.</li>
<li>Made progress with the website. There is a lot still to do but we are getting closer. A huge thanks to Leah Beck and Craig Harrison for all of their time to date. </li>
<li>Received nine different shirt samples. We just need the new logo and we will have shirts for sale and for the 5K we will hold (both live and virtual). We also made progress on finalizing our medal. We are upgrading the medal this year so it is going to be very nice. The same company that produces medals for Boston and for Ironman will be producing the 2017 Road2Kona medals. Much thanks to Sam Felsenfeld of <a href="http://www.operationjack.org/" target="_blank">Operation Jack</a> for the introductions to his vendors.</li>
<li> A key member of We Will Find a Cure was in a position whereby she was getting rid of a lot of her furniture. She offered that furniture to me so that we could find the best path to selling it. My house is now bursting at the seems with furniture!!! All proceeds will go to this campaign. A huge thanks to Lori and Jules Jomsky.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.teamhotshot.com/" target="_blank">Team Hotshot</a> offered to share my story at the blog at their website. I have been utilizing their product to deal with cramping and it has been amazing thus far. I will write a separate blog post about the product in a few weeks. I have 2 long rides coming and I look forward to sharing the results.</li>
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I am sure there is more but that is about it for now on the fundraising.</div>
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That is it for this week. As always, if any of this inspires you join WWFAC via donation or any other means, we welcome the help!! <a href="http://pages.teamintraining.org/ocie/ironworl17/cwilno" target="_blank">DONATION LINK</a> <a href="http://www.wewillfindacure.com/" target="_blank">WWFAC WEBSITE</a></div>
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Christopher Wilnohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15338764820117255167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6490271571550276642.post-16214142983777010102017-04-03T18:25:00.003-07:002017-04-03T18:25:54.443-07:00Week Ended 04/02/17: Fundraising and TrainingWell this was a challenging week on the training front for sure. I was able to get in most workouts but I definitely suffered in the confidence category tied to pain resurfacing in my surgically repaired ankle. As for the totals, I trained 153 miles. Two Swims. One Brick Workout albeit a very short run. Two straight runs.........I had to miss one tied to the pain. One straight trainer ride and a long 80 mile bike. The week was going very well until midday on Wednesday. Tuesday night I had a tough trainer ride followed by a 15 minute run. It went very well. I woke up early on Wednesday for a 4am 6 mile run. This also went fine. I experienced zero pain during the run but hours later, shooting pain developed right where my torn tendon was repaired. It was not a consistent pain. It would come and go but if I stepped down the wrong way, the pain was a 10 on a scale of 1-10. It was very discouraging for sure. I could not do a toe raise without excruciating pain which was not a great sign but I held on to hope or at least I tried to. On Thursday, I stuck to a swim only and pushed my scheduled trainer ride to Friday morning. I was happy that the 90 minute trainer ride only produced minimal pain if I was sitting up in the seat. When my ankle was at its worst, I could not get out of the saddle so I, of course, tried to get out of the saddle and it did not initiate pain. I swam again Friday night then slept on the thought of trying my long run on Saturday. My kids had soccer and softball games so I did not have to make a decision about the run until the afternoon and that is when I chose to give it a shot. I was extremely nervous. My thought process was that in a worst case scenario, I just need to get off the bike in Kona with enough time to walk the course if my ankle is in a bad place. That being said, I was prepared to walk 13 miles on Saturday. The schedule only called for a 110 minute run but I figured I would need to cover as many miles walking as I would running. I began the walk and a few minutes in changed the settings on my Garmin to a 1 minute run, 3 minute walk. I gingerly started out for the first minute of run. I was literally crawling only slightly faster than if I was walking. I felt the pain but I tried to push through hoping it would pass. Not to get all religious on you but at this point, I gave it all to God. I asked him to hold me together and I just kept my 1-3 interval. 13.1 miles later I had survived. I was definitely not 100% but I felt okay with the results. On Sunday the big test would be a 5 hour ride and while I felt a little pain at the beginning of the ride I had no pain by the end. As I sit here to type, I have intermittent pain but nothing too terrible and thankfully I am in the middle of a recovery week. I can handle the pain. What troubles me is the uncertainty. I never take a step with 100% confidence and that forces me to be uneasy all of the time. All I can do is keep moving forward. My goal is to get to the start line healthy. If I do that and extreme circumstances do not invade my race day (10 flat tires as an example), I can get to the finish line......KNOCK ON WOOD!!<br />
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As for fundraising, I am still not pushing very hard but I did post daily on Facebook while I continued to work with friends and family to get things in order for a big push. We raised approximately $2,000 more which is really nice. A friend and teammate of mine from the 2006 Ironteam that went to Ironman Coeur d'Alene surprised me with a really nice donation on Sunday night. Some folks that had never heard my story stepped up and then there were folks that have stood by my side many times that came to the rescue yet again. I am so blessed to have crossed paths with some amazing people..........the blessings that came from my trying times. I just sent out the first batch of letters in the mail today and as soon as I click 'publish' on this post I will continue stuffing envelopes, sending emails all while watching Gonzaga and North Carolina play some hoops. </div>
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Chat with you next week. If you are so inclined to make a donation and join this #Road2Kona, you can do so by clicking <a href="http://www.tinyurl.com/kona2curecancer" target="_blank">HERE</a>.<br />
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Christopher Wilnohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15338764820117255167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6490271571550276642.post-87109425287015802522017-03-26T20:49:00.000-07:002017-03-26T20:49:31.113-07:00Week Ended 03/26/17: Fundraising and TrainingBeing the main part of this journey is raising money to fight cancer, I thought I would include an update on the mission each week in addition to my training. I will say it a few hundred more times before race day, but crossing the finish line in Kona will not mean very much to me if we do not raise the money. It will be 140.6 miles of disappointment and I really want to avoid that. This is where I really need your support. We are still getting organized and mapping out the plan but our fundraising website is live and ready to take donations. If my story has inspired you and you want to join the battle, please consider a donation at <a href="http://www.tinyurl.com/kona2curecancer">www.tinyurl.com/kona2curecancer</a> . Beyond that I am drafting all the ways you will be able to help make this a successful journey. For now, sharing the heck out of my story would be a huge help. The more people that know what I am trying to do, the more likely we are to raise the funds. While some days $130,000 sounds daunting, other days I think about just needing to reach 130,000 people and have them give $1. From a fundraising perspective, here are some of the events from this past week:<br />
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<li>We continue to update <a href="http://www.wewillfindacure.com/">www.wewillfindacure.com</a>. For now we updated the video to my Facebook Live video where I shared the news of being nominated for Kona. We have a lot of ideas to incorporate. I am going to move the blogging to that site. I want to add a page for all of your stories. The Road to Kona is about all of us and I want to be able to publish your stories and why it is you want to end cancer. I want to know how cancer touched your life.</li>
<li>We received $1,100 in donations but one of those donations has a nice match so we really raised $3,100. I have not really pushed the fundraising too hard as we get everything in order but, as I said above, donations are why we are here so please consider <a href="http://www.tinyurl.com/kona2curecancer" target="_blank">donating</a>.</li>
<li>I made contact with and am very grateful to the folks at Team Hotshot. You can visit their page at <a href="http://www.teamhotshot.com/">http://www.teamhotshot.com</a>. I mentioned one of my big athletic challenges for Kona will be the heat and the impact it has on my body. I lose a lot of salt in heat and struggle with cramps. Hot Shot was created to help with this and they sent me some product to try and are considering sharing my story at their blog. That would help me get the word out and would be greatly appreciated. One of my big hopes is that someone will step up with a corporate sponsorship but that is a work in progress. I will write a separate post once I have more time under my belt with the product but today was the first time I utilized it and it went very well!!!</li>
<li>I made contact with a shirt and medal company thanks to Sam Felsenfeld of <a href="http://www.operationjack.org/" target="_blank">Operation Jack</a>. Sam is to autism what I am to cancer. He is an amazing dude and has raised a lot of money. </li>
<li>We are working on a new logo. We are updating the We Will Find a Cure logo with some Kona flair. The new logo is expected by April 15th.</li>
<li>I finalized my fundraising letters and will start to get these out over the next week. Check your mail :)</li>
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I think that is about it for now on the fundraising front. As for training, I had a good week. To me a good week primarily means minimal pain tied to the ankle that had the posterior tibial tendon repair. Yesterday I would have told you I have zero pain. Today, I am going with minor pain. I got in 3 runs this week. One was very short as it was 15 minutes off a trainer ride. I also managed a 6 mile and 11.5 mile run. The important thing with the run is that I backed down my run-walk interval to a 1-1 (run 1 minute, walk 1 minute). That is the most aggressive I have been in a while. I am using the interval as a means to stay healthy. It forces me to walk and it forces a slower pace. I did average under 10 minutes per mile for the first time.............my pace while running is closer to 8 minutes but that is why I throw in the walk. I honestly could live with 10 minute miles in Kona. I just need to keep staying healthy as I ramp the mileage. For the bike, I had 2 longer trainer rides and then today I had my longest ride in a while at over 75 miles. My pace is nothing to brag about but I did climb 2,900 feet which certainly has an impact. My swim as usual suffered a bit. I did not get in 3 swims and I feel very behind but I did feel good in the pool. Having been sick for about 4 weeks, there was no way to get in the water. I was always coughing up a long which is not a good combination for a guy that doesn't swim great in good health!! I was going to get in a 3rd swim today but the 75 mile ride took a toll on my neck. I probably should have eased into the aero position for that long but I don't really have that luxury. By the end of the ride, there was so much tension in my shoulders and the back of my neck that I decided to postpone the swim until tomorrow. In total, I traveled 143 miles this week. There is still a lot of work to do as I need to increase this to 200+. The schedule for the coming week is to mirror last week...........it is week 2 of a build. </div>
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Have a great week. </div>
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Christopher D Wilno</div>
Christopher Wilnohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15338764820117255167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6490271571550276642.post-88212995605696235652017-03-19T07:32:00.002-07:002017-03-19T07:32:45.108-07:00Training: Week Ended 03/19/17In the spirit of writing more often, I want to write a post at the end of each week to discuss my training and how things are going. This is certainly not the ideal week to start this process because after my 3-1 Brick last Sunday (3 hour ride - 1 hour run), the cold I have been fighting for weeks resurfaced. By the time I went to bed, I knew I was in trouble and when I woke up on Monday I was in bad shape. I spent all of Monday in bed except for a trip to the doctor where I was diagnosed with a severe sinus infection. I was given stronger meds this time and the instructions to come back on Thursday for steroids if things did not remarkably improve. Thankfully things improved enough to avoid those steroids.<div>
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All of this completely derailed my training. This is bad news except for the fact I actually listened to my coach who told me to back off. This was to be week 1 of an important build so I was quite frankly devastated to miss it. I was going to take one day off and get back on the horse (exactly what I did weeks ago when this all started) but then my coach, Coach Gareth Thomas of TRIO <a href="http://www.coachgareth.com/">www.coachgareth.com</a>, said I could push the entire schedule this week to next week (i.e. push my schedule back a week). This meant I would not miss anything and could view my sick week as an extension of the recovery week that just ended. This is exactly what my brain needed to hear because it allowed me to heal in peace.</div>
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Beyond the sickness, I felt pain in my ankle for the first time in 6-7 weeks while on my ride last Sunday. This was devastating because I was starting to get my swagger back. In case you missed it, I had surgery on my posterior tibial tendon almost exactly a year ago. Surgery was performed by Dr. Dan Geller <a href="http://www.drdangeller.com/">www.drdangeller.com</a> who has done amazing work for so many athletes. This was........I hope.......the last surgery tied to a biking accident in 2013 when I was training for my 5th Ironman distance triathlon. This surgery has been the most difficult to recover from tied to how critical this tendon is in the process of running and tied to complications resulting when blood clots developed post surgery. It is a scary thing to hear you have blood clots in your lungs!!! It took much much longer for the swelling in my lower leg to dissipate because of the clots. This held up the rehab process and led to the most self doubt I ever experienced as an athlete. I still carry that self doubt today. I start every ride and every run with a prayer that I get through the workout pain free......with a prayer that God hold me together through Ironman Kona. My first steps of every run are filled with trepidation. The first time I get out of my seat......usually to get going at a red light.........have that same trepidation because that is the movement triggering the pain. Like I said above, I went a while with no pain until last Sunday. I would like to think it is all in my head but my right foot is ever so slightly swollen and the ankle is a little puffy. Compression socks and prayer.....that is all I have for now but perhaps the sinus infection helped give the ankle a rest too.</div>
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I did manage to sneak in a 3 mile run yesterday just to see how it would go. As for the foot, I felt some discomfort but a lot of that discomfort was in parts of the foot not surgically repaired. I felt a few minor jolts at the surgical spot but nothing unbearable. I now launch back into full scale training. Monday's are always a rest day for me so Tuesday will see me back in action.</div>
Christopher Wilnohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15338764820117255167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6490271571550276642.post-15687249076938961672017-03-14T10:46:00.001-07:002017-03-17T06:25:10.733-07:00Kona Bound<br />
Back in January I wrote a post about the journey that led to interviewing with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society for a spot at the 2017 Ironman World Championships. If you missed that post you can scroll down or click <a href="http://www.tinyurl.com/road2kona" target="_blank">ROAD TO KONA</a>. It has been quite a lot of work to get myself in a position to be considered and it was quite a lot of stress along the way wondering whether I would be selected or not. Well, I am happy to report that I was 1 of 5 people chosen nationwide. I was surprised 2 weeks ago while at my 9 year old daughter's softball game which was quite a funny story. Below is the video my wife took of the surprise........I will find the longer version that has 10 minutes of my yelling at my son that was trying to get me to leave the field where I was managing a hitting station. He kept telling me I needed to go with him and I kept telling him I had responsibilities. He kept saying nothing was wrong but that I needed to join him and I kept telling him that if nothing was wrong, I was staying on the field. <br />
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Anyway, it was quite a nice surprise and it caught me off guard because I was just expecting an email as to the results. I will keep this post short but I want my main message out of the gate to be that this experience is about the money we need to raise. I am so blessed and humbled to have the chance to go to Kona but I want to go as a representative for all of those that hate cancer. This journey is not about me because crossing the finish line in Kona........God willing.......will be absolutely meaningless if we do not raise the funds. I will be getting underway with fundraising in the coming weeks but if you feel so inclined, my fundraising page is set up and ready to go. The link is:</div>
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<a href="http://tinyurl.com/kona2curecancer" target="_blank">http:tinyurl.com/kona2curecancer</a></div>
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There will be many ways to help and one thing is very clear........there is no path to raising $130,000 without you talking about this journey with your friends and sharing this journey with your friends. There will be many ways to stay connected. Some of the ways are as follows:</div>
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We Will Find a Cure (WWFAC) Facebook page: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/wewillfindacurells/">https://www.facebook.com/wewillfindacurells/</a></div>
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My personal Facebook page: just search Christopher Wilno</div>
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WWFAC website (we are updating it so give us time to make it pretty): <a href="http://www.wewillfindacure.com/">www.wewillfindacure.com</a></div>
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Thanks to everyone for all your support over the years and thank you in advance for your support of this mission. My efforts are nothing without you.</div>
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Christopher D. Wilno</div>
Christopher Wilnohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15338764820117255167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6490271571550276642.post-31098702321312916442017-01-10T06:30:00.002-08:002017-01-10T06:30:47.950-08:009th Annual Super Bowl Pool<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It is hard to believe this will be our 9th year. Time flies. A lot of progress has been made in the fight against cancer over those years but the road ahead is still a long one. Friends and family continue to receive life changing and perhaps life ending diagnoses. That is why we keep fighting and keep raising money. This year I will be interviewing soon to represent Team in Training at the 2017 Ironman World Championships. I wrote about it <a href="http://www.training2savelives.com/2017/01/road-to-kona-2017.html">here</a>. If I am successful, the funds raised here will go towards my $130,000 goal. That will leave a long long way to go but it will be a start. For now, we hope you join us and add a little spice to game day.<br />
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In case you have never participated in a Super Bowl Pool..........it is very easy. Each pool has 100 boxes that are assigned a number for each team in the Super Bowl. For each $20 box you buy, you will be randomly assigned two numbers........one for the AFC team and one for the NFC team. Using last year as an example, you may have been assigned a 4 for Carolina and a 0 for Denver. If this were the case you are rooting for any score that has Carolina ending in a 4 and the Broncos ending with a zero (Carolina 24 - Denver 10, Carolina 24 - Denver 0, Carolina 14 - Denver - 30, etc, etc, etc).<br />
<br />
The pool is a great way to add some excitement to the Super Bowl. As always, half of the pool will be distributed to the winners and half will go towards finding a cure for cancer via a donation to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Based off the $20 per box entry fee, $1,000 will be donated to charity and $1,000 will be split as follows:<br />
<ul>
<li>1st Quarter = $125</li>
<li>Halftime = $250</li>
<li>3rd Quarter = $125</li>
<li>Final Score = $500 </li>
</ul>
The Super Bowl will be held on February 5, 2017. Last year we sold out 3 pools and this year we are working on our 2nd one as I write this post. It would be amazing to match last year but we are grateful for everything whether we do or do not.<br />
<br />
<div>
</div>
<div>
To recap the rules:</div>
* 100 Boxes per pool<br />
* $20 per box to play<br />
* We randomly place you in a box on a 10x10 grid. Each box contains two numbers - one for the AFC champion and one for the NFC champion. If the numbers match the score at the end of each quarter you win! Just to be clear, we literally randomly place your name in the grid and then randomly pull numbers for the grid. It takes a while but assures every aspect of each grid is by chance.<br />
<br />
How to pay:<br />
<div>
</div>
<div>
1) Email Lori Jomsky or myelf (we can DM you our email addresses if need be) how many boxes you would like. The more you buy the more chances to win and fight cancer. You can also reach out via FB or Twitter @lj3000 (Lori) and @run2savelives (me)</div>
2) Give Money directly to Chris or Lori if you happen to know us IRL<br />
3) Mail a check payable to Lori Jomsky (so we can divide the money for charity/winners): 4211 Via Entrada, Newbury Park, CA 91320<br />
<br />
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</div>
<div>
Thank You!!!! We hope 2017 is off to a great start for you!!!!!!!!!!!!!</div>
<br />Christopher Wilnohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15338764820117255167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6490271571550276642.post-76594936862406683632017-01-05T10:28:00.002-08:002017-03-19T07:49:47.176-07:00Road to Kona 2017<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
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UPDATE: I WAS CHOSEN!! YOU CAN READ THAT POST <a href="http://www.tinyurl.com/konabound" target="_blank">HERE</a><br />
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There has
been a lot going on in my head lately and I believe I might better collect
those thoughts if I attempt to put them down on paper. I have applied to represent Team in Training
at the 2017 Ironman World Championships next October. Last year there were 3 entries available
nationwide. This year there might be
less……….might be more. I will interview
with Team in Training next month but that is not why my mind is
pre-occupied. I trust the process and I
trust Team in Training. I am confident
they will choose the person or persons that will best help us get closer to a
cure. If I am not chosen, I will
certainly be disappointed but that will not take away from what I have
accomplished to date and it will not change my feelings of sincere gratitude
towards Team in Training for eternally changing my life. If I am chosen, however, I will be ecstatic
and petrified all at the same time. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>“Always Do What You Are Afraid To Do”</b></div>
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-Ralph Waldo
Emerson<o:p></o:p></div>
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A recent
conversation with my Mom goes something like this:<o:p></o:p></div>
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Me: I have
applied to participate in the Ironman World Championships for 2017.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Mom:
Really???!!!!! I was so scared watching
you at Ironman Florida. I am not sure if
I can handle watching another one.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Me: There
was no reason to worry in Florida. You
absolutely should be worried about Ironman Kona. It scares the sh*t out of me!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Mom: Why do
it then?<o:p></o:p></div>
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Me: That is
why.<o:p></o:p></div>
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There are
many subparts to the answer (which unfortunately for you I might detail) but at
the highest level I want to participate in Kona because it absolutely scares
me. It is such a grand event in the
world of endurance sports and it is a grand event in the world of Team in
Training. As such, failure has a greater
cost and fear of failure grows exponentially.
I have completed 4 Ironman distance events to date. Kona is different. I have raised a lot of money for Team in
Training. Kona is different. I have seen success but what does failure on
the final stage mean? Is it what you
will be remembered for? Will people look
past your one failure and remember all the good you did? Will I, myself, be able to look past failure
and remember all the things I accomplished?
What will your family think? What
will your friends think? I honestly do
not know the answers to these questions but I welcome the opportunity to find
them out and I will give it all I have to be successful for I will be all that much stronger of a person for having given it a shot:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>"The miracle isn't that I
finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start." <o:p></o:p></b></div>
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-John
Bingham<o:p></o:p></div>
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As a coach
for Team in Training, I always talk about the journey to race day being so much
more important than the actual race.
When you are out on the course………no matter the distance…….it will be the
memories you made prior to race day that invade your thoughts. It will be the hard work, the tough workouts,
the fear, the doubt and the stories you heard along the way that occupy your
mind out on the course. My journey has
been a long one………….I will need every bit of the 140.6 miles to think about my
road to Kona. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The first
part of this journey actually begins as a teenager sitting in front of a
television with my best friend……..my Dad.
It was 1982. Her name was Julie
Moss. If you witnessed this race 34
years ago, you will never forget it. She
was leading the race by 20 minutes starting the marathon. That is a mammoth lead as Ironman events go
but over the course of the next 26.2 miles, her body would deteriorate. She would ultimately lose the ability to stay
on her feet as the finish line was in view just ahead of her. She would keep getting up. She would keep falling down. She would ultimately be passed with literally
yards to go. She did not win on that day
but she continued to crawl until crossing the finish line. It was unbelievable and one of those moments
that can forever change you. </div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/v3GjOedMd1M/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/v3GjOedMd1M?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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While all
of this was transpiring, I was a high school cross country and track athlete. I was decent.
For not having been in the sport
of running for long, I could knock out a 10K in 36 minutes and I helped my team
out on the cross country course. That
being said, I watched the 1982 Ironman World Championship thinking you had to
be insane to even attempt such a feat and despite some personal running
success…………I remember clearly thinking this event was beyond me. While that might be a normal thought process
for a 16 year old (Chris McCormack excluded), my thought process would be the
same 22 years later when stumbling across the doorstep of Team in Training. Thankfully my time with this same organization
taught me about self imposed limits and how to push past them:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>"What we can or cannot do, what
we consider possible or impossible, is rarely a function of our true
capability. It is more likely a function
of our beliefs about who we are." <o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Anthony
Robbins<o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>“What we could not do yesterday has no
impact on what we can do today”<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Yours truly<o:p></o:p></div>
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The second
part of this story is the one many of you are familiar with. It is why I ever started writing at this
blog. You can read all of my earlier
posts but it started in 2002 when my father was diagnosed with leukemia. </div>
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<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOXE2j54LQTu0h77k4vKlkWQC7xb-claHkzP_CxHunTo4yL_VrronmK64atqimXVj3zXVssCDvnb2aAVLD0Vw2RCSBes5sO2OTHD8smtHZpfGpQSO6eV6zWAoaAb7LLkZ0mWYR_4EywKs/s1600/Cooking+with+Dad2-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOXE2j54LQTu0h77k4vKlkWQC7xb-claHkzP_CxHunTo4yL_VrronmK64atqimXVj3zXVssCDvnb2aAVLD0Vw2RCSBes5sO2OTHD8smtHZpfGpQSO6eV6zWAoaAb7LLkZ0mWYR_4EywKs/s200/Cooking+with+Dad2-1.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Dad several days before becoming an Angel</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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He would fight until January 2004 when cancer
would win their battle. During the 15
months my Dad fought to stay alive, my daughter Isabella passed away. Shortly
after my father lost his fight, my wife was diagnosed with cancer while
pregnant with my son Jaden. She would win
her battle this time and again when it returned 5 years later. This part of the journey is what defined
me. To be honest, I think this part of
the story created me. It woke me up to
my potential. It was a tough time. </div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGD2LWkEzPPf-EgldjB-t9lazAtyJonMAOqyPbfWcQNmYAKWhsQ0JpBZsTgSybaEpQxOYb_Og_-gNuV9UsTuqAR9aCCpYepRRoTstozKOZ3FR-zb1nVvqyTKGAx9JXkEdyRvvYzQ07roA/s1600/Crea+surgery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGD2LWkEzPPf-EgldjB-t9lazAtyJonMAOqyPbfWcQNmYAKWhsQ0JpBZsTgSybaEpQxOYb_Og_-gNuV9UsTuqAR9aCCpYepRRoTstozKOZ3FR-zb1nVvqyTKGAx9JXkEdyRvvYzQ07roA/s320/Crea+surgery.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My wife winning the 1st of 2 battles</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Cancer took a lot from me. It has taken a lot from my friends. It has taken a lot from the world. What cancer did not expect, however, is for
me to fight back. For a brief moment
after cancer took my father, after God
took Isabella as an Angel and after it tried unsuccessfully to take my wife, I
curled up in ball. I was defeated but
only for a moment. After that, I stood
up in strength and started fighting back.
I started making a difference in the fight against cancer. I started changing my life and the lives of
others all the while trying to honor some promises I made to my Dad, daughter
and wife.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
During this
second leg of the journey, I accomplished some amazing things. Once my father
was in the terminal stage of his fight, I moved back east to be with my parents
until the end. During this time, I felt
helpless. There was nothing I could do
to change things. I tried my best to
keep my Dad occupied and to make him laugh. We managed some good memories in
those final months but I always felt I needed to do more so I came up with the
idea to run a marathon in his honor.
Even when I was a solid high school runner, the thought of running a
marathon instilled a great deal of fear in me.
My father was the kind of soul that looked for opportunities to stare
fear in the face so I thought this was a meaningful tribute. This is when I found Team in Training by
accident………or perhaps God escorted me through the doors of that small running
shoe store on Hilton Head Island. The
owner of the store was a coach for Team in Training. Not only could I run a marathon but I could
raise money to fight back. Now that I
knew there was an avenue to honor my father, I was off and running. That introduction led to my first marathon
which led to my first Century Ride which led to my first Ironman which led to
coaching for Team in Training so that others might experience the joy of
accomplishing more than they thought possible………so that others could fight back
for their loved ones. I have fundraised
for 13 events. Twelve were for Team in
Training and one was the 2014 Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Man of the Year
campaign which launched We Will Find a Cure.
I am not sure the exact total of funds I have raised over these events
but it is somewhere around $250-260,000.
As a coach, my Westside team has raised millions of dollars to help us
find that cure and many of the people I coached have gone on to do amazing
things. It is my legacy, if you will, and fills me with great pride. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTvBXaeLPH4sAyOMAyicuiu5HBd7apL60u4fXX9tRuflhDwjXppua-tnjskovfLyFg-S8J72bNQwzO63S6dzCn41snkJzFvo0GP9Y0fzG5xbC2xLIiZ-4AXSCVBqZCqLdxonbWZJwJ7r8/s1600/Group+SD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTvBXaeLPH4sAyOMAyicuiu5HBd7apL60u4fXX9tRuflhDwjXppua-tnjskovfLyFg-S8J72bNQwzO63S6dzCn41snkJzFvo0GP9Y0fzG5xbC2xLIiZ-4AXSCVBqZCqLdxonbWZJwJ7r8/s320/Group+SD.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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While I am proud of all these
accomplishments, I am truly the blessed one to have been granted the
opportunity and ability to participate in these events. Many of my favorite memories are wearing
purple as part of this amazing organization……either crossing a finish line or
coaching on the course somewhere in the country while others realized their
dreams and potential. People often say to me that Team in Training should be
grateful to me for my accomplishments. I
honestly never feel this way…….not for a split second. My story of loss made me
who I am…….I was born out of the trying times but without Team in Training
there would be no platform to realize my potential. There are not enough years in my lifetime to
repay Team in Training and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society for what they have
provided me.</div>
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To spend a
little more time on Team in Training and perhaps provide a little more detail,
my strategy as a participant has been to build from event to event and show
progression so that I was putting myself on the line while asking for donations
one more time. To leap to the conclusion, it is this progression coupled with
the third and final part of my story (detailed below) that makes Kona the
important final piece to this puzzle. I
started with a marathon. Next I signed
up for the Century Ride without even owning a bike. I followed that by signing up for an Ironman
without ever having swam one lap in a pool in my life. Given this, it goes without saying that the
Ironman was the first triathlon I ever signed up for. It may not have been smart but it was strategic
because I could write about my insanity when asking for critical
donations. I did not always outdo myself
from event to event. Sometimes I simply changed the story and trained for a
friend’s loss versus my own………. sometimes I did both as with 216.8 Miles For
Ryan which was my last fundraising event for TNT. Ryan was the son of Katie Mattingly who is an
amazing lady that made her way to one of the marathon teams I coached. Ryan is a survivor with a complicated story
and I came up with this crazy idea to do three events on his behalf. I
completed a marathon, my first 50 mile ultra marathon and closed out with my 4<sup>th</sup>
Ironman at Coeur d’Alene in 2013………all adding up to 216.8 miles. Shortly after this 4<sup>th</sup> Ironman
(June 2013) and shortly before Sarah Weston Clark, friend and amazing LLS
member, recommended me for the 2014 LLS Man of the Year campaign (December
2013), my athletic journey took a turn for the worse which is the subject of
the third part to this story below.
Before getting there, however, it is important to talk about the Man of
the Year campaign. As I mentioned
earlier, Sarah Weston Clark recommended me to participate in this
competition. Truth be told, she not only
recommended me but stood by my side the entire way. She shared in my joy, my
fears and stood by me when the tears started to flow during the 10-week
campaign. </div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf379x1izeaq7METEummauUhVx8DV8zy30tn0fIoZp6k8id72x6pjQtEN9CYsNm2LPwC-CAF8J-gIwsCVAm-_jdfhg4gNQWmQmO2vZW7cI_pkS7voH2wUY5cszfn_eT78P99HBsLF2EUA/s1600/Winners-Runner+Up.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf379x1izeaq7METEummauUhVx8DV8zy30tn0fIoZp6k8id72x6pjQtEN9CYsNm2LPwC-CAF8J-gIwsCVAm-_jdfhg4gNQWmQmO2vZW7cI_pkS7voH2wUY5cszfn_eT78P99HBsLF2EUA/s320/Winners-Runner+Up.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Man & Woman of the Year top fundraisers</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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I am digressing but I will
forever be grateful for Sarah believing in me enough to throw my name in the
mix. It was a life changing experience
that was really difficult to sign my name to………tied to the same fear of failure
that would accompany a Kona nomination.
Ultimately, it was the enormity of my fear that prompted me to accept
the nomination. My Dad would have done
it. I had to. Besides that, I had coached hundreds, if not
thousands, of people to stare fear in the face and shove it out of the
way. It was time for me to do the
same. I agreed to participate, some
amazing people stood by my side and we won having raised $126,000 in 10
weeks. You might look at this resume and
think it is enough. For me, there are
still people suffering, I am still breathing, cancer is still breathing and
circumstances changed that make Kona quite the challenge for me. I am very afraid of it. I think about it in my sleep. I think about it all day with every step I
take. This leads to the final part of
this story.<o:p></o:p></div>
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As
mentioned, Ironman Coeur d’Alene was my 4<sup>th</sup> Ironman. It was only supposed to be a training race
before making a strong run at a great time for a to be determined 5<sup>th</sup>
race. Once my body recovered from this 4<sup>th</sup>
event, I began to train again for number five.
I was in great shape. I train by
heart rate and I was at the peak of my life.
I was confident but I guess I should have known from my earlier story
that life can change in an instant. <o:p></o:p></div>
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September 7,
2013. Most of my Ironman workouts were
in the dark or a lit pool late at night.
Ironman requires hours of work but I always commit to take as little
time away from my family as possible.
This unfortunately meant training alone most of the time but the perk
was being able to get to all of my kids events.
On this particular Saturday, I got a later start than normal although I
was still one of the first people to hit the streets. I was only riding about 25 miles so I started
on a course I had traveled literally hundreds of times before. I rode through Marina del Rey, across Ballona
Creek into Playa del Rey and crested the hill on Vista del Mar that led to a
view of the ocean to my right. It would
now be only 2 miles until my left turn on Imperial Highway to head into
Westchester Parkway. Because it was
early enough, there was minimal traffic and minimal cars lining the street that
would later be packed with beachgoers.
One pickup truck. That is the
only car I saw and the only one needed to disrupt the day and my life
since. I always scan car windows to
determine if someone is inside that could cause some harm. All looked clear but I was wrong. In an instant, the door flung open too fast
for me to make an adjustment. I slammed
into the door of his large Sanford & Son steel tank, flew about 10 feet and
landed in the street facing the wrong direction. I remember three things: the driver dropping
an F bomb, some horrible pain in my left arm/shoulder and staring at a Volkswagon
quickly approaching me as I lie in the street.
From there, other riders stopped, cars stopped, police and fire trucks
showed up along with an ambulance and, of course, my family as they had been
contacted. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqstn0BAa4s8SSACnA-WEdT53hxzCcBii3TLtn1cBTAdA-GNqFEjyGlnNYx-GNujhi6vfsYToceQ2ymDoa-grrzooUn1D4fJyBBX250ReN87b7f4djPX1OXDfX0WeK4j7dujy7sd11f7w/s1600/Capture.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqstn0BAa4s8SSACnA-WEdT53hxzCcBii3TLtn1cBTAdA-GNqFEjyGlnNYx-GNujhi6vfsYToceQ2ymDoa-grrzooUn1D4fJyBBX250ReN87b7f4djPX1OXDfX0WeK4j7dujy7sd11f7w/s320/Capture.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
There is no need to relive
the entire day. I was in pain. I hoped I would heal quickly. I managed to only miss one week of coaching
the 2014 Fall Westside Marathon team although I probably should have missed
more. At one point I thought all that
was lost was my bike………an amazing bike at that.
I had a Specialized Shiv that was relegated to a trash dumpster. Time would prove that the bike was not the only
one to suffer long term damage. I would
spend hours and hours in physical therapy for my injuries. In time, my right knee would give in tied to
the impact from the accident and I would have surgery. </div>
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<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMmBvn7RCz9v_PwKFwLYSzEvKC2E72hoQafvFMZupz5q4s9JDv2ThMd-9ORtrirqgs8qWY3SXV47fjMNWpWepTpe3SK2kE1O4fkYDuUTauPidbGHkAeq5nJvKNEm72D9nlfob7cPJaq6M/s1600/10168118_10203498980936615_338903051_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMmBvn7RCz9v_PwKFwLYSzEvKC2E72hoQafvFMZupz5q4s9JDv2ThMd-9ORtrirqgs8qWY3SXV47fjMNWpWepTpe3SK2kE1O4fkYDuUTauPidbGHkAeq5nJvKNEm72D9nlfob7cPJaq6M/s400/10168118_10203498980936615_338903051_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pre-surgery note to the surgeon</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
In more time, the tendon in my right foot
would give in and I would have to decide on whether to have another
surgery. This decision was important for
two reasons. The first is that it forced
me to withdraw my application with Team in Training for the 2016 Ironman World
Championships. That was a very tough day for me but there was no way I was
going to risk taking someone’s slot when I might not be healthy enough to
participate. The second reason this
decision was important was tied to timing.
I proceeded ASAP with the surgery with the sole intention of giving
myself a chance at this 2017 opportunity. </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTL58smkA5IB5pBL8E6mTbIgQFVZr-J7EZV3ibs0elqqijGwHh9YRbximWbtQ44fpjAjbNwa8N3pWjkaWtaOCoFa7MMivNbwxIQnnGvXXjLYZYqsGyiakMIxOWFdAN1gTQ9KXmrfdsjDI/s1600/IMG_4524.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTL58smkA5IB5pBL8E6mTbIgQFVZr-J7EZV3ibs0elqqijGwHh9YRbximWbtQ44fpjAjbNwa8N3pWjkaWtaOCoFa7MMivNbwxIQnnGvXXjLYZYqsGyiakMIxOWFdAN1gTQ9KXmrfdsjDI/s200/IMG_4524.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That is my tendon. You can see the tear.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZEb_PzL52hbu_kcXQtHcjoaQSyUy44yIhwqJ47qQEzSb6AWcLh-cKN_4Z9J2jfD5knYhQ6RTr4F9hLCpB8T4JAz3lHM-z3wSF1agoM2SgUXq4jvpvgVu6IVuUzoXiE6p19GHM93_xS9k/s1600/IMG_4572.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZEb_PzL52hbu_kcXQtHcjoaQSyUy44yIhwqJ47qQEzSb6AWcLh-cKN_4Z9J2jfD5knYhQ6RTr4F9hLCpB8T4JAz3lHM-z3wSF1agoM2SgUXq4jvpvgVu6IVuUzoXiE6p19GHM93_xS9k/s200/IMG_4572.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2 weeks post surgery. 2 hours pre blood clot drama</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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As it turns out, withdrawing my application was a smart move. Complications resulted from the surgery. I developed blood clots which significantly
delayed my recovery. Even as I write
today more than 3 years later, I train with a great deal of caution. I have had setback after setback but am
finally making some progress (last week as of writing this I trained over 170 miles which is a great sign). This being
said, the road ahead will be full of land mines. I can hammer out training on the bike and in
the pool but will strategically run the least amount possible to finish the race. There have even been days when my right foot
creates challenges on the bike………..sometimes I cannot get out of the seat to
pedal or have to use my left leg for most of the effort. One of many things, none of which I can
really pinpoint with accuracy, can trigger a flare up in my foot. It will eventually pass but I proceed with
caution on a daily basis all in the spirit of protecting my chance at crossing
the 2017 Kona finish line. My current
life is having to practice everything I have ever taught. Daily I have to push past doubt. Daily I have to push past fear. Daily I must believe with my heart when my
mind tells me to give up.<br />
<br />
<b>“If you can find a path with no
obstacles, it probably doesn't lead anywhere.”</b><br />
Frank
A. Clark<br />
<br />
Kona
would be full of obstacles. My goal
would be to raise $130,000 as it would be a personal fundraising record for
me. That is quite a significant amount
of money and I will need an army of support to be successful. Will people help me yet again? I honestly do not know the answer but I must
remain hopeful. Will I be healthy enough
to finish 140.6 miles? I honestly do not
know the answer to this question either.
I am damn certain I will have setbacks.
I am certain I will have to overcome injuries and I am certain there
will be many times that $130,000 seems out of reach. If I get past these
obstacles, there is the heat. I am
old which means I know my body well and it does not
respond well to heat. My heart rate is
unbelievably higher in heat than the moderate temperatures of SoCal so I will
have to train differently and race accordingly which means slow down.
My first Ironman finish was in 100+ heat. I barely survived that day and barely crossed
the finish line in time. For now, I can
only hope I get the opportunity to face these fears. If I do, I will give it
everything I have to be successful and I can only pray that you guys will stand
by my side yet again. Either way, thank
you to everyone that has been a part of my journey. I would have accomplished literally nothing
without people stepping up time and time again to join me in battle. </div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<b>Forever
grateful,</b></div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<b>Christopher
D. Wilno</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Christopher Wilnohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15338764820117255167noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6490271571550276642.post-5016019854538929602015-07-31T14:21:00.001-07:002015-07-31T14:24:38.070-07:00Isabella's Day 2015<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">August 1, 2015</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dear Isabella,<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Another year has passed but that does not make your birthday
any easier. I wish it did. I wish I
could say I were stronger and no tears were shed at the silence as I awake each
year on your birthday. I’m not that guy.
I’m not that strong. Happy 12<sup>th</sup> sweet stuff. I don’t know what Heaven is like but I hope……
despite the wings..... you get to experience the joys of childhood as if you were here. For selfish reasons, I hope that your childhood starts
over again when my time here is done. I want a do over. I want to hear your first words, help hide
your first tooth and see the wonder in your eyes as you experience new things. Until then, thank you for being my inspiration. Thank you for
the motivation to be the best person I can be in the hopes you are watching and
in the hopes of leading a life worthy of spending an eternity with you. I know
I am far from perfect. I know I have a lot of improvements to make. I know, however, I have accomplished great
things and met great people and gone beyond myself because of you. I miss you
baby and look forward to our first dance. Happy Birthday!</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Love Dad</span></b><o:p></o:p></div>
Christopher Wilnohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15338764820117255167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6490271571550276642.post-67047813283199864622015-01-29T21:55:00.002-08:002015-01-29T21:57:22.035-08:00Super Bowl 2015 GridsBelow you will find the grids for our 7th Annual Super Bowl Pool. As always, we are extremely grateful for the support that helped raise $3,000 to fight cancer. Another $3,000 will be distributed to some lucky winners. Consistent with prior years, we prepare the grids as random as humanly possible. We begin by using a program to randomize the 100 names that are placed in the grid. The upper left box is considered #1. We then move left to right ending in the lower right hand corner with box #100. After the names are entered into the grids, we place small pieces of paper with numbers 0 through 9 in a bowl and pull each out one by one. It is a painstakingly slow process but assures everything is by chance. The result of the process is below. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask. Enjoy the Super Bowl and best of luck to all!! PLEASE CLICK ON EACH GRID FOR A BETTER VIEW. WE WILL EMAIL THESE OUT AS WELL AND WILL POST ON FACEBOOK.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS99hfZL3-QpZoGBEreTp3DBNDmmcBhKf8qxtrrgrPEIDRsQSkS4LkPo60cTloidqskGzZHUxWTAW8KEr48AlFT7XDzsR8IQcSfiMBp0o1pH_a_torhYP-t4MLcc9pb21ifY1atPnAt9M/s1600/Super+Bowl+Grid+%231.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS99hfZL3-QpZoGBEreTp3DBNDmmcBhKf8qxtrrgrPEIDRsQSkS4LkPo60cTloidqskGzZHUxWTAW8KEr48AlFT7XDzsR8IQcSfiMBp0o1pH_a_torhYP-t4MLcc9pb21ifY1atPnAt9M/s1600/Super+Bowl+Grid+%231.JPG" height="270" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Ob9h88jJBCAAUhdPDSO1G_RYYwZvsfLgwd2PPaWaP2v5KrHzmsa_3tVXG7CRMltogREIl6CVKSm3a1pXzGmUEB9gIAKB6a8fPdtkCBaHY0-CbfXM2vyYp43d2t1GkxOHCfA6IAbMio4/s1600/Super+Bowl+Grid+%232.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Ob9h88jJBCAAUhdPDSO1G_RYYwZvsfLgwd2PPaWaP2v5KrHzmsa_3tVXG7CRMltogREIl6CVKSm3a1pXzGmUEB9gIAKB6a8fPdtkCBaHY0-CbfXM2vyYp43d2t1GkxOHCfA6IAbMio4/s1600/Super+Bowl+Grid+%232.JPG" height="272" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWxmoPITqIgQHWOwFi_vrOYA5q7fHSoT4bQNURBznpL1NtW1OTmOCVASMbZ9TWRMmwW_QrLeQ97Rl2sdCtpmw8lr_5smtSRmeUqHUnmdG9kvmlme1mvnkc_Vqbc3-vW8MU3Oa8F6YAOXo/s1600/Super+Bowl+Grid+%233.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWxmoPITqIgQHWOwFi_vrOYA5q7fHSoT4bQNURBznpL1NtW1OTmOCVASMbZ9TWRMmwW_QrLeQ97Rl2sdCtpmw8lr_5smtSRmeUqHUnmdG9kvmlme1mvnkc_Vqbc3-vW8MU3Oa8F6YAOXo/s1600/Super+Bowl+Grid+%233.JPG" height="270" width="400" /></a></div>
Christopher Wilnohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15338764820117255167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6490271571550276642.post-29153692436314480092015-01-12T21:48:00.000-08:002015-01-12T21:48:28.091-08:007th Annual Super Bowl Pool<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpTfpwnMkslImTiIDpbnqKi71KVfEBxFqjRXAPFCkggsogIyH_yZq6q1Y2HKWq48a_yO-nYgaVsXqhyntJMzM-0_Yf-DK_6eAM3ZdUEkOnmZnhpQSNhiAr0nJ9-7hzUQrTscmKvfx-C3c/s1600/IMG_1143_copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpTfpwnMkslImTiIDpbnqKi71KVfEBxFqjRXAPFCkggsogIyH_yZq6q1Y2HKWq48a_yO-nYgaVsXqhyntJMzM-0_Yf-DK_6eAM3ZdUEkOnmZnhpQSNhiAr0nJ9-7hzUQrTscmKvfx-C3c/s1600/IMG_1143_copy.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a>Wow, it has been a long time since I wrote a post here at this blog. I really do have a lot to say but I have struggled to find the time to write. I still have not posted my entry from Ironman CDA.....2013!!! I have not chronicled all of my struggles to come back from a biking accident while training for Ironman #5..........a result of someone simply not checking their side mirror before opening their car door. That transpired in September 2013 and as I sit here typing, I am far from recovered. 2014 was spent more in rehab or on rehab runs than actually training. Truth be told, I did not complete one run or bike trainer ride that was a means to an end that included a start or finish line. I am just trying to fight my way back. Despite trying to rehab my way around knee surgery, I ended up surgically repairing a torn meniscus in April of 2014 which led to..........as you may guess....more rehab. My knee is not close to 100%. If I keep on a flat straight line........I can run. If I have to move laterally, my knee does not work. This makes running around a corner a challenge. This makes running off a curb a challenge. This makes playing baseball with my children a challenge. This makes playing soccer with my children a challenge. All of this results in a frustrated me. Another aspect to all of this is that I always train to raise money to fight cancer. I do not train for myself. I train for others. Taking this away from me has been painful but I am blessed to be alive and I am blessed to have enough within me to continue coaching for Team in Training where I can live vicariously through others. A week ago I was actually blessed enough to get in a run....albeit very slow....while my daughter rode her bike beside me down the Santa Ana River Trail. My son met me at the end of our journey and ran us in. All they have ever know, is their Dad swimming, riding or running so I think they know how important it is for me to return to action.<br />
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Cancer could care less about any of this. Cancer is glad I am hurt or at least this is how I like to think about it. I picture cancer with a personality and it fuels my fire to make a comeback. In the interim, raising money to fight cancer remains a critical part of my composition and, as such, we are back hosting our 7th Annual Super Bowl Pool. Today is an appropriate day to post this news because today marks the 11th anniversary of my father losing his battle to cancer. I made promises to him that you have all helped me live up to over the years. I think if I died tomorrow, I could look my Dad in the eye knowing I did what I could while I could. A cure has not been found though. Cancer still is looming and, having a wife who has survived cancer twice, I still sleep with one eye open. So...........why not have a little fun spicing up the Super Bowl while helping get the world closer to the end of cancer.<br />
<br />
In case you have never participated in a Super Bowl Pool..........it is very easy. Each pool has 100 boxes that are assigned a number for each team in the Super Bowl. For each $20 box you buy, you will be randomly assigned two numbers........one for the AFC team and one for the NFC team. Using last year as an example, you may have been assigned a 4 for Seattle and a 0 for Denver. If this were the case you are rooting for any score that has Seattle ending in a 4 and the Broncos ending with a zero (Seattle 4 - Denver 10, Seattle 24 - Denver 0, Seattle 14 - Denver - 30, etc, etc, etc).<br />
<br />
The pool is a great way to spice up game day. As always, half of the pool will be distributed to the winners and half will go towards finding a cure for cancer via a donation to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Based off the $20 per box entry fee, $1,000 will be donated to charity and $1,000 will be split as follows:<br />
<ul>
<li>1st Quarter = $125</li>
<li>Halftime = $250</li>
<li>3rd Quarter = $125</li>
<li>Final Score = $500 </li>
</ul>
The Super Bowl will be held on February 1, 2015. Last year we sold out 3 pools and this year we are working on our 2nd one as I write this post. It would be amazing to match last year but we are grateful for everything whether we do or do not.<br />
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<div>
</div>
<div>
To recap the rules:</div>
* 100 Boxes per pool<br />
* $20 per box to play<br />
* We randomly place you in a box on a 10x10 grid. Each box contains two numbers - one for the AFC champion and one for the NFC champion. If the numbers match the score at the end of each quarter you win! Just to be clear, we literally randomly place your name in the grid and then randomly pull numbers for the grid. It takes a while but assures every aspect of each grid is by chance.<br />
<br />
How to pay:<br />
<div>
</div>
<div>
1) Email Lori Jomsky or myelf (we can DM you our email addresses if need be) how many boxes you would like. The more you buy the more chances to win and fight cancer. You can also reach out via FB or Twitter @lj3000 and @run2savelives (me)</div>
2) Give Money directly to Chris or Lori if you happen to know us IRL<br />
3) Mail a check payable to Lori Jomsky (so we can divide the money for charity/winners): 4211 Via Entrada, Newbury Park, CA 91320<br />
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Thank You!!!! Happy New Year!!!!!!!!!!!!!</div>
Christopher Wilnohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15338764820117255167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6490271571550276642.post-12770300549899082014-07-31T23:42:00.000-07:002014-08-01T00:45:15.504-07:00Beyond my Limits: We Will Find a Cure<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Below is a post
to recap some thoughts tied to my participation in the 2014 Greater Los Angeles
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Man and Woman of the Year campaign.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The post will also serve as this year’s
annual writing to honor and remember my daughter Isabella Soleil Wilno as part
of Isabella’s Day 2014.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She is no
longer here but continues to guide me to great things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She continues to impact the world
without ever having taken a single step on this planet or ever having spoken a
single word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She is why I move
forward when sometimes I want to stop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She is why I take on challenges I might otherwise walk away from and as
part of this recent 10 week crusade to raise funds to fight cancer, I believe
she is the reason <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">We Will Find a Cure</i>
saw great success when barriers to that success were abundant. When I accepted
the nomination to be a part of the Man of the Year campaign, I told my friends all
I wanted was to exit the program having the ability to look to the sky knowing
my Dad and Isabella were smiling down from Heaven proud of the effort.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, my precious Isabella, I miss you
terribly and I hope you were smiling down on me when I glanced your way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here we go:</div>
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May 31<sup>st</sup>….</div>
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It was just
another night for most people but for me personally………..and for a group of my
friends and family……it was a remarkable evening that marked the culmination of
the 2014 Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Man and Woman of the Year
campaign.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One month has passed
since that night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have thought
about this post every day since then but the words have been a struggle for
me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have often sat down to write
but I always fail to come up with anything that will make sense to anybody but
me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The struggle is not finding
the words……the struggle is sifting through too many words and too many emotions.
I often have this issue after key moments in my life and this was most
definitely a key moment. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We Will
Find a Cure raised $126,000 towards cancer research in a mere 10 week time
period and on May 31, 2014, I was crowned the 2014 Leukemia & Lymphoma
Society’s Man of the Year tied to the effort. Ever since I first shared my
story of loss years ago, I have preached that blessings come from the worst of
times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This night was an
exclamation to that statement………….one night to add clarity that my very worst
days have led to some of the most remarkable moments in my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilPo9Lli_AZPjajNOxGpal58MHQv-ag_7Y5Uh8VIazpLfnk2xVOZ_I562V0vKe7kLq6HTEkCQ4c5k5tVe78CRJi7xx2OOVFd_BRzXjDFclwYYNVx0oAheAY2LMsjXIBZW9B_71MbjUhyphenhyphens/s1600/collecting+my+thoughts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilPo9Lli_AZPjajNOxGpal58MHQv-ag_7Y5Uh8VIazpLfnk2xVOZ_I562V0vKe7kLq6HTEkCQ4c5k5tVe78CRJi7xx2OOVFd_BRzXjDFclwYYNVx0oAheAY2LMsjXIBZW9B_71MbjUhyphenhyphens/s1600/collecting+my+thoughts.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Collecting my composure</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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I am going
to do my best to add clarity to my thoughts in this post but please know this
journey extends well beyond the 10 weeks allotted to the campaign so clarity may
be a challenge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We Will Find a
Cure represented so many things not only to me but to everyone that joined me
for the ride.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The full extent of
what I learned from the experience may never come to me and the words I put
here to paper may need revision for years to come.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is no better evidence of this fact than the specific
catalyst that has even motivated me to begin writing………a catalyst in the form
of a movie that helped remind me of how far I have traveled and why we should
never ever give up.</div>
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I currently
find myself on a plane ride home from New York where I spent the last few days
attending CE Week, visiting vendors and visiting customers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After completing an hour or so of work,
I decided to unwind with a little television so I turned on DIRECTV where I stumbled
across the Pursuit of Happyness……..a movie featuring Will Smith and his son
Jaden Smith. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have mentioned this
movie in a prior post at this blog but I rarely speak about it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Pursuit of Happyness reminds me of
a dark time after Isabella passed away and after my Dad passed away when I was
one wrong move away from my family living on the street.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was tapped out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was 100’s and 100’s of thousands of
dollars in debt and that had nothing to do with the mortgage payment on the
house my family lived in. This debt was tied to some decisions gone awry
followed by some folks defrauding me followed by the final dagger…..the real
estate market crash.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had taken a
risk on some properties to try and get myself out of trouble.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My plan was to flip these properties
and use the profits to reduce my debts but the real estate market would have
none of that so my bad situation worsened.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bankruptcy was never an option……..pride was part of that I
guess but more importantly some friends, in an attempt to help me out, co-signed
for the properties I had planned to flip.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There was no way in hell I was going to take them down with me so onward
I went hoping for a solution. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
all hit dark times……this one was pitch black for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I constantly found myself thinking what a loser I was to put
my family in harm’s way like that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
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They
deserved better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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They deserved everything.</div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I often thought
how much better off my family would be if a bus took me out on the way home
because the life insurance would certainly help the family out more than I was
able to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No bus came though.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It didn’t come for Chris Gardner
either. That is who the movie The Pursuit of Happyness is based on. He was at
rock bottom fighting to keep his family afloat……..sleeping in subway
stations……..sleeping in hostels.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He scraped and he clawed and he shoved obstacles out of the way and
ultimately won a job at Dean Whitter that marked the light at the end of a very
long tunnel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>May 31<sup>st</sup>
was my job at Dean Whitter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was
proof you can come back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was
proof that if you are here on this planet still breathing, your time is not
done and there is more for you to accomplish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I never ended up living in a box.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I worked hard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
pushed forward. I fought back…..and on May 31, 2014, I was crowned the 2014 Leukemia
& Lymphoma Society Man of the Year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It wasn’t the trophy or the title that meant anything to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What meant something was the 10 year
ride that led to the 10 week ride that led to the trophy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What mattered was the life I led to
come back from almost living on the street and how people responded. During
that 10 year period, I opened up about my story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I openly communicated about the loss of my Dad and every
year I wrote about my daughter Isabella and how her loss has forever changed
me. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even this blog is the result
of that communication as I started it in response to cancer deciding one battle
with my wife wasn’t enough. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some
people probably didn’t want to hear about my story but for others…….it touched
their lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My losses helped my
life cross paths with many people I otherwise would never have met……truly
amazing people that are my friends in real life and my virtual friends
connected through social media (who are hopefully my friends in real life soon <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span>).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My losses helped teach me I have the
ability to make a difference in this world and in the lives of others which
ultimately led to me being a coach for Team in Training, the endurance sports
fundraising arm of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At Team in Training, I was not only
introduced to a life of endurance sports but blessed with this coaching
opportunity and the chance to share my thoughts on life and what I believe we,
as individuals, are all capable of.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I have the honor of showing people that the concept of ‘impossible’ is a
myth. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This title of Man of the Year
is the culmination of all of that……proof that what I did was meaningful
because, honestly, everyone that stood by my side as part of We Will Find a
Cure are people in my life because of my losses (my wife and mother excluded).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are the blessings from the dark
times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are the proof that
people were listening to me and that I was making an impact.</div>
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At a high
level, this was my journey and honestly, until turning on DIRECTV at 30,000
feet, I didn’t even realize it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The significance just sat in the back of my mind waiting for Will Smith
to remind me of where I had come from.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It probably isn’t how anybody expected this post to open….me included…..
but I think it is an important message.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I hope wherever you find yourself in life while reading this post is full
of light and joy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If, however, you
find yourself in a place of struggle………..know there are better times
ahead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dig in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Learn all you can and fight your way
forward.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The struggles you have
today can take you to amazing places and lead you to a life you never imagined.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like I said above, if you are still
breathing…….your time here is not finished<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6490271571550276642" name="_GoBack"></a> and your
purpose is not fulfilled. There are things to get done and impacts to create so
go make it happen.</div>
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The message
above represents my life’s journey……where I came from and where things
landed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The specifics of this
campaign, however, all tied to a hatred of cancer and how friends and family
came together to try and find a cure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There is no way I could write about this campaign in novel form so from
here on out you get random bullet points as thoughts invade my mind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Along the way I hope to recognize the
folks that made all of this possible for, without them, this post does not
exist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In case you made it to this
point having no idea what I am writing about, I will begin with a quick
synopsis.</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP32dM_YQOoQVm53we1O3r-XgW0-75TftRpxeXjh9HzWr8tKG7_fvr9wkkN8eln9nJJvg2BUb564vQgYqb_K4eYZ2fQuDtgix13rZ-XgrvT-IGxFODZvCgyVTmO2nXsVQO9sv8HcBh1HQ/s1600/USA+Today.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP32dM_YQOoQVm53we1O3r-XgW0-75TftRpxeXjh9HzWr8tKG7_fvr9wkkN8eln9nJJvg2BUb564vQgYqb_K4eYZ2fQuDtgix13rZ-XgrvT-IGxFODZvCgyVTmO2nXsVQO9sv8HcBh1HQ/s1600/USA+Today.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My name mentioned in USA Today</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Early in
March of 2014, I accepted a nomination to participate in a 10 week campaign
hosted by The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was nominated by Sarah Weston Clark….a friend I met
through Team in Training, another fundraising arm of LLS where I have dedicated
a lot of time to fighting cancer. Up to this point, Team in Training was how I
honored the promise I made to my Dad to fight back against the disease that
took him, the promise I made to my wife to do the same and the promise I made
to my little angel in Heaven, Isabella………to lead a life that makes her
proud.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had fulfilled these
promises as an endurance athlete having raised approximately $135,000 over the
course of 12 different events from half marathon to Ironman distance
triathlon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also fulfilled these
promises as a coach for Team in Training where I had the blessing to change
lives and teach people what they are capable of accomplishing……..which, for the
record, is ANYTHING!</div>
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In my eyes,
I accepted this nomination late in the game.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The 10 week campaign began on March 22<sup>nd</sup>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This did not allow a lot of time for
planning out a path to success nor did it allow a lot of time to define what
success would mean. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because of
this…….accepting the nomination was quite a challenge for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The fear of failure was overwhelming
which, although it may sound strange, is exactly why I accepted the
nomination.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The path was unclear
but I always share a quote with newcomers to Team in Training from Martin
Luther King that reads “Faith is taking the first step even when you do not see
the whole staircase”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Staring at
fear and shoving it aside is also what I say I love about endurance
sports.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How could I teach these
principles and not act upon them?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The answer is that I couldn’t so into the fire I leapt with some
remarkable support from friends and family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will go into much more detail on this but please know this
campaign is NOT successful if I am walking alone on this journey.</div>
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The end
result…………in the 10 weeks from March 22 – May 31, 2014, the campaign titled We
Will Find a Cure raised over $126,000 towards ridding the world of cancer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is a lot of money in a short
period of time and there is great personal significance to the amount which I
will talk about a little later in this post.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One hundred twenty six thousand dollars was more than any
other male participant in the 2014 campaign so on May 31<sup>st</sup> I was
crowned the 2014 LLS Man of the Year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My name is attached to the honor but this is without question a Team of
the Year award because, as I state above, none of this happens without an army
of amazing people standing by my side. Now to the miscellaneous thoughts as
they come to me:</div>
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">I have always lived by the principle that if you
speak and act from the heart, good things will happen.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">This is certainly true 100% of the time
and putting yourself out there certainly has some risk but the rewards can be
remarkable.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Proof of this concept
lies in the 2014 LLS </span><u style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Woman</u><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> of the Year for Greater Los Angeles, Samara
Wolpe.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">If you think my $126,000 is
a great achievement, you will fall over when I tell you she raised over
$350,000.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">This is not only
significant to Greater LA.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">This is
not only significant to 2014.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">This
is the greatest sum of money ever raised by anyone…..anywhere….in a Man/Woman
of the Year campaign. To my credit, I had guessed Samara would raise $400,000
because I know her Mom and Dad and they are great cancer fighters with a strong
personal connection to the cause and the willingness to use their amazing
connections to better the world. </span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">How does Samara prove out my theory on
speaking from the heart?</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">The
answer lies in Ellie Wolpe.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Ellie
Wolpe is Samara’s Mom.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Years ago,
I was speaking at a library in West Hollywood and Ellie happened to be in the
audience as I shared my story of loss and why Team in Training was so important
to me….and why I felt it could change the life of everyone listening to me if
they had the courage to join.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Ellie was touched by my speech and took the leap of faith to register
for Team in Training as part of the marathon program I would be leading that
summer.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Not only did Ellie join
but she raised over $100,000 for that single season…..still a record for any
team I have coached.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">From there,
Ellie went on to do even more amazing things for the Leukemia & Lymphoma
Society which ultimately led to Samara being a part of the 2014 MWOY
campaign.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Be it right or wrong, I
like to consider myself a part of Samara’s success story for, if not for that
speech in West Hollywood years ago, she might never have found herself on the
doorstep of LLS. Samara, Ellie and
David Wolpe are a part of my legacy and are 3 amazing blessings that came out
of the darkness that is my story</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib0osTdAiz49Or8Lt85UmBbatHLFMK-_DHlwL9w3hSNXz-a8K6gImMMNEQfKnqd-Zj6vsTQl87dPSuqabqYOxGASBNwMf_Ak_TeBDBg9wzk7Qx6EZ7y9k5zcrrZWCs4FQglRHwnfvraIo/s1600/all+candidates.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib0osTdAiz49Or8Lt85UmBbatHLFMK-_DHlwL9w3hSNXz-a8K6gImMMNEQfKnqd-Zj6vsTQl87dPSuqabqYOxGASBNwMf_Ak_TeBDBg9wzk7Qx6EZ7y9k5zcrrZWCs4FQglRHwnfvraIo/s1600/all+candidates.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All Candidates</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">So far I have talked about the Man of the Year
and the Woman of the Year but it is extremely important to mention that all
candidates as part of this campaign raised an aggregate total of over $1.1
million.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">I always said that this
campaign was not about winning……it was different things on a personal level to
every participant but the spirit behind it all was about finding a cure for
cancer.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">If I had come in second or
third or last and someone else raised $1m, how could I be unhappy with that
result.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">The cure is what matters
and as a group, all of the 2014 candidates did an amazing job getting us closer
to the day when the end of cancer hits the news.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">I am proud to have been a small part of the big picture and
I am proud of everyone that had the courage to join the Man and Woman of the
Year campaign and make a difference.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">It will be impossible to thank everyone that had
a hand in this venture but I damn sure am going to try.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">This being said, I am certain to make a
mistake and miss someone so I apologize in advance to anyone I fail to mention.
I also vow to amend this post to right my wrong <span style="font-family: Wingdings;">:) </span></span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRWZ6wqdKQcoJ0JiLELlMuupDvNXOHbGvrQi6-ns_kGguebgHN4Dm5N8tT6x14YViz8an-j-Z9XfguqOWNvDxiqfWcfhdhmp1oAmiVlRymNyw8pewb3mswBlJWQwKMYkzibkWzcekj2I4/s1600/crea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRWZ6wqdKQcoJ0JiLELlMuupDvNXOHbGvrQi6-ns_kGguebgHN4Dm5N8tT6x14YViz8an-j-Z9XfguqOWNvDxiqfWcfhdhmp1oAmiVlRymNyw8pewb3mswBlJWQwKMYkzibkWzcekj2I4/s1600/crea.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crea and I....she needs that giant margarita to tolerate me :)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">My wife Crea Wilno gets the first thank
you.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">This campaign did not come at
a time ideal for my family.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">I was
dealing with crazy work stress and work hours coupled with buying a new house,
trying to sell an old house and all the stress that accompanies 2 mortgage
payments. This campaign was a lot to take on and Crea allowed me the freedom to
follow my heart. She has always done this for me.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Without her standing by my side and allowing me the time to
coach and train I would have accomplished literally nothing in the world of
cancer fighting. I am truly grateful to have Crea as my wife and friend and
motivating force.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">I am also
extremely thankful she had the strength and courage to stare cancer in the face
two times……coming out the victor on both occasions…..for without her our family
would be lost. </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Another reason to thank my wife</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> is for all of the work she put into the campaign. She stuffed hundreds of envelopes........like 1,000 which is no joke.......so that all of my fundraising letters made it out on time.....she monitored our square page and mailed out any t-shirts that were purchased and she handled mailing all of the virtual #BeatCancer 5K Bibs and medals.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Upon accepting the nomination to join the Man of
the Year campaign, I immediately reached out to friends and family to see who
would be willing to jump into this madness and stand by my side for 10
weeks.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">I had no plan of attack so
I reached out expressing how important this journey was to me and the response
was overwhelming.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">I built a team
of folks that were willing to go well beyond the call of duty and help me plan
this attack.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Lori Jomsky was my very
first call.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">She has always had my
back when I embark upon these crazy journeys and never challenges the high
expectations I place upon myself…..she just asks how she can help make it happen.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Other folks that stepped up either
initially or over the course of the journey were Javier Rivera, Sarah Clark,
Niesja Sharp, Charlene Levy, Lillah McCarthy, Leah Beck, Candice Yee, Allison
Ewart, Heather Bilhorn, Jennifer Raymond, Jennifer Giannini, Paul Wintner,
Alison Chavez, Carrie Smith, Sarah Harris, Leda Gonzalez, Aubrey Walton, Laura
Bittner, Kelley Puckett, Eric Orivieto, Molly Chance, my Mom....Marjorie
Wilno and the LLS Club at Newbury Park High School led by Sydney Clark and Jordan Jomsky.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Truthfully, not everyone
could step up and help as they initially intended to do but I mention everyone
here because the desire to help meant so much out of the gate.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Knowing people were supportive of my
decision provided some level of comfort that we were going to be successful.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Besides the group of folks mentioned above,
there was another group of individuals that stepped up to help We Will Find a
Cure in a different way.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">The core
group of individuals planning We Will Find a Cure determined one of the ways we
would raise money as part of this campaign was to build an army of folks sending
out their own personal letters and emails.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">It really ties back to the name we decided to call our
campaign……WE WILL FIND A CURE. My story is what led me to the doorstep of this
campaign but everybody has their own personal reason for wanting to end
cancer.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">This campaign was not
about me……it was about all of our sad stories and the need to end them.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">On this note, we sent out emails asking
if folks would be willing to individually fundraise in support of We Will Find
a Cure.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">We originally put a budget
of $27,000 on this aspect of the campaign but little did we know the army that
would enlist.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">More than 25 people
stepped up to participate and raised a total of over </span><b style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><u>$45,000</u></b><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Some
of these folks were performing double duty as they were also on the team of
people mentioned above helping plan out the 10 week road to success. Even more
remarkable….some folks that joined me in battle didn’t even know who I
was……well maybe they had heard of me because of the money I had raised as part
of Team in Training but we had never met face to face.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">That is a very powerful statement about
the good people that exist in this world coupled with the hatred of cancer that
exists in this world.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">I am so
grateful to this list #BeatCancer heroes….whether you raised $10 or $10,000:
Charlene Levy, Jacqueline Haberfeld, Marjorie Wilno, Lori Jomsky, Aubrey
Walton, Crea Wilno, Jennifer Raymond, Jennifer Giannini, Paul Wintner, DeeDee
Urquhart, Jeanne Sarmiento, Marian Manzer, Beckie Burns, Krystle Zhang, Gilda
DeLaCruz, Jenny Lewis, Niesja Sharp, Carlos Pineda, Mike Cimmarrusti, Peter
Woelflein, Rachael Burnson, Eric Orvieto, Tracy Sheridan, Laura Bittner, Ronel
Wright, Allison Ewart, Catherine Knight, Anna Belentsova, Sabine Hermann and
Aracy Sherrill.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">A quick thought on the list above.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Asking people to raise money on behalf
of this campaign was the most challenging ask of all for me.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">I am not sure why but this request
seemed beyond reasonable.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Asking
time and effort from people was one thing but asking people to tap into their
friends and family on behalf of a venture I got myself into did not feel
right.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">I mention at the top of
this post that there are many things I garnered from the Man of the Year
experience.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">One of those things I
garnered was to trust, delegate and let go.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">In my career, delegation has never been my strong suit. As
it pertains to this aspect of our campaign, delegation and trust were the only
way this was going to see success because I did not have it within me to make
this request of people.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">As such, my
friends reached out to their friends and shared my story.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">That led to the list above of
incredible people that responded to make a difference.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Then Sarah Clark…..the same Sarah Clark
that nominated me for this campaign……stepped up to lead the team week by
week.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">She would send weekly
updates and fundraising ideas.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">She
worked to make sure anyone that wanted to help had the tools to help.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">She made sure they were able to set up
their fundraising page and she answered all of their questions.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">I chimed in occasionally to Sarah’s
emails to the team and I would sometimes send my own emails……especially when
the finish line looked incredibly far away…..but Sarah and this group of
#beatcancer heroes did this on their own.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Adaptation. Another key lesson derived from We
Will Find a Cure was the ability to adapt.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">A few weeks prior to the start of the campaign, we mapped
out our path to goal.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">At a high
level it looked like this:</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Car
sponsorship</div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Corporate
sponsorship: we had an inside scoop we could secure a significant donation from
a local company one of our team members worked for.</div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->My
personal letters and emails</div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Team
personal letters and emails</div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Big
event: at this point it was a concert or a nice sit down dinner</div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Donation
tins</div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Raffle</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->T-shirts</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Drag
Queen Bingo x 2</div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Silent
Auction Items/Charity Buzz</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->It
is important to note our plan was NOT to participate in incentives offered by
the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. As an example, we could secure volunteers
for the Grand Finale and the value of the donated services would get added to our
fundraising total (i.e. you could secure an event photographer to volunteer
their services). There were also weekly challenges.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our belief at the time was these incentives distract us from
our main fundraising efforts…..this would prove completely false.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
While we did act on many of the ideas
above, We Will Find A Cure certainly arrived at the finish line having taken a
different route than expected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Major
car companies immediately turned us down. We had prepared a presentation for
BMW, as an example, and knew someone that could make sure our presentation was made
it to review but ultimately we did not secure a car (please note this is NOT a
knock on BMW…..they are a very charitable organization).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was our $25-50,000 idea thrown out
the window.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our inside lead on the
local corporate sponsorship also fell through tied to a technicality whereby
the donation could not be made to an individual. We tried to make the point
that this was a group effort despite my name being attached to the donation but
it did not work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was our
$15-25,000 idea so now, before we even started we were seeing more failure than
success.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What remained on our list
was not enough to raise substantial dollars so my fear of failure was starting
to come into focus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>$50,000 was
the minimum amount needed in order for me to feel good about our effort .<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once clearing $50,000 I vowed I would
take a quick sigh of relief but I should have known me better….I am really not
the kind of guy that is ever content.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We were at $50,000 at approximately the 5 week mark.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You might think $50K at the half way
point was a good thing but I felt like our team was tapped out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All of our big money making ideas were
behind us….the 5 weeks that lied ahead were an empty slate with few ideas to
drive donations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was
unfortunate because my definition of success began to gain clarity and the
total that came into focus was $100,000.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">A quick pause to explain the significance of
$100,000 (I told you this was going to be a group of random thoughts).</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">For each $50,000 you get to attach a
name to a research grant.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">At
$50,000 my father would be the first name attached to the grant.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">This was significant in that he would
literally be a part of fighting back against the disease that took his life.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">At the second $50,000 raised ($100,000
total) my daughter Isabella’s name would be attached to the research
grant.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">While it is not cancer that
took our daughter, she has been a big part of the fight over these years.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">We lost her while my Dad was fighting
cancer and it is her passing that led to the cancer diagnosis in my wife.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">She has been my motivation on a daily
basis and, honestly, she has served as motivation to so many others over the
years.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">It just felt appropriate to
have my precious angel attached to something tangible……proof that anybody can
make a difference. I will get repetitive below regarding this but I cannot emphasize enough how much this $100K total drove me down the stretch. It kept me up at night. I was an emotional train wreck when $100,000 looked so far out of reach. I shared this fear with folks on the campaign and at LLS and tears very often invaded the conversation. The amazing part is that everyone around me accepted this goal as their own too. Isabella was my responsibility.....my loss......my promise to keep but literally everyone took it upon themselves to make sure we did everything in our power to get Isabella's name on the grant. My goal became everyone's goal and it is what we drove to relentlessly. I remember clearly the reaction when I was announced the winner on May 31st....tears streaming down the faces of my teammates. This meant as much to them as me and I cannot describe to you how much that means to me....that people would give so much of themselves to help me accomplish this task.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Another quick pause.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">At $150,000 Crea, my wife, would have her name attached to a
grant.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">In the end we were only
$24,000 away from making that happen so, if I have, any regrets it is not
knowing how close we could come.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">We were a long way from $100,000 with a short period of time to go but I
wish I had the vision and faith to see this would all come through so that I
might have thought of a way to get that last $50,000. My wife does not
mind.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">She is not upset at all. She
is just my hero and I wish I had got it done for her.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">When I accepted my nomination to participate in
this campaign, I was told that all successful campaigns need a good website and
a good video speaking to the personal connection.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">This was fantastic except I did not know how to build a
website nor do I possess the skill set to make a great video……I did make a
video for </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><a href="http://www.training2savelives.com/2013/07/isabellas-day-2013.html">Isabella’s Day 2013</a></span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> which
was meaningful to me but certainly no masterpiece.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">As such, I was yet again dependent on others and asking for
help.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Help for the website came
from Leah Beck who was also on the team helping to map out this campaign.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">She jumped in and was the master behind
</span><a href="http://www.wewillfindacure.com/" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">www.wewillfindacure.com</a><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Leah has a job and a life but she
managed to set aside the time so that this campaign had a chance for
success.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">The solution for the
video did not come as easy.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">I
reached out for help but the folks I knew could help were all too busy.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Just when all seemed lost a few people
stepped up to save the day.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Pai
Wei was one of the first.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">He is a
big proponent of Team in Training and the master behind some incredible footage
from Team in Training Triathlon seasons.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">He agreed to meet me on the streets where both of us have trained
countless hours to get some footage that might help in the overall production
of the video. He filmed me running and biking and took some creative shots
which were quite remarkable.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">None
of this footage made it into the final cut but I am so grateful to Pai and I
have some footage that I am sure will get used in my lifetime.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">The other person to step up was Nazie
Tashakorian, a former participant on one of the teams I coached and I have to
say this was unexpected…which is why it is so amazing.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Nazie was part of the Disney Half
Marathon crew in Fall 2013 and some family health issues led to her not being
able to complete the race.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Despite
that disappointment, Nazie reached out to her husband Eddie and her brother in
law, Dani of Dani Evocophotography and they agreed to shoot the footage and
produce the video.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">The weight
lifted off of my shoulders when these guys stepped up to help was
enormous.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">I met Eddie and Dani in
Hollywood to share my story.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">I
also sent them articles written about me as well as letters I had written and
links to other posts at this website.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">They turned all of that information into interview type questions which
they asked me on camera.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">The end
result is the video you see at the We Will Find a Cure website.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">The end result is that video helped
secure critical donations so these guys are a big part of our success.</span></li>
</ul>
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Okay, I am going to try and wrap this
up by walking everyone through some of the key moments/items on the path to
raising $126,000.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have already
stated this but really need to do so again……there is no way I can recognize
every single person that had an impact on this campaign.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am already worried about being too
detailed and having this post turn into a 500 page novel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE know that I am
grateful for everything whether you name has made this post or not. Here are
some of the ways we achieved success:</div>
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<br /></div>
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</div>
<ul>
<li>My
letter writing and email campaign proved more successful than I anticipated. I had budgeted $5,000 for my efforts but
went well beyond raising more than $17,000. I guess I underestimated my friends
but that was only because so many of them were either fundraising for
themselves and/or were helping on my team in other ways.</li>
</ul>
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</div>
<ul>
<li>As
discussed above, the team of individuals fundraising on my behalf did a
remarkable job exceeding expectations.
I am not going to individually name persons and amounts because I am
grateful to everyone regardless of how much they raised. For the record, though, we have
multiple people raise more than $5,000 and one person that raised greater than
$11,000.</li>
</ul>
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</div>
<ul>
<li>On
the opening night of the 10 week campaign we invited some friends to Karaoke to
kick off the fun. It was an
intimate group but raised over $1,000 because folks on my team really worked
the bar crowd to sell 50-50 raffle tickets. One thousand dollars at the start of the campaign may not
seem like a lot but it set a remarkable tone that we could be successful and
that people were in the fight with me. Much thanks to Leah Beck for helping get us started on the right track and the mad crew that sold all of the raffle tickets.....I remember Allison Ewart, Joseph Clark and Charlene Levy but I am sure there were more!</li>
</ul>
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</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH3lXbU7teg0efHNpXgpwrHSTV2tFtSsbA095chx_fJ1PbRXqip3wcovav2W6C2bCrqQ8GMpfnKDbEZBlI-BzI6yoJfeG-Coo7CyYbIwxhdqWVThgZVrtPGd75_jujyN64JSNGQMGutwo/s1600/shirt.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH3lXbU7teg0efHNpXgpwrHSTV2tFtSsbA095chx_fJ1PbRXqip3wcovav2W6C2bCrqQ8GMpfnKDbEZBlI-BzI6yoJfeG-Coo7CyYbIwxhdqWVThgZVrtPGd75_jujyN64JSNGQMGutwo/s1600/shirt.png" height="200" width="176" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You know you want one</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<ul>
<li>T-shirt
sales produced a few thousand dollars.
Thanks to American Apparel for giving us a great deal on the shirts and
to Lorraine Shea for helping secure the screen printing for free. This being said, we were over zealous
with the buy so there are still plenty of shirts if you would like one <span style="font-family: Wingdings;">J</span>. Our logo is on the front and
#BeatCancer is on the back. Click <a href="https://squareup.com/market/we-will-find-a-cure">HERE</a> for our store.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>While
not really tied to reaching $126,000, early in the campaign I joined other
participants to be recognized on the field at Dodger’s Stadium. It was
definitely a cool moment because my family was there to witness it. My children are young at 6 and 9 years
old but I hope some of what they witnessed during this 10 week campaign sticks
with them. I hope they know their
Dad once did something cool and accomplished some great things and more
importantly I hope they carry this forward into their own lives.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisfYQxtSE3r2UaO5m2y_0H85MZB8gBZmxreEtK7kgznbBIisx_ny8LbfUFlUZRDihjMkQykKD1IlIBnNAQfwB1CmTs_8QXBw2BrD2gBycf1BHVzXwjCuWZUl76imi8xnR0q28wcKa_a9Y/s1600/Dodgers+Big+Screen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisfYQxtSE3r2UaO5m2y_0H85MZB8gBZmxreEtK7kgznbBIisx_ny8LbfUFlUZRDihjMkQykKD1IlIBnNAQfwB1CmTs_8QXBw2BrD2gBycf1BHVzXwjCuWZUl76imi8xnR0q28wcKa_a9Y/s1600/Dodgers+Big+Screen.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I made the big screen</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</li>
</ul>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiWarztxBYHMwOnHqG_itzizXOAZfQ2ivsI5r8tWfFREleo6WVR7fReOmfEMaNBo2h89xBhtHZHp-vs5jikE25wvyx0Cc_cz0Kjhz2UiNflg6phUK_cKmMmW9yEZ-GRPPMnChql9-l7jw/s1600/Mom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiWarztxBYHMwOnHqG_itzizXOAZfQ2ivsI5r8tWfFREleo6WVR7fReOmfEMaNBo2h89xBhtHZHp-vs5jikE25wvyx0Cc_cz0Kjhz2UiNflg6phUK_cKmMmW9yEZ-GRPPMnChql9-l7jw/s1600/Mom.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Mom is the one on the left :)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<ul>
<li>My
Mom is worthy of a separate post but I will mention her here because she was a
big contributor to the success of this campaign. Why I want to mention her is, of course, partly due to this
but more importantly I want to mention my Mom because of the courage she
demonstrated to join the effort and the amazing progress she made over the
course of the 10 week journey. I
have always been amazingly close to my Mom. She is the most giving person I know……the kind of Mom even
your friends love to hang around when growing up. She has literally never placed herself first on any occasion
as she is always thinking of the other person. My story involves the loss of my
Dad. Her story involves the loss
of her husband…..the love of her life……her soul mate. My Dad passed away mere days before my parents would have
celebrated their 40<sup>th</sup> wedding anniversary. I actually think the only reason my Dad held on as long as
he did was because of my Mom……….he needed to know she would be okay after he
passed. The day before my Dad
passed away, he never woke up from a deep and comfortable sleep. When I said goodnight that night, I
felt like I was saying goodbye. I whispered to my Dad that it was okay to let
go……that I would take care of Mom and that we would miss him but be okay and
see him on the other side. A few
hours later he let go. I do not
think my Mom has ever been the same since my father passed away. Time has healed her wounds but she will
never be at 100% because a part of her left when he left. Joining We Will Find a Cure required my
Mom to stare some bad memories in the face. She had to relive some tough times…..times she tried to
remove from her memory. I knew all
of this and, truth be told, it is probably one of the reasons I accepted my
nomination. I really believe my
Mom needed to face all of this.
She needed to know what kicking cancer in the face felt like. Beyond having to stare some dark times
in the face, my Mom has never really had to ask anybody for help. Fundraising scared my Mom beyond belief,
which is another reason I felt this was important for her. You are never too old to learn to
overcome obstacles so my Mom accepted the challenge. Through tears, she wrote her fundraising letters and she
humbled herself to ask for money. Over the course of the 10 weeks I saw a
confidence level grow in my Mom.
She started walking business to business and sharing her story and
asking for donations from complete strangers. She, along with the help of my Aunt Judy, planned a local
event where they cooked food and sold beer and raised some more money. In the end, my Mom raised nearly $7,000
for this campaign on a goal she gave herself of $500-1,000. Ultimately she was
there in the room when I was crowned the Man of the Year and I know, like me,
my Dad was damn proud of all she accomplished.</li>
</ul>
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</div>
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</div>
<ul>
<li>I
already mentioned her but I would be remiss if I did not mention Lori Jomsky
again. She <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ-bGnpjv4jR6aDdygNiXeiJgAOme0l7zWzGpGepr2pGsl_LWfPFSAmcVmTzo_uobsdYdjb4IHn_1X0ntvm2A1k6T8tr0Dk43PxeaXwEJA7pQRiWdRFfaVvR12mJu2yFau4ThSJaFfn9E/s1600/Lori.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ-bGnpjv4jR6aDdygNiXeiJgAOme0l7zWzGpGepr2pGsl_LWfPFSAmcVmTzo_uobsdYdjb4IHn_1X0ntvm2A1k6T8tr0Dk43PxeaXwEJA7pQRiWdRFfaVvR12mJu2yFau4ThSJaFfn9E/s1600/Lori.JPG" height="320" width="233" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lori and I</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
stood right by my side start to finish during this campaign. We both have 60-70 hour a week jobs so
the time to work on this campaign came at odd hours and she was always there
when I needed her. She was a big
part of everything I mention in this post and a big part of the reason we
won. As were all of the people on
the WWFAC team, Lori was vested in the success. When we won, she cried and still cries to this day when talking about the campaign. I could list her name in every line items discussed in this post because she was literally involved in every single aspect.</li>
</ul>
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</div>
<ul>
<li>I
mentioned above that our plan for WWFAC was NOT to participate in weekly
challenges and incentives. We were
way off on that one. I do not know
the exact total but we raised between $6-7,000 on incentives. As an example, we were able to get
Teresa Paczkowski of Elena Trevino Designs to donate the design work for the
Finale Program which earned us money towards our campaign equal to the value of
that work. I have to call out Teresa
a second and third time as well because she put in a lot of time designing the
WWFAC logo used for our campaign as well as the #BeatCancer logo we utilized on
our t-shirts. She donated her
personal time without ever having met me.
She jumped in to help at the request of a friend and hearing our story. There truly are amazing people in this
world. I know the news is full of
quite the opposite but all around us are remarkable human beings that step up
to do heroic things. Teresa is one
of those people. Besides the incentive for the program design, we were able
to sell some ad space in the Finale program and we won almost every weekly
challenge because our team was full of rock stars that stepped up when I needed
help.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Above I discussed that at the 5 week mark we were about half way
to the $100,000 mark with no real path to make up the gap. All that we really had left that could
produce significant dollars was our big event……what started as a dinner or
concert <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc2YJAM0EeQBDY_ZW7fNs-0Ed6KSqYmQON0JbbONCreYX3FcT771l782i7KpeP_WOs-gtvuJcnWccn6G8m-HuB-xG32fbc0mHDlEMQAh4BhvNqTk1ZzL6pbFFxHTeZOc0LD7qH9j6_2gQ/s1600/5K+Registration.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc2YJAM0EeQBDY_ZW7fNs-0Ed6KSqYmQON0JbbONCreYX3FcT771l782i7KpeP_WOs-gtvuJcnWccn6G8m-HuB-xG32fbc0mHDlEMQAh4BhvNqTk1ZzL6pbFFxHTeZOc0LD7qH9j6_2gQ/s1600/5K+Registration.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pre Run Registration</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
landed on the #BeatCancer Bottomless 5K. In case you are wondering…..no, it was not a nude run or we
might have raised $200,000…..the ‘bottomless’ represented an alliance with a
local restaurant, Cabo Cantina. We
built into the registration fee a bottomless margarita or Bloody Mary after the
race. Our best-case scenario for
the race was $10,000 and, out of the gate, things were not looking good. Folks were very slow to sign up which
was understandable but unfortunate.
We had a great medal to offer but we were not an official timed
race…….just an informal fun run which ruled out the hard core runners that may
come join us.<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCoAen5PK91oG4h5vA2uplHg8N6VgbWaQYKScGJVV5pmtxzwxEfMpPgLGW9R_9LPhHR2SdZ1Byf8z4OlrNYtlID0WmQw4U6p9FUKY9x2jdWdJOZ9brk8Rc9x1SMaPIuYi4Ekg2NrwCk6E/s1600/race+speech.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCoAen5PK91oG4h5vA2uplHg8N6VgbWaQYKScGJVV5pmtxzwxEfMpPgLGW9R_9LPhHR2SdZ1Byf8z4OlrNYtlID0WmQw4U6p9FUKY9x2jdWdJOZ9brk8Rc9x1SMaPIuYi4Ekg2NrwCk6E/s1600/race+speech.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pre Run Mini Speech</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Despite the slow
start, we pushed forward and told the world about our race. We made contact with Bart Yasso who
tweeted about our race……which was very cool for us<span style="text-align: center;">. Chris Schauble
of KTLA also helped spread the word, which was greatly appreciated. On a side note, years ago, Chris also
helped get my story on the evening news when I pulled a stunt to sell my bad
karma on Ebay…..someone would pay me to root for the other team for the Super Bowl
when Green Bay played the Steelers.
Anyway, folks started to sign up and what was really helping our cause
is that when people registered at our site, they were als</span><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHGqGRFnrrxIbvDpCPmkYMqzU0g9KNZx4CNH7Ef_X_fm5DWxPQ5_k3bDGSmv6oHGeGQsTGkzTs_xATsNj4yNRMPrwxQMYAiYR9Cy1izbtIPUhwfQlKgJWFB-ueu-54ojKxcj44Jt3kgvI/s1600/Alison+++Mom.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHGqGRFnrrxIbvDpCPmkYMqzU0g9KNZx4CNH7Ef_X_fm5DWxPQ5_k3bDGSmv6oHGeGQsTGkzTs_xATsNj4yNRMPrwxQMYAiYR9Cy1izbtIPUhwfQlKgJWFB-ueu-54ojKxcj44Jt3kgvI/s1600/Alison+++Mom.JPG" height="211" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great moment...Me with Alison and her Mom Beth</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
o making donations and
buying t-shirts. Along the way, we added a virtual option for folks that could
not make the race or were from out of state or out of country. Ultimately 220 people registered,
which, combined with donations, and t-shirt sales brought in over $20,000. So many people put in so much work to
make this day a success. I could
not possibly name all of them but I can tell you our success was as important
to them as me. I remember after giving
a little pre-race send off speech and sending off runners with an air horn, I
turned to see my friend Charlene Levy crying as everyone headed down the
street. Everyone was vested in We
Will Find a Cure……….my story got us off the ground but ‘We’ were responsible
for the success. There were a few other highlights from the day I want to mention. One was having Alison Chavez come to
our race. Alison is a veteran Team
in Training peep…..a crazy endurance athlete and someone who had cancer knock
on her door. She had been battling breast cancer for a while but gathered the
strength to come complete 3.1 miles as part of our event and she will never
know how grateful I am for her participation (even if she is reading this
post!). Tobey Jomsky, Lori Jomsky’s son, also gets a shout out. Tobey had suffered an unfortunate
incident recently, which resulted in a broken back. Despite all of the pain from a recent surgery, Tobey really
wanted to be a part of our big day so he came to the run and handed out every
medal to every finisher on this day. It really made a special day for me even
more incredible. To Tobey, I
really hope you know that a full life lies in front of you. A broken back is a temporary setback in
what will be a life full of incredible memories and a life that I am sure will
have great impact on many others.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLbq4wO2MScuF-u632tHIErUwymu5IiY3731FY2nHCK-RbJuAtb3Twc5GG2TQQ8JsEMhBXsVXeYb6pk1Mcg88LOxNLKqDv7l5KXwsCDfpv5B8cLJ94eVhjtjjWMDdJ12z4_n5SVgYyy3U/s1600/Tobey2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLbq4wO2MScuF-u632tHIErUwymu5IiY3731FY2nHCK-RbJuAtb3Twc5GG2TQQ8JsEMhBXsVXeYb6pk1Mcg88LOxNLKqDv7l5KXwsCDfpv5B8cLJ94eVhjtjjWMDdJ12z4_n5SVgYyy3U/s1600/Tobey2.jpg" height="320" width="211" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tobey waiting for the first runners</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Much thanks to Javier Rivera and Audrey Duffy for their relentless search for an available date for Drag Queen Bingo. We had budgeted money for this function but every date during our 10 week campaign had been taken so Javier kept following up looking for cancellations and late in the game one came through. Drag Queen bingo is a fundraising staple for everyone at LLS but <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0esxiviM-Ym3Z6K1NyS46XJ4iTAoJdufxs4H8Gr5bftsrIcI7Onduxlu1ctpgmhiH_iISF82P9i8ZPiEDzywZNrORfGs1SlFUkrepklcwR-KUgBzCfVtGZ5jQUifTnXuRjv2ylQpNR4k/s1600/group+bingo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0esxiviM-Ym3Z6K1NyS46XJ4iTAoJdufxs4H8Gr5bftsrIcI7Onduxlu1ctpgmhiH_iISF82P9i8ZPiEDzywZNrORfGs1SlFUkrepklcwR-KUgBzCfVtGZ5jQUifTnXuRjv2ylQpNR4k/s1600/group+bingo.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Bingo Crew</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
in 10 years I had never been. I had heard of the madness and Roxy but had yet to experience it for myself. Because of the late notice, the team had to make a mad push to come up with giveaway prizes and items for raffle and, in the end, we were able to raise a few thousand dollars. As I think back, it was one of the ways we were able to close the gap down the stretch.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>We
were able to raise over $5,000 on Charity Buzz thanks to some hard work by
Lillah McCarthy. Part of that hard
work was securing items worthy of a silent auction and part of the work was
simply dealing with Lori Jomsky and I!
In the end, Lillah was able to secure some incredible meet and greet
celebrity experiences with Conan and Eric Dane. She also secured tickets to the AFI Lifetime Achievement
Awards along with passes to the after party for the show. Besides these items we also were able
to secure a back stage meet and greet with Flo Rida thanks to David Elmekies
who didn’t even know me when the WWFAC campaign began. He heard my story and simply asked how
he could help us reach our goal.
Once again, the world is full of remarkable people making a difference.</li>
</ul>
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</div>
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</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-CQ46b0HOZxQu8oWPV65PjbXZp3HZfpVGEAIv2ms8jBYXxQ4dhaXq_gJFURzLK_0IIkNRYoq8_gIPu2pRKOSrvbKweq05sB6aVOkJDDl0RCq0gb2lTRiNV-L100KvxSHcqi9iC5RO2o0/s1600/Franco.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-CQ46b0HOZxQu8oWPV65PjbXZp3HZfpVGEAIv2ms8jBYXxQ4dhaXq_gJFURzLK_0IIkNRYoq8_gIPu2pRKOSrvbKweq05sB6aVOkJDDl0RCq0gb2lTRiNV-L100KvxSHcqi9iC5RO2o0/s1600/Franco.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Huge thanks to Franco Bicycles!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<ul>
<li>The
very last big financial push came on the night of May 31<sup>st</sup> which was
the Grand Finale for the Man and Woman of the Year campaign. We had not planned on participating in
the silent auction aspect of this evening or the live auction which were for
items having a value greater than $5,000.
In the spirit of adapting along the way…….we participated in both and I
have to give great thanks to Franco bicycles and to Jules Jomsky for
introducing Franco to WWFAC. He set
in motion the events that led to Franco donating a remarkable Carbon Fiber time
trial bicycle. This thing was decked
out and at auction raised over $3,000 towards our campaign. If you are out looking for a bike,
please check them out at <a href="http://www.francobicycles.com/">www.francobicycles.com</a>. They have a
remarkable product with remarkable service and they are good people. Beyond Franco, there is an army to thank. Kelley Puckett scored amazing Dodger tickets, Sarah Clark for dressing up every silent auction item we had and making it look presentable, EATZ LA and everyone that hustled Los Angeles to secure gift certificates from restaurants and hotels.</li>
</ul>
<div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOGA6EBPbkaqu_l4vSBSgL144gtfGFE6G8JXlKAzAmReYYeY6hYE2tQQDqusnB1b-R4hwJu86r7YaOx3GBcD88m7N0YEN-ruiVVR9Vy7Vh_stLDkiR4wCSnfoh18QG5LVw70wb9oQtAag/s1600/gilda+yard+sale.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOGA6EBPbkaqu_l4vSBSgL144gtfGFE6G8JXlKAzAmReYYeY6hYE2tQQDqusnB1b-R4hwJu86r7YaOx3GBcD88m7N0YEN-ruiVVR9Vy7Vh_stLDkiR4wCSnfoh18QG5LVw70wb9oQtAag/s1600/gilda+yard+sale.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gilda showing off a jeans shirt purse</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<ul>
<li>Yard Sale.....almost forgot that one. This was another very late event that Leah Beck helped lead and and army stepped in. We were able to raise over $1,000 with a week to go because of everyone's hustle. There were also a lot of good times had that morning and I must note that this was the very first yard sale of my entire life.....only took 47 years. Thanks Leah, Michelle, Gilda, Candice, Leda, Lillah, Laura, Ron, Erin, Molly, Allison, Crea, Lori and all of our kids for teaching me how to let go of your possessions, have a good time, accept pennies on the dollar and have those pennies add up to a lot of money.<br />
</li>
</ul>
</div>
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I
could go on to talk about so many other things but this post is already
getting incredibly long.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Down the
stretch, I am not quite sure how we closed the gap to $100,000 let alone
exceeded it by $26,000.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I remember
reaching out to everyone I could think of and humbling myself to say I really
needed help.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The thought of not
getting to $100,000 brought me to tears on occasion so I had to push
forward.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In my eyes, missing the
$100,000 mark meant failing Isabella and, while I know she wouldn’t feel that
way, I had to arrive at the finish line knowing I tried everything I could to reach
that total.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the end, people
responded.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ron Harvey of Punk Rock
Racing donated profits from t-shirt sales to help close the gap. Friends not
even on the team asked their friends to support the cause and $500 checks would
arrive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Friends like Niesja Sharp
helped us get creative when ideas were running thin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the end, the ‘We’ in We Will Find a Cure is how this
campaign was successful and why this campaign was crowned the victor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have not come close to mentioning
everyone in this post.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I simply
could never get that done so to those not mentioned by name, please know I am
forever in your debt and grateful beyond belief.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are people that donated big amounts and raised insane
amounts of money not mentioned because I do not want the folks that gave $10 to
feel any less appreciated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope
you all understand but, if you do not, email me and I will amend this post to
make sure you are included.</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
Well, it took a while but I made it to
the end of this post.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wish I
could tell you all of this led to a cure but as I sit and write the final
sentences of this post, cancer lives on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We still have work to do as friends and family of all of us are
currently fighting for their lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We are working to determine the next steps for We Will Find a Cure
because we believe it can continue to make a difference.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you would like to accompany us wherever
the future may take us, please like our <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/wewillfindacurells">Facebookpage</a></b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Either way, thank you
for your time in reading this and thank you for all of the support over the
years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope you have found some
inspiration from this story and/or from my story and if so, I hope you use that
inspiration to go make an impact on the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cheers.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJj_UUbxW5fyoON9omu1pkSRq3nnxJePCNH0pFQJvFNO1h1dH_pIxqtoMlAgZlsT3WxazX8mFkyq_uS9oqbR8TNCUKkF0IBjg1m5oN-eGTxWRGRts4YsHHddm-8f8n2p96BA0SQL99GkU/s1600/Concerts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJj_UUbxW5fyoON9omu1pkSRq3nnxJePCNH0pFQJvFNO1h1dH_pIxqtoMlAgZlsT3WxazX8mFkyq_uS9oqbR8TNCUKkF0IBjg1m5oN-eGTxWRGRts4YsHHddm-8f8n2p96BA0SQL99GkU/s1600/Concerts.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">WWFAC set up pre concert. Design by Jennifer Raymond</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbzFLz2HMvm3F2WHgJh-z0ZchwzPFgw2tiT405YbY2RsDXtL8KKw3rhZ7OzTa2FPI8sBDRXJgr4b4twr6bXWK4rwqUa0FaMmDRgqdTTulxvPmD6PNXY1dyrChA3ay3qCEZkMkJNN2D77o/s1600/Gala+Group+Photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbzFLz2HMvm3F2WHgJh-z0ZchwzPFgw2tiT405YbY2RsDXtL8KKw3rhZ7OzTa2FPI8sBDRXJgr4b4twr6bXWK4rwqUa0FaMmDRgqdTTulxvPmD6PNXY1dyrChA3ay3qCEZkMkJNN2D77o/s1600/Gala+Group+Photo.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Group shot at the Finale</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhbq_xVbrpbpXq-SBzb5lXZsBjm8t9FVLLHzBFIFVPZ9VFJFCqPSwxva5HOtkz6908dGLZHB9smU_XWqohKgHYpVzE2J3Pvn0SBLaFMbVYj9jOCpyVRjF1Cx10oFj1YTf2JpsQVaG1aWM/s1600/Me+accepting+hug.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhbq_xVbrpbpXq-SBzb5lXZsBjm8t9FVLLHzBFIFVPZ9VFJFCqPSwxva5HOtkz6908dGLZHB9smU_XWqohKgHYpVzE2J3Pvn0SBLaFMbVYj9jOCpyVRjF1Cx10oFj1YTf2JpsQVaG1aWM/s1600/Me+accepting+hug.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Accepting the award!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikvD4GpMv94ec-xqno27EJxyvfRgC6qydLzl2Ub45LWxb4VL0Kw0FCu-kVtvT31B4pDxDH1cAdcdHOEET58D2L4uiNsip9mId2bXZDKlA-QrVQBrg4SIVQO7Z0aUefIsbshAOphJBx3F0/s1600/Me+++runner+up.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikvD4GpMv94ec-xqno27EJxyvfRgC6qydLzl2Ub45LWxb4VL0Kw0FCu-kVtvT31B4pDxDH1cAdcdHOEET58D2L4uiNsip9mId2bXZDKlA-QrVQBrg4SIVQO7Z0aUefIsbshAOphJBx3F0/s1600/Me+++runner+up.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Top two men in the house!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhujzUC_KJKYvCz9yfCYBRLBU7B6ecH9wmB84aiqurgWQC_sQ4nZNDy0HISra8bE1EYbe4rg76fc1RmkVJS3xLrj6fjsIMKzF9g7S93qqTrPfO7H1iWIUghVP9Pq592596k1ylBRwiWNpg/s1600/Gala+Men.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhujzUC_KJKYvCz9yfCYBRLBU7B6ecH9wmB84aiqurgWQC_sQ4nZNDy0HISra8bE1EYbe4rg76fc1RmkVJS3xLrj6fjsIMKzF9g7S93qqTrPfO7H1iWIUghVP9Pq592596k1ylBRwiWNpg/s1600/Gala+Men.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All Male Candidates</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Struggling to talk through tears</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO74ebWrGmUPjclLLArqRDn-VDGQNb2qO73jf8LFhvMr7vqhMFVVtd2vSAnoZ6js6dJW-AqTAsypifjxnU_wDc_8GcmVX3nNSYWj57JklPUr3ZdsXAMl44cFv-CNWqOv5I_4nZQ3QtjN4/s1600/top4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO74ebWrGmUPjclLLArqRDn-VDGQNb2qO73jf8LFhvMr7vqhMFVVtd2vSAnoZ6js6dJW-AqTAsypifjxnU_wDc_8GcmVX3nNSYWj57JklPUr3ZdsXAMl44cFv-CNWqOv5I_4nZQ3QtjN4/s1600/top4.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Top two men and women</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRGbN-T2W7xHO8-tFhyDYXszQRsLBQWUT_RXiI4a7_1We2UBZUMl2aIaq0Wy1A2p8X4ppWa6jcG_0Pwpjp2jv4foaJgONHmzuo_QyH-xEdg9M_adueaNA8FU8-DtXx86SuSQC0-HYn-LU/s1600/yard+sale.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRGbN-T2W7xHO8-tFhyDYXszQRsLBQWUT_RXiI4a7_1We2UBZUMl2aIaq0Wy1A2p8X4ppWa6jcG_0Pwpjp2jv4foaJgONHmzuo_QyH-xEdg9M_adueaNA8FU8-DtXx86SuSQC0-HYn-LU/s1600/yard+sale.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shay and Thalia selling cookies at the Yard Sale</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj8BxLr8IYuhdC3TLM-7y8R4-Y-Pqx76Vsh0FV5M2zSrdUWTW2IychTLe1cgSeau8oCX-yThsf2FoLbBx8PQ6it4wybxhfUqcgJjTvTz7JRvsdRX3JDWF-YJNXKNAUB7EfU0TmVHM03Uo/s1600/crea+yard+sale.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj8BxLr8IYuhdC3TLM-7y8R4-Y-Pqx76Vsh0FV5M2zSrdUWTW2IychTLe1cgSeau8oCX-yThsf2FoLbBx8PQ6it4wybxhfUqcgJjTvTz7JRvsdRX3JDWF-YJNXKNAUB7EfU0TmVHM03Uo/s1600/crea+yard+sale.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crea fought Gilda for the purse!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnTIpAFj0wp_Jw0WOFnS_RQ-t9WTpZLH64yGZJOWv35nBw8xJkGFH59UJTlcamo8TnQCiqj5AqFMAj_gSAL5G8l-KN0IMontJjYADKKzPv7vm-wN2HVXISSW6cyYPvfep9sGScUG-mnjQ/s1600/5K+Group.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnTIpAFj0wp_Jw0WOFnS_RQ-t9WTpZLH64yGZJOWv35nBw8xJkGFH59UJTlcamo8TnQCiqj5AqFMAj_gSAL5G8l-KN0IMontJjYADKKzPv7vm-wN2HVXISSW6cyYPvfep9sGScUG-mnjQ/s1600/5K+Group.JPG" height="211" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Post race drinks!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx3ecEKOChKR_Wi5Pn9kj3NUHmTcwkAGIfsGqI_5ZV6MipNY6ltEfLvQSq90flhly2kdddI9yJVq13psRfH1dlJFHJl2DycOTHQPBWLCDLr3FQC9qe0ce9HFsOwTS88kAKHvLBolUMdro/s1600/tobey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx3ecEKOChKR_Wi5Pn9kj3NUHmTcwkAGIfsGqI_5ZV6MipNY6ltEfLvQSq90flhly2kdddI9yJVq13psRfH1dlJFHJl2DycOTHQPBWLCDLr3FQC9qe0ce9HFsOwTS88kAKHvLBolUMdro/s1600/tobey.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and rock star Tobey at the 5K</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjFDr9g-5nNc0i5XN_wTve3jpZDbPr5wClsB_NOQTFGF-LEhTk0LVALfkHEa2j6bwRLtxCN9kFGUE5iOvTIxTS0eUyE840nY1MavlYw3ScXwVQHH284ofRymN8mENtlwIaTTA3tf3I3Qg/s1600/roxy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjFDr9g-5nNc0i5XN_wTve3jpZDbPr5wClsB_NOQTFGF-LEhTk0LVALfkHEa2j6bwRLtxCN9kFGUE5iOvTIxTS0eUyE840nY1MavlYw3ScXwVQHH284ofRymN8mENtlwIaTTA3tf3I3Qg/s1600/roxy.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and him....her...Roxy! Bingo!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXLLxywt3DVNOe_XZcPtEhyphenhyphen8o9IJN5UMpZeAr_CwKybh9FC8b6WDxOpuEysugxtTGpWd4jyP9plxZai5laqhjhz298BhiiehhaBxLvnCnXMDYalJyNTTGrN3Sby16uyoneih4FZ5nmMyA/s1600/medal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXLLxywt3DVNOe_XZcPtEhyphenhyphen8o9IJN5UMpZeAr_CwKybh9FC8b6WDxOpuEysugxtTGpWd4jyP9plxZai5laqhjhz298BhiiehhaBxLvnCnXMDYalJyNTTGrN3Sby16uyoneih4FZ5nmMyA/s1600/medal.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#BeatCancer Medal!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB4MB7tQZ9-rUX4kqvluF7fDPhqmVY5ORiZRiL5b7KKmnuU5novVbz2GJEGuQzmPKtKXlzUwjJSvJN7C9g-rkKDAG2kP4m0EPYcMmZ4os9X1IL0wDZTeVfcw1fzWYULMJKWwxba-t-9F4/s1600/jaz.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB4MB7tQZ9-rUX4kqvluF7fDPhqmVY5ORiZRiL5b7KKmnuU5novVbz2GJEGuQzmPKtKXlzUwjJSvJN7C9g-rkKDAG2kP4m0EPYcMmZ4os9X1IL0wDZTeVfcw1fzWYULMJKWwxba-t-9F4/s1600/jaz.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Someone is taking advantage of the bottomless aspect of the run</td></tr>
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Christopher Wilnohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15338764820117255167noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6490271571550276642.post-45844570425113376722014-03-16T08:09:00.003-07:002014-03-27T16:28:03.373-07:006th Annual March Madness For a Cure is Back<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrryrpQxB_IkyDrj5R0mwlU_92QuctfZtbjIBsoDxYTRMs5rcedulfgsg65Ze6kGnmw4JuN-xd_GQAd6S76pce4gGxyg-vJ0eYY7cuh_JyB5NNcTLTjjx-DvUf7wfimis4-HL5feJszV4/s1600/march-madness-2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrryrpQxB_IkyDrj5R0mwlU_92QuctfZtbjIBsoDxYTRMs5rcedulfgsg65Ze6kGnmw4JuN-xd_GQAd6S76pce4gGxyg-vJ0eYY7cuh_JyB5NNcTLTjjx-DvUf7wfimis4-HL5feJszV4/s1600/march-madness-2014.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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It is that time again.....March Madness is here. This is my favorite tournament in all of sports as it always contains some very big moments. I love the David vs Goliath type games and watching the little guy give the top seeded teams a run for their money. I always flash back to when I was sitting in my Dad's hospital room after he was first diagnosed with cancer. It was the year the Angels won the world series which means it was the year the Angels and Yankees met on the road to the World Series. My Dad was a lifelong Yankees fan (not me!!!) but this was the one and only time I saw him cheer for the other team. I don't know if it was because it was the 'Angels' tied to heavenly innuendoes or if it was because he felt like David versus Goliath but we had some good times in the middle of a dark place watching the Angels pull crazy come from behind victories to take the World Series. </div>
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Anyway, we are back. Whether you like March Madness or not........you probably hate cancer and one way to show your hatred and your desire to find a cure is to join our March Madness For a Cure bracket. This is our 6th year in a row. We are really trying to get to 200 participants/brackets this year so please SPREAD THE WORD!!!</div>
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Share this link with your friends.....tell your coworkers....sing it from your balcony.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDNQTYtDTlH6QB0_wXB-TYnzBdXWy1GfkzBVVkMKgYBafXdmJFEHx7GEN0Td7WbA5BwctJ1F1lsihbfxnOn7SU6kpd4Jy5qrrXnzbvvWCEwJdEqI1-sMKbJBmsKnqc8TeSgxoNzf4Idrc/s1600/WWFAC+Logo.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDNQTYtDTlH6QB0_wXB-TYnzBdXWy1GfkzBVVkMKgYBafXdmJFEHx7GEN0Td7WbA5BwctJ1F1lsihbfxnOn7SU6kpd4Jy5qrrXnzbvvWCEwJdEqI1-sMKbJBmsKnqc8TeSgxoNzf4Idrc/s1600/WWFAC+Logo.png" height="168" width="200" /></a>To play, all you need is a login for <a href="http://www.cbssports.com/" target="_blank">CBS Sports</a>. If you do not have one, it takes less than a minute to get one. You have to provide an email address, your name, a password and you will be good to go. To register for a login, click <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/registration?end=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cbssports.com%2F&master_product=150&tag=header;login" target="_blank">HERE</a>. Please note that if you have been in this pool any of the last five years, our pool should still show in the list of your Fantasy Teams. Just click 'Fantasy' in the top right of the CBS Sports home page after you are logged in.</div>
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If you are new and/or are having trouble, to join our league, please go to the following link:</div>
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Madness for a Cure: <a href="http://mfac.mayhem.cbssports.com/e">http://mfac.mayhem.cbssports.com/e</a> or click <a href="http://mfac.mayhem.cbssports.com/e">HERE</a></div>
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Password: Cure</div>
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Sometime on Selection Sunday, March 16, 2014, the brackets will go live and we will email everyone that you can now put in your picks. You can enter up to 3 times with one log in. </div>
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Cost = $20 per bracket. You can pay one of 2 ways:</div>
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1)If you know us......hand us the money.</div>
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2)you can mail a check payable to Lori Jomsky at: 4211 Entrada, Newbury Park, CA 91320 (check is payable to Lori so we can pay out proceeds to the winners)</div>
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Half of the proceeds go to help find a cure for cancer and half goes to the prize pool distributed as follows so you have more chances to win:</div>
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5%: most points after round 1</div>
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5%: most points after round 2</div>
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10%: most points after the Sweet 16</div>
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10%: most points after the Elite 8</div>
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20% to the runner up</div>
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50% to the 2014 Madness For a Cure winner</div>
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If you have any questions, please ask away and we will help you. You can simply reply to this post and we will get right back to you. Thank you for the support over the years!!! </div>
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Christopher D. Wilno</div>
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Christopher Wilnohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15338764820117255167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6490271571550276642.post-91542496459522978702014-03-08T21:25:00.004-08:002014-03-08T21:25:38.612-08:00We Will Find A Cure<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja0LzFCWWxx9-DGYPqHmOvSALdjnmWLW5cX1ahyphenhyphensUuK_U758AAymtNviGPyKklRzoSCdYuBcpVPodZg6eRqXcGWyMhjYhOMarm9LBNgh2N0jC7K2C7-uVgt_AVI-4ix-o-Mar8eBy2Ldw/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-03-08+at+1.58.14+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja0LzFCWWxx9-DGYPqHmOvSALdjnmWLW5cX1ahyphenhyphensUuK_U758AAymtNviGPyKklRzoSCdYuBcpVPodZg6eRqXcGWyMhjYhOMarm9LBNgh2N0jC7K2C7-uVgt_AVI-4ix-o-Mar8eBy2Ldw/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-03-08+at+1.58.14+PM.png" height="65" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9tGpqDRa8hgUGBbdCcDmbIZ6cWcGEqp5MFhs1SptaCNOCC7cKpv1DvhXOzJkiUq35njIrTPipq4HnEwnL_uLanBqrjjTWuNUfWtvpJ6Xf4caZr9gt9w-2_NZzEpdq_5GHhg_68EWqhkA/s1600/WWFAC+Logo.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9tGpqDRa8hgUGBbdCcDmbIZ6cWcGEqp5MFhs1SptaCNOCC7cKpv1DvhXOzJkiUq35njIrTPipq4HnEwnL_uLanBqrjjTWuNUfWtvpJ6Xf4caZr9gt9w-2_NZzEpdq_5GHhg_68EWqhkA/s1600/WWFAC+Logo.png" height="167" width="200" /></a>I really should have titled this post, 'Staring Fear in the Face', because fear has been trying to block my path on many levels in recent weeks. On September 7, 2013 I was in an accident while on a training ride. While cycling 20+ mph a guy opened his door without looking and that brief mistake on his part has really impacted my life. I had a big 2014 planned. I was going to do the AR50, I was signed up for the AC100 and I planned to go sub 11:30 in a yet to be determined ironman distance triathlon. September 7th changed all of that. Initially it was just tremendous pain in my left arm and shoulder but an odd popping in my knee I thought would pass turned out to be two tears in the meniscus of my right knee. I have been going to physical therapy for months....first for the shoulder which is about 85% at this point and then for the knee. I hoped PT would solve the issue but recently had to face reality that surgery was necessary. On April 2, 2014 I will have surgery and I can only hope I one day get to run the streets and the trails again. Running is a part of me. I cannot imagine life without it. That is fear #1.<br />
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Fear #2 ties to what this post is really about. I was asked to participate in the 2014 Man & Woman of the Year campaign for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. It is an intense 10 week campaign to raise as much money as possible to find a cure for cancer. Technically it is a competition but in my eyes we are all competing against cancer. If I win, that is a bonus but it is not the goal. I hope some team comes in here and raises $1 million because that gets us closer to a cure. <br />
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I have many reasons not to join this campaign. <br />
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<li>Work comes first because family comes first and my family needs me to be successful in my career. Work is intense right now. I am working 70 hours per week and losing ground. It is fun and exciting though so I am not complaining.....it is just a reason I should run the other direction. </li>
<li>My family is moving into a new house which is amazing but time consuming. </li>
<li>My kids started baseball and being there for them is important to me. </li>
<li>Oh yeah.....I am having surgery on April 2nd.....I keep forgetting about that. Crutches for 3 weeks is not ideal.</li>
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While all of those are reasons to pass on this opportunity, they are not really a part of fear #2. This fear ties to failing. I lost my Dad, I lost my daughter Isabella and I watched my wife fight cancer twice. From that came a life of endurance sports where I have raised $135,000 towards finding a cure. I am proud of that. That money honors promises I made to my Dad and daughter and wife. I am also proud......so very proud of what I have accomplished as a coach for Team in Training. I have been a marathon coach for them for many years/seasons. I have coached hundreds, if not thousands, of amazing people across the half and full marathon finish lines. While training for those finish lines, these very same people have raised millions of dollars to help fight cancer. After crossing the finish lines, many of these same people went on to run more marathons and compete in triathlons and ultra distance races. It is my legacy. I have been a small part of building a big army of #BeatCancer warriors. <br />
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If I were hit by a bus tomorrow, I would go out on top having been successful. That is where fear #2 comes in. If I choose to participate in this campaign, I could fail. I could do poorly and my fear is that takes away from all the good I have done. People won't remember the $135,000 I did raise....they will remember me for a weak performance as it pertains to Man & Woman of the Year. It may sound silly but this fear is very real and it is exactly why I committed to this campaign.<br />
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As a coach and as a Dad I always try to teach that you have to stare fear in the face and shove it aside. How could I possibly stand behind this lesson if I didn't practice it in my own life. I am afraid. I am not ashamed to say it. I, Christopher Wilno, am afraid of failing. That is why I must do this.<br />
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So........I reached out to some friends I mainly have met through Team in Training as a coach and together we are going to do our very best to raise a lot of money. We are calling this campaign We Will Find a Cure. It is appropriate because my story led me to the doorstep of this campaign but this is about the millions touched by cancer. It is not about 'me' it is about 'we'. We have all had cancer affect our lives. We all have within us the power to accomplish anything. We all have within us the power to change the world. If we all team up together as one, we have the power to end cancer.<br />
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We have set a lofty goal of raising $250,000 in the 10 week period beginning March 22nd and ending May 31st. I will breathe easy once we clear $50K because the ultimate goal here is to fund a research grant. At $50,000, my Dad's name goes on the grant.....at $100,000 my daughter Isabella's name goes on the grant and at $150,000 my wife's name goes on the grant. Do I need a trophy at the end of this campaign. Not at all. A trophy will not bring back my father. What I want is a grant that leads to a cure. What I want is to exit this 10 week campaign able to look up at the sky to my father and daughter and know they were proud of my effort. This is where we need your help. Of course, we could use your financial support and beginning March 22nd you are welcome to donate at the <a href="http://www.mwoy.org/pages/los/los14/wewillfindacure" target="_blank">We Will Find a Cure donation page</a>. On March 22nd we will also launch our website at www.wewillfindacure.com. You can keep up with all we are doing by visiting the site. We also have a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/wewillfindacurells" target="_blank">Facebook page</a> where you can join us for the journey.<br />
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Beyond a financial donation, there are many other ways to help as follows:<br />
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<li>Spread the word!! The more you share our story the more likely we will hit our goal.</li>
<li>Corporate sponsorships: there are many benefits to companies that sponsor this mission. If you know any companies that might be interested, please help us get in front of them.</li>
<li>Auction items: we are trying to secure items we can auction at Charity Buzz. If you know of any cool prizes, please let us know. If you know celebrities that might be interested in our cause, please help us because meet and greets draw a lot of money.</li>
<li>Donation tins: If you frequent locations that would let us put up donation tins at the register, we would be grateful. Cash can usually be matched so every penny counts.</li>
<li>T-shirts: we will be selling t-shirts that have our We Will Find a Cure logo on the front and our #BeatCancer logo on the back.</li>
<li>Have your own fundraising page: you can have your very own fundraising page that links to our team page. Anyone that raises $250 gets a free t-shirt. You can mail out your own letters, hold a yard sale, host restaurant fundraisers, etc, etc.</li>
<li>Virtual 5K/10K. We will be holding a run in Los Angeles but going virtual as well. More information is to come but your support would help get us closer to our goal.</li>
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There are many ways to join the movement but we need your help soon. There is not time to sit on the sidelines and debate with yourself about whether to join us or not. March 22nd is right around the corner. The money cannot be raised until March 22nd and it all must post within the 10 week period so come join us. We can stare fear in the face and not fail together!!!<br />
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Christopher D. Wilno<br />
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<br />Christopher Wilnohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15338764820117255167noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6490271571550276642.post-11121521144915138532014-01-30T23:49:00.000-08:002014-01-30T23:50:18.167-08:00Super Bowl 2014 GridsThank you to everyone for helping us to sell out three grids this year. This is a first and it means that $3,000 will go towards fighting cancer. As always, your support means everything. Good luck to everyone. In addition to putting the grids below we will be emailing them out to everyone as well as posting them on Facebook. To reiterate the process taken to make the grids as random as possible........I take the list of participants and randomly assign them to the 100 spaces on the grid. Then the numbers 0-9 are randomly selected for Denver and Seattle. At this point, your victory is in the hands of Denver and Seattle. Please enjoy yourselves on Sunday and know you were a big part of funding the research that might lead us to a cure. Cheers!<br />
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NOTE: PLEASE CLICK ON THE IMAGES BELOW TO VIEW THEM LARGER<br />
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<br />Christopher Wilnohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15338764820117255167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6490271571550276642.post-11352828252109686352014-01-12T08:24:00.001-08:002014-01-12T08:24:38.308-08:00Ten Years
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Ten years ago today, my father took his last breath. It is
not a day I celebrate but one I certainly will always remember.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was 164 days after Isabella passed
away. It was 6 days before my parents would have celebrated their 40<sup>th</sup>
wedding anniversary and it was 291 days before my Dad would have welcomed Jaden
into this world. Cancer won on this day but its move triggered a war that I
will continue to participate in until a cure is found. If cancer could do it
all over again, it might pick a different family. I do not think cancer knew
what I was capable of.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Truth be
told, I did not know what I was capable of until loss knocked on my door a few
times. I miss my Dad terribly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
think about him daily but I do think my being a part of the #beatcancer warriors
was meant to be. We never know why things happen in our lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We never understand at that moment in
time why hardship and pain can enter our lives. I would trade just about
anything to have more time with my father.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would have loved to sit screaming at the television this
past Monday as Florida State pulled an enormous come from behind victory………my
memories with my father are full of FSU football games (it is also where I
learned the fine art of using foul language <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span>).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is not the case, though. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In his place are many of you reading
this post.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most of my connections
on Facebook and Twitter are a result of my Dad’s fight with cancer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So many of you stood by my side, one
way or another, in the fight against cancer and I am so grateful to all of you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank you for helping me to fill a huge
void. Thank you for being my friends. Thank you for helping me honor the promises I made to my father and
Isabella and my wife when cancer decided to knock on her door a few times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cheers to a cancer free world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is going to happen.</div>
Christopher Wilnohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15338764820117255167noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6490271571550276642.post-16354915256774548002013-11-27T19:31:00.000-08:002013-11-27T19:31:12.146-08:00A Thanksgiving Pause<div class="MsoNormal">
I am taking a brief pause from the day because I feel it is
very needed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is the time we
are to remember all the things we have to be thankful for yet I find myself in
a place of anger tied to the repercussions of my biking accident. I guess I have reason to be upset. A
mere 10 seconds of concern for the rest of the world from a guy in a truck to
look in the mirror and I am in a much different place today. Instead a face
plant at 21mph has so many things on hold.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While my shoulder and arm are healing, other much more
concerning ailments are presenting themselves that have me fearful my life of
endurance sports comes to an end. I missed a 50K, I will miss CIM in two weeks,
Oceanside 70.3 and AR50 are in danger, I most likely have to bow out of the AC
100, etc, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anger is not a
great place to dwell so I offer the following to myself:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrydGeBwIEpcTm4qYftc7Q0tDXBbJkY5ProLvCCtkBXi3mOHkA6TQiFiHxPRS93hf87ykDwblUBpF7p8ZKNwOqlF525U025OnhvRn_6kLydLBa2ouXXE9HNL1ODAJmKDgv2pNFLEo2m-w/s1600/teach-me-to-be-thankful.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrydGeBwIEpcTm4qYftc7Q0tDXBbJkY5ProLvCCtkBXi3mOHkA6TQiFiHxPRS93hf87ykDwblUBpF7p8ZKNwOqlF525U025OnhvRn_6kLydLBa2ouXXE9HNL1ODAJmKDgv2pNFLEo2m-w/s320/teach-me-to-be-thankful.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·</span>I am
thankful that even if I never run another step in my life, I have already run
farther than most ever will.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;">·</span></span>I am
thankful that despite my injuries, I am still here breathing and capable of
savoring so many things that life has to offer.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;">·</span></span>I am
thankful for all of the quirky things that make my son Jaden for without him
life would be far less interesting.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;">·</span></span>I am
thankful for the most amazing smile that rests on the face of my daughter
Thalia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am convinced her smile
is capable of changing the world.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;">·</span></span>I am
thankful that my wife was stronger than cancer……twice.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;">·</span></span>I am
thankful that a recent cancer scare for my wife was simply a scare and that
today she remains cancer free.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;">·</span></span>I am
thankful that my wife has had to power to forgive the many mistakes I have made
along the way.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;">·</span></span>I am
thankful my father taught me how to work hard, laugh hard, enjoy challenges and
how to fight back.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;">·</span></span>I am
thankful for an amazing job that never allows the opportunity of boredom.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;">·</span></span>I am
thankful for a mother that taught me compassion and exactly what having a big
heart really means.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;">·</span></span>I am
thankful that my life crossed paths with Alison Chavez years ago because
without saying a word to each other face to face over the past few months…..she
has taught me what true strength is.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;">·</span></span>I am
thankful for all of the folks that helped me to raise over $20,000 this year
towards finding a cure for cancer…..many of whom are also responsible for
helping me raise the $135,000 life to date.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;">·</span></span>I am
thankful to Team in Training for allowing me to better myself while having the
opportunity to impact lives.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;">·</span></span>I am
thankful to all of the folks on the Fall 2013 Westside marathon team for taking
a leap of faith, believing they could do something they once thought impossible
and for allowing me the chance to maybe see things a little differently.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;">·</span></span>I am
thankful that I have a second chance to be the Dad that my daughter Tiana
deserved when she came into my life when she was 5 years old.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;">·</span></span>I am
thankful to many friends….. both real and virtual for being quite remarkable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This list could keep going but I feel back on track. I hope
you all have a very Happy Thanksgiving and take a moment to look past all the
challenges life has to offer to see all of the blessings that surround
you. Cheers.</div>
Christopher Wilnohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15338764820117255167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6490271571550276642.post-40085763249724292192013-07-30T17:44:00.000-07:002013-07-30T17:44:00.441-07:00Isabella's Day 2013<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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It seems
like yesterday that I asked my annual favor of everyone tied to Isabella’s Day
but apparently another year has passed. For many of you reading this story,
Isabella has probably touched your life through me. For many of you, we probably would not have met were it not
for Isabella and her impact on my life.
I made a promise to her that I would lead a good life…….be a good
person………make a difference…..try to do more for the world than it does for
me. I still have work to do. I have more improvements to make and I
certainly have more things to accomplish but I would say I am on the right
track. As I write this post, I know I could look Isabella in the eyes and tell
her I am a better person today than I was a year ago. Improvement is good. The beauty of having your own personal
Angel sitting in Heaven, though, is that you do not actually have to tell
her…….she just knows or so that is what I choose to believe. While I do not
walk around preaching the bible and while I drop a few too many foul words
throughout the day and while I have a warped sense of humor that might be
inappropriate for Heaven (although I am sure God has to fight back some
laughter), I believe my little girl is with me all the time. I believe she
meets me at the finish line of all my races and, while it may sound
unbelievable to you……..I actually feel her from time to time. It very well
could be my imagination but I have trouble with that theory because I am not
walking around in life waiting for a sign that angels exist. Faith in anything is about believing
with no sign of proof. I just live
my life and try to make the best of most days. I try to do my very best at work so the company I work for
is successful and that the team I work on can shine. I try to be the best Dad
and husband I can be and I try to be someone that motivates others to do things
they maybe thought were impossible.
I try to beat cancer and will continue to do so until a cure is found. Along this road I travel…….from time to
time………I feel my daughter. It is very infrequent, always quite unexpected and
most times almost drops me to my knees in tears. Some of those tears are certainly sad because I miss my
daughter…….I miss not getting to see her grow up……….I miss not getting to see
her make mistakes……….I miss not getting to hear her laughter. I know I never heard my daughter but
hopefully you understand what I mean. The silence on Christmas and Easter and
the first day of school and August 1<sup>st</sup> is deafening and I would much
rather have the sound of her voice so………..I miss it. Anyway, while some of these tears are sad there is also a
huge part of these moments that are overwhelming in an amazing way. For a tiny moment in time, I feel
connected to my little one and, be it true or not, the feeling is real. I would attempt to describe these
moments but I am not nearly the writer I would need to be to do justice to the experience
so I will leave it to your imagination.
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
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<br />
For this
year I put together a short video.
You may have to watch this video on a PC as I work through copyright
issues with YouTube but for now I am in compliance. In the video are some
pictures of my time with Isabella………the nine months she grew safe and secure
with my wife and the few minutes we had with her after she passed. I apologize
if this is tough to watch or moves you to tears. That is not my plan but it
might happen. I have pictures of Isabella from the hospital. I usually go out of my way ‘not’ to
look at them but this year I had the courage to look once again. August 1, 2003
was a bad day. I am sure you can
feel the sadness that was present when looking at the photos taken in the
hospital. It was a horrible day….truthfully
the worst….. but the story, as you probably know, did not end there. It took a
few days but I stood up. I gained strength and I tried to give that strength to
others. A horrible day out of
which came amazing things. I also
included a picture in the video that was used for the Isabella’s Day 2012 post
taken by Rich Cruse, an amazing photographer. It is the way I like to imagine
my little girl today……..a huge smile running around the beach. The last photo (actually a video clip) comes
from a place deep within and is how I imagine seeing my daughter when I someday
come to meet her. I do not know
how Heaven works but I hope to see Isabella as my little girl when I get
there. If Heaven is what makes us
happy………..Isabella will be dancing around a meadow when I open my eyes after my
time here is done. This really
leads into the song that is playing behind the video. The song is called Bella and is by Angus and Julia
Stone. A friend heard this
song……knew of my story……….and sent it to me and I have listened to it almost
every day since. Outside of my
story, the song is amazing and I highly recommend the entire album called ‘A
Book Like This’. I could not tell you what the song means to the artists. I only know what it means to me and it
is about the time when I actually meet my little girl. I refuse to listen to
all of the words in great detail because I hear what I hear and if I piece all
of the lyrics together that meaning might change. The song opens with a young girl saying the words ‘Hello’. To me, those words are from my little
girl as I open my eyes in another place.
From there we proceed to do whatever she wants to do. I am just happy to
be with her but at some point I stop her and ask ‘Can I have this dance with
you?”. I always dance with my
kids. I grew up in a techno/trance/hip hop world and despite being an old dude,
my mind remembers the clubs so going crazy with my kids is the best. This dance
with Isabella will be different though (although if Heaven is what makes you
happy there will certainly be some bumping music). This dance will be a slow dance to make up for lost years…...my
excuse to be able to hold her tight.
From there we continue to do all of the extraordinary things I hope you
can do in Heaven but at some point I stop and just watch Isabella dance
around……..in a meadow which leads to the lyrics I always remember from this
song:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
“There she
sits with them big old fields of daisies and rusty mills.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
And when the
sun it shines on her hair of gold,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
She’s
beautiful,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
She’s
beautiful”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
I miss my
little girl with her hair of gold.
August 1<sup>st</sup> will be tough as always but I will make the best
of it and spend time with my wife reflecting on a bad day but a great life. If
you could do that favor for me one more time, I would appreciate it. It is simple but a grand gesture to
help me remember a little girl that helped define me. In case you need a reminder of what the favor is or might be
hearing it for the first time……..all I ask is that at any time throughout the
day on 8/1/13, just raise a glass to Isabella. It could be your bottle of Nuun at the end of a long run or
your coffee to start the day. It
could be a sip of water or an expensive bottle of wine. None of that matters. Helping me remember is the important
thing. As always thank you so
much!<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6490271571550276642" name="_GoBack"></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Christopher
D. Wilno</div>
<!--EndFragment-->Christopher Wilnohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15338764820117255167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6490271571550276642.post-18485221937232094362013-06-29T06:05:00.000-07:002013-07-02T20:25:34.462-07:00Hope Next Exit Three Winners<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
So the winners were drawn on Sunday night as promised. The video is posted below. Forgive the camera angle of my phone. I was instructed to hold my iPhone vertically which looks silly but, hey, I listened. You will also notice I introduce my wife to the right when she is to the left. I was not drunk for this drawing which is a guarantee because I do not drink (except for sips of very expensive wine now and then).</div>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/Tftli1LRIOc" width="420"></iframe>
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<br /></div>
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If you take the numbers above and apply them to the list below, you will find that these are the winners (note: I added an extra prize):</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Avatar DVD Set: Charles Antis</div>
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$25 Gift Card: Michael Burke</div>
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$50 Starbucks Card: Sean Savitt</div>
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HP Calculator: Tim Weston</div>
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Punk Rock Racing Gear: Lisa Williamson</div>
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Lexmark Printer: Charles Sooter</div>
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HP Printer: Justin Anderson</div>
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Kindle Ereader: Dave Floyd</div>
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Kindle Touch: Michael Burke</div>
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Beats Solo Headphones: Patricia Harris</div>
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Kindle Fire HD7: Bob Crisman</div>
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Acer NB: Michael Burke (Hat trick)</div>
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Beats Pill: Rick Leeson</div>
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HP Spectre XT: Charlene Levy</div>
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<br /></div>
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Thank you again!!!! I am leaving the original post unchanged below</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjHMHMIpYRI4i2qqw5u1InrS6tJgqmJ0WrAKxS4loovMX7Sbh8Xzbp2xUAsFkUtqW8kz7WLIZO9jRiPigATeSpSIKlzqcmwt8LVieCOGxuDToPOkkc2nEiB5_sABViighhlelQS9qbaYc/s640/photo-32.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjHMHMIpYRI4i2qqw5u1InrS6tJgqmJ0WrAKxS4loovMX7Sbh8Xzbp2xUAsFkUtqW8kz7WLIZO9jRiPigATeSpSIKlzqcmwt8LVieCOGxuDToPOkkc2nEiB5_sABViighhlelQS9qbaYc/s320/photo-32.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
On Sunday night June 30, 2013, I will pull the winners for the Hope Next Exit 3 raffle which raised $9,330 to fight cancer. It has been a fun journey and I am grateful to everyone for their support. In total, I raised just over $21,000 which brings my life to date fundraising over $130,000. Those totals are not testaments to me but testaments to all of you for I am nothing without support. Below is a list of those that contributed to the raffle. If you see your name is missing, please let me know ASAP. The list was built off a download out of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society database so I am confident it is accurate. To draw the winners, I will videotape my children pulling the raffle tickets and post that video here as part of this post. The raffle tickets only have numbers which will correspond back to this post. You will see some tickets assigned to Anonymous. I am listing the name in case it was an accident and the owner of the $100 donation comes forward. You will also see my name. If I win, the prize goes back to charity. Good luck to all and thank you all so much!!!!!<br />
<br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 204px;">
<!--StartFragment-->
<colgroup><col width="129"></col>
<col width="75"></col>
</colgroup><tbody>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Adam Heiser</td>
<td align="right" width="75" x:num="50413.0">50413</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Adam Heiser</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50414.0">50414</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Adam Heiser</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50415.0">50415</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Alfred Quiring</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50014.0">50014</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Anonymous</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50395.0">50395</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Anonymous</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50396.0">50396</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Anonymous</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50397.0">50397</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Anonymous</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50398.0">50398</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Anonymous</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50399.0">50399</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Anonymous</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50400.0">50400</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Ariel Nahmias</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50143.0">50143</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Ariel Nahmias</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50144.0">50144</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Ariel Nahmias</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50145.0">50145</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Bethany Chaney</td>
<td align="right" x:num="49948.0">49948</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Bethany Chaney</td>
<td align="right" x:num="49949.0">49949</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Bethany Chaney</td>
<td align="right" x:num="49950.0">49950</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Bethany Chaney</td>
<td align="right" x:num="49951.0">49951</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Bethany Chaney</td>
<td align="right" x:num="49952.0">49952</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Bethany Chaney</td>
<td align="right" x:num="49953.0">49953</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Calvin Lin</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50404.0">50404</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Calvin Lin</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50405.0">50405</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Calvin Lin</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50406.0">50406</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Carolynne Fargey</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50015.0">50015</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Carolynne Fargey</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50016.0">50016</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Carolynne Fargey</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50017.0">50017</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Cecily Sweeney</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50164.0">50164</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Cecily Sweeney</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50165.0">50165</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Cecily Sweeney</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50166.0">50166</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Cecily Sweeney</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50167.0">50167</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Cecily Sweeney</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50168.0">50168</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Cecily Sweeney</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50169.0">50169</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Charlene Levy</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50036.0">50036</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Charlene Levy</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50037.0">50037</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Charlene Levy</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50038.0">50038</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Charlene Levy</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50423.0">50423</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Charlene Levy</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50424.0">50424</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Charlene Levy</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50425.0">50425</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Charles Antis</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50192.0">50192</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Charles Antis</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50193.0">50193</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Charles Antis</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50194.0">50194</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Charles Antis</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50195.0">50195</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Charles Antis</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50196.0">50196</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Charles Antis</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50197.0">50197</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Charles Antis</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50198.0">50198</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Charles Antis</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50199.0">50199</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Charles Antis</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50200.0">50200</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Charles Antis</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50201.0">50201</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Charles Antis</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50202.0">50202</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Charles Antis</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50203.0">50203</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Charles Antis</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50204.0">50204</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Charles Antis</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50205.0">50205</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Charles Antis</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50206.0">50206</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Charles Antis</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50207.0">50207</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Charles Antis</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50208.0">50208</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Charles Antis</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50209.0">50209</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Charles Antis</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50210.0">50210</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Charles Antis</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50211.0">50211</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Charles Antis</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50212.0">50212</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Charles Antis</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50213.0">50213</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Charles Antis</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50214.0">50214</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Charles Antis</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50215.0">50215</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Charles Antis</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50216.0">50216</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Charles Antis</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50217.0">50217</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Charles Antis</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50218.0">50218</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Charles Antis</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50219.0">50219</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Charles Antis</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50220.0">50220</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Charles Antis</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50221.0">50221</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Charles Sooter</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50449.0">50449</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Charles Sooter</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50450.0">50450</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Charles Sooter</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50451.0">50451</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Charles Sooter</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50452.0">50452</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Charles Sooter</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50453.0">50453</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Charles Sooter</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50454.0">50454</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Chatty Arrieta</td>
<td align="right" x:num="49942.0">49942</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Chatty Arrieta</td>
<td align="right" x:num="49943.0">49943</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Chatty Arrieta</td>
<td align="right" x:num="49944.0">49944</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Chatty Arrieta</td>
<td align="right" x:num="49945.0">49945</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Chatty Arrieta</td>
<td align="right" x:num="49946.0">49946</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Chatty Arrieta</td>
<td align="right" x:num="49947.0">49947</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Christopher Wilno</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50066.0">50066</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Christopher Wilno</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50067.0">50067</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Christopher Wilno</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50068.0">50068</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Christopher Wilno</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50069.0">50069</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Christopher Wilno</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50070.0">50070</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Christopher Wilno</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50071.0">50071</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Christopher Wilno</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50072.0">50072</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Dashiell Nash</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50353.0">50353</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Dashiell Nash</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50354.0">50354</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Dashiell Nash</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50355.0">50355</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Blaszkowski</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50021.0">50021</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Blaszkowski</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50022.0">50022</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Blaszkowski</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50023.0">50023</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Rodman</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50426.0">50426</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Rodman</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50427.0">50427</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Rodman</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50428.0">50428</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Rodman</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50429.0">50429</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Rodman</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50430.0">50430</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Rodman</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50431.0">50431</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Rodman</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50432.0">50432</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50223.0">50223</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50224.0">50224</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50225.0">50225</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50226.0">50226</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50227.0">50227</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50228.0">50228</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50229.0">50229</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50230.0">50230</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50231.0">50231</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50232.0">50232</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50233.0">50233</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50234.0">50234</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50235.0">50235</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50236.0">50236</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50237.0">50237</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50238.0">50238</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50239.0">50239</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50240.0">50240</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50241.0">50241</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50242.0">50242</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50243.0">50243</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50244.0">50244</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50245.0">50245</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50246.0">50246</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50247.0">50247</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50248.0">50248</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50249.0">50249</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50250.0">50250</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50251.0">50251</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50252.0">50252</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50253.0">50253</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50254.0">50254</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50255.0">50255</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50256.0">50256</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50257.0">50257</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50258.0">50258</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50259.0">50259</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50260.0">50260</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50261.0">50261</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50262.0">50262</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50263.0">50263</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50264.0">50264</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50265.0">50265</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50266.0">50266</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50267.0">50267</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50268.0">50268</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50269.0">50269</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50270.0">50270</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50271.0">50271</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50272.0">50272</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50273.0">50273</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50274.0">50274</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50275.0">50275</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50276.0">50276</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50277.0">50277</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50278.0">50278</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50279.0">50279</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50280.0">50280</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50281.0">50281</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50282.0">50282</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50283.0">50283</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50284.0">50284</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50285.0">50285</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50286.0">50286</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50287.0">50287</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50288.0">50288</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50289.0">50289</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50290.0">50290</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50291.0">50291</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50292.0">50292</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50293.0">50293</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50294.0">50294</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50295.0">50295</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50296.0">50296</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50297.0">50297</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50298.0">50298</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50299.0">50299</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50300.0">50300</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50301.0">50301</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50302.0">50302</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50303.0">50303</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50304.0">50304</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50305.0">50305</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50306.0">50306</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50307.0">50307</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50308.0">50308</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50309.0">50309</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50310.0">50310</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50311.0">50311</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50312.0">50312</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50313.0">50313</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50314.0">50314</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50315.0">50315</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50316.0">50316</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50317.0">50317</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50318.0">50318</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50319.0">50319</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50320.0">50320</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50321.0">50321</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50322.0">50322</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50323.0">50323</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50324.0">50324</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50325.0">50325</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50326.0">50326</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50327.0">50327</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50328.0">50328</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50329.0">50329</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">David Wolpe</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50330.0">50330</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Deborah Kazlowski</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50018.0">50018</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Deborah Kazlowski</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50019.0">50019</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Deborah Kazlowski</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50020.0">50020</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Dena Grablowsky</td>
<td align="right" x:num="49988.0">49988</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Dena Grablowsky</td>
<td align="right" x:num="49989.0">49989</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Dena Grablowsky</td>
<td align="right" x:num="49990.0">49990</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Dena Grablowsky</td>
<td align="right" x:num="49991.0">49991</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Dena Grablowsky</td>
<td align="right" x:num="49992.0">49992</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Dena Grablowsky</td>
<td align="right" x:num="49993.0">49993</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Diana Fisk</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50357.0">50357</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Diana Fisk</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50358.0">50358</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Diana Fisk</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50359.0">50359</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Diana Fisk</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50360.0">50360</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Diana Fisk</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50361.0">50361</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Diana Fisk</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50362.0">50362</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Diana Fisk</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50363.0">50363</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Diana Fisk</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50364.0">50364</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Diana Fisk</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50365.0">50365</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Diana Fisk</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50366.0">50366</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Diana Fisk</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50367.0">50367</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Diana Fisk</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50368.0">50368</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Diana Fisk</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50369.0">50369</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Diana Fisk</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50370.0">50370</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Diana Fisk</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50371.0">50371</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Edward Schober</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50372.0">50372</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Elisabeth Waller Scott</td>
<td align="right" x:num="49954.0">49954</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Fern Oliner</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50060.0">50060</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Fern Oliner</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50061.0">50061</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Fern Oliner</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50062.0">50062</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Fern Oliner</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50063.0">50063</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Fern Oliner</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50064.0">50064</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Fern Oliner</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50065.0">50065</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Gary Palenbaum</td>
<td align="right" x:num="49998.0">49998</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Gary Palenbaum</td>
<td align="right" x:num="49999.0">49999</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Gary Palenbaum</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50000.0">50000</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Gary Palenbaum</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50001.0">50001</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Gary Palenbaum</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50002.0">50002</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Gary Palenbaum</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50003.0">50003</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">George Manor</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50373.0">50373</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">George Manor</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50374.0">50374</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">George Manor</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50375.0">50375</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">George Manor</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50376.0">50376</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">George Manor</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50377.0">50377</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">George Manor</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50378.0">50378</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Glenn McDaniel</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50222.0">50222</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Hale & Hale DDS</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50054.0">50054</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Hale & Hale DDS</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50055.0">50055</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Hale & Hale DDS</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50056.0">50056</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Hale & Hale DDS</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50057.0">50057</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Hale & Hale DDS</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50058.0">50058</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Hale & Hale DDS</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50059.0">50059</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Heather Gonzalez</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50416.0">50416</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Jackie Laine</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50170.0">50170</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Jason Liszewski</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50401.0">50401</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Jason Liszewski</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50402.0">50402</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Jason Liszewski</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50403.0">50403</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Jennifer Zenuch</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50388.0">50388</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Jennifer Zenuch</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50389.0">50389</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Jennifer Zenuch</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50390.0">50390</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">JoAnn Beluch</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50011.0">50011</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">JoAnn Beluch</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50012.0">50012</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">JoAnn Beluch</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50013.0">50013</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Jody Del Vecchio</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50433.0">50433</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Jody Del Vecchio</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50434.0">50434</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Jody Del Vecchio</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50435.0">50435</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Jody Del Vecchio</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50436.0">50436</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Jody Del Vecchio</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50437.0">50437</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Jody Del Vecchio</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50438.0">50438</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Jody Del Vecchio</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50439.0">50439</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Jody Del Vecchio</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50440.0">50440</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Jody Del Vecchio</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50441.0">50441</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Jody Del Vecchio</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50442.0">50442</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Jody Del Vecchio</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50443.0">50443</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Jody Del Vecchio</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50444.0">50444</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Jody Del Vecchio</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50445.0">50445</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Jody Del Vecchio</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50446.0">50446</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Jody Del Vecchio</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50447.0">50447</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">John Floyd</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50091.0">50091</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">John Floyd</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50092.0">50092</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">John Floyd</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50093.0">50093</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">John Floyd</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50094.0">50094</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">John Floyd</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50095.0">50095</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">John Floyd</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50096.0">50096</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">John Floyd</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50097.0">50097</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">John Floyd</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50098.0">50098</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">John Floyd</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50099.0">50099</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">John Floyd</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50100.0">50100</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">John Floyd</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50101.0">50101</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">John Floyd</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50102.0">50102</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">John Floyd</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50103.0">50103</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">John Floyd</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50104.0">50104</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">John Floyd</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50105.0">50105</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Judy Williamson</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50455.0">50455</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Judy Williamson</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50456.0">50456</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Judy Williamson</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50457.0">50457</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Judy Williamson</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50458.0">50458</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Judy Williamson</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50459.0">50459</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Judy Williamson</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50460.0">50460</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Justin Anderson</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50039.0">50039</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Justin Anderson</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50040.0">50040</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Justin Anderson</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50041.0">50041</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Ken Chastain</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50152.0">50152</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Ken Chastain</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50153.0">50153</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Ken Chastain</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50154.0">50154</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Ken Chastain</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50155.0">50155</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Ken Chastain</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50156.0">50156</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Ken Chastain</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50157.0">50157</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Ken Chastain</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50158.0">50158</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Ken Chastain</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50159.0">50159</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Ken Chastain</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50160.0">50160</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Ken Chastain</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50161.0">50161</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Ken Chastain</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50162.0">50162</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Ken Chastain</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50163.0">50163</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Laurie Hayden</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50042.0">50042</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Laurie Hayden</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50043.0">50043</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Laurie Hayden</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50044.0">50044</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Laurie Hayden</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50045.0">50045</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Laurie Hayden</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50046.0">50046</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Laurie Hayden</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50047.0">50047</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Linda Kumagai</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50004.0">50004</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Linda Kumagai</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50005.0">50005</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Linda Kumagai</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50006.0">50006</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Loreen Fujinami</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50048.0">50048</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Loreen Fujinami</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50049.0">50049</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Loreen Fujinami</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50050.0">50050</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Loreen Fujinami</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50051.0">50051</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Loreen Fujinami</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50052.0">50052</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Loreen Fujinami</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50053.0">50053</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Lori Jomsky</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50171.0">50171</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Lori Jomsky</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50172.0">50172</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Lori Jomsky</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50173.0">50173</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Lori Jomsky</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50174.0">50174</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Lori Jomsky</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50175.0">50175</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Lori Jomsky</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50176.0">50176</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Lori Jomsky</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50177.0">50177</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Lori Jomsky</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50178.0">50178</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Lori Jomsky</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50179.0">50179</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Lori Jomsky</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50180.0">50180</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Lori Jomsky</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50181.0">50181</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Lori Jomsky</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50182.0">50182</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Lori Jomsky</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50183.0">50183</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Lori Jomsky</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50184.0">50184</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Lori Jomsky</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50185.0">50185</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Lori Jomsky</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50186.0">50186</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Lori Jomsky</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50187.0">50187</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Lori Jomsky</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50188.0">50188</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Lori Jomsky</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50189.0">50189</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Lori Jomsky</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50190.0">50190</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Lori Jomsky</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50191.0">50191</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Lulu Zadoyan</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50349.0">50349</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Marc Wishingrad</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50146.0">50146</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Marc Wishingrad</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50147.0">50147</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Marc Wishingrad</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50148.0">50148</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Marc Wishingrad</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50149.0">50149</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Marc Wishingrad</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50150.0">50150</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Marc Wishingrad</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50151.0">50151</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Marina Vargas</td>
<td align="right" x:num="49994.0">49994</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Marjorie Wilno</td>
<td align="right" x:num="49924.0">49924</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Marjorie Wilno</td>
<td align="right" x:num="49925.0">49925</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Marjorie Wilno</td>
<td align="right" x:num="49926.0">49926</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Marjorie Wilno</td>
<td align="right" x:num="49927.0">49927</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Marjorie Wilno</td>
<td align="right" x:num="49928.0">49928</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Marjorie Wilno</td>
<td align="right" x:num="49929.0">49929</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Marjorie Wilno</td>
<td align="right" x:num="49930.0">49930</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Marjorie Wilno</td>
<td align="right" x:num="49931.0">49931</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Marjorie Wilno</td>
<td align="right" x:num="49932.0">49932</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Marjorie Wilno</td>
<td align="right" x:num="49933.0">49933</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Marjorie Wilno</td>
<td align="right" x:num="49934.0">49934</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Marjorie Wilno</td>
<td align="right" x:num="49935.0">49935</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Marjorie Wilno</td>
<td align="right" x:num="49936.0">49936</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Marjorie Wilno</td>
<td align="right" x:num="49937.0">49937</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Marjorie Wilno</td>
<td align="right" x:num="49938.0">49938</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Marjorie Wilno</td>
<td align="right" x:num="49939.0">49939</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Marjorie Wilno</td>
<td align="right" x:num="49940.0">49940</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Marjorie Wilno</td>
<td align="right" x:num="49941.0">49941</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Matthew Barnette</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50331.0">50331</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Matthew Barnette</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50332.0">50332</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Matthew Barnette</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50333.0">50333</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Matthew Barnette</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50334.0">50334</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Matthew Barnette</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50335.0">50335</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Matthew Barnette</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50336.0">50336</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Michael Burke</td>
<td align="right" x:num="49958.0">49958</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Michael Burke</td>
<td align="right" x:num="49959.0">49959</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Michael Burke</td>
<td align="right" x:num="49960.0">49960</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Michael Burke</td>
<td align="right" x:num="49961.0">49961</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Michael Burke</td>
<td align="right" x:num="49962.0">49962</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Michael Burke</td>
<td align="right" x:num="49963.0">49963</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Michael Burke</td>
<td align="right" x:num="49964.0">49964</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Michael Burke</td>
<td align="right" x:num="49965.0">49965</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Michael Burke</td>
<td align="right" x:num="49966.0">49966</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Michael Burke</td>
<td align="right" x:num="49967.0">49967</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Michael Burke</td>
<td align="right" x:num="49968.0">49968</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Michael Burke</td>
<td align="right" x:num="49969.0">49969</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Michael Burke</td>
<td align="right" x:num="49970.0">49970</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Michael Burke</td>
<td align="right" x:num="49971.0">49971</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Michael Burke</td>
<td align="right" x:num="49972.0">49972</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Michael Burke</td>
<td align="right" x:num="49973.0">49973</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Michael Burke</td>
<td align="right" x:num="49974.0">49974</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Michael Burke</td>
<td align="right" x:num="49975.0">49975</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Michael Burke</td>
<td align="right" x:num="49976.0">49976</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Michael Burke</td>
<td align="right" x:num="49977.0">49977</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Michael Burke</td>
<td align="right" x:num="49978.0">49978</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Michael Burke</td>
<td align="right" x:num="49979.0">49979</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Michael Burke</td>
<td align="right" x:num="49980.0">49980</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Michael Burke</td>
<td align="right" x:num="49981.0">49981</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Michael Burke</td>
<td align="right" x:num="49982.0">49982</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Michael Burke</td>
<td align="right" x:num="49983.0">49983</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Michael Burke</td>
<td align="right" x:num="49984.0">49984</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Michael Burke</td>
<td align="right" x:num="49985.0">49985</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Michael Burke</td>
<td align="right" x:num="49986.0">49986</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Michael Burke</td>
<td align="right" x:num="49987.0">49987</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Miriam Sandy Hopkinson Sr</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50027.0">50027</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Miriam Sandy Hopkinson Sr</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50028.0">50028</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Miriam Sandy Hopkinson Sr</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50029.0">50029</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17">
<td class="xl24" height="17" width="129">Molly Chance</td>
<td align="right" x:num="49995.0">49995</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17">
<td class="xl24" height="17" width="129">Molly Chance</td>
<td align="right" x:num="49996.0">49996</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Molly Chance</td>
<td align="right" x:num="49997.0">49997</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Nick Gardner</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50337.0">50337</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Nick Gardner</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50338.0">50338</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Nick Gardner</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50339.0">50339</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Nick Gardner</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50340.0">50340</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Nick Gardner</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50341.0">50341</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Nick Gardner</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50342.0">50342</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Nick Gardner</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50343.0">50343</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Nick Gardner</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50344.0">50344</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Nick Gardner</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50345.0">50345</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Nick Gardner</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50346.0">50346</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Nick Gardner</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50347.0">50347</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Nick Gardner</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50348.0">50348</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Nina Jack</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50410.0">50410</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Nina Jack</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50411.0">50411</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Nina Jack</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50412.0">50412</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Patricia Harris</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50106.0">50106</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Patricia Harris</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50107.0">50107</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Patricia Harris</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50108.0">50108</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Patricia Harris</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50109.0">50109</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Patricia Harris</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50110.0">50110</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Patricia Harris</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50111.0">50111</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Patricia Harris</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50112.0">50112</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Patricia Harris</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50113.0">50113</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Patricia Harris</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50114.0">50114</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Patricia Harris</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50115.0">50115</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Patricia Harris</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50116.0">50116</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Patricia Harris</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50117.0">50117</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Patricia Harris</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50118.0">50118</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Patricia Harris</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50119.0">50119</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Patricia Harris</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50120.0">50120</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Patricia Harris</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50121.0">50121</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Patricia Harris</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50122.0">50122</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Patricia Harris</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50123.0">50123</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Patricia Harris</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50124.0">50124</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Patricia Harris</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50125.0">50125</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Patricia Harris</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50126.0">50126</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Patricia Harris</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50127.0">50127</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Patricia Harris</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50128.0">50128</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Patricia Harris</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50129.0">50129</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Patricia Harris</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50130.0">50130</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Patricia Harris</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50131.0">50131</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Patricia Harris</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50132.0">50132</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Patricia Harris</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50133.0">50133</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Patricia Harris</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50134.0">50134</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Patricia Harris</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50135.0">50135</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Patricia Souder</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50356.0">50356</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Paul Partaine</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50461.0">50461</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Paul Partaine</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50462.0">50462</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Paul Partaine</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50463.0">50463</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Peter Conlon</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50033.0">50033</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Peter Conlon</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50034.0">50034</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Peter Conlon</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50035.0">50035</td>
</tr>
<tr height="15">
<td class="xl24" height="15" width="129">Peter Woflflein</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50136.0">50136</td>
</tr>
<tr height="15">
<td class="xl24" height="15" width="129">Rachel Yonda</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50392.0">50392</td>
</tr>
<tr height="15">
<td class="xl24" height="15" width="129">Rachel Yonda</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50393.0">50393</td>
</tr>
<tr height="15">
<td class="xl24" height="15" width="129">Rachel Yonda</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50394.0">50394</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Richard Leeson</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50137.0">50137</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Richard Leeson</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50138.0">50138</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Richard Leeson</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50139.0">50139</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Richard Leeson</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50140.0">50140</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Richard Leeson</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50141.0">50141</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Richard Leeson</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50142.0">50142</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Robert Crisman</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50464.0">50464</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Robert Crisman</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50465.0">50465</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Robert Crisman</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50466.0">50466</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Robert Crisman</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50467.0">50467</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Robert Crisman</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50468.0">50468</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Robert Crisman</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50469.0">50469</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Robert Crisman</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50470.0">50470</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Robert Crisman</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50471.0">50471</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Robert Crisman</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50472.0">50472</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Robert Sandiford</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50007.0">50007</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Robert Sandiford</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50008.0">50008</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Robert Sandiford</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50009.0">50009</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Ron Harvey</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50073.0">50073</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Ron Harvey</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50074.0">50074</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Ron Harvey</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50075.0">50075</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Ron Harvey</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50076.0">50076</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Ron Harvey</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50077.0">50077</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Ron Harvey</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50078.0">50078</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Ron Harvey</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50079.0">50079</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Ron Harvey</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50080.0">50080</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Ron Harvey</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50081.0">50081</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Ron Harvey</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50082.0">50082</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Ron Harvey</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50083.0">50083</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Ron Harvey</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50084.0">50084</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Ron Harvey</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50085.0">50085</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
<td class="xl24" height="13" width="129">Ron Harvey</td>
<td align="right" x:num="50086.0">50086</td>
</tr>
<tr height="13">
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Christopher Wilnohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15338764820117255167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6490271571550276642.post-16564550399106549072013-04-21T15:07:00.000-07:002015-06-27T13:24:14.319-07:00A Lesson From Jackie<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj97xtsAT61TEbj1laP0W4V7MzU9Gl-8M6PNJuuxR9tbMZb28U6ieyX4dhi-VNXSCCdlUlk8fJR2FB70xVyFJ37-AM0q8YD_HzfkWjh-4R02PlkqtVafC_rtHrRZKG0EgQVeEp951e-U2w/s1600/Jackie_Robinson_Biography.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj97xtsAT61TEbj1laP0W4V7MzU9Gl-8M6PNJuuxR9tbMZb28U6ieyX4dhi-VNXSCCdlUlk8fJR2FB70xVyFJ37-AM0q8YD_HzfkWjh-4R02PlkqtVafC_rtHrRZKG0EgQVeEp951e-U2w/s400/Jackie_Robinson_Biography.jpg" width="372" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I went to see the movie 42 today with my son. He really
wanted to see it and I was hoping to expose him to the lesson(s) that could
come out the story of Jackie Robinson.
After seeing the movie, we sat and talked and I am confident I made the
right decision to take him. I am
writing this short post to my son Jaden….in case he finds himself in life
needing a reminder…… and to anyone else that might be listening.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I sat through this movie mesmerized. I love any movie about baseball but
this was for very different reasons and honestly my mind was a blur. I started wondering about the type of
person I am today and really hoped that, had I lived during the time period
when Jackie Robinson entered major league baseball, I would have been the guy
that befriended Jackie Robinson and was accepting of change. I would like to think I would have been
the guy speaking his mind about how the world should work and the guy that
stood up against racism. I really
believe I would have been that person. Growing up, while equality among color
had made great strides….the world certainly was not perfect. I was always the guy that tried to make
friends with and stick up for the guy/girl on the outside……..be it for color or any number of reasons. I was
the guy that wanted everyone to feel accepted and fit in. Even later in life, albeit somewhat
silly, I remember buying a t-shirt from Timberland in Chicago that read “Give
Racism the Boot”. I wore that
shirt proudly and in places that might have been considered risky. Many times I came close to getting my
ass kicked but not by white people…..by African Americans because from afar
they just saw a white dude wearing a shirt that had the word ‘racism’ on
it. They assumed the worst until
getting closer and actually reading what the shirt said. We would usually just
laugh, exchange some words and move on but every one of those many instances broke down the color
barrier a little more.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am thankful today, that my children do not understand
racism. Each of my children has
friends of every race and religion and that is all they know. I have mentioned this before but I
literally think my 5 year old daughter is color blind. She does have some
African American friends who she thankfully only knows as ‘friends’. It is quite remarkable but if you ask
my daughter to describe these friends, she will talk about what they wear or
their sense of humor or how smart they are but she will never ever say they are
‘black’. Ask her 20 different
ways; the color of their skin will never ever be included in one of her replies.
It is the way things should be and I hope she applies this to everything in
life from color to religion to sexual preference. We are all just people and if we unite as one, we can make
the world a better place. I really
think this is a big part of the message of the movie……for my son and for all of
us.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>“A life is not
important except in the impact it has on other lives”</b> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Jackie Robinson</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The story of Jackie Robinson tied to racism in the world but
if you step back it is really tied to one man helping to change the world. Look at how far we have come since 1947
when Jackie Robinson entered major league baseball. Look where the world was then and look where it is
today. After the movie, that is
what I sat and told my son. One man made a difference. One man changed the world. You are one man, you can do exactly the
same thing. Today, the world is not perfect. We have made great strides in some areas of injustice but
there are still a lot of improvements to be made. There is disease, there is suffering and unfortunately race issues still exist as we have seen by recent events. We can all as individuals jump in and
lend a hand. We can all as
individuals make a difference. We
can all as individuals make the world a better place and, as I have said many
times, if we as individuals come together as one with this mentality, changing
the world is a certainty. My fight is against cancer. What is your fight against? There is plenty of room for
change in this world. It is just
waiting for you to jump in and make it happen.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To my son and my daughter, may you always treat everyone
equally, may you fight for those that are treated less than equal and may you
always know that within you is the power to make a difference. </div>
<!--EndFragment-->Christopher Wilnohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15338764820117255167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6490271571550276642.post-66145853431954560572013-04-17T21:47:00.000-07:002013-04-17T21:47:52.799-07:00April 15, 2013<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKeIiPYwCSyBbheJ9r4arDNqBETIHxoHq2HzY7g5N5E6F0J6750qhFZVHEXrSUPraRKJOIud4fPMk__r1YEiFExAu8yE5620LZRmxaM5CulRzhtkKuY8Q6jc1pEkNT2Iii67-MWYax-j0/s1600/boston.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKeIiPYwCSyBbheJ9r4arDNqBETIHxoHq2HzY7g5N5E6F0J6750qhFZVHEXrSUPraRKJOIud4fPMk__r1YEiFExAu8yE5620LZRmxaM5CulRzhtkKuY8Q6jc1pEkNT2Iii67-MWYax-j0/s400/boston.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
As most
people, I have been struggling with the attacks on the Boston Marathon for the
past few days. On 9-11 I fielded a
phone call from my Mom who was very concerned of my whereabouts. I was in Los
Angeles but was traveling a lot at the time so I could have been
anywhere. On 04-15, I fielded a call from my wife who directed me to the news
and as before, I sat teary eyed and stunned in front of the television. Horrible people doing horrible
things………….cowardly attacking the innocent in an attempt to put us in a place
of fear. April 15, 2013 was a bad
day for the entire world……..for the human race. As a runner and as a coach for Team in Training, it was a
particularly bad day because they attacked one of the most sacred places in the
world………..the marathon finish line.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
So many
people have shared beautiful words about this over the past few days. I have shared those words via social
media but also want to put my own words to paper for two reasons. Someday there
is a lesson for my kids coming out of these attacks and I want my words to be
here when they are ready. My wife
and I shielded them from the news of the Boston attacks. My 5year old daughter is far too
innocent and I want her to maintain that innocence as long as humanly
possible. My 8 year old son is
aware of the 9-11 attacks but is too young to really grasp all the tragedy that
came from that horrible day and I did not want to risk the same about Boston.
In a selfish way, I also did not want my son to be afraid to come watch his Dad
at his next big race. Secondly, I
want to put my words out there to those I run with and those I have coached.
While I have seen a lot of runners respond to the Boston situation from a
position of strength, I have also read the posts of folks that express fear and
concern of going to their next race and I believe it is critical we move
forward not only for ourselves but for the future of running as well…..for that
person sitting on the side lines waiting to buy their first pair of
shoes…..that person that watches us from afar waiting for the courage to jump
in and change their life.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
I will not
be long winded here. My thoughts
are clear and concise and are as follows:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
•The reason we must go on
is the same reason that we run and the reason we ever toe the start line of any
endurance race. I have said this
so many times……..my favorite part about endurance sports is staring fear in the
face and shoving it aside. What happened in Boston is horrific. It is
angering. It was meant to insight
fear and I do not want us as a community to give in to that fear.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
•Running
helps to show us all that we are capable of anything. Every time we put on a pair of shoes….every time we log
another mile…..it changes us.
Every finish line crossed is the culmination of an amazing journey. I would be saddened to know that any of
my friends lose their grip on this and let this part of their life slip away. I
have shared the finish line with so many people. As a coach for Team in
Training, I have shared hugs and tears at Mile 26.1 of so many races and
watched as my teammates hobbled that last glorious 0.1 miles to see their lives
changed. I want to see more lives changed because in the end it makes the world
a better place. Runners do amazing
things. The world truly is a not
the same without us.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
•Endurance
sport finish lines truly represent all that the world should be. It is a place where people from all
over the world unite as one. The
finish line knows no race or religion.
It does not care if you are overweight or skinny. It does not care if you are fast or
slow. Whether you finish the marathon in 2:10 or 6:10, you covered the same
distance as everyone else on that day.
At mile 26.2, we are not black or white, Christian or Muslim, we are
just marathon runners. Coach Dave
Gold, a remarkable Team in Training coach put good words to this earlier this
week when he said “We’re all the same at mile 26. Bones and muscle, heart and
soul.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
•<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6490271571550276642" name="_GoBack"></a>For all of the reasons above, we must continue to go on for
those that have yet to experience what it is we know about the finish
line. It is a glorious place on so
many levels. We know this but
there are many yet to lace up their first pair of running shoes. I have seen people begin to run for
every reason in the book from meeting people and losing weight to fighting
horrible diseases, honoring loved ones and gaining the strength to get off the
couch after seeing their spouse murdered in front of them. Whatever brings
someone to the doorstep of the running community, they cross the finish line a
different person capable of so much more than they were before. This may sound
melodramatic but I believe it with all that I am. As I said in my last post <i><a href="http://www.training2savelives.com/2013/02/smile-big.html" target="_blank">SMILE BIG</a></i>, there are people on the
sidelines watching us runners.
They watch and slowly build the courage to jump into the mix. I have done this myself. While I did not run very fast, I just
finished my first 50 mile ultra marathon. If you had asked me years ago whether
I would ever run that far, I would have told you I had no interest. Truth be
told, that answer would have masked my fear of actually covering the distance
but I sat and I watched as Colin and Billy and Sally and Josh and Ron and
Michael and Emily and many others all covered the distance and over time I
started to believe I could do it too.
I wont lie, my fear at the start line brought tears to my eyes but I
took that first step and ultimately crossed the finish line. I am different now. I am more confident about what I am capable
of. We owe this same experience to
those sitting and watching us so I beg you to please carry on. Put on those running shoes and hit the
streets and hit the trails and sign up for those races. You need it. I need it. The
world needs it.</div>
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My prayers go out to everyone impacted by the horrible events in Boston. </div>
<!--EndFragment-->Christopher Wilnohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15338764820117255167noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6490271571550276642.post-69876181150326926322013-02-17T14:27:00.002-08:002013-02-17T14:27:50.553-08:00Smile Big
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I could not decide what to title this post. It could have been one of a million
things. <i>The Little Things</i> also came
to mind but I have given myself 10 minutes to spew some thoughts onto a page so
there is little time to waste worrying about the title. This post was inspired
by today’s workout. The workout
itself is meaningless but for informational purposes it was a 50 mile bike
followed by a 13.1 mile run off of the bike. It was the things I noticed during the workout which were of
importance. They were
reinforcements to why I love endurance sports and it was a personal reminder of
all the things I try to teach.</div>
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My bike ride came first and I am not usually one to look
around and take notice of my surroundings while working out but today
everything seemed to be going in slow motion. It was a HR1 workout, which I hit minus some steeper
climbs. I let myself stay in zone
1 without any regard for the pace……….truth be told I removed the pace
completely from my watch to make sure I just chilled out. What I noticed were a ton of people out
walking and running and biking.
There were young kids.
There were old people like me (tough to admit this!) and there were
folks probably greater than 80 out making it happen. Some were fast.
Some were slow. Some were barely
moving but that is the beauty of what we do. Running and biking means something to everyone with complete
disregard for pace. Endurance
sports shows no bias. Everyone can
get out there and set a personal record.
Everyone can push farther today than they did yesterday. Everyone can push through their
struggles and injuries and doubts and get in the miles. It is a beautiful thing.</div>
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Now to the run. I am a sappy dude. If you have followed any
of my writings you are crystal clear on this fact. Today was an emotional run for me. It was amazing.
I have been dealing with foot pain. It has put some doubts in my head
about how long I can continue to run long. Today off the bike I had a 12 mile run. I was sore tied to a 23 mile run
yesterday and tied to the bike ride and, of course, this nagging foot
pain. The run was a zone 1 workout
like the bike, which was a good thing as it was starting to get fairly
warm. I was not sure where I was
going to head today and, for whatever reason, it took all I had to take that
first step. I began running through the neighborhood near my house. I can run switchbacks through this one
section that lands me at 6 miles.
I did this as part of yesterdays run and I actually do it often when I
do not feel like dealing with traffic. Out and back would get me to my 12 miles
but I figured I would mix it up when I got to the 6 mile mark. Little did I know one special needs
adult would change my plan. The
picture below will show the switchbacks I ran. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO5bW3Wwbo81BcO1-iu7Vekt_5fWMDNFV8f5AilPfjwOb5qVhF6uRX7lp94G8UnpAJpgRV2qMlwutwW5Pe6k5_VFhgdFtaFvdxFBZgo4rqlm1aNWQLfLZvpJ4p79ekgQvQZWrqQd40mag/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-02-17+at+1.34.55+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO5bW3Wwbo81BcO1-iu7Vekt_5fWMDNFV8f5AilPfjwOb5qVhF6uRX7lp94G8UnpAJpgRV2qMlwutwW5Pe6k5_VFhgdFtaFvdxFBZgo4rqlm1aNWQLfLZvpJ4p79ekgQvQZWrqQd40mag/s320/Screen+Shot+2013-02-17+at+1.34.55+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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Running straight through the middle of these switchbacks is
another road……it would be the one mile shortcut to my turnaround (i.e. I am
never more than a mile from my house with this 12 mile run). While I run a mile (basically an out
and back), someone could just walk one block to get to the same place. Anyway, early in the run, I noticed
this guy standing on the corner of the block down this middle road. He would rock back and forth a little
bit tied to whatever condition he is dealing with. I would keep going to the
end of the switchback, make my turn down the next road and there he would be
waiting at the corner. He looked
like he was trying to act as if it was a coincidence every time but I decided
to go a different direction. Every
time I got to him, I would wave and say ‘hey buddy’. He would just give a shy smile and we would part ways for
another mile. I kept thinking this
would stop soon and I was not sure how far he would get from his house…..was
his comfort zone 2 blocks or 10 blocks.
I also had no idea how he knew what I was doing other than I run here
all the time and have done so for years.
Maybe he noticed. Anyway, I
was tired. My feet were sore but
as long as this guy was going to make the effort to get to the next block, I
was going to make the effort to run that next mile. I hit the half way point and made my turn for home. I was wondering if he would know to turn
and go the other direction but I should not have had a doubt……..one mile later
he was there…….’Hey buddy’. I felt
like a had a fan and I was not going to let this one down. Amazingly I stayed in HR1 through mile
11. It was then that I decided to
pick it up a bit and extend my workout to hit 13.1 miles. I saw him with about 2 miles to go and
I told him…..”almost home”. At
mile 12 I told him ‘Last One. Thanks buddy. You saved me today’ to which he
gave a huge smile. He also finally said something but I am not sure what it was. 13.1 miles off the bike in 1:51. More importantly, I think I had a
positive impact on someone’s day and life and I hope he knows he touched
mine. It was a simple moment but
it spoke volumes. I always tell people
to ‘smile big’ when out pounding the pavement. Obviously in the middle of a tough workout that is difficult
but the point is that folks are watching you. There are folks sitting on the couch that want to get up and
make a change. There are people overweight
that want to know there is a better way.
There are kids that wish they could be out running but instead have to
live through those of us that can.
Smile big because when you are out on the streets you are making a
difference and have the ability to impact lives. It doesn’t matter if you are fast or slow, tall or short,
skinny or overweight…….people are watching.</div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;">“Remember there's no such thing as a small act of
kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end.” Scott Adams<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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My 10 minutes are up. This was not as coherent as I would have liked but hopefully
a little of my point snuck it’s way into the post. Thanks for reading. Now get out there and make a difference.<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Christopher Wilnohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15338764820117255167noreply@blogger.com0