Earlier this week, I watched some of the coverage of the devastation from the earthquakes and tsunamis in the regions of Indonesia and those sights were totally surreal.  I watched local coverage of those people who lost family and friends in those parts of the world and couldn’t begin to imagine what they were feeling.  And then my mind wandered to thoughts of how everything can be changed forever in a single moment and how fragile life really is.

Many turned away from the news stories and buried themselves in other programming but I don’t really think that it is because they didn’t care or weren’t concerned because it didn’t happen in their areas.  I think that it was because they didn’t want to confront the reality of the devastation, the loss of so many lives, the extent of injuries and the photos of all of the people who did survive who were left without homes and food and water and had no idea of how they could possibly keep going.  And then I couldn’t help but wonder, what if something like that had happened to me today?

I know how truly fortunate I am.  I know that the most important thing in my life has always been and will always be other people.  I have the best husband in the world and I absolutely treasure the person that he is and the love and caring that he gives to me every single day.  I have only a few family members left and they live on the other side of the country but I know that they are always there for us and that is something that money can’t buy.  I have wonderful friends and co-workers and we all look out for one another.  All of that means more to me than I could ever express.  And that is when I realized that if something like a devastating earthquake happened in my area today, as long as my husband and our families and friends all made it through, we would be just fine.

The reason I know that is that I have seen the power of people united before.  I have seen people gather and help one another at times of crisis.  No, I am not naïve enough to believe that everyone is that way.  I have seen the other side of humanity at times like the Los Angeles riots in the early 90′s.  But, even at that time when I was living alone, I did have three other friends who had joined me in my home and we all hung in there together until the immediate dangers had past and it was once again safe to leave the area.  And when we left, one of those friends took me to his family’s home where I stayed until it was safe to return to my own place.

It was in that moment when I realized that should some major event occur in my area, I really had nothing to fear.  As has happened in the past, I would once again be surrounded by people who would all help each other, those who quite often put the safety of others ahead of their own, those who have compassion and caring to soothe those who are frightened and those who would contribute everything they have to the good of everyone around them.  After all, I truly believe that this is the nature of most human beings and in times of crisis, everyone helps everyone else in whatever manner they can.

I would love your comments.

“Walk Like A Man” Walk-a-thon for Breast Cancer Testing and Research

Part 2

After I finished last week’s blog, I realized that it was number 52. What better way to complete a year of weekly postings than to launch such a wonderful project on this site.

I have decided that the best way to provide more information about this special walk is to provide the press release that I have been given. I really would appreciate it if you would read it and please help in any way that you can (see suggestions in last week’s blog). I would love for everyone to support these kids in this huge undertaking. It would be greatly appreciated.

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Lacrosse team at CRESPI Carmelite High School announces 1st Annual Breast Cancer Gene Test Fundraising Walk-A-Thon. Crespi raises $20,000 in one month.

January 16, 2009

Los Angeles, CA: CRESPI Carmelite All Boys High School Boys Lacrosse Team has launched a nationwide fundraiser for breast cancer gene testing (BRCA1 and BRCA2) entitled “Walk Like A Man”. Over the last month, the lacrosse team has raised $20,000 and brought an army of supporters.

This Valentine’s Day, the lacrosse team at CRESPI Carmelite High School will walk the round-trip distance from Los Angeles to New York to raise money for breast cancer gene testing. Crespi Lacrosse will complete the final leg of the Los Angeles-to-New York 5,500 mile distance on foot from the Brooklyn Bridge to Times Square in New York City. It is the hope of the team to present a check live on Good Morning America along with local schools Sewanhaka High School, Hewlett High School, and H. Frank Carey High School.

This nationwide campaign has attracted attention and support from National Football League teams including the Seattle Seahawks, New Orleans Saints, Dallas Cowboys, and Atlanta Falcons. As well, artist Peter Max, best known for his iconic 60s cosmic art, donated a piece of his original art for the silent auction and may design a one-of-a-kind art design for the cause, used on t-shirts to be sold online nationwide.

Supporting breast cancer gene testing, the walk-a-thon is the only fundraising event of its kind in the Los Angeles area.

Walk-a-thon “Walk Like A Man”—as well as a silent auction and sock-hop—will bring funding to breast cancer research and testing. Los Angeles’s Cedar Sinai Hospital will be on site at “Walk Like a Man” on February 14th including a booth from their Genetic Risk department. There will be on-site mobile scanning units for early detection as well as a blood mobile and various vendors in the vendor village.

The event, part of a larger “Walk Like A Man” fundraising campaign launched last month by head Crespi Lacrosse Coach Jon Oswaks, aims to raise $140,000 by years end. The CRESPI Lacrosse Team is collecting funds for “Walk Like A Man” through http://crespi.dojiggy.com, spotlight auctions, door-to-door campaigns, apparel sales, corporate donations, and more.

Each player on the CRESPI Lacrosse team is required to walk at least 27.5 miles, raise a minimum of $500.00, and bring 2 friends to each raise $500.00 as well. The total mileage goal for the Walk-A-Thon will be 6.87 miles short of the round-trip distance from Long Island to Los Angeles [5500 miles], leading up to their lacrosse tournament in New York in the spring of 2009. The team will complete the final 6.87 miles on foot from the Brooklyn Bridge, with the hopes of a stop to ABC’s Good Morning America studio in Times Square to present the check live. CRESPI Lacrosse is thrilled that their three competing teams will join them in the walk to present the check.

“Walk Like A Man” will be held on the Crespi Carmelite High School track at 5031 Alonzo Ave Encino, CA 91316 on February 14, 2009. Pre/late registration ($7) and check-in will be from 6:45am – 7:45am on February 14. The walk begins at 8am, with barbeques, entertainment, silent auction, and vendor village to roll out through the day. The online early registration rate of $5 will end on February 11, 2009.

For more information or to register visit http://crespi.dojiggy.com “Walk Like A Man” Walk-A-Thon. Receive a personal webpage and help fundraise.

CONTACT INFO:
Jonathan Oswaks
Head Coach CRESPI Carmelite Lacrosse
805-444-1937
jonathan@gruppee.com