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Unassuming Woman Turns Force to Be Reckoned With

millss — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 18:54:42 GMT

Karrie Munkittrick was, in her own words, reserved and unassuming - an artist, wife and mother of two healthy daughters. Then a single event turned her into a one-woman army. Her enemy? Leukemia. Not just any leukemia, but leukemia that attacked her tiny, two-month old nephew, Austin. The entire, extended family pitched in to support Austin, doing whatever they could, and sometimes just being there with him and giving his parents breathing room and time to spend with his big brother, Hunter. But when she wasn't helping in that way, Karrie started thinking about ways to help find cures.

She found a way - Light The Night Walk. Her initial Walk reinforced her belief that Light The Night Walk was a great way to support LLS in the search for cures. The following year, Karrie became a team captain, getting people to join the "Austin's Warriors" Light The Night team. She explains that asking people to donate money would normally have been difficult for her; but knowing that the money raised would help find cures for leukemia she became a dynamic fundraiser. As a team captain, she raised funds herself and acted as a rallying force, urging on her team, which raised more than $6,300 in 2009!

This year, she found another way to help. As her husband Michael explains, "She's been a light to so many people and it has changed her. Now she wants to go where few people would ever consider going." Karrie is very pretty, both inside and out, and has long, beautiful hair. She decided to shave her head as a participant in LLS's Totally Baldacious campaign, in which people raise funds by shaving their heads to show support and solidarity for patients who lose their hair during cancer treatments.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with a blood cancer, LLS is here for you:
To speak to an information specialist, call (800) 955-4572, chat online at www.lls.org, or email infocenter@LLS.org.
Find peer support on the Blood Cancer Discussion Boards.
Support the fight against blood cancers with a gift to LLS.

Christen on the importance of Gap's Give and Get Campaign to Benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

lazzaric — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 18:00:35 GMT

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma survivor, honored patient hero, Light The Night Walk Fundraiser, First Connection volunteer and Survivor mom extraordinaire, Christen Reilert is Giving and Getting. When you participate in Gap's Give and Get program, you're supporting people like Christen, who know the importan

Patient Story: Christen’s little miracle of hope

ce of funding life-saving cancer research.

Download your LLS coupon today and use it in any Gap, Old Navy, or Banana Republic store from March 18th -- 21st.

Give and Get with Gap and LLS this spring and take advantage of a 30% discount while you support The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's work to cure cancer and improve the lives of patients. Christen, we profiled you and your amazing story on an LLS Blog post last fall (see: Patient Story: Christen’s little miracle of hope). How are you doing?

I'm doing very well, thank you -- and so is my 'miracle of hope' Jaden!

You were diagnosed as a Young Adult with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) -- how did you get through your treatment regimen?

I credit my family and friends - but mostly my husband. When I lost my hair and went bald he told me every day how beautiful I was and how much he loved me. And I'm thankful for my Mom who went to every single treatment with me. That got me through!

I'm going to ask you two questions that Gap is using in their Ready, Set Give and Get contest because we think you epitomize what it means to Give and Get. First, what have you done to make an impact on your community?

The moment I was diagnosed with cancer I knew I had to survive and that became my entire focus. I had a very aggressive treatment that was very difficult at times but I always went in with a smile on my face. But I did survivie -- and as soon as I was well I knew I had to give back. I contacted LLS with the intention of becoming as involved with the mission as possible.

Almost immediately, I began fundraising for the Light The Night Walk program, creating a team (Christy's "Cure"ators) that haa been in existence now for nearly eight years.

Then I began volunteering for First Connection, that's LLS's peer to peer support program. My husband and I volunteer in other ways, as well -- and the folks at the local LLS chapter will tell you that I can always be counted on to speak at an LLS event!

Now, what results have you seen -- and what impact has that made on your life?

With every Light The Night Walk, every First Connection support group meeting I'm in contact with, every speaking event --- I'm reminded how powerful my story is and what a source of hope and inspiration it can provide to others. People come up to me all the time that I don't know, people who are in treatment or are caregivers for people in treatment and they thank me for sharing my story. Fundraisers thank me for sharing my story because I remind them that 'Cancer Survivors Have Miracles Too.' That's really become my mottoand the mantra for my life and the hope I want to share with others touched by cancer. The more I give back the more I'm aware of the importance of doing so -- just like Gap!

What are your thoughts on Gap's Give and Get campaign and the fact that LLS is one of the benefactors!

I think it's wonderful! It's great of Gap to recognize The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and the hard work we put forth to find cures.

It's funny because when I was in High School, my friends and I would only shop at Gap. A friend of mine used to say, "if you didn't shop at Gap, you just weren't cool.!" Now, as an adult I still shop at Gap and Old Navy and Banana Republic -- and spend most of my time now at Baby Gap for Jaden!

Giving back has been huge for me. As soon as I became cancer free I was determined to do something to help others. You can give back too by supporting Gap's Give and Get campaign for LLS!

Download your LLS coupon today. The Gap Give and Get Campaign benefiting LLS runs from March 18th -- 21st.

Download the LLS coupon to take advantage of the 30% discount available from all Gap, Inc. stores. Then share this post with your family, friends and social networking contacts. Give and Get with Gap and LLS and help save live

First Post

earth2010 — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 20:51:51 GMT

Trying out my new blog

The start

Thrillskr — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 06:11:43 GMT

And so we begin, Bruce was diagnosed with AML (with maturation) on November 6th 2009 and it is now four chemo regime's later and we are gearing up for the TBI and perfect match BMT. He is vomiting for the first time since diagnosis and I am heading to live by his side through this journey. We have three beautiful daughter aged 20, 16 and 13, and are strong in body and mind. Our oldest has moved back home to care for her sisters while I am at the hospital. We are lucky that we live in Canada and have employers that fully support us, otherwise this journey would be so much more difficult. I am leaving work tomorrow and will be right by Bruce's side for the duration.

1.5 OUT OF THREE

BarryB — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 17:33:17 GMT

Well I am trying.

1) My time is improving (maybe a little) that's the .5

2) Loose 20 lbs... Don't want to talk about it

3) Exceed $100k in TNT fundraising.. DID IT!.. (took 7 years) Thanks to the generousity of caring people!.

HARMONY, MANNERS AND RESPECT FOR THE LLS FORUM

memy — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 02:34:14 GMT

I am wondering if we can't all pledge to offer help and support to one another as one would expect of a "Support Group"? We can all be more caring and considerate of one another and have a genuine feeling of care and support for all. Rudeness in our posts is not necessary, though I realize there will always be differences of opinion, the main fact is this is a support-based group and is a priviledge provided us by the LLS that we should all be grateful of its being and should treat it with such respect. The forum itself should be appreciated and duely respected. And with that goes respect for all people chosing to be a part of it.

Surely we can pledge to one another that we will try to be better mannered and more caring and considerate and keep harmony as a guideline within our hearts and minds accordingly. Yes, manners are still part of this world and should be applied. Surely we all wish each other well and best wishes and our posts should reflect it respectively. That being said, let's hope we can clean up our act here and get on with the business of supporting each other. After all, how will our actions here look on our big resume of life??

Respectfully and with much care and best wishes to all,

mimi

A long week, and February drawing winner

jgregornik — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 18:26:16 GMT

Wow, I can't believe it's been so long since I updated! Sorry, folks. I will endeavor to blog at least 2 times a week, hopefully more!

Thank you to the folks that donated at my Team in Training Website last month. As promised, I did a random drawing for the Team in Training duffel bag, and the winner is...

Amanda B.

I am working out a few ideas for a March drawing, so stay tuned. What would you rather win, a Caribou Coffee gift card, or a Team in Training item? Any other suggestions?

Also, a huge thank you to those people at work that have dropped by to buy popcorn. To date, I have sold $30 of Orville Reddenbacher's Smart Pop, and will be putting that into my fundraising account this week. Please swing by my cubicle instead of that nasty vending machine -- it's better popcorn, and for a great cause!

Sadly, I didn't reach my $500 goal for February. This means I am going to work twice as hard during March, as I am down to six weeks to my recommitment deadline and I need to raise at least $1900 by April 20th to continue my training.

For some strange reason, I was laid up with a migraine the end of last week and most of the weekend. As you know, I have a wheat allergy, and I am wondering if there was something lurking in a food somewhere, to trigger this intermittent headache.

At any rate, I wasn't able to train with the group this last Saturday, and my weekly mileage took a huge hit. Nevertheless, I am feeling better today and hope to log at least 3 miles tonight. The weather here is becoming more spring-like (can I hear a huge HOORAY??? Thanks!), so my doggie might just benefit from the change and get to walk with me this evening. She's imposing enough that no one bothers me when I am out, and the exercise does us both good.

Thank you again to those that donated, and if you are reading this, please, please consider making a donation. Every dollar counts! Skip that latte twice a week and put that $ to help kick cancer!!! You can donate right here, online, securely: Jenn's Team in Training Website and remember, all funds go to the Leukemia and Lymphoma society to research and fight blood cancer!

In health,

Jenn

Enter the Ready, Set Give and Get Contest on Facebook

whitleyt — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 16:36:21 GMT

This is your chance to win a $500 Gift Certificate - and a $10,000 grant for LLS!

Our friends at Gap have launched a contest on Facebook that will run through March 21st! They are looking for the best story on how you "give" back to the LLS community and what you "get" in return.

To enter the contest you must submit a photo and answer these two questions:
1.) What have you done to make an impact on your community?

2.) What results have you seen to date, and what impact has that made on your life?

Enter today! Make sure you cite The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) as your charity of choice --- andGOOD LUCK!

My long Journey

nurs2call — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 23:00:15 GMT

Hey, I am new to this so I hope that I get it right....My hubby was diagnosed in 2006 with Multiple Myeloma and now he is starting down the Stem Cell Transplant road. I am worried about !Money!....Lodging....ect..... so any help or info is appreciated....

Totally Baldacious Inspiration: Team In Training Coach Jacque

whitleyt — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 20:31:37 GMT

Jacque Carter fell in love with Team In Training in the fall of 2003. She had been a runner when she was younger but a dislocated knee ended her running career. However, she became an avid race walker and by 2005 was coaching the walk team for the National Capital Area chapter. Never one to shy away from attention, Jacque and a group of friends sported angel wings during the Nike Women’s Marathon to Benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society in San Francisco in 2008. They called themselves Peggy’s Pals to honor a friend battling leukemia. Last summer, Jacque once again decided to take a very visible stand to show her support and solidarity for cancer patients, when she shaved her head following a training run with her team.

Her story was beautifully documented on the New York Times Running Voices series

Thank you for being a Totally Baldacious pioneer, Coach Jacque!

The FarmHouse Fraternity is Totally Baldacious

whitleyt — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 20:02:53 GMT

Inspired by a brother from their Minnesota chapter who is undergroing treatment for lymphoma, as well as a brother who lost his battle with leukemia, members of the FarmHouse Fraternity, a fraternal organization whose members are generally involved in the study of agriculture and related fields, have been going Totally Baldacious at college campuses across the country. Take the Virginia Tech chapter of the fraternity, who had a small gathering of members and friends last week where they took donations for four brothers, and the brother who garnered the highest contribution got shaved.

Meanwhile, at Washington State University, the FarmHouse members gathered about 50 members and friends for a "mane" event . Even some members of fraternity Delta Delta Delta also attended. “It means a lot because I have a friend who is suffering from lymphoma as well,” said FarmHouse philanthropy chairman Leonel Castellano. “I hope a picture of us with all of our heads shaved brightens up his day. I’m proud to show him what I’m doing to support the cause.” FarmHouse President Matthew Doumit, a junior forestry major, said “It was about more than raising money. For us, the big thing is making a statement by going around with shaved heads and really raising awareness.” FarmHouse Chapters in Wyoming, Texas and Illinois and other states planned events as well.

Photo courtesy of Zachary Lyons of Virginia Tech, who is studying Dairy Science.

Here's to the FarmHouse Fraternity -- and a Totally Baldacious and totally cool!

What an amazing promise

jaycockwni — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 01:29:33 GMT

Starting weight: 185lbs and gaining, today: 182lbs.

"You will run and not grow weary," Isaiah 40:31 What an amazing promise that is, and one that God has kept for me.

Although I have been walking or running to work each day Monday - Friday, I have not done any running on the weekend for the last couple of weeks as I have been fighting a chest and sinus infection and needed the weekends to rest. So I was pleased to be able to get out and run today. I did a Tae Boe work out and stretch then ran what shoud have been a 4 mile loop but I took a wrong turn somewhere and am not sure how long the run actually was. I'm going to have to work out the milage on the computer (as soon as I work out how to). I was doing quite well with a run/walk ratio of about 3:1, or to put it on the telephone pole index, about 12 poles run to 4 walked, until I came to a prolonged uphill stretch which set my run/walk ratio back a little.

It was great to get out and running today, I have been feeling quite down by the end of the weekends when I haven't run. For someone who 6 months ago couldn't manage more than a few yards running before having to walk for an extended period while feeling like they where going to die any moment, and to whom a 5 mile run was inconceivable, this state of afairs is quite remarkable, it's even more remarkable when you think that just a few years ago anything more than a casual stroll would have had me bed ridden for a week or two. It's hard to express just how exciting it is to be able to be physically active after so many years of forced inactivity, of knowing that even when you feel good you have to conserve that energy and do even simple tasks a little bit at a time. To now know that I can set out to run a 4 mile loop and will be able to do so, and feel great afterwards, is astounding. It makes me want to shout from the roof tops "How great is our God!"

They will run and not grow weary,

jaycockwni — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 15:26:29 GMT

Let me just say from the start that I am not a long distance runner. I don't jump out of bed in the morning looking forward to a long run. Even when I was at my peak fitness I was a sprinter and hurdler, now at 45, after 13 years of Chronic Fatigue syndrome and three children, I am far from my peak fitness and considerably over weight. But one thing I have learned over this time is patience and mental and emotional endurance. My Challenge is to add to that physical endurance.

I know this is not going to be an easy journey and I will be tempted almost daily to give up, but the effort to get myself out and running will be worth the goal of finishing a marathon in honour of my mother Margaret Aycock, who passed away in November 2009 after a short battle with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia, and to the glory of God who heals and sustains and strengthens me.

But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.

They will sour on wings like eagles;

they will run and not grow weary,

they will walk and not be faint.

Isaiah: 40:31

Evan Handler is Totally Baldacious, But You Knew That

whitleyt — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 14:56:32 GMT

Actor (Sex and the City, Californication, Lost, Six Feet Under, Ransom, Taps, etc), author (Time On Fire: My Comedy of Terrors, It's Only Temporary: The Good News and the Bad News of Being Alive), screenwriter and journalist Evan Handler is the Honorary Spokesperson for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's (LLS) Totally Baldacious campaign. As a super long-term acute myelogenous leukemia survivor Evan knows first hand the importance of funding life-saving cancer research and so his role as Honorary Spokesperson is particularly significant.

Here reached out to Evan for this blog with some questions and have included his responses below:

Part of the motivation for the Totally Baldacious campaign is to call attention to the importance of showing our love and solidarity to cancer patients. How did has the support you've received from your friends and colleagues helped you while you were undergoing treatment?

I had a lot more friends when I was diagnosed at 24 than I do now at 49 - which is a very good thing, overall. Knowing that there was a community following me, missing me, and hoping for my recovery was a tremendous source of comfort and inspiration. It often strengthened my resolve. And, oddly, knowing that so many of my very young (at the time) colleagues were shaken by my diagnosis also inspired me to push hard to get well. I felt a great sense of determination to show them, and the rest of the world, that such a serious diagnosis did not have to end tragically. I, and they, were deeply involved in establishing ourselves as storytellers, and cultural chroniclers. I felt, should I be able to recover, my particular bout offered opportunities for a great long-lasting lesson, and example, for others who might follow behind. I couldn't locate a single prominent story - either factual or fictional - of a recovery from AML, and I thought there should be room for at least one.

Does this topic come up in your new book, It's Only Temporary?

Actually, it's one of the main thrusts of my first book, Time On Fire: My Comedy of Terrors. I was given (by my girlfriend at the time of that book's writing) a passage about "the revealing of the self," and how such revelations were part of the fuel that drove civilizations to evolve. About how the compilation of stories of all the members of the community were the lessons carried forward, and later used as roadmaps, by newer members of the society. The passage (From Sheldon B. Kopp's If You Meet the Buddha on the Road, Kill Him!) stated that "The paradoxical interstice of power and vulnerability, which makes man most human, rests on his knowing who he is right now, because he can remember who he has been, and because he knows who he hopes to become. All this comes from the wonder of his being able to tell his tale." These sentences, first encountered some time after my recovery, really altered the focus of my life for years afterward.

Of course, while the passage had a profound effect on me, my relationship with that girlfriend didn't endure - and neither did any of the others throughout my 20's and 30's. That's the topic covered in my newer book, It's Only Temporary.

Knowing the importance of funding cancer research, the fundraising objective behind Totally Baldacious, what observations do you have regarding the impact research has had on cancer treatments since you were first diagnosed?

My personal expertise in regard to cancer treatments now, as compared with those available when I was ill, is extremely limited. I know that many of the highly treacherous aspects of bone marrow transplantation I managed to overcome have been somewhat mitigated since, but that's about it. I do know I was exceptionally lucky to come down with acute myeloid leukemia in 1985, as opposed to 1965 (if you can call coming down with AML lucky at all; in Time On Fire I refer to myself as being among "the very luckiest of the unluckiest people to have ever lived"). I assume those who are diagnosed now, or twenty years from now, will have similar benefits, when compared with those treated when I was.

We know you have a web site (www.evanhandler.com), a Facebook Fan Page, and a Twitter profile (@evanhandler) -- and Totally Baldacious does too! How has the web and social networking influenced your relationship with your fans?

My wife laughs at me as I spend several hours a week updating my Facebook page and corresponding with people there, or via Twitter. I opened the Facebook account to promote my latest book in 2008, and accepted all friendship requests. There are 5000 of them now, and my guess is that far less than 10% are people I actually know. So, I've certainly blurred the lines on the meaning of "friendship" and connectedness. But, really, the driving force in my storytelling is the same driving force I felt when fighting for my life. I had to come up with some concrete reasons why walking the hellish path of bone marrow transplantation might be worthwhile. There were personal goals, of course - like wanting to continue to be with my girlfriend at the time (that relationship didn't last either). But the overarching goal, that seemed larger than myself and my own tangled web of girlfriends past, present, and - hopefully - future, was the value that the story of my recovery could have. The inspirational value to others of my mere existence, should I be able to extend it. And, if you go to my website or my Facebook page that's what you'll find emphasized, as it's really the crux of what I think I have to offer.

We developed a 'Be Baldacious' widget that allows you to bald your social networking profile, which you probably aren't going to use. How will you be promoting Totally Baldacious online through February?

think I'm kind of promoting Totally Baldacious every day, everywhere I go. But I'm still encouraging all of my fans to sign up to fundraise for the life-saving cancer research LLS supports on www.totallybaldacious.org.

In the press release for Totally Baldacious you are quoted as saying that you are often mistaken for Howie Mandel? You're kidding, right?

I'm sorry to say I'm not.

Thank you for answering these questions, Evan! We appreciate your spirited support!

LLS CEO Goes Totally Baldacious!

whitleyt — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 21:39:25 GMT

Still fundraising to meet his $50,000 goal, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society President and CEO, John Walter, showed just how serious he was about showing solidarity with cancer patients by "shaving one for the team."

John notes: "The Totally Baldacious campaign is a personal way to demonstrate your support for cancer patients who lose their hair while undergoing treatment."

Check out the video here:

John's participation in Totally Baldacious inspired fans on our Totally Baldacious Fan Page on Facebook and caught the attention of online bloggers like Margart Battistelli, Fundraising Success founding editor. In her blog, Outrageous Hope, she applauds John's commitment ending her post with "we say to John, thank you for being so bold, so Baldacious, so willing to shave one for the team, and so, so full of outrageous hope!"

We couldn't agree more!

To help John reach his fundraising goal, click here to donate directly to his campaign.

To wage your own Totally Baldacious challenge, visit www.totallybaldacious.org

There's no better way to show you care than to go Totally Baldacious for cancer patients.