Days of Teal

I left you with the promise to share what Ovarian Cancer Awareness Foundation in Memphis is doing to raise awareness of OvCa this TEAL month of September, and I always keep my promises. 

Our next event is our monthly support networking group on Thursday Sept 20th 6:30pm at the Junior League building 3475 Central Ave just off Highland (near Univ of Memphis). We are having a guest speaker, Lynn Watson of Footsteps in Eden. She's going to tell us about reflexology, how it can play a role in treatment and post-treatment recovery, teach us some moves we can do on our own and give a demonstration of what a treatment is like for 1 lucky attendee. We'll have snacks and story sharing, too, of course. 

Next is the BIG ONE! Teal for a Cure 5K Walk/Run (or 1 Mi Fun Walk) at Shelby Farms on Saturday the 22nd starting at 8am (race starts promptly at 9am and will go around a paved Chickasaw Trail). There will be a silent auction, Dove release for Teal Angels, live music from the Wolf River Rednecks, Door Prizes, Teal Touch mini-massages, the unveiling of our new logo (it's AWEsome), and the Teal Corner shop. If you haven't registered yet, you can do so here. 

If you don't live around Memphis, and can't join us for the Walk, I'd deeply appreciate the support of your donation. You can be a spirit runner or walker for only $15 and you'll get a T-shirt, or you can simply donate to OCAF. But you know you want that Tshirt!!

Your donation will have greatly deep meaning to me this year for 2 reasons. First, I'll soon be celebrating 2 full years since completing and surviving chemo. This is gigantic! 

Second, for the first time ever in my entire life I will be running and walking this 5K. Yes, you read that right. I've let go of my old saying that I only run if I'm being chased. Now I run because I can. I run because my body is able to run. I run because I can make my own definition of running (I recently learned that you can make running mean and look like whatever you want to yourself). I run because I'm grateful to this body and soul that has been through the darkest of tunnels and come out to find abundant bright Light and Love.

I was inspired to start running just a couple of weeks ago by a Teal Sister, and blogger, Deb. She's been training using Couch to 5K and will be graduating from that program this Saturday morning. I'm going to cheer for her and celebrate that she CAN run with her. She's a little older than me and has a bit less time in remission than me, and so I could think of absolutely no reason I shouldn't at least try to run. 

And now I love to run. Well, I love that I can run then I start running and feel great for a little bit then it feels challenging  but then I stretch under the big trees in the park and get that glorious runner's high for the rest of the day and love it all over again.

So, would please support me in my first ever running 5K? 

My next post I'll share my complex feelings of being out of treatment for 2 full years, and even more Days of TEAL in Memphis with OCAF. 

Light and Love going out tonight, and always, to all the lives that were lost and forever altered by the events of 9/11/01. I saw this quote today and thought it fit in beautifully with my upcoming cancer anniversary and memorial of 9/11/01~ 

“There is a saying in Tibetan, 'Tragedy should be utilized as a source of strength.' No matter what sort of difficulties, how painful experience is, if we lose our hope, that's our real disaster." Dalai Lama XIV

 

Living Again (And a fun little challenge for you, too)

My blog, that is, is living again. No, really. I'm bringing it back with a fresh Voice, my Voice from a different perspective and joined with other OvCa Survivors. Cancer will always be personal to me, but my eyes and heart have seen cancer, particularly gynecological cancers, from a different perspective since I went to the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance Conference in July. I was honored to be awarded a the Judy Childress Scholarship from the Ovarian Cancer Awareness Foundation here in Memphis to attend this amazing conference in our Nation's Capital of Washington D.C. I went as a Survivor, and came back a Survivor/Advocate poised to make progress.

The conference was not at all what I thought it would be, like many things in life. I pictured bald women holding hands and crying a lot. (Why do I still think of that first when I think of women cancer Fighters and Survivors?? That's a stereotype, an UNTRUE stereotype.) Though tears were shed- some of sadness, some of accomplishment and pride, this conference was about education, empowerment and getting Poised for Progress in advocating for ovarian cancer on national and state levels.

This conference was full of Teal (the color representing ovarian cancer) Power, Sisterhood, detailed education and and a grass roots type movement to raise awareness of this often deadly disease to individuals and government as well as raising money for research. It was empowering to the Teal power! I came home changed, healed, grateful for new friends and mentors, and ready to step out of such a personal relationship with cancer and into the role of an Advocate. My world has gotten bigger and richer- all because I had cancer. Now that's catalyst-ism at it's best.

If you'd like to see the videos, summaries or power point presentations taken from the conference, please click here. There is tons of great information, there was no fluff at this conference! Great job, OCNA! And thank you.

The conference wasn't all education and business, though. We had a party to celebrate OCNA's 15th Birthday! There's a video of me dancing, but no one will ever see it. That's a promise, and you're welcome. I was having so much fun I didn't get very many pictures but here are a couple. The first (left to right) yours truly, Carol Rodman, and Judy Childress. They are Board members of Ovarian Cancer Awareness Foundation in Memphis and are warm, kind, and lovely women who are working diligently to raise awareness of OvCa not only in Memphis, but nationally too. I love them pieces and am deeply grateful for both of them. That's the honest truth, it was such an honor to be at this conference with them. If you'd like to see the photo galleries from the conference, please click here.

Fun little Challenge for YOU: I found myself in 6 pictures (use the link above), if you can find all 6 and identify the photo number I'll send the first 3 people a little fun prize. Please send me an email with your answers. Do not post your findings/answer as a comment because that would give it away!

I couldn't go to DC without doing a bit of sightseeing. Here are the highlights- 

Thomas Jefferson Memorial

Me in front of the Capital

A truly AWEsome sight

World War II Memorial

Another part of the WW2 Memorial

I am filled with gratitude for the experience of this Conference... I have so much more to share with you, my dear patient readers,- all with roots in this Conference. There's time, thankfully, I have time to share it. I'm deeply grateful to be in my 21st month of Remission. If feels a little silly counting the months, but each month- each day- is truly precious. 

Next blog post will be about what OCAF- Memphis is doing for OvCa advocacy in the Teal month of September. (There's LOTS, and you can be a part of it. Yep, you.)