Alaska ... HERE I COME!

To my dearest family, friends & fans,

It is almost here! Tomorrow evening, I will be boarding a plane for Anchorage, Alaska. On Saturday, I will be running in the Mayor's Marathon -- 26.2 scenic miles through Anchorage wilderness (where I hope to see caribou and eagles!). This season, I am running on behalf of our geeTEAM Honorees -- Matt, Rob, Whitney, Steve, and Zeeky -- I am running to beat blood cancer!

The last few months have been pretty rough, and this season has proven to be more of a challenge than I had anticipated. But, thanks to all of my donors, geeTEAM has raised $3,985.00! Your generosity and support have made this amazing feat possible. Our team of donors, volunteers, and supports have commissioned three C.U.M.F.O.R.T.S. blankets -- for Matt, Rob & Steve -- and we are only $15.00 away from a fully-commissioned blanket for Zeeky. We have come a long way, and have raised a significant contribution for blood cancer research and patient services, but we can do more! Our goal this season was to raise $5,000.00, and to commission a total of five blankets. And with your help, we still can still reach our goal. Tell your family/friends, reach into your change drawer, make coffee at home for a week -- there is still time to make a contribution to the LLS and C.U.M.F.O.R.T.S. blanket missions! A donation of $20 to LLS will commission two Donor Medallions and get us 2% closer to our goal.

I would like to extend the sincerest thanks that I can muster to all of those who have been so instrumental in my success this season. In just over 4 very short months, I have raised awareness and funds for LLS to a magnitude that I could not have fathomed possible -- it has not been easy, but it was a blessed opportunity and an experience that I cherish. In these short months, I have done my best to prepare my body and mind for the strenuous work of this endurance event -- which has proven to be the greatest challenge, but the is best thing that I have ever done for myself. I have struggled through injury, looming deadlines, training upsets, and event after fundraising-event. But I have come out of this experience with strength, humility, gratitude, and love. If I could, I would reach through the screen and squeeze you too-tight, because I do not have the words to express my thanks for all of your support.

I will be thinking of you, carrying you with me in my heart as I trek these 26.2 miles. I am doing this for you -- because you believe in me. I am doing this for our Honorees -- because you believe in Contributing Unconditional Means for Research, Treatment, and Support. I am doing this for me -- because will all of the support that you have offered me, I know that I will succeed.

I could not have done this without you. Please keep me in your thoughts this weekend, because you will be in mine. In advance, thank you for carrying me across the finish line.

Lots of love from the bottoms of my heart & feet,
Jess

The Pomp of Using a Graphing Calculator

With our Community Garage Sale coming up tomorrow (7AM, 412 31st Avenue, San Mateo), and our fundraising deadline coming close (T-minus 29 days until MARATHON!), I thought it was important to sit down with my spreadsheets and various donation checks to calculate the amount that geeTEAM has raised for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Sure, I could have used the calculator on my phone, or I could have gone old-school and pulled out a pencil and scratch paper. But I wanted this moment to be special; so, I reached into the depths of the boxes I stored in my closet from college and pulled out my GRAPHING CALCULATOR! I don't know how many fellow geek-azoids are out there, but my graphing calculator was King - and I missed it. I cannot lie and say that coming upon it was intentional (I am combing through all of my belongings for goodies to sell tomorrow), but I was happy to find it. And as I decided if it belonged in the "SELL" or "KEEP" pile, I thought this would be a good opportunity to calculate the amount we have raised for LLS.

A recap of our efforts: Bake Sale, Crochet Instructional Events, Bootcamp with MDSF, Bootcamp with FITCLUB Performance, Mighty Bites!, C.U.M.F.O.R.T.S. blanket, and this upcoming Community Garage Sale. That, combined with the generous donations from family, friends and fans and we have raised a grand total of ... (inserting digits on the most awesome Texas Instrument ever created) ...

$3,240.36

(Insert shock! and awe! here.)
Though we are still a ways from our goal of $5,000.00 raised for LLS, I am positive that we will be able to meet our goal this weekend. We are looking forward to a great turn out, some time to spend with family & friends on our front lawn, and a lot of generous do-gooders out-and-about on a beautiful weekend. Please drop by and show your support, we are happy to have you! If you can't make it, please consider making a donation to our effort, every dollar counts!

And a special THANK YOU to all of you that have helped me raise over $3,000 for LLS! You are my heroes and I work hard for you all! <3

stay tuned!

Come Together!

I feel like disco-dancing in the street! The events that geeTEAM has held in the last few days have been huge successes, each in their own way.

Saturday's Cookies for a Cure bake sale was a major hit - we had sunshine, mountains of expertly baked goodies, and lots of eager customers. Could not have asked for a better situation! My sincerest thanks go out to Regina and Kim, our bakers extraordinaire - who slaved over their blenders, stove-tops, and ovens for hours on end to bring us such a successful event -- you ladies are my heroes and a true inspiration. If you know Reg & Kim, give them a big hug and a big congrats for their hard work! Many thanks to Ashley and Jess, as well, for your contributions to the sale - your cupcakes and brownies went fast! We had a super crew taking our message to the sunbathers, kids on the playground, and passerbys - thank you all for coming out, supporting the cause, and enjoying a beautiful afternoon with us.

Sunday's Crochet Camp was an equal success. We had a great turnout at Mad Dawg School of Fitness - where we learned how to crochet hats for chemo patients. Susan and Jason led us in a team relay, where I am proud to say that the women's team kicked butt! Thank you Susan & Saul for opening up your gym for our event, Jason for leading the bootcamp, and Nick for recording the event! Footage of the festivities coming soon!

Last night, our friends from FITCLUB Performance brought their crew to the Burlingame High School track for a lesson in cross-training. We had a great workout - though I am still very sore! But, well worth the work - that marathon is going to be cake compared to what Kris and Keith had me doing last night. Rain or shine, FITCLUB is there to do work!

To celebrate the success of our events, and the fact that we were able to bring together so many people to raise awareness and funds for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, I finished 70 Donor Medallions for PROJECT MATT, and started pulling them together for Matt's blanket. Take a look at our most recent photos added to our album, below!

<<Click here for Project Photos>>

Thank you to all who have supported our efforts thus far, and we look forward to coming together more often to raise awareness and funds for LLS!

 

stay tuned!

Contributing Unconditional Means For Research, Treatment & Support

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I saw a commercial the other day that said that the best things in life are saved for Sundays. I don't know what this particular commercial was trying to sell (blueberry pancakes?), but I took a moment to reflect on the importance of Sundays in my schedule. People are milling around working hard all week long, working hard to relax on Fridays & Saturdays, and finally get to the good stuff on Sundays. Sundays are for visiting with family and friends, reading the newspaper in the sunlight on your back porch, and laughing out loud. Being able to relax into the good things on a Sunday generally leads good people to think how they can help others - help your brother move, call your grandmother on the phone to say hello, volunteer some time for a local charity, or talk about the things that are important to you? This is where our C.U.M.F.O.R.T.S. blanket Projects get their start - on bright and blissful Sundays.
 
While recovering from one of our first long-distance regional runs (which happen on Saturdays), I could barely move from soreness and wanted to find something productive to do with my afternoon stretching and icing my legs in bed. The birth of C.U.M.F.O.R.T.S. blanket took place that Sunday afternoon, when I picked up my crochet hook and made a Chemo Cap. I continued the Sunday tradition of producing comfort items by making Donor Medallions for our Honoree blankets. 

I recently wanted to extend the opportunity to GeeTEAM to contribute to the C.U.M.F.O.R.T.S. blanket mission with an instructional event. This past Sunday (April 3rd), GeeTEAM members gathered in a sunny room in Foster City, CA to learn how to crochet Chemo Caps for our Honorees. It just so happened that all our participants were crocheting novices but picked up the basics quicker than I expected! And at the end of the day, all eight of our participants walked away with Projects to finish. Marla W. finished her Chemo Cap in the time we allotted for the event and Michelle D. sent us a photo of her finished hat on Monday! Check out our finished Project Gallery.

<<click here for Event Photos>>

This past weekend was filled with the best things in life: good food, beautiful weather, great company, and a truly worthy cause. I am blessed to be surrounded by heroes like those GeeTEAM members that came out to support our first instructional event. A special thank you to my heroes - David G., Danielle G., Max W., Trina T., Justin M., Marla W., Michelle D., Myra C., Anna-Marie M., and Brandon C. - for your contribution to the C.U.M.F.O.R.T.S. blanket mission and donation to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

<<Event Details>>

Our next event is coming up! Hosted by our generous friends & coaches at Mad Dawg School of Fitness (MDSF) in Redwood City, CA, our next fundraising event will prove to be epic! We will be combining our crocheting instructional events with a free CrossFit Fundamentals Bootcamp. The crochet/CrossFit double-header "Flex Your {Heart} Muscle" will take place Sunday, April 17th from 9am-2pm. C.U.M.F.O.R.T.S. blanket will be hosting instructional events, the first beginning at 9am and the second at 12pm. MDSF will be leading our participants in training in flexibility, stability and strength, followed by a vigorous workout! We want everyone who attends to "give hope and get fit!" Check out our facebook event, and RSVP! We welcome athletes and crocheters of all abilities, and look forward to having you. All proceeds and commissioned Projects donated to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Come enjoy a sunny Sunday afternoon filled with charity, charcoal (we will be BBQ-ing), crocheting and CrossFit! We look forward to seeing you all there!

stay tuned!

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A Million Thank Yous!

Hi everyone, for those of you who do not know me, my name is Kat, mom of Matthew (aka Project Matthew). Thank you for all of your support with Jessica's efforts. I met Jess just a few weeks ago when I shared our story to the Burlingame Team, and was absolutely blown away by her compassion and aggressiveness to help us find cures for blood cancers.

Matthew was diagnosed with T Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia almost 2 years ago. He is doing well, all things considered. We are hoping for some really good news this week so keep your fingers crossed.

I know when he is all wrapped up in his cumforts blanket it will be your contributing arms giving him the caring hugs he needs.

Thank you kindly

Kat

PROJECT MATT is 100% Commissioned!

C.U.M.F.O.R.T.S. blanket is proud to announce that PROJECT MATT is now 100% commissioned!

 
On the evening of March 24, 2011, we received our final donation for PROJECT MATT - bringing our grand total of $1000.00 raised in honor of Matt Mingus for Team in Training - The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Our donors have commissioned 100 Donor Medallions to assembled for a blanket for Matt, which we are working furiously to complete! To celebrate, I snuggled up in my bed on a stormy evening to complete 41 Donor Medallions, meaning there are 59 Donor Medallions in my queue to complete. But when they are completed, we will have a huge labor-of-love to deliver to Matt and his family!

Donors, thank you all for your support. Your generous hearts are the life-blood of this project, and it is your example that I look to find the motivation I need to keep working on this project!

I would like to take this time to recognize those who I have not had an opportunity to thank yet:

• Courtney Gee - I am grateful the support from my little sister! Thank you for finding the funds to make a monetary donation, even though you are a "starving" college student. Now that I have taught you how to make these Medallions, I hope that you can contribute by sending me a few "Courtney-crafted" Medallions from sunny Santa Barbara to include in one of our Projects!
• Pat & Gerry Hing - A big, big hug goes out to my grandparents, Pat & Gerry, the owners/operators of Hing Accountancy Corp. in San Mateo (best CPAs in town!). They taught me the importance of giving and sharing, and I am grateful to continually have their love and support in everything that I do. Thank you PawPaw and GoongGoong!
• Alison Hench - A soon-to-be Doctor of Osteopathy, and one of the coolest people I know, Alison sent C.U.M.F.O.R.T.S. blanket her love from her study-cubby at Touro University. Thank you to my KGD sister, my role model, and my pal Alison for your contribution & loves - the world is a better place because YOU are in it!
• Anna Ye - Easily one of the smartest people I know, Anna sent us her love from her research-cubicle at the University of Califonia, Davis. Thank you to my KGD sister and goofball buddy Anna for your support - I miss you terribly and I hope I will see you soon when I am in Davis in April!

To all of our current and future Donors, thank you for becoming GeeTEAM teammates! You make all of this possible and I am forever grateful!

Now that we have completed our first C.U.M.F.O.R.T.S. blanket project, it is time to move on to our next projects...

We are now accepting Nominations for our next Project, and are looking to our Community to nominate Honorees (blood cancer patients & survivors) to receive a commissioned C.U.M.F.O.R.T.S. blanket Project. Our goal for this season is to complete five blankets - each representing $1000 raised for LLS. Please take some time to consider how blood cancer has touched your life: perhaps you have a relative, friend, coworker, or acquaitence who is a blood cancer patient or survivor. Take this time to fill out a quick survey to nominate an Honoree for a Project!

We will announce our upcoming projects soon!
stay tuned!

Generosity is synonymous to...

This morning I had to look up the word "generous" in the thesaurus. Had I been sitting at home at my desk, (which, I'm not going to lie, is hidden under a mile-high pile of clean clothes because I just have not found the time to put them in my closet) I would have cracked open the desk-top thesaurus that I have had since I was 7-years old. This thesaurus has been through a lot - more than a dozen moves up-and-down the California coastline; sitting on more than 20 different desktops and under at least two separate wobbling desk and/or chair legs; alternating between covered in dust and hidden away in dark corners; riddled with dog-eared pages and 4th-grade scribbles.

Though this thesaurus has seen neglected days, there was a time when this particular thesaurus reigned supreme. When I was a wee-tot, I was thirsty for ways to best express myself: certain repetitive statements would not suffice. And while playing "office" at my best friend Jenn's kitchen table one afternoon, I fell in love with her dictionary-thesaurus desk set. So much so that I begged my parents for a matching set. I must have been a good kid (or a spoiled one, some argue - but I like to think that I deserved it!), because my parents were generous enough to appease my pleas. Jenn and I played office much more efficiently with our matching desk-sets for the next few years.

At home, I read that thesaurus cover-to-cover, pouring over words that are the same, similar and different from one another. I was enthralled in the world of words and tried to absorb as much from the yellowing pages of the thesaurus as I could. As I grew older, and found less time to and importance in discover the meaning of words, the pages became less enticing and the thesaurus found a permanent place amongst the rest of the books on the shelf. I continued to make the effort to pack it up and find a home for it everywhere I have had a desk to place it on. But, sadly, the thesaurus has had to wait patiently for its opportunity to be important once again.

And now, a moment for it to shine as it did in days of old: I climbed over the pile of winter sweaters and scarves, and searched the messy desktop for my brittle little thesaurus. In it, I found this:

gen·er·ous  [jen-er-uhs] - adjective 

Definition:  giving, big-hearted

• Synonyms:  acceptable, altruistic, beneficent, benevolent, big, bounteous, bountiful, charitable, considerate, easy, equitable, excellent, fair, free, good, greathearted, helpful, high-minded, honest, honorable, hospitable, just, kind, kindhearted, kindly, lavish, liberal, lofty, loose, magnanimous, moderate, munificent, noble, open-handed, philanthropic, prodigal, profuse, reasonable, soft-touch, thoughtful, tolerant, ungrudging, unselfish, unsparing, unstinting, willing 
• Antonyms:  greedy, mean, miserly, selfish, stingy 

Definition:  plentiful, large in number

• Synonyms:  abounding, abundant, affluent, ample, aplenty, bounteous, bountiful, copious, crawling with, cup runs over with, dime a dozen, eco-rich, exuberant, filled, full, galore, handsome, heavy, large, lavish, liberal, luxuriant, mucho, no end, no end in sight, overflowing, plenteous, plenty, profuse, rich, stinking with, unstinting, wealthy 
• Antonyms:  depleted, lacking, rare, scarce, sparse, wanting

In the past few weeks, GeeTEAM has received generous donations pouring in from all over, supporting C.U.M.F.O.R.T.S. blanket, Project Matt, Mighty Bites!, Team in Training, and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Donations so generous, that Project Matt jumped from 36% commissioned to 85% commissioned in less than a week! (That means a lot of catching up for me, crocheting Donor Medallions like a mad-woman!)

More importantly, the support has rung-out resounding support of my individual efforts, to do what one person can to eliminate the devastating effect that blood cancer currently has on those affected by the disease. My generous family, friends and fans have been more than generous - they have been ample, bounteous, kind, & magnanimous by giving with their whole-hearts to support the cause. I cannot begin to express my gratitude for the support... if I look long enough in this old, dusty thesaurus, perhaps I can find the words.

stay tuned!

Our thanks go out to...

• Ashley DeWolfe - We battled our opponents bravely on the soccer field together as tikes, and now we are joining together, as big kids, take down blood cancer! Thanks for the support, Ash! I am really looking forward to working with you to pull together an awesome fundraiser for C.U.M.F.O.R.T.S. blanket. stay tuned!
• Michelle Dondono - Fundraising Guru and Inspiration Wizard, Michelle is the backbone behind the GeeTEAM effort, with her email reminders, helpful tips and encouraging words. Thank you for all of your help Michelle, GeeTEAM, C.U.M.F.O.R.T.S. blanket, and Mighty Bites! would not be successful without your help! You're the best! Did I mention she just joined the ranks of Mighty Bites! Troop 17 - introducing our Troop 17 Mighty Mom - tadah!
• Joan Greve - A MDSF Firebreather, CrossFit Games 2011 competitor, and Olympic weightlifter, Joan is my inspiration for what it means to be a strong woman. Thank you for your phenomenal example and for your support!
• Suzanne O'Brien - My buddy Suzanne is working to raise money for her own cause, but was generous enough to make a donation to Project Matt - thank you Suz! I am proud to be your friend, good luck with your fundraising!

I am touched by the generosity that our family, friends and fans have extended by joining GeeTEAM and contributing to Project Matt! Thank you so very much for your support.

Mighty! big thanks to...

• Dustin Schaefer - A killer CrossFitter with a pretty cool phone, Dustin ordered two (2) Baker's Dozen of our delicious Loco Cocoa Mighty Bites! - they will be ready for pick up Monday at MDSF. If you like them, Dustin, you should consider joining the ranks of Mighty Bites! Troop 17, and encourage others to try our "mighty simple. mighty delicious." treats! Thank you for your generous donation to the LLS, all three of your Donation Medallions have been commissioned - and will be completed soon. Look out for photos of them here!

Many thanks for "Contributing Unlimited Means For Research, Treatment, and Support!" - welcome to GeeTEAM!

Big Thanks to...

• Mike, a fellow crossfitter from Mad Dawg School of Fitness. Thank you for your donation and the tips from your wife's experience with Team in Training. Go TEAM!
• Marla Wong, my long-time friend and ya-ya sista! Many thanks for your generous donation, and best of luck kicking kung-fu butt with your staff and butterfly knives ... please don't hurt yourself! And I promise you can buy lunch next time <3

Thank you both for contributing to Project Matt - be sure to fill out your Commission form, if you have not already done so!

Project Matt update: 35% Complete
Fundraising Goal update: $355.00, 7.1% and climbing!
stay tuned!

Thank you, thank you!

• Freedom Santos! I received your note in the mail today and your donation is greatly appreciated. I would like to post a copy of the letter if you don't mind, it was really touching.
• Philip Levi - Personal Trainer Extraordinaire at Equinox San Mateo. Your generous donation has not gone unnoticed! Thanks for showing up big with your statement-making red sunglasses.
• Susan & Saul Jimenez, owners of Mad Dawg School of Fitness in Redwood City & honorary GeeTeam Coaches - Saul and Susan have been a tremendous source of support and inspiration in my training (and recent recovery from my injury). These people are certified great people! Thank you again for all of your support.
• Jasmine Sarangelo, my "firebreathing" cross-fit role model! I look forward to training beside you and for all of your insider tips on how to "see" Alaska.
• Mat Holzman, another cross-fitter who has generously donated to LLS. I will be sure to bring some Bee Gees to MDSF for the next workout!
• Jason Feudale, another fantastic coach at Mad Dawg! Thank you for kicking my butt during Bootcamp, and for your donation to the cause.

A millions "Thanks!" to you all - look out for the "Medallion Commission Form," coming soon to your inbox!

Special Thanks to...

• Phil "Peach" Lasat for your generous donation! You, my dear man, are the first to commission a Donor Medallion for our first C.U.M.F.O.R.T.S. blanket. Look out for the "order form," coming soon!
• Anonymous, the funds contributed are greatly appreciated. An "Anonymous" Donor Medallion will be inserted into our first C.U.M.F.O.R.T.S. blanket.