Stand Up To Cancer

I like my hair. Even as it begins to turn grey (early!), it remains un-damaged by dyes, presses, perms, regular blow-dryer use, excessive product. (My puny little blow-dryer comes out for very special occasions only: high school prom, MFA graduation, the really big moments.)

I don't remember how I got the idea, but I was a single-digit age when it first occurred to me to chop it all off and donate my precious braid to Locks of Love. Something about that act was so satisfying that I have been doing it every two or three years since.

It wasn't until I started working with Stand Up To Cancer, however, that I really understood what my act meant. Unlike most of my colleagues, I am fortunate in that my direct connections to cancer are of the "early detection" variety. While I've known associates who have battled the disease to the point of baldness, none of my confidants have needed my support as they experienced the sorrow of losing their tresses (and, for some, identity) to a treatment for an illness they could not fight alone.

I am not alone: since the launch of the SU2C website, visitors have been writing to info@standup2cancer.org, divulging stories of repeat donations to LOL. Almost every time I tell someone I am working on the Stand Up To Cancer website, that someone tells me about their daughter, friend, uncle, etc. who recently sent in a 10" braid.

It is such a simple, small act. But it offers dramatic, tangible life improvement for whoever receives the hair. I am proud to be one of many who see this as something easily done repeatedly.

But almost every time I've gone in for the haircut, I've been the hairdresser's very first client requiring a 10" braid. Clearly, not enough people know about this small action they can take! Consider it. For most, ten inches grows quickly. And while my hair is un-permmed, un-dyed, un-abused, my type of hair is not the only type needed. LOL takes hair of any type except bleached/dreaded. Many different styles of prosthetic head-pieces are needed!

And if you feel that you would prefer to reach out beyond Locks of Love, perhaps to adults, consider any of the following:

• Locks of Love - www.locksoflove.org
• Wigs for Kids - www.wigsforkids.org
• Pantene Beautiful Lengths Campaign - www.beautifullengths.com
• Look Good... Feel Better - www.lookgoodfeelbetter.org

Please use blog comments to suggest your own resources!

-- Rain, SU2C.org Technical Supervisor

Posted on June 25, 2008 4:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Recently, Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter wrote to SU2C about renewing and refocusing the energy of the federal government to push for progress in the war on cancer.

As the Senator's message points out, we have the power to make a crucial difference in how the United States government treats cancer and those affected by it. In order to do so, we have to act to put pressure on our elected representatives.

Please read Senator Specter's letter and get involved by e-mailing congress.

June 6, 2008

Executive Leadership Committee
Stand Up To Cancer

Dear Members of the Executive Leadership Committee:

I want to congratulate you on your September 5, 2008 "Stand Up to Cancer" television special and your innovative idea of raising funds from private sources for cutting-edge research.

Senator Tom Harkin and I have been, in a way, conducting our own fund-raising campaign--doubling the appropriation for the National Institutes of Health from $13 billion in 1998 to $26 billion in 2003. Unfortunately, since that time, our efforts have fallen short. Funding for medical research has become stagnant, not even keeping pace with inflation. Research grants have been trimmed back or eliminated all together. Ideas for testing bold new approaches to treating disease have been shunted to the back burner. Worse yet, promising young investigators--the future scientific leaders--have been discourages from entering this field of study.

I am asking that during your private fund-raising efforts, you call call on your viewers to raise their voices and demand that funding for the National Institutes of Health be doubled once again to $60 billion.

Particular attention should be given to the Members of Congress who have not been supportive, such as those who voted against stem cell legislation and increases for biomedical research funding in appropriations bills.

Once again, I commend you for your efforts on behalf of myself and the millions of Americans who are searching for new treatments in their fight against disease and disability.

Together we can be an unstoppable political force for increasing our investment in biomedical research. I thank you for joining me in this fight.

My Best,

Sincerely,

Arlen Specter
Ranking Member
Subcommmittee on Labor, Health
and Human Services and Education

Let our government know that we are paying attention, that the National Institutes of Health and the National Cancer Institute need help, and that they need help now: Go to the Get Involved page and e-mail Congress.

Posted on July 3, 2008 1:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (22)

In the 90s there was that phrase -- "we are all six degree from one another." Six degrees from connection, from affecting one another, from change, from what?

If statistics show that one in three women and one in two men will get cancer, then where am I? In my life, I have been one degree from several people who have been diagnosed with cancer: my grandmother with ovarian, my father in-law with prostate, my friend Gary with brain, and my sweet cat Janie with liver.

I needed to do something other than sit by watching and feeling sad.

I came to Team In Training by way of my friend Heather. At the kick-off party, I heard a young man by the name of Kyle Garlett speak about his life's challenges these past 20 years. Kyle spoke about his living with lymphoma and leukemia and how the disease had ravaged his body, but not his mind. His attitude towards cancer is that it happened, and it's his choice how he will rise up to live with it.

Kyle has been in remission several times. He has endured chemotherapy, a bone marrow transplant, and a heart transplant. And still he rises. One of the ways that Kyle lives with cancer is by being a participant in triathlons. AMAZING!!!! Here is a man who could take the road of "woe is me." Instead he lives his life head-on, learning about this disease, his body and what he can do. Kyle has approached his cancer as a way of living. For him there is no backing down.

I was sold. Not only was I going to do a triathlon and raise funds for cancer research, but also I was about to be surrounded by others and their greatness of character. It was a win-win situation.

Being a part of Team In Training has been one of the highlights of my life. I was now within a group of motivated and enthusiastic people who realized that being in shape had far more to do with health and strength of character, than the vanity that we have been inundated with in our society.

Training for a triathlon is nothing compared to those that endure the daily regime of chemotherapy, daily pills, needles, x-rays, doctors' appointments, etc....you are the true warriors. You magnificent people who rise up each day, greeting your day head on, determined to survive. My training and finding my body's strength and will power was one small way I could choose to give back, as well as relate to the millions of brave souls who do not get to choose.

Being involved with Team In Training reminded me that we are not alone. That living is what we choose to focus our energies on. That we are more than our circumstances; we are our reactions and the steps we take with what life has given us.

So, if we are all just six degrees apart, what's your story?

-Yael Canavan

Posted on July 11, 2008 12:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

I am a dancer. I have always loved to dance. When I was little I spent countless hours dancing around the living room to Pat Benatar, Gloria Estefan, and Michael Jackson. I created some pretty mind-blowing early 80's dance choreography, I must say. As an adult, my passion for dance led me to become a performer in New York City and dance in the aerial off-Broadway show "De La Guarda".

Dance is an amazing way to express yourself, to interact with others, and have fun. As part of the SU2C web team, my passion for dance led me to investigate all the ways dance can be used in the fight against cancer. What a great way to bring attention and fundraising dollars to this cause. I read about a danceathon that will take place on March 14, 2009. This fundraiser hopes to raise $250,000 this year. Check out their website: www.danceathon.org

Another amazing group helping in the fight against cancer is the Cancer Dancers. Their goal is to spread the message of hope and inspiration to young people and their families suffering from the devastating effects of cancer. They not only perform; they also mentor kids currently in treatment. They recently performed on the television show "The View." The troop was created by Christine Grimaldi who is an exercise and wellness practitioner at the Integrative Therapies Program for Children with Cancer. They are a truly inspiring example of how dance can be used to inspire and uplift those in need. Check out the website: Cancer Dancers

Another amazing way dance can positively impact those affected by cancer is through dance therapy. Dance therapy can improve self-esteem, reduce stress, decrease isolation, and encourage a sense of well-being. Dance is an excellent form of exercise and creates community. You can check out the website: Massey Cancer Center.

Another great article from the American Cancer Society is called "Dance Therapy". This article offers clear and reliable information about dance therapy.

I am currently combining my passion for both film and dance to create a Dancers Stand Up to Cancer Public Service Announcement. I am looking forward to exploring my own and my dancer's relationship to cancer through dance. I hope to finish the project in a couple of weeks.

Create and submit your own short films through the SU2C Filmmaker's Challenge. The deadline is August 1st. Check it out!

www.su2c.org/filmchallenge

-Amanda Boggs

Posted on July 14, 2008 3:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Inspired by the three big networks (ABC, CBS, NBC), banding together on Sept. 5th to air our televised show, we wanted to create that same kind of unity and movement online.

Thus, the Virtual Stand-Up, which will also take place on the 5th all day and anyone, not just network anchors, can get involved--bloggers, video podcasters, cancer research advocates as well as countless others online that are personally affected by the disease.

We all have the opportunity to show that everyone can stand up in their own ways by updating their Facebook or MySpace status to say "Stand Up To Cancer," on the big day, blogging about cancer and the need for research funds, twittering about SU2C, adding an email signature, etc.

To learn all the ways that you can stand up, go to: http://www.standup2cancer.org/virtualstandup/ Oh, and you can also download desktop backgrounds and other fun stuff.

Posted on August 6, 2008 5:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

So Facebook, a prime time comedian, and a designer handbag walk into a bar...wait, what? Why would these three ever hang out? Is Facebook even old enough to be doing that type of thing? And is this joke headed in any direction at all?

Clearly the connection between these three facets of the contempo-life is not immediately recognizable. Sure, one makes friends, one makes fun, and one makes fabulous, but what is really important is that they each make up a part of the multi-tiered, ultra-diverse, super-varied arsenal of Stand Up 2 Cancer.

SU2C's cancer-fighting quiver boasts the widest and most targeted usage of popular practice ever seen. Specialty necklaces and online auctions will help save your mother from breast cancer. Social networking and autographed t-shirts will keep your brother from smoking. Yes, dozens of musical artists, scores of actors and actresses, and hundreds of entertainment professionals are all using the tools they love best to fight the thing we hate most--cancer! And so we target culture in the way we know best, in our chosen medium, and we fight cancer with what it often steals from us.

So please do keep in touch on Facebook, keep telling jokes, and keep shopping up a storm. Because cancer is nothing against a culture that loves what it can do rather than fearing what it can't. This is how we fight. This is how we stand. This is how we Stand Up To Cancer!

-Dave Jacobson

Posted on August 26, 2008 2:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Wikipedia defines normal as "conforming to a standard."

We go about our lives trying to protect our sense of what's "normal" until we are forced to confront something. That something is usually quite drastic, even, God forbid, life threatening. Then our character is put to the test.

Why does it take a threat to our normalcy before we do anything proactively? When you are faced with life's challenges, do you concede or do you rise?

Does it have to take a threat to our own livelihood or that of a loved one to get us to shift our idea of normal, to get us to act now?

Allow the story of Ben's strength to be an example of the power that you too have within you, and RISE.

Ben is a 19-year-old freshman in college and an avid soccer player. Ben did not concede to what cancer was asking of him; he decided that in addition to doing his treatments, he would be an offensive player and challenge cancer head-on. Just as he did on the soccer field, Ben found the strength within himself to create a team of players to DOMINATE cancer. By doing his treatments and building a community with his doctors, family and friends, Ben created the Cuck Fancer Team and saw that strength in teamwork can prevail.

Ben created a bracelet that tells the world "cuck fancer." He wanted to sell the bracelet and raise money for the Lymphoma Society. His intention was to raise $1200; he and his friends were superstars and raised $6100. Ben has also created a website with the help of his aunt. The link is cuck-fancer.com. You can purchase these bracelets through him for$2 and the proceeds will continue to go to cancer research.

Ben has also created video logs. He courageously and generously shared the experience of going through his treatments, as well as any doubts or questions that were being raised for him during this time. Through recounting his experiences and using the Internet, he has reached out and touched others in a true time of need. Whether you have cancer or know someone or are just interested in learning and connecting. Ben's site is definitely worth the visit.

Let Ben's example of reaching out and helping others motivate each one of us. Look within and activate your power and rise to meet your life. Set a new bar for normal in your world -- which touches us all.

You can catch all of Ben's vlogs on his web site, http://www.cuck-fancer.com/, and there you can become a part of his team.

Together, through sharing our stories, we have the power to heal.

--Yael Canavan, proud SU2C web team member

Posted on September 1, 2008 6:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Well, for me, there is an easy answer. I stand up to cancer for not only myself as a young metastatic cancer survivor, but for my peers who are also in the battle of their life, and especially for those who did not survive.

I have been blessed. After being given one year to live, I have passed my "expiration date" and am now heading towards my three year marker of kicking the shit out of cancer so it doesn't have a voice in my body. I have been lucky. Some of my friends have not.

During the past two years, I have unfortunately been a witness to several of my young girlfriends heartbreaking end. Some died slowly. Others... it happened so fast. First, there was Marcela. She died from breast cancer within 10 months after being diagnosed. She was only 31. Then, after a long two-year suffering battle (breast cancer again), Kim died. She was only 34. The most devastating loss for me personally, just because she was one of my best friends, was the loss of Michele. Michele had a nasty battle with leukemia. She fought so long and so hard to stay alive. I was always enamored by her strength (aka: FUCK CANCER attitude), her resilience to keep bouncing back after docs told her she would not, and her deep, unconditional love she expressed for her family and friends. She embodied grace and gratitude. Right up until the very end. She was only 34.

I could go on and on about all the young survivors who lost their precious lives to a cancer diagnosis. It is a shame there are so many to remember. But, I feel it is our job to remember them, all of them, young and old, and honor the lives they once lived by sharing their stories. Hopefully, the more we talk about it, the more lives that can be saved. Word of mouth is very powerful. It is one of the most effective marketing tools. Everyone has a story to tell. It is how we learn. By sharing. So at the end of the day, that person goes home to tell their partner, their spouse, their family and/or friends what they learned as probably the most educational lessons of the day.

Like I said before, I stand up to cancer for myself, for Marcela, Kim and Michele, and for all others who have had to endure the ugliness of this devastating disease. I for one am tired of seeing my friends suffer and die miserable deaths, basically having little quality of life. Examples of low quality of life for us younger patients/survivors are infertility, early menopause, side effects from menopause, scarring from surgeries, being single, no insurance, more aggressive cancers, lower chance of surviving, and, if we do we have many more years, enduring reoccurrences, treatments and side effects. Oops! Did I forget anything?? Where is the quality of life in all that? Well, it is what we make of it. It is our choice to wake up every day after being dealt a "dirty hand" believing that we can prevail and move forward in the most positive light possible. Even though it's normal and oayk to have your moments of "pissed off-ness," sadness, etc., the important thing is to feel it, express it and not deny it and then... GET OVER IT! Hopefully, by taking your mind back to a positive place and living in that every day (GRATITUDE) you will have survived a longer, more rewarding life that others will have been honored to be a part of. This is my wish. For all of us.

Thank you to all of the courageous warriors who have fought this disease and to the co-survivors who have had to put up with us because that, my friends, is one the most challenging jobs/roles.

I would love to know more of your stories if you feel inclined to share and welcome your comments.

Thank you for your valued time reading my blog. It is deeply appreciated.

Stefanie LaRue - www.myspace.com/cancerwarrior

Posted on September 4, 2008 9:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)

Vote Now for Project Brain Child at American Express Members Project - 1 day left to move them into the Top 5!

www.membersproject.com/project/view/NN934A

Brain cancer is the #1 cause of solid tumor cancer deaths in CHILDREN. There are over 120 different types of pediatric brain tumors, making effective treatment virtually impossible. Project Brain Child proposes to conduct a feasibility study to create a National Pediatric Genomic Brain Tumor Registry. The information collected in this registry would allow scientific researchers and medical experts to target specific genetic abnormalities with existing drugs most effectively.

Posted on September 28, 2008 8:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Patty Franchi Flaherty, a lifetime Massachusetts resident and community pillar of Natick, lost her courageous 9-year battle with ovarian cancer and died peacefully at home on August 18, 2008, surrounded by family and friends.

Patty was a native of Weston who graduated from Bentley College in Waltham. Afterward, she joined Natick-based Franchi Management Company, Inc., where she worked for over 30 years overseeing all business operations alongside her brother Louis Franchi. She was also a long-standing trustee at Boston's Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

Diagnosed with ovarian cancer in early 1999, Patty lived 9 years before succumbing to the same disease that took her mother Madeline's life 25 years earlier. After a promising remission, the cancer resurfaced in 2005 as a 6-centimeter tumor in Patty's pelvic area. Frustrated by how little ovarian cancer diagnosis and treatment had changed in a quarter-century, Patty was certain that she wasn't alone in her fight with ovarian cancer or in her frustration over medical insufficiencies. She was determined to help improve the odds for all ovarian cancer patients.

In early 2006, Patty co-hosted the Stuart Weitzman Fashion Show and Luncheon as a fundraiser. Proceeds from the show helped fund the Madeline Franchi Ovarian Cancer Research Fund at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Then, with the help and support of her dearest friends, Patty launched a non-profit organization called Ovations for the Cure to fuel other research initiatives around the country and actively change the face of ovarian cancer.

In the 9 years she lived with ovarian cancer, Patty Franchi Flaherty turned a very personal crusade into a meaningful legacy for all women facing the disease. Thanks to Patty, women can now share information the likes of which her mother never had, and have hope where before there had been none. In just over 3 years' time, Patty led Ovations' growth from a lingering idea to a thriving organization--with momentum that continues to build across North America.

In July of 2008, The Savings Bank Life Insurance Company of Massachusetts awarded Patty its highest community honor, the prestigious Brandeis Award, which Patty's husband Paul accepted on her behalf. The award pays homage to Justice Louis Brandeis and his defense of the rights of individuals, and was given to Patty in recognition of her innovation, bravery, and commitment to furthering the research and awareness of ovarian cancer.

Known for her unshakable determination, Patty turned her mission to beat ovarian cancer into a nationwide entity with palpable impact. In so doing, she created a living legacy of hope for everyone who faces the disease. Patty's personal contributions to the fight against ovarian cancer have earned her a champion's status in the hearts of those she has forever touched.

Creating a brighter future

Compared with other diseases making headlines today, ovarian cancer is far from attention-grabbing. Its foremost symptoms are so common and nonspecific that they are often mistaken for something else, if not ignored. Meanwhile, early detection methods are still in their infancy and late-stage diagnosis makes for only a limited number of successfully treated patients. Perhaps most surprisingly, ovarian cancer has the highest mortality rate of all gynecologic cancers, and yet more tax dollars are spent fighting more prevalent diseases with significantly lesser mortality rates.

Contributing to the high mortality rates of ovarian cancer is the lack of accurate screening and clear symptoms. As a result, only 19 percent of cases are detected before the cancer has spread beyond the ovaries, when treatment options are limited.

"Ovarian cancer is often misunderstood, misinterpreted, and unfortunately misdiagnosed," said Dr. Ursula Matulonis, attending physician at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Brigham and Women's Hospital and medical advisor to Ovations for the Cure.

"In an effort to overcome this silent killer, Ovations for the Cure is dedicated to supporting cancer research centers to find accurate and early detection screenings. If caught in the early stages of diagnosis, ovarian cancer patients have a 90 percent chance of survival beyond five years and increased odds of beating the disease," Matulonis added.

"Ovations for the Cure has helped change the dynamics of the medical profession by contributing valuable research funds for detection and treatment while educating women on its subtle symptoms."

Today, Ovations continues to help make miracles possible for all women with ovarian cancer by shedding light on a disease that is still full of darkness. They have launched an aggressive ovarian cancer educational program, distributing awareness brochures to more than 3,000 physicians' offices across the nation. Additionally, the development of their television and radio public service announcements outlining ovarian cancer symptoms has helped women identify the disease before it spreads to advanced stages. By spring of 2008, Ovations had already donated nearly one million dollars to ovarian cancer initiatives through Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Brigham and Women's Hospital, City of Hope Hospital in L.A., and the University of Pennsylvania.

From loss to legacy

"Patty started Ovations for the Cure with the idea of saving women from this horrible disease," said Debbie Soprano, one of Patty's closest friends and first Executive Director of Ovations for the Cure. "While she could not save herself, her everlasting optimism and spirit will forever lead the fight against ovarian cancer until we find a cure."

Patty Franchi Flaherty may have lost her own battle against ovarian cancer, yet through Ovations for the Cure, she'll continue to help thousands of women to win the war.

For more information about ovarian cancer visit www.ovationsforthecure.org.

September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. To learn more, visit ovariancancer.org.

- Cat, SU2C.org

Posted on September 29, 2008 1:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

SU2C is building a movement - and we couldn't do it without the generosity of the American people, who can always find a few dollars to spare for a good cause even in tough economic times like these.

Of course, sometimes a cash windfall comes from an unexpected source. Just ask Casey Taylor, the college student from Austin who was surprised to find an Olympic gold medal in a velvet box under her seat on an airplane. Taylor reunited the medal with its owner, swimmer Brendan Hansen, and in return was awarded $8,000. So what did she do? Donate half to the Red Cross and half to SU2C! Check out a video from the Today Show in SUTV (under Uprising) to learn more.

Thanks, Casey - your generosity is definitely appreciated!

Posted on October 8, 2008 12:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

With the 2008 presidential election just a week away, do you know the candidates' stance on health care in general and cancer in particular? Both Senator McCain and Senator Obama have pledged to increase federal funding for cancer research, among other measures, and both have sections on their websites dedicated to their plans. Check 'em out:

McCain: http://www.johnmccain.com/issues/healthcare/fc.htm
"He will work to better coordinate the efforts between the government sector and the private sector, especially with a focus on translational research so new discoveries in laboratories can be translated quickly and more efficiently to patients' bedsides . . . Importantly, John McCain recognizes the need to understand the reasons behind the onset of cancer are just as important as the research to treat it. He has co-sponsored legislation that would create research centers that would study environmental factors that may be related to the etiology of breast cancer."

Obama: http://www.barackobama.com/pdf/issues/healthcare/Fact_Sheet_Cancer_FINAL.pdf
"Their plan will provide additional funding for research on rare cancers and those without effective treatment options; for the study of health disparities and evaluation of possible interventions; and efforts to better understand genetic factors that can impact cancer onset and outcomes . . . When cancer patients and cancer survivors change health insurance plans, their new insurance companies currently have the ability to deny them insurance benefits because of their "preexisting" condition. The Obama-Biden plan will end insurance company discrimination."


Oh, and in case you missed it, both senators took a few minutes to summarize their plans for SU2C:

To watch the full September 5th Special, click here.

Happy voting!

Posted on October 28, 2008 4:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Have you heard yet about Alec Greven, the country's teensiest relationship expert? The Colorado nine-year-old is the author of "How To Talk To Girls," a new book of dating advice featuring such timeless and universal gems as "Most girls don't really like bugs and gross things" and "Pretty girls are like cars that need a lot of oil."

Well, now it looks like the little Romeo has a new move to add to his playbook: "Donate money to charity." (Girls LOVE it!) During his appearance on the Today Show last week, Alec announced that he will use some of the money he earns from this book to donate to Stand Up To Cancer.

He has already started his own team on SU2C.org:
The Giving Team
and has already made a $10,000 donation to his team!

Check out some of Alec's advice in his own words:

Thanks so much, Alec - we definitely appreciate your help!

Posted on December 9, 2008 7:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (16)

This holiday season, Stand Up To Cancer is hoping that you will join our end-of-the-year "Dedication Team Challenge."

Team Challenges are a great way for people who have been touched by cancer to band together and make a difference. Our last Team Challenge was incredibly successful, raising over $100,000 in just 20 days.

Especially in the weeks leading up to the holidays, we are reminded of those we love who are or have been affected by cancer.

Between the dates of December 16th and Midnight December 31st EST, we are asking each team to raise at least $1000 dollars in honor of someone who has been affected by cancer.

The team that raises the most money during the dates of the challenge will be announced on network television in 2009 and will have the opportunity to have a loving dedication to the team's honoree read on the air. Both new teams and old teams are eligible to participate.

Its hard to ignore it: this holiday season, many of us are feeling the pressure of bad economic times. Team Challenges allow us all to give just a little bit, but at the same time feel like we are contributing in a much bigger way.

Whether you give a dollar or 100, whether you start a team or make a donation to an existing one... the important thing is that we all take a moment to get involved.

Join us in our fight to make future holidays cancer-free for every family. Thank you.

Jules DiBiase
Editor-in-Chief
StandUp2Cancer.org

Click Here to Participate in SU2C Teams

Posted on December 15, 2008 6:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

The mood at the Rose Bowl was upbeat and spirits were high as we set up our Stand Up To Cancer booth at the Amgen Bike Tour of California. Ginnifer Goodwin, Greg Grunberg, Luke Wilson and SU2C cofounder Laura Ziskin were on hand to help raise awareness for SU2C.

A wide variety of people passed by the SU2C tent. There were amateur bikers, regaled in full spandex and cleats, wheeling all kinds of bikes alongside them: mountain and road bikes, two-seaters, unicycles, and dog carriers. There were couples young and old, families, gray-bearded cyclists and kids with their first training-wheels-free bikes. Lance's fans were out in droves, many wearing their Livestrong bracelets. We were inspired by the many, many visitors whose lives had been touched by cancer - some of whom were even survivors.

We had our SU2C buttons in a glass bowl on the table, and people grabbed them as they went by. Many of them also took one or two of our cards, which had promotional codes on the back allowing the person to launch a star in our constellation for free. A few people even registered on standup2cancer.org right there on the spot.

Just before the finishers began their final laps, Ginnifer, Greg, Luke and Laura spoke about why supporting cancer research was important to them. Ginnifer spoke passionately about her mom, a cancer survivor, and about the importance of supporting friends and family who've been affected by the disease.

As the racers came into the area to make their final laps around the Rose Bowl, we joined the crowds of people heading over to see the action. We stood on our tiptoes and held our cameras high over our heads to try to capture the cyclists as they sped through the finish line each lap. They were going at breathtaking speed - I heard someone say it was near 50 mph. Everybody cheered loudly when the Peleton came by with their entourage of motorcycles and support vehicles.

After the final lap, the winner was announced over the PA to much cheering and applause. The crowd began filtering back to the festival grounds, and we hustled back to our tent to hand out more fistfuls of buttons. The sky was clouding over as it neared 4:30 p.m., and many of the cyclists began to disperse to avoid the possibility of a rainy ride home. We packed up the laptops, rolled up the Stand Up To Cancer banner, and called it a day.

--Lys

Posted on February 27, 2009 1:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)