Purple Stride Is Saturday!

Wow - it's finally here!  PurpleStride 2011 Cleveland...  This Sat., 6/18 at the Zoo....  If you didn't register on-line (which is closed now) you can still show up Sat. morning between 7:30-8:30 a.m. & register in person to support our fantastic cause.  Also, we will be at the BW3's in Strongsville on Pearl Road on Friday 6/17 to distribute our team packages - if you want to come up & see Ed, we will be there between 5 & 7:30 (or whenever) hangin' in the back room.

Some facts for you incredible folks still reading our blog:
  *  Key facts about pancreatic cancer:

Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in the United States.

Pancreatic cancer has the lowest survival rate of any major cancer. 94 percent of pancreatic cancer patients will die within five years of diagnosis – only 6 percent will survive more than five years. 75 percent of patients die within the first year of diagnosis.  

There are no early diagnostic tools and there is no cure.

In 2010, 43,140 Americans were diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and 36,800 died from the disease.

It is the most under-funded, under-recognized and least-studied of all major cancer killers with only two percent of the National Cancer Institute’s annual budget dedicated to pancreatic cancer research.

I hope by reading the above you can understand why I am fairly passionate about funding & fund raising for research for this horrific monster.

Ed is truly excited about this Sat., which is not about the statistics, but about hope & the future, and our awesome team of 78 people who have raised a little more than $4,000.  Ed's All Star Dream Team is truly just that, a Dream Team!

We have had a few GREAT weeks.  We attended the LOPen fund raiser for the Akron Children's Hospital specifically the Showers Family Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders, and it was incredibly rewarding.  We met and spoke with some of the artists - please check out Brother Trouble - I am in love with these two brothers from South Carolina, they have that country-rock mix that makes their music so much fun!  Ira Dean & his girl friend Brooke Burrows also rocked the stage on Monday Night.  Sunday night was Thomas Ian Nicholas, from Rookie of the Year & American Pie movies, Chris Barron the lead singer from the Spin Doctors (Two of the nicest guys you'd ever want to talk to), Great White & the Lead singer from Bad Company.  I got my picture taken with Sandy Alomar, I was a little too excited.  And, our new friends Jennifer & Phil Lopez, were the best hosts ever!  We were also privileged enough to spend a little time both nights with Jim McMahon and his lovely wife Laurie.  I called him Mr. McMahon, he told to me not too, it was a little funny.  Sure, I'll just call you Jimmy Mac like everyone else, Ha!  I mean, He Is A Super Bowl Quarterback - that doesn't happen every day.  They are very sweet people and they made Ed a very happy man!  If Ed can pull this disease out of his ass and get working on that immune system, and if there is a footballs season, I think we WILL be in Indy for the next SB!  Check out the celebs that were there here:  http://www.facebook.com/#!/media/set/?set=a.174820392567562.36377.152898618093073.   Special shout out to Laurie & Jennifer - you guys are the bomb - again, if there is a silver lining to everything, even this catastrophic disease, it is meeting people like you and your incredible husband's...  There Are No Words.  Just, Thank You.  Oh, and the Jaeger girls - you ladies were a riot, even though you did severe damage to me on Sunday evening, I was back again on Monday night to do it all over again.  I highly recommend supporting this event in the future if you can!  Great Cause & Great Fun.

Ed is still down about 25 lbs. and needs to really just take his days slow & easy.  Yesterday he pushed it and it really showed by the evening.  It's not easy to watch.  We have been engaged exactly one year as of yesterday - who gets engaged on Flag Day - Us.  At Put-In-Bay, over Walleye Nuggets at Mossbacks ;)  

Oh, and Lastly - 3rd Annual Monsoon Lagoon Fest - Ed has planned our next Lagoon Fest for Friday, July 15th any time after 11 a.m. - Swim Up Pool Bar, you are gonna be our Bitch!  He is looking to beat our bar-tab record of last year...  So Come and Join us if you can!  Here is the info on the Lagoon:  http://www.monsoonlagoonwaterpark.com/   If you go under the "plan your visit tab" there is a place that lists local motel/hotels if you want to stay out there that night!  It should be a hoot & a half!

Love to you All........  Ed & MK :)