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Summit Final Day

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The Summit just ended and all the delegates are on their way back to the airport and hometowns. It has been an incredible week and I am so appreciative to all the people that I have met, and all the stories that were shared. I am working on a few blogs when I get some time to be able to sit down and write them. This week has been powerfully moving.

Liz, our great photographer just gave me a batch of photos, that I will have up shortly, but before I posted them, I wanted to share a note that Doug sent out to the entire LAF staff. I thought as though his sentiments were spot on. His note is below.

Wow.

That is all I can say.

The summit was phenomenal. Incredible. There are not enough superlatives to explain my pride and excitement.

I was moved to tears during the final session with our survivors on stage.

Just one thought to share before I head to the airport.

Last night at the zoo I had a line of people who one after another said the simplest things that were oh so significant.

Here is what they said literally.

“Your organization saved my life”

“I would not be here without your incredible staff”

“Survivorcare helped my mom get her treatment covered”

“Your staff makes me feel so special”

“How did you get such an incredible group of colleagues”

“I have been volunteering in the cancer community for more than 10 years. After one year with LAF I have never felt more empowered”

“Your staff takes care of everything”

And on and on

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

I hope everyone gets some rest and has a safe trip home. I am proud and honored to work with all of you.

We are changing the world.

Special thanks to Missy and her entire team who worked so hard for so many months it paid off and I am grateful.

Thanks,
Doug

  • http://home.comcast.net/~scottjoy/ Scott Joy

    As I wait for my (delayed) flight home, I need to take this moment to say thanks. The Summit was a family reunion, welcoming both new and longtime members with equal enthusiasm and compassion. Its message: it’s up to us — and we’re up for it! Cancer will be a priority in local communities, at the national level, and globally, thanks to the LIVESTRONG Army.

    When I was told, “You have cancer,” I had a disease; since I became involved with the Lance Armstrong Foundation, I have a calling. Spending the last four days among 1,000 people who share that calling fueled me up for the next leg of the journey. Thank you!

  • Leah Shearer

    I wanted to thank all staff and everyone at LAF for an amazing opportunity. What you did surpasses anything I have ever known in cancer advocacy. And when I say advocacy–I think what you do goes so beyond just advocating. Thank you for allowing a platform where voices of advocates, leaders, community volunteers and survivors could be heard. And even more so, thank you for evening the playing field by providing funding scholarships so that economic barriers did not stand in the way of those truly passionate about the cause. To hear all voices this was truly necessary. It was so amazing to see so many diverse and unique people tied together by one cause. I livestrong and I will pass it on.

  • Ed Keelan

    I just wanted to say thank you to the staff of LAF for doing such and Awesome job. Their attention to detail is incredible. All being one of the locals that went to the Summit I hope everyone enjoyed their time here in Columbus. Hope to see you all soon!

  • http://livestrongblog.org/2008/07/27/summit-final-day/ Bob

    I want to thank and compliment the LAF Team for an amazing past few days & all that you are doing to fight cancer. I leave energized, motivated & further committed.
    Thanks – Bob

  • Eric P

    What an amazing experience. Thank you!!

    When I got home i went for a 12-mile run as part of my NY Marathon LAF team training and I wore my VOTE YELLOW t-shirt. I was stopped twice and got many many looks and smiles! Will these be on sale soon in the store? I already have a handful of requests!

    Thanks! Eric P.

  • http://pinkribbonsally.wordpress.com/ Sally Nix

    LAF worked tirelessly to arm each delegate with inspiration, knowledge and appreciation.
    We began as a huge cluster of yellow, and slowly began to get fewer and fewer as we made our connections and headed home. I stepped off my plane,and only a few of us remained.It was a great motivation for me to continue growing the “yellow” in my own community and area.
    One brave person dared to ask what it all meant – I told him about the Lance Armstrong Foundation and how much hope we have in the fight against cancer. He was touched so much that he pulled out his wallet and wanted to donate. I handed him a yellow wristband and directed him to the website. He stated that he never got over his grandmother’s death and will now put his grief into action!

    One down…millions to go!

  • Dawn Durbin

    I want you to know what you started, not only this week-end, but across the United States. You launched us on the airplanes in our yellow shirts, with everyone staring at us, thru all the cities of the USA. What does “Vote Yellow mean?” People stopped us, we explained and like a virus we spread. To infect all the others with their ability to make a difference in this fight. We will make an impact, the seed has been planted. Thank you.

  • Linda Bily

    Just attended my second Livestrong Summit and found renewed committment and passion for the cause. Amazing stories, incredible survivors and new peers in the war on cancer. While many of us were stuck in Baltimore awaiting connections while the weather on the east coast was turbulent, we exchanged stories, networked and one advocate handed out her Livestrong bracelets to people waiting to get on planes. Gave us all a chance to share the message: Make cancer a national priority.

    Fabulous event; caring staff; top notch logistics – thanks again for continuing to fight for all cancer survivors and for giving us the tools to make a difference in our communities.

    I can’t wait to start my own Livestrong army!

  • Beth Carlson

    When I arrived home from the Summit last evening, I passed out yellow bands to my three children…one knew what cancer meant as she lived it with me… the other two came long after the treatment…but each one looked puzzled at the person their mother had become…I left home just a cancer survivor, but I arrived back home an impassioned person who will be growing an army… one person… one friend…one contact at a time. To the LAF I thank you!

  • http://www.blanketofunity.com Tina

    I went to the summit alone – I had no group, no one person to partner up with. I was nervous because I was alone – but I wasn’t alone for long. The LAF staff, volunteers and fellow delegate made me feel like I was in deed at a family reunion. This was an amazing weekend and I feel so lucky to have been able to share this experience. Thank you all and I look forward to watching each and every arm grow!

  • Michelle Nasers

    I had a similar experience to Tina (Hi Tina! We were on the bus together on Saturday morning, then at breakfast and in the same Track.) I, too, arrived at the summit alone, but quickly met my wonderful new family, that I didn’t even know I had. The Summit was a life-changing experience and ranks right up there with the best experiences in my life. I can’t wait to start my Army and lead them into battle against cancer. Thank you to the LAF for making this weekend happen. I can’t say enough good things about it – in fact, I can’t stop talking about it! LIVESTRONG!

  • Gail Lashley

    I feel like the world has opened up for me. Instead of being afraid for my life and waiting to see what happens next, I have been re-born and given a new chance at life. I can’t thank you all enough for the experience, the love, the friends, the care and the caring that I received at the Summit. I want to share it all with the world….but will start with my community. I’m looking forward to the next time I can be involved with or for the Lance Armstrong Foundation. You have given me hope again. And for that I am eternally grateful. I love you all!!!

    LiveStrong!!
    xoGailxo

  • Lori Mishos

    Emerson wrote, “Focus your attention on what you want and you increase your desire to achieve it. When the desire becomes strong enough, you act. As you act, you generate a momentum of success.” Lance and the LAF embody what Emerson meant by this quote. They’ve generated an Army of the most incredible, caring individuals armed and ready to win the battle against cancer. Thank you Lance! Thank you LAF and THANK YOU to all the amazing individuals I had the privilege of LivingSTRONG with at the Summit! Let’s Roll!

  • Mary Luebbert

    I am still so emotional about these last few days — although part of that could be from the sheer exhaustion of lengthy travel to get home due to delayed flights. But it is all worth it. I am a truly grateful scholarship recipient and could not have attended were it not for that beautiful “gift” from LAF. Your investment in me will not be wasted. I came for many reasons including the fact that my brother has recently endured the removal of his bladder, prostate and most of his colon due to cancer. A diagnosis that took more more than a year to get and I find THAT to be completely unacceptable. As he endures the chemo (including a horrific allergic reaction that nearly killed him) I will be his advocate and champion. HE is MY hero. Good heavens I can’t even TYPE that without crying! He asked me to mail him my VOTE YELLOW t-shirt because he wants to wear it to his treatments and so I will do just that.

    Meeting more people in the airport as we all waited to depart Columbus was amazing. More networking, more new friends we hated to leave. Thank you to LAF seems so inadequate for an experience that was, quite frankly, life changing. I look forward to the next summit with great anticipation. Ghandi said “We must be the change we wish to see.” I WILL be the change and am proud to be a part of this army!

  • Nanette Quintanilla

    Thank You, LAF!!! As a Cancer Survivor, when I finished my treatment nine months ago, I was left with the question,”What Now?” As a single Mom, financial worries, doctor appointments, job security, insurance payments,…etc. Those things did not scare me. “What now?” The question needed a more profound answer. The LAF Summit gave me answers. I have a “Mission”. Today, I stood in front of a classroom of nursing students and told my story. I was so…scared! But, as I started talking, the words just flowed. It’s true about Passion. If you have passion for your beliefs, everything else is easy. Thank you, LAF!

  • Fredda Bryan

    B-e-u-tiful experience. Normally it’s hard to top something that was so powerful the first time, but LAF did it. There was a different mission with this one and for me I’ve met my mission head on and will start working on executing it. I’ve already have talked with senators asking them about H.R. 119 and why they are not supporting, I learned that in advocacy track. I mentioned to them that there will be more people who will want to know if their representatives are acting in their best interest when it comes to making cancer a national priority, so stand by:> The airport had a sea of yellow shirts which caused conversation” What does Vote Yellow Mean” and I ran out of bracelets before I left my first layover, ingenius, it’s like the hair shampoo commercial, you tell two friends and then they tell two friends and so on and so etc…. The friends that I caught up with and the new friends that I met were life changing, unless you were a trouble maker, Brian:> Thank you for allowing me to be a part of such a wonderful organization. I loved working registration meeting everyone and hearing stories. Sign me up for the next one, how about Virginia Beach next time:>. Thanks LAF, my prayers are with you Tara.