My friend is real fast!

I got to go and see my speedy friend be rewarding for being the fastest stair climber for the day and for the record.

It was for the OutClimb Cancer Challenge - a fundraiser for Huntsman Cancer Institute. He's a competitive guy and he was in it to win it and he did! The challenge was to run up 24 flights of stairs. He completed that in 3:03. THREE MINUTES! Isn't that insane? That's 7.62 seconds per flight. I'm super impressed to say the least.

There was also a record beat for times up the the stairs and it was 52  times for men and 50 for women. Pure madness and I can't imagine how sore their thighs and calves are still..

Miles for Melanoma - Salt Lake, September 10th! Join my team!

I am heading a team for the second annual Miles for Melanoma walk on September 10th at Wheeler Farm! I am excited to be part of this for a second year and to help this walk grow and get more attention. Last year was the first one and it was a pretty sad turn out.

My team name is #melafreakinoma, I figured they probably wouldn't like my signature hashtag so I toned it down just a hair.

If you feel like attending then you can join my team by going to the Miles for Melanoma page and joining my team. If you just want to fund-raise for me that would be great too! Last year I was the fastest fundraiser - raising over $400 in only a couple days! I have almost reached my team goal of $1000 which is great! Our team is currently #2 for the top fundraisers, I think we can beat the other team - but time will tell.

Thanks for all your help! I am working on getting some t-shirts made up too possibly, I just don't know if they would be done in time.

http://join.melanoma.org/site/TR/5kRunWalk/MilesforMelanoma?team_id=3047&pg=team&fr_id=1270

LaterBlog: Survivors at the Summit

On Saturday (July 30th, 2016) I attended Survivors at the Summit.
Maryann told me about it a day or so before and to be honest, I didn't want to go. With the new news it felt like everyone was fixating on things and I just didn't have the energy. It has been a crazy few weeks.
And then I snapped out of it. And realized it was 6 months since Mandy had passed away and knew this was bigger than me.
Survivors at the Summit is put on by the Cancer Wellness House and people attend and buy a prayer flag for someone fighting, has fought/survived or lost the battle to cancer. You are supposed to summit the peak however you are able - hike, bike, walk, or like us, take the tram up. There was a breakfast at the start and then ice cream and snacks at the end... Not sure riding the tram validated earning an ice cream but my prednisone/steroid ridden self didn't say no!

Maryann and the boys, Jack and Ben, came and they wrote on a prayer flag for me. We told Jack to write/draw what he thinks of when he thinks of me - and that is a pink elephant. Oh you sweet boy... haha. Pretty great actually, definitely a memory!

I made a flag for Mandy and then we made the trek (ha!) up to the summit. At the top all the flags were all hung and it was a site to see for sure. Kind of takes your breath away. It is hard to look at them all and think of how many people cancer affects. Basically everyone. No one goes untouched.

My best #mandyselfie

We sat at the summit for over an hour and I met a gentleman that talked to me about his battle with his cancer (super rare kind that I can't even remember it!) He was 4 years into remission and just was refreshing to talk to. Very nice.

Maryann also bought 40 raffle tickets for what was called the 50/50 raffle. 50% went to the Cancer Wellness House and 50% went to the winner. She made the mistake of telling me she would then give me 50% and guess what? She won! $546 to be exact! After taking out the cost of the tickets we are both $253 richer! We never win anything!! She was so nice for really giving me anything! We attempted to go shopping with the money but we both hate spending money, we did go to lunch though. I'll treat myself to something besides food I promise though.

Can't wait go next year and hopefully feel well enough to hike at least half of it. Goals my friends.

Pioneer Day

Here in Utah the 24th of July is a state holiday. It is a day we celebrate the pioneers reaching the valley after a trek across the plains. Basically it is just like a second 4th of July. Which is great. I love fireworks so to get two days in one month to do them makes me happy.

Today was a full day and I definitely have been overdoing things. By the time I made it to the bbq I was spent, physically and mentally. It was good to see family and friends but dang my body isn't too excited with the heat and the busy energy prednisone/steroids makes me think I have.

Tomorrow is a new day and I am going to lay low and listen to my body like a good girl (I've been getting a lot of crap lately for being too on the go...)

As for now, happy Pioneer Day or Pie-n-beer day as it is also known.

My dad knows how to do a firework show - best home show around

Big O

As many of you know I drive a funky car and for some reason can't let go of it. It is now a random part of my identity and I just don't know what I'd do with a normal nice car. If you don't know about my creeper van, it is basically a caravan transformed into a cargo van with a cage and no seats in the back. Wide open space, enough space for a full bed. Anyways, that's ol' blue and I for some reason love it.

But it's got lots of miles and tends to run great and then not so great. I have been putting off fixing a bunch of things just cause life has been busy and obviously other things take precedence. My dad offered to pay for the things to get fixed, and I knew it would be a lot. We took it in to Big O like always and they fixed her all up. When we came in to pick it up I was just waiting for the bomb to drop as to how much it would be. He put the bill down and I saw the damage, close to $1000.... Yikes!! And then he says, "it's taken care of". The owner knows what our family has been dealing with and was so gracious and generous that he took care of it all. He said I had enough to worry about and I needed a safe car to be in. Truly amazing. My dad and I both teared up and just shook our heads in disbelief.

People are good and kind. Even in this hectic crazy world if you put out good energy it comes back - when you least expect it.

I had to thank them so I headed to The Baking Hive and stocked them up on all the chocolaty, buttery, sugary goodness they could handle. It's the least I could do. And give them all a big hug.

Some days are just amazing in the middle of the dust.