Day 148 of 365…

This particular “thing” to do in Vancouver is closer to me than anything else. You see, I am a cancer survivor and I’ve lost dear friends and family to this horrible disease. I don’t know anyone in the world who hasn’t lost someone near and dear to them due to cancer.

This Saturday and Sunday is the annual Relay For Life of Vancouver at Columbia River High School. It begins at 10am with a Survivor Lap (yes I do this every year). This event is open to the public and it’s a great way to support and help raise tons of money to battle cancer. There are around 150 teams and each one does creative things to help raise money. You can buy raffle tickets for all kinds of great prizes, root beer floats, play bean bag toss or tons of other little games. What ever the teams do it’s all to help raise funds.

At midnight on Saturday they also do a Luminaria Service. This is where they line the track with candles in paper bags with the names of those who have passed from cancer or survived cancer. They turn off all the Columbia River football field lights and we slowly walk to the candle light. It’s an overwhelming experience. This year will not be any exception to that!

You can help several ways. First, come out to Columbia River High School anytime between 10am Saturday and 10am Sunday and buy some raffle tickets, buy some food, play some games and encourage the teams who are walking the track for 24 hours straight. Second, you can always make a donation on my Relay For Life page. Can you give up a coffee, lunch, dinner, show, game, overnight trip? Take that money and give to raise funds to continue finding a cure for cancer. Thirdly, you might like to buy a luminaria for a loved one. You can also do that on my donation page for Relay For Life. Lastly, maybe you can do all of these things. I’d encourage you to do something. It will take help from everyone to continue in the battle.

Now, if you are up for it, please journey along with me on my 2009 11 year cancer free survivor lap. It takes about seven and a half minutes to journey this lap. If you manage to make it to the end of the lap, I apologize for being hard to understand… It’s a bit emotional…

Every year the American Cancer Society Relay For Life kicks off the 24 hour event with a lap for all of us survivors. It is an emotional time that hits everyone differently. Some of us have been clean and clear for years (11 years for me!) and some are still in the middle of treatment. Some have just been diagnosed and beginning this treacherous journey.

This year I thought I’d take a video of this first lap to share with the world. A view from on this track of Hope. The reason we do the Relay For Life. The reason I’ve continuously fund raised the last month. I will not and do not apologize for the asking of $1, $5, $10 or more! We all have been touched in one way or another by cancer and all need to do our part to help find a cure. While gathering fund raiser prizes I met a wonderful gal who lost her father many years ago to Hodgkin’s Disease (the same cancer I had). Thanks to work done in this field I sit here today typing this when not many years ago, I wouldn’t be so fortunate.

But, we need to do MORE!

I am remarkably close to my online goals for fundraising, I thank those who’ve given for making that happen. If you haven’t, it’s not too late. Follow any of the above links or click on that picture of me in the sidebar with my baby girl and give from your heart. I thank you in advance for doing so.

Now, if you are up for it, please journey along with me on my 2009 11 year cancer free survivor lap. It takes about seven and a half minutes to journey this lap. If you manage to make it to the end of the lap, I apologize for being hard to understand… It’s a bit emotional…

Thank you!!!

Today is Friday, which means it’s time for some photos. Today, I’ll be doing photos with a purpose! Photos to remind everyone about the Relay For Life of Vancouver, WA. This event takes place next Saturday and Sunday the 18th & 19th of July. If you are already participating, wonderful! If you aren’t participating, I’d suggest you swing by and check it out. Buy some raffle tickets, come support us survivors, come late for the luminary service around midnight (bring tissues!!!).

With only one week left I’m also ramping up my fundraising efforts since I’m trying to raise at least $1,500 through my online efforts. I’m currently at about 50% of that goal. I’ve had about 20 friends from around the country step up in some big and small ways to help out. The awesome thing is, EVERY single dollar raised goes to help find a cure. What I’ve been asking is if each and every one of you would give a dollar. You can give online (I think the minimum there is $5). Or, if you can do the single dollar, take an envelope, stick a dollar in it and mail it to:

Dale Chumbley
c/o Prudential NW Properties
17700 SE Mill Plain #100
Vancouver, WA 98683

While I really appreciate the larger gifts (& would never discourage them) if EVERYONE would give $1 we would raise WAY MORE than my goal of $1,500. Will you help? Please do and THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU to those who already have!

Now for some photos from last years event. I hope you enjoy them…

Yeah Survivors!

Cancer effects many more than you realize! 3 Survivors together.

Boy, this has been quite a week. There have been some real highs and some real lows.

I just came from the funeral of a dear lifelong friend who’s husband lost his battle with cancer last week. As you may know, I’m a cancer survivor and of course thankful for that. But, there is still no end in sight to finding a cure and we need to all do what we can to try and help find a cure for this horrible disease.

On a happier note my friend David Martschinske (amazing photographer) loaned me his “other camera”. His Canon 50D. She and I get along wonderfully (most of the time) and spent a few minutes around downtown Vancouver yesterday.

The absolute low of the week was the passing of Quinn Driscoll, a friend of my sons at Wy’East Middle School. Quinn’s death came as a surprise and shock that has ripped through that school and our community. The service for Quinn will be on Tuesday the 16th at 2PM. It will be held at Summit View Church.

You’re probably trying to figure out what the title of today’s post has to do with any of this? Well, let me tell you.

Nick Vujicic, what an inspiration!

Wednesday of this week I had the privilege to get to see Nick Vujicic speak to the kids at Liberty Middle School in Camas, WA. When I walked up to introduce myself, he said, “hi, I’m Nick, give me a hug”. Wow! How cool. Being a hugger myself, it struck me later in the week… Why don’t more people greet this way? You see, Nick has something very special about him.

Nick was born without limbs, and lacking any clear medical explanation for his condition, Nick has pursued life’s greatest purpose in order to impact the world.

Back to the question, why don’t more people greet this way? Why does it take someone not having any arms or legs to be okay with saying, “hi, give me a hug”. Imagine if more of us greeted each other like this. Imagine how much better this world could be? Nick was a real inspriation and treat to listen to. He pushed, challenged and hopefully caused the kids (and us adults too) to think about those around us. Think about how we treat people. Think about others instead of ourselves. Please set aside 30 minutes now (or very soon) to watch Nick. I promise, it will be worth your time! I’m so confident, I’ll offer you a full refund of your money if you aren’t inspired…

See, I told you you’d be inspired! Next time you see me, GIVE ME A HUG!