LIVESTRONG BLOG

Enlist Yourself, Philly!

May 04, 2009 by Guest

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Last year I adorned my rider number with the names of people I know who are or have survived cancer. It listed, My Dad, Nance, Diane, Rita, Jan, Rob, Michael, Ted Kennedy, Arlen Specter, Brian, Patrick?s Dad, Paul, Ellen, Scott, Russ, Ann, Henrike, Gary, Jack, Cindy, Hiroto, Doug and Lance. This year I add my daughter in law. The mother of my grandchildren. A part of my heart. We had a haircutting party a few weeks ago. Rather than wait for the chemo to take her hair we shed it ourselves. When you see me you will notice I also have a new ?do. I see it every morning and will keep it for the duration; until she beats cancer and her hair comes back. It is one small thing I can do to show my support for her.

There is something you can do to support her and all the other people in their fight. Enlist yourself , your family, friends and co-workers to participate in the LIVESTRONG Challenge. Your participation will show your support for the people you know who are battling cancer and help raise funds for the LAF to continue to do their great work.

You will also find yourself overwhelmed with the spirit of the event. As you walk, run or ride you will see people with signs which say, In Memory of, In Honor of, or Survivor. The impact of cancer on our lives is evident but there is a huge celebration happening at each Challenge event. We are celebrating life. This year will be my fourth Philly LIVESTRONG Challenge. Each year the event has gotten better. The key to making the event even better this year is you. I want to meet you at this year?s Challenge.

Rise to the Challenge. Over the next two weeks, each of the Challenge cities and its participants, donors, and friends have been challenged by the LAF to see who?s spirit is the strongest. Philadelphia has always shown that we are the best. The UoP in Philadelphia was the first recipient of a LIVESTRONG grant. Philadelphia hosts the best of a series of USPRO cycling races ; just ask the winner from 1993. With that rich heritage Philadelphia should once again be able to stand proud and top the other Challenge cities in this contest. The contest is to raise the most donations over the next two weeks. Last year?s 5,000 participants raised over $630 each for the fight against cancer and to show the support of their loved ones and friends. We can do better this year. No donation is too small.

The prize for this contest is that Lance Armstrong will announce the winning city both on YouTube and Twitter. I know he loves this city and I would love to give him the opportunity to tell us all that in a Tweet and on YouTube.

LIVESTRONG every day

See you in August,

Geoff Moulton

LIVESTRONG Challenge Philly Mentor: Geoff Moulton