The Opportunity to be a Giver

We have less than 2 weeks until the Grand Finale on May 29th and it has been a wild ride!  There were ups and downs, there were laughs and tears there were events and contests and raffles and auctions and Facebook shares.  But most of all, there was giving.

There was giving of time, giving of money and services.  There was giving of advice and inspiration.  Giving is something that I've set to do more of very deliberately since 2009.  It was one of my new year's resolutions then & I'm so thankful that this opportunity has allowed me to continue that journey.

This weekend was a tremendous one of GIVING!  We had 4...yes, FOUR events this weekend!

1. Battle of the Boxes - a crossfit competition.

2-3. Bowling for Blood Cancer the KY/OH Version and the VA Version

4. Lemonade for Leukemia & Lymphoma

The crossfit competition completely blew me away - I mean how much money could we possibly expect to raise by working out?  I mean, we say that Crossfit is about community but still.  Over the past 5 weeks this competition alone raised almost $7,000...absolutely unbelievable! One person alone (Heather G.) raised almost $1,000 herself!! The winning team were the rockstars from my home gym & they even donated $600 in prize money back to LLS.   The owner of my gym & her business partners donated their time, free online scoring system (thanks BEL Scoring!) and a competition that could have been revenue for them.  Volunteers donated their time.  Athletes donated their skill & actually some volunteers ended up jumping in to compete last minute.  THAT'S GIVING!!!  #thismatters

Bowling in VA?  Yes.  One of my best friends that I've known for 25 years put on a bowling fundraiser for me in Virginia.  Not to mention, another best friend from Pittsburgh drove to VA to help her.  Oh, and by the way - said best friend is pregnant with her 2nd baby AND chasing around a wild toddler all while throwing a huge event for me.  THAT'S GIVING!!!  #thismatters

Bowling in KY/OH was a huge success thanks to all those who attended & especially Karlie who put on the show!  There were close to 80 kids there and even though Karlie doesn't have kids she put on one heck of an event while smiling through the chaos.  Brave parents also sacrificed children's afternoon naps for a good cause.  If those aren't examples of GIVING then I don't know what is 

Kids do lemonade stands all of the time, but how many kids do you know that would work their booties off for an hour in the heat, raise >$89!!!!! AND Not ask for a penny of it back?  They were all happy to participate and donate for a great cause.  What amazing parents they must have to have raised such kind and generous kiddos.  THAT'S GIVING!!!  #thismatters

Thank you all for GIVING so much through this 8+ weeks...we're almost there!

If you'd like the opportunity to be a giver, please do so here: http://www.mwoy.org/pages/soh/cincy15/dosomethingthatmatters

#thismatters

Week 1 Closes with Fresh Perspective

I've decided to DO SOMETHING THAT MATTERS.  I have accepted a nomination to run in the 2015 Leukemia & Lymphoma's Woman of the Year Campaign, where I've set a goal of raising $50,000 to fuel LLS research, patient services, advocacy, public and professional education, and community services as well.

I've decided to do this because of my personal experiences.  As most of you know, on March 14, 2009 my life changed.  I was diagnosed with Stage 2A Hodgkin's Lymphoma, a cancer of the lymph nodes.  On August 19, 2009 it changed again when I finished 6 months of Chemotherapy & 8 weeks of radiation and was found to be CANCER FREE! 

~2 weeks after finishing my treatments Jimmy & I got married.  My hair was fake, my chest was burnt from the radiation, the wind blew my veil like crazy-but there's NOTHING that could have ruined that day considering what we had just been through.  Please help me give those days to more people by donating here:

K. Guerra's WOY Donation Link

I've decided to use my blog as a way to build awareness, provide updates & capture these moments & feelings forever...please follow me on this journey!  Here's our update from week 1 of 10:

We've had an incredible week 1 & this is a great opportunity to say THANK YOU to everyone who is participating to Do Something That Matters!

I'd like to take a minute to talk about the most incredible part of this journey thus far and that is the awesome group of people that step up to the plate to make a difference.  When you decide to embark on such a crazy/incredible journey such as the one I have, you know that your family & close friends will support you...or at least you hope they will.  

In my case, they've definitely done exactly that & more than I could have ever imagined.  My team in Cincinnati is filled with Professionals with demanding jobs who travel a ton, and families with kids, people who have a million other things to be doing - but are choosing to dedicate their time to doing something that matters.  The owner of the gym I go to (NewCov CF) & my friend, Emily, offering to put on a nationwide competition to help me reach my goals, 2 local writers, Fort Thomas Matters & Patrick McCarty, offering to spread the word of my campaign, the list goes on- You have all shown me what it's like to be selfless, caring and a true friend.  Thank you!

A Team That Won't Stop!

None of my family actually lives in Cincinnati, but everyone is helping.  From PA to Vegas down to South Texas & New Orleans.  There's something coming from all of you!  How amazing is that?  Not to mention my Valley Girls.  The girls I've been friends with for 20-25 years!  These girls are hosting events in PA & VA for me among the craziness of everyday life.  What more could I ask for?!

Even though you know they'll help - you still can't fathom the magnitude of effort everyone will give.  It's insanely humbling and overwhelming that people will go to these lengths to help you reach your goals.

What you don't quite expect are the 3 figure donations, Facebook messages asking how they can help & notes of encouragement from strangers who have read your story & are inspired to Do Something That Matters.  These acts take this campaign to a whole new level.  When you can inspire one person to do something to help cure Blood Cancers you feel like you've conquered the world - but you haven't.  Cancer still exists & until it's gone we need to keep inspiring & pushing to raise money for organizations like LLS.

It's ALL of these people that make me want to push upward and beyond my goal of $50,000.  It's because of these people that we're off to such a strong start.  It is THIS TEAM that will do big things together. Together this team will beat our goal of $50,000.

Also, this team of 11 candidates (my competition) will help to cure blood cancers & Do Something That Matters throughout the 9 remaining weeks.

Thank you all for being on my team and being my competition - becasue together we are coming together to do something that matters.

Please consider a donation as your way of Doing Something That Matters!  Click to DONATE!!!

Here's our list of upcoming events - please reach out with interest or to buy tickets:

Kristin

#thismatters