what an idiot

I can't even spell Parte correctly. duh

Mo Gala Patre

Well, Movember is done from a 'Mo' standpoint but raising money still goes until 12/9 so I'm still trying to finish in the top 100 individuals in the USA and also our Convio Mo team in the top 100 as well. Thank you all who have supported my efforts to raise awareness and $ to support finding new and better testing methods and ultimately a cure.

I have to tell you the Gala Parte was AWESOME....freakin hilarious. You'll have to check out the pictures because there were some GREAT outfits/costumes including my fellow Convio Mo Bro Derrell Wright, he rocks. Heck the whole team rocked and I feel honored to be their team captain.

typing this at 33k feet in the air on my way back to Charlotte, it was a good trip.
just think, in the USA, over $6M was raised and 1/2 will go to the Prostate Cancer Foundation for research while the rest goes to the Lance Armstrong Foundation for support, education of men's health. very cool

Movember, who would have thought that in a short 7 years this organization would raise over $70M and direct $ to prostate cancer research and coordinate pulling together researchers from around the globe to work collaboratively to find a cure. Adam Garone, the founder of Movember and Global CEO.....well done Adam and thank you.

Movember - no, it's not a joke

Movember - it's a campaign to increase awareness around men's health and raising $ for prostate cancer research. 'Mo' is slang in Australia for Mustache.
It started in Australia 6 years ago and is now in 7+ countries. He is a link to my page, take a look.
http://us.movember.com/mospace/457931/

This is very important to me because it's probably the single largest fundraiser around prostate cancer research. Last year there were over 250K paraticipants raising over $42M. I'm the leader of my company team and driven to be one of the top 10 teams in the USA. But I need your help.

October is Pink and Komen is everywhere (which is great)....I need your help in elevating the awareness of Prostate Cancer. every 19 minutes a man dies from PC. Before I die, we need to find a cure. 1 in 6 men will get prostate cancer (1 in 8 women will get breast cancer) so if you could at the very least, make a $6 donation, or $19 donation....every nickel counts.

Thank you for your support

Convio Summit and my friends

I just returned from the 5th annual Convio Summit and WOW, what a crowd. Over 1,100 people attended including some of my buddies, Karen Poirier from Carnegie Museums, Kelley Stewart from American Cancer Society, Miranda Zink from A Kid Again, Cherie Porter from American Cancer....there were many more, heck it was like one big reunion.

One of the more important things that happen for me was the opportunity to put an idea in the ear of Cherie from American Cancer about getting more BLUE exposure and increased awareness about Prostate Cancer. Maybe some joint program with the NFL like they have with Pink for Breast Cancer, that would be great.

The Summit has sparked an energy in me to really make a push for more PC awareness, maybe it was just the vibe from all of the different nonprofits who are so passionate about their own causes and it's rubbed off. That's a good thing.

look for another post about Movember....I need your help in this fun campaign.

later

Pink and Blue

By now you all have seen a wave of Pink thanks to Nancy Brinker and Susan G. Komen. It's amazing how much and where you see pink....on product wrappers in the grocery store, billboards, at sporting events, literally everywhere. That's awesome because it raises awareness and funding for research to find a cure for breast cancer.

My dream is to create a Blue wave equal in size to what we see in pink and the sooner the better.
We all know 1 in 8 women will get breast cancer and yet the awareness that 1 in 6 men will get prostate cancer is way too low. I intend to change that....and I'll need help, hopefully your help. How?

Start by telling a friend, brother, dad, coworker...let them know you know someone with prostate cancer and early detection via testing is needed. Urge them to get their PSA checked if they're 40 or older...urge them to 'tell a friend' and this wave will get 'viral' in terms of spreading the word.

Help by telling a friend. Every 19 minutes a man dies from prostate cancer and we can reduce this via early detection and testing.

Thanks for the help

back pain, good news, part 2

okay, the back pain isn't being caused by the spread of cancer, the bone scan was completely clean which is AWESOME. So my Oncologist put me on some steroids and my GP ordered a MRI.

MRI results from yesterday reveal a herniated disc that is pinching some nerves. Next step is appointment with back specialist. Don't ask me how I got this, I have no idea but what I do know is it hurts like hell.

Speaking of the steroids, most of you know that the hormone therapy drugs I'm on now cause me some hot flashes...well, it seems the steroids are accentuating the hot flashes. In the last 2 days I've sweat so much due to a hot flash that I need to change my shirt...soaking wet, dripping, not fun.

It's a bitch this getting old thing but looking on the bright side, the sun is shining and my feet hit the floor this morning so my life is good.

back pain, good news

Over the past 3 weeks I've had a sharp pain in the center of my back, between the shoulder blades and often the pain shoots down my left arm. Knowing I had an appointment this week with my Oncologist I just waited and when I saw him monday, he chewed me out.

He wants to know when something like this comes up but it's not my nature to complain at general aches and pains. But given that Prostate Cancer likes to go to the bone, Dr. Reza was concerned. Today we did a bone scan and good news, it was negative....and my PSA from monday was
The pain in my back? A result from kids? the wife? (hope she doesn't follow the blog)...most likely it's just a pinched nerve. It certainly will hurt my golf game....oh yeah, I never had a golf game. Cool, I'll blame the bad golf of the back pain.

Be well