Hello again. I have a few minutes and have been wanting to get you all some feedback for how the Philly LiveSTRONG weekend was so here goes…
Simply said the weekend was extraordinary. The entire package of what it was like to have the Philly Mintz’s Mentschen team there wearing “All Jacked Up” cycling jerseys, that our team collectively raised over $31,300 for LAF, that the weather was absolutely perfect, that Amy, Erin, and Bailey were there to enjoy the weekend with me (Sasha was at band camp...), and most of all that I was able to rejoice personally in my health and the opportunity to soak in all the love and good karma of the day…. well what more can I say? It was beyond words and I don’t know if I’ve come completely down to earth yet.
The weekend started with our packet pick-up and a team luncheon on Saturday afternoon. This served as a first step into the excitement of what was a very yellow weekend… LOL. I had the chance to meet some of the Austin-based Lance Armstrong Foundation staff that I had been in touch with via email and that had helped our Mentschen team in advance of the weekend. We gave out the Mintz’s Mentschen jerseys and t-shirts at the luncheon and the excitement began to build.
Because our team was so spread out geographically this was the first time that some people were meeting each other and it was also an opportunity for me to sync back up with the many friends that were coming together to honor me as well as other friends and loved ones, and to raise money to fight cancer. Bobby Wiener, a friend of mine from high school, was there for the luncheon with his wife and son. It had been a while since I had seen Bobby and that he so enthusiastically joined our team when he heard of my diagnosis has touched me deeply. “Friends helping Friends” as it says on our Mentschen jerseys…. that couldn’t be more true.
I could continue with the mushy stuff but I think you already get the point for how the weekend went overall. On Saturday night there was a fundraising appreciation dinner in downtown Philly at the National Constitution Center that I was lucky enough to be invited to (well… I guess I did earn it by raising over $5,900). The dinner was fun since my fundraising also earned me two extra tickets so Erin and Bailey were able to join me. Yep, Lance spoke at the dinner and great fun was had by all. Dan Nies and his wife Kathy, Bobby Wiener with his wife Stacey and son Aron, as well as Helen Ihde and Cheri Drysdale were all there from the Mentschen team.
Simply said the weekend was extraordinary. The entire package of what it was like to have the Philly Mintz’s Mentschen team there wearing “All Jacked Up” cycling jerseys, that our team collectively raised over $31,300 for LAF, that the weather was absolutely perfect, that Amy, Erin, and Bailey were there to enjoy the weekend with me (Sasha was at band camp...), and most of all that I was able to rejoice personally in my health and the opportunity to soak in all the love and good karma of the day…. well what more can I say? It was beyond words and I don’t know if I’ve come completely down to earth yet.
The weekend started with our packet pick-up and a team luncheon on Saturday afternoon. This served as a first step into the excitement of what was a very yellow weekend… LOL. I had the chance to meet some of the Austin-based Lance Armstrong Foundation staff that I had been in touch with via email and that had helped our Mentschen team in advance of the weekend. We gave out the Mintz’s Mentschen jerseys and t-shirts at the luncheon and the excitement began to build.
Because our team was so spread out geographically this was the first time that some people were meeting each other and it was also an opportunity for me to sync back up with the many friends that were coming together to honor me as well as other friends and loved ones, and to raise money to fight cancer. Bobby Wiener, a friend of mine from high school, was there for the luncheon with his wife and son. It had been a while since I had seen Bobby and that he so enthusiastically joined our team when he heard of my diagnosis has touched me deeply. “Friends helping Friends” as it says on our Mentschen jerseys…. that couldn’t be more true.
I could continue with the mushy stuff but I think you already get the point for how the weekend went overall. On Saturday night there was a fundraising appreciation dinner in downtown Philly at the National Constitution Center that I was lucky enough to be invited to (well… I guess I did earn it by raising over $5,900). The dinner was fun since my fundraising also earned me two extra tickets so Erin and Bailey were able to join me. Yep, Lance spoke at the dinner and great fun was had by all. Dan Nies and his wife Kathy, Bobby Wiener with his wife Stacey and son Aron, as well as Helen Ihde and Cheri Drysdale were all there from the Mentschen team.
And the ride? Well the ride was simply icing on the cake. I had a Mentschen posse to escort me on the 10-mile route and I couldn't be more thankful that Joanne Vencius, Stephanie Tobler, Robin Harrell, and Ron and Heather Minsky rode with me.
Following are some pictures from the weekend.
Oh, and before wrapping up this blog entry I need to tell you all that I joined the team for a ride this past weekend and actually was able to handle a ride of 34 miles! Cool, huh!? And let's not forget that approximately half of the Mentschen team, around 30 people, are still fundraising and training for their LiveStrong event in Austin that is in late October. I will be riding with them as much as I can.
I visit Dr. Richards next Wednesday for a blood test so will try to have another blog entry then to let you know how that went. And the fuzz on my head is actually starting to look like something so I'll also try to get some new pics of that.
I visit Dr. Richards next Wednesday for a blood test so will try to have another blog entry then to let you know how that went. And the fuzz on my head is actually starting to look like something so I'll also try to get some new pics of that.
The Philly Mintz's Mentschen team
Me finishing the ride
Erin and I posing by the LAF Mission wall (see my survivor sign between us?)
My buddy Lance and I
Friends helping Friends...
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