Thank you.

First, I am still fundraising for PCRF, and any donations - large or small or enormous or tiny - are appreciated! You can donate HERE!

This weekend was supposed to be my third running of the PCRF Reaching for the Cure Half Marathon. Last year, thanks to Margot, I scored an 18 minute PR. That was fun.

I'm pretty sure I'm NOT running the half this weekend. I guess my hopes of being invincible did not come true, and I don't really want to risk actually injuring my right leg (as opposed to the annoying middling pain I'm currently experiencing).

I've toyed with running the 5K, and I might, just to do something, but in the end, I'm really excited to cheer on some friends, and have a fun day.

Because, this isn't a race I do for myself.

That puts the Team Gab total over the last 3 years at $12,680.

A friend of mine contacted me today, asking what would be a good thing to do for a friend that just had their kid diagnosed with cancer.

Those $12,680 will help STOP those kinds of emails.

It will help change a protocol that had my 5 year old taking 13 pills a night.

It will help to keep another kitchen cabinet from looking like this.

It will make another kids medical records stay under 4" high.

It will change the numbers that we are looking at, even in remission.

So many of you, in real life and the internet machine, have already donated, and I appreciate every penny that you have dedicated to this cause.

So that's it.

I want to say thank you, to each of you, for your support in my fundraising for the last 3 years.

Here's a cute picture to make your Friday happy.

Source

Team Gab Second Annual Virtual Race!!

Can you call something "annual" if it's in its second year?



I am SO excited for this year's virtual race, you guys.

I'm doing things a little differently than last year, and I hope the changes are good ones.

If you're new here, Gabby, the cute kidlet in that picture up there, is my 6 year old daughter. Two years ago, she was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. I run for to raise funds for Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation, in hopes of a better treatment, better cure for kids in the future.

If you're in SoCal, I'd love to see you on May 4th for the Bike tour, or May 5th at the Reaching for the Cure Half Marathon, 10K, or 5K. I'd really, REALLY love to see you join the VIP training group and be part of the fundraising team - click HERE for info on the VIP program (or email me!).

You can click on the "Team Gab" tab up top to read more about her diagnosis, what her treatment has been like, and where we are now.

Team Gab Virtual Race Details!

DONATION LINK HERE

Registration 
Begins February 1-March 9.

Date
You can run your Virtual Race any time, any where!
However, I will be running my race on March 9th, the date of Gabby's last chemo treatment, and I'd love for you to join me - virtually for my internet friends, and maybe for real, in person if you're local! - on March 9th to celebrate her end of treatment.

CLICK HERE for SoCal "Race" Details!

Events, Donations, and Giveaway Entries
STEP 1 - Click HERE to make your donation to PCRF.

5K = $10 donation = 1 entry
10K = $15 donation = 2 entries
Half Marathon = $25 donation = 5 entries
Marathon = $40 donation = 10 entries

Want to donate more than the above? That's awesome, and you rock. I'll throw in 5 extra entries if you donate beyond the amount of your registration. For example, say you want to run the 5k option, and donate $17 - you'll receive 1 entry for the 5k donation, and another 5 entries for the donation beyond the registration = total of 6 entries. 

After you've made your donation, please comment on this post, and if you'd really like to make things easier, tell me how many entries you qualified for (otherwise I'll have to match up donations to names) (which I will, but it'll be awesome if you just tell me).


Bib, Race Reports, and Pictures
A bib will be posted mid-February, for you to print at home, if you'd like.
Once your race has been run, email me (hmgiraffy @ the gmail) with a link to your race report, and note that I may use your pictures in a report round up :D


What do YOU get?
This year, in addition to warm and fuzzy feelings for donating to an excellent cause, you will also get a hand-drawn medal (designs courtesy of the 6 year old).

You'll also have a chance to win some excellent things from these generous sponsors. I only sought out donations from companies that I personally use and love.

Nuun has donated 2 gift packs (each containing a pint glass, a water bottle, and a 4-pack). Nuun is a lifesaver for me - I'm a salty sweater, and I drink this stuff like mad during marathon training.

A medal display hanger from Allied Medal. I have two of these (you can see one in action here) and they are GREAT. They'll also customize hangers, if you can't find what you need!)

1 pair of Magic Pants from Aspaeris. I wear these for long runs, and recovery, and I swear they are like a hug for you bottom. Magic.

A set of BIC Bands. BIC Bands is an amazing company - $1 from every sale is donated to charity. I love these bands - they tame my hair like no other, and they're the only band that stays put on my weird head.

TWO winners can select a pair of compression socks from PRO Compression. I LOVE PRO Compression - they're my favorite sock, and they have a fabulous selection of colors (I own the neon yellow, orange, baby blue, and black).

Race legs and a sparkle skirt from Team Sparkle. I wear my Team Sparkle gear in almost every race - most recently, you can see my red, black, and turquoise skirts in action during Goofy Challenge and Tink Half the following weekend. That's 52.6 miles of SPARKLE.


How the prize drawings will work:
Instead of the normal, boring weekly drawings, I'm hand picking a couple finalists in some specific categories (including, but not limited to, best dressed {duh}, funniest, most creative use of the word amok, the report Gabby points at, or whatever else I find interesting when I'm putting the reports together). Once the finalists are selected, I'll put their reports up for a vote. Make sure you submit your link to me by March 10th to be considered for the voting!

The remainder of the prizes will be selected via random.org using the number of entries as calculated above. Race closes March 10th, and drawing will be done that week.

I hope that makes sense, if it doesn't, please ask, because honestly, it's been a long day and I may be confused :D.

Bottom line: Some winners selected by vote, some via random, if you're sending a report for voting consideration, do so by March 10th. Every participant will receive a medal designed and colored by Gabby. Please donate, if you can. 


As always, I truly, beyond words, appreciate your support of this cause.

"Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen."

Team Gab just passed the $2,800 mark...

Last year, we raised $2,370. THANK YOU for helping me top that this year!

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Earlier this week, I posted to facebook a link to a report on a shortage of methotrexate.

Methotrexate is one of the most critical drugs in treating ALL, which is what Gabby has. She takes methotrexate at home, orally, via ELEVEN pills, every Thursday night. She receives an intrathecal dose every 12 weeks at the infusion center.

Remember a few months ago, when I posted the trick with putting the pill in the grapes?

That's the methotrexate. (Lucky for us, now she just takes them - all 11. She's pretty much my hero.)

Anyway. So this drug, it's a low-profit drug for the manufacturers. It's old, it's not doing a lot for their bottom line.

Apparently, their solution is to... stop making it. And then feign ignorance about WHY there is a shortage.

From the report:

"There are couple other drugs that can be injected into the spinal fluid, but none that are as effective," said Link. "As for the high dose version of the drug, there's no workaround for it."

THIS is why research and development of new treatments is so critical.

There is no workaround.

Gabby's hospital currently has a three month supply of methotrexate available. So for her lumbar in 3 weeks, she's fine. But the one following that?

Unless something changes, there could be none left.

"You're always faced with the problem of whether you can use something else that might work," said Link. "You know in your heart that you're compromising on the cure rate."

I've quoted these statistics before, but now seems like an appropriate time to restate them.

• Gabby is being treated with protocols that are DECADES old.
• New treatments have not been made available to treat childhood cancers for TWENTY years.
• Despite very aggressive therapies that approach the limits of tolerability for the child, the overall survival rate for childhood cancer has remained unchanged since 1998.

You can click HERE to donate to support research to find new treatments.


Ignore the broccoli.
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These other fine folks are fundraising, too - shop around for your favorite cause(s), and spread the love.

Jolene at Journey of a Canuck Mom on the Run is raising money for Alex's Lemonade Stand.

Pam is fundraising for Back on my Feet, a nonprofit organization that promotes the self-sufficiency of those experiencing homelessness by engaging them in running.

Lauren is taking the Polar Plunge in March. Proceeds from the Polar Plunge provide FREE year-round sports training and competition for the Special Olympics.

Trinity is running for LINK HERE) and Jana (LINK HERE) are raising money for the 100 Mile Club's Run4Kids. They will be running for 6 hours on a 1/4 mile track, cheering on the kids as they run to add miles towards their 100 mile goal. "Every $10 I raise will sponsor a student for a year, and my goal is to raise enough to sponsor 20 kids."

Lauren is supporting the American Diabetes Association, and riding a Tour de Cure.

Debbie is doing TWO events with Team In Training - America's Most Beautiful Bike Ride and Eleven Oconee Sprint Tri.

The MFDre is running Boston and raising money for Fred's Team, benefiting Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.

Michel at Baby Weight My Fat Ass is running the Chicago Marathon with Run For Autism.

HLove is and hosting a Virtual Run benefiting the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults.

Elisabeth is running her first FULL Ironman with
Team in Training.

Jana is running the Wine Country Half Marathon for Team Challenge and the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America. "Over 80% of every dollar I raise will directly fund the mission of CCFA" <---- I LOVE THAT STAT. Chelsea is running RnR San Diego Marathon, The Estes Park Half Marathon and the Mayors Marathon in Alaska for Team in Training - holy busy!

Kristi is running the Country Music Marathon for the Project Athena Foundation - their mission "to help women with medical or traumatic setbacks live their athletic and adventurous dreams as part of their recovery."

Caroline is running Race for the Cure for the Susan G Komen Foundation in LA on March 25th - if I'm available, I'm running with her! (as in, I may already be committed to something, not that I'm super high demand)


We runners sure are a giving bunch, eh?

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Check out The Jesse's Team Gab 5K report, and Molly the Sleeper Baker's treadmill 10K!

This week's Team Gab winner.....

My screen capture tool isn't working. That's cute.

Anyway, #36 according to random.org is Elizabeth from Running for Bling!! Elizabeth, check out the Team Gab giveaway page and let me know which prize you'd like!

......and, there are still a BILLION prizes left. I'm going to EXTEND THE VIRTUAL RACE deadline 2 weeks - through March 2nd, while I come up with a creative way to dispense prizes. {Any ideas on raffling these bad boys off?}

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Are YOU fundraising?? Link up in the comments!