This weekend, my wonderful Nephew will again be walking in the Hunter's Hope Every Step Walk. This is a walk that raises money to require universal screening for newborns. It was started in honor of the son of Jim Kelly (former Buffalo Bills Quarterback). Nephew participated last year too -- read about it here!
If you'd like to make a donation to support Nephew's walk, please go HERE! Even $5 would help!
Thanks friends!
Dear friends,
As many of you know, my dad was diagnosed with cancer about 6 years ago. He has been doing well and is currently trying new treatments to stay healthy. There is no "cure" for multiple myeloma, a blood cancer that affects the immune system.
In his honor, I am again taking part in the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life. This is a great event that raises money for cancer research and cancer survivors. For 24 hours this weekend, my BOGS team will walk the track at a local high school to raise awareness!
This is my third year participating in Relay for Life. With your help and support, the last two years I have reached my goal of $500 donated in honor of my dad! Thank you all!!
Our friend Heather was diagnosed with Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) on March 13, 2009. This is a very rare disease, especially for a 26-year-old. Heather is an extremely happy person and has kept a positive attitude as she has undergone many bone biopsies and doctor's appointments! Luckily, Heather can be "cured" with a bone marrow transplant! In preparation for her transplant at the end of June, Heather has also undergone fertility treatments (to freeze embryos, since it is unlikey her eggs will survive the chemotherapy she has to undergo). Needless to say, Heather and her boyfriend Matt (my officemate) have racked up a whole bunch of medical bills already!
What else could we do, but get together a Benefit for Heather? At the local bar, of course! The professors in my department agreed to be "Celebrity" Bartenders and collected lots of tips for Matt & Heather! We had a fabulous turnout and lots of support! I hope Heather looks back on the night and has a good laugh while she's recovering in the hospital!
An amazing turnout! THANKS everyone!
Dr S. says "Show me your tips!"
How many tenure-track PhDs does it take to pour me a Diet Coke?
Dr B. flosses his teeth ... with a thong?!?
Celebrities always wear their pearls, like Dr C.
Showing off some postdoc skills
Dr M. is apparently a D-cup............
.....with manly muscles.
Dr S. is ready to work ... at Schnooters?
I was so proud to present Heather & Matt with our contribution!I am sure you heard about it in passing sometime in the last few days ...
Earth Hour is a movement by the World Wildlife Foundation to encourage everyone to save energy by shutting off your lights for 60 minutes on Saturday, March 28th, starting at 8:30pm local time!
Everybody (in the world) is doing it, so why don't we?
I am sure you can think of something fun to do in the dark for an hour at 8:30 on a Saturday night! Umm ... I meant watch a movie! What did you think I meant?
My friends Becky & Colin will be taking part in this year's March of Dimes March for Babies!
Colin is an adorable little guy and I am so excited that he is already trying to do good in the world (he's not even 1-year-old yet!)! Click here to read Becky's post about it!
Please consider making a donation by either clicking through Becky's blog or clicking on the widget below! I know lots of my readers have had baby during this last "year of the baby", so I hope you consider giving just $5 or $10!
Thanks everyone!!!! And best of luck to Becky & Colin!
Top 5 reasons why I am excited about Barack Obama:
5) Change
4) It's nice to listen to an educated, eloquent, decent person as he leads our nation (for a change)
3) Hope
2) Michelle's great fasion choices! (Fabulous dress this morning! With green shoes and gloves -- LOVE IT! Can't wait to see the ball gown tonight!)
1) Rory Gilmore surely still has a job. Yes, I am talking about the Gilmore Girls! I like to think she's moved to DC to be part of Obama's press!
Have I mentioned Nephew lately?
He's not even 5 yet and he's already doing some good in the world!
On September 13th, Nephew is doing the Every Step -- The walk for universal newborn screening -- sponsored by the Hunter's Hope Foundation.
If you're a non-Buffalonian and are unfamiliar with the Hunter's Hope Foundation, it is in honor of Hunter Kelly, the son of Buffalo Bills quarterback Jim Kelly. Hunter was born with a horrible disease that affected all of his neurons and nerves. If he had been properly diagnosed as a baby, he would have been able to receive a transplant and his hopes of survival would have increased tremendously. Unfortunately, Hunter Kelly was repeatedly misdiagnosed. The Kelly family is now working to enact laws that will require all newborns in the US to be screened for diseases that can be treated. They have already worked to pass laws in NY State and the Every Step Walk will raise funds for more legislation, research, and care for babies and their families!
As it was the "Year of the Baby", I hope that some of you could take a few minutes to sponsor Nephew in honor of all of the newborns! Just $5 will really make a difference!
To donate, just click HERE, then click the SPONSORSHIP tab, then SPONSOR NOW!, then fill out the fields with Nephew's name, his team (Savings Safari Team) and then all of your information and click away! I just did it and it only took 2 minutes!!
Thanks friends for being so generous!!!!
On May 20, 2008, Iceland announced that it would allow 40 minke whales to be killed over the next six months. This is in open defiance of the commercial whaling ban that the International Whaling Commission (IWC) implemented in 1986, and a reversal of the country's decision in 2007 to halt this brutal practice.
There is no need for whaling. Only 17% of Icelanders would even eat whale meat (and with the number of whales they want to kill, each Icelander would have to eat 4 elephants worth of meat next year!!). And modern products are far superior to whale-made products. For more information about Icelandic whaling, please click here.
Besides, these animals are still endangered!! And they're facing enough problems (pollution, global climate change, etc.) without being brutally attacked by humans!
So, I ask you to take 2 minutes and write to Iceland’s fisheries minister, Einar Kristinn Guðfinnsson, and tell him you disagree with his decision to hunt whales! Just click here!
Thanks to everyone that donated to the Relay for Life! It was a great success and I almost reached my $500 goal!!
I really appreciate your donations and, even more, I appreciate all of the warm wishes for my dad!
Thanks so much friends!!
(And please feel free to hit me up in the future for donations to your favorite charity!)
My mom (and my lil' bro and his gf Kel) will be Marching for Babies on Sunday, April 27th!
