And, if you're in the Pittsburgh area May 6, 2012 find the course and come cheer us on!
For every $50+ donation, I will personally donate $10. C'mon, don't be shy!!
-Shawna :0)
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Pittsburgh Marathon #2
Shasta and I have just registered to do the Pittsburgh Half Marathon as part of the LiveStrong team again next year. Our goal for 2012 is for each of us to raise $750. All proceeds benefit cancer patients and their families. Please consider a donation in honor or memory of a loved one.
And, if you're in the Pittsburgh area May 6, 2012 find the course and come cheer us on!
For every $50+ donation, I will personally donate $10. C'mon, don't be shy!!
-Shawna :0)
And, if you're in the Pittsburgh area May 6, 2012 find the course and come cheer us on!
For every $50+ donation, I will personally donate $10. C'mon, don't be shy!!
-Shawna :0)
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Spaghetti Dinner Recap
With the spaghetti dinner over, we don't really have much to talk about...except about how the dinner went.
For most of the week before family and friends were doing their part in preparing for the dinner, Chinese auction and book sale. In our "cancer sucks" apparel, we began the day at 8:30 a.m. ready to rock and roll.
The dinner started at 10 a.m. and we had our first customer around 9:50 a.m.! The line stayed pretty steady and the last person didn't leave until after 6 (when the dinner was to end). It was amazing to see the people who came out to support the cause. We raised over $5,000 for the Bob Perks Cancer Fund. The Chinese auction had 130+ items and the book sale not only had books but toys, stuffed animals and other children's items. From the book sale alone we raised approximately $150. By the end of the day we were all very tired and exhausted but it was well worth all the time and effort we put in to it.
A special thanks to all of our family, friends, local business, churches and fire companies for the help.
-Shawna :0)
For most of the week before family and friends were doing their part in preparing for the dinner, Chinese auction and book sale. In our "cancer sucks" apparel, we began the day at 8:30 a.m. ready to rock and roll.
Shasta's Shirt
Bill's Shirt
Carter's Shirt
Dad's Shirt
Doug's Shirt
Holly's Shirt
My Shirt
Mom's Shirt
Natalie's Shirt
Owen's Shirt
Shane's Shirt
The dinner started at 10 a.m. and we had our first customer around 9:50 a.m.! The line stayed pretty steady and the last person didn't leave until after 6 (when the dinner was to end). It was amazing to see the people who came out to support the cause. We raised over $5,000 for the Bob Perks Cancer Fund. The Chinese auction had 130+ items and the book sale not only had books but toys, stuffed animals and other children's items. From the book sale alone we raised approximately $150. By the end of the day we were all very tired and exhausted but it was well worth all the time and effort we put in to it.
A special thanks to all of our family, friends, local business, churches and fire companies for the help.
-Shawna :0)
Monday, August 22, 2011
What Cancer Cannot Do
Cancer is so limited...
It cannot cripple Love
It cannot shatter Hope
It cannot corrode Faith
It cannot destroy Peace
It cannot kill Friendship
It cannot suppress Memories
It cannot silence Courage
It cannot invade the Soul
It cannot steal Eternal Life
It cannot conquer the Spirit
Author Unknown
Thursday, August 11, 2011
More publicity!
The Progress was kind enough to post another advertisement for us!
http://theprogressnews.com/default.asp?read=27812
http://theprogressnews.com/default.asp?read=27812
Kickin' Cancer One Day at a Time
Kickin' Cancer One Day at Time
by Shasta Long on Thursday, August 11, 2011 at 10:08am
The dreaded C word. The word you never want to hear. Looking through my list of facebook friends, over half have experienced or known someone with cancer at some point in time. I used to not know of anyone. Now I don't have enough fingers and toes to count all of those I know who have been affected by this terrible illness. Unfortunately, one of those people is my brother, Shane. We never, in a million years, thought we would have to hear that dreaded word. I don’t know if I thought we were magically protected from this monster, but I was obviously was dreaming. I remember the day, the time, the tears and heartache like the diagnosis was yesterday. Something I would never want any family to have to go through. I remember thinking why not that murderer, why not that rapist, why not that person who drives home drunk, not my family, not my brother. I remember struggling to find the words to tell my husband what was going on. I remember calling our pastor and pulling over on the side of the road so she could pray with us. I remember driving and driving just trying to make it go away. And did I mention, we were on vacation at the beach when we found out. We haven’t been back since. I know how this struck me, like a knife in the heart; I cannot imagine how it felt for Shane and Holly. They are two of the strongest people I have ever met. I hope they know how much I love them and how inspiring they have been to me. They have been through so much, but never stop to feel sorry for themselves. I believe that God never gives us anything we cannot handle. I believe this will make us stronger. I believe we will have the power to stop this disease in its tracks. However, for now, we are here in the boat with many others. We can dwell on this and let it destroy us OR we can keep on going. We choose the second one. Our family has been so blessed by the outpouring of encouragement and support from the community, our friends, and our family. It is our turn to give back. PAY IT FORWARD! I encourage all of you to stop by the Cancer CAN’T Conquer Spaghetti Dinner and Chinese Auction. It is 10-6 this Saturday at the Grassflat Fire Hall…Adults $6 Children 5-11 $3 Children under 5 eat free. All proceeds go directly to the Bob Perks Cancer Fund. This fund financially supports cancer patients and their families in the Clearfield, Centre, Blair and Huntington counties. To put it in perspective for you a little more, this foundation will give out over $160,000 to patients this year. Last year, they gave out over $20,000 to Clearfield County alone. If you cannot attend this dinner or do not live in the area, I encourage you to go to this website and make a donation… www.bobperkscancerassistancefund.org You never know when cancer will strike…but together we can fight back and we WILL win!! Please come or donate. You will feel great about what you did!
Shasta
Shasta
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Something to think on...
Finally got to meet Doreen Perks and Jen Finkle today. Awesome, awesome women! Through talking with them however I got a better view of the big picture. It is projected that this year alone, the Bob Perks Cancer Assistance Fund will give out $160, 000!!! to residents in Clearfield, Centre, Blair and Huntingdon counties. Right in our back yard. From January to July, they have given away $20,000 to cancer patients in Clearfield County!!! This is awesome. But there is still a great need. As our government is sadly finding out, money does not indeed grow on trees. BPCAF's main fundraiser is their tailgate party, this year scheduled for November 19. It is an awesome fundraiser, but this year, it just may not pay the bills. The need is becoming greater than the resources. I realize that we cannot possibly solve the problems of the world. I also realize that we are a society inundated with fundraisers. Go to your mailbox. Unfortunately, most of our lives will be touched at some point in time with cancer. For me, it is the ugliest word in the English language. I hope you never have to hear that word coupled with your loved one's name. But we can stand together, and we can give a helping hand to our neighbors who have been thrown into this crazy thing we call life. For those of you who are involved, you have all been awesome at helping with this dinner and auction, and we applaude you. This would not be possible without you. But for those of you who are sitting on the fence, please think about it. If you cannot attend the dinner, we understand, but please think about giving back to our community through the Bob Perks Fund. Maybe you can give a donation or maybe you can give time. True beauty really does come from pain.
Holly
Holly
This is getting serious!!
Hey all - as of today, we are officially in "spaghetti dinner mode." The dinner will be in full swing this time on Saturday. Now, I know that Shane and Holly have had this on their minds for weeks but it wasn't until our radio hits this morning that I got really excited. At 6:45 a.m., Shasta, Holly and I loaded into my vehicle and headed to Forever Broadcasting in State College. The rainy day didn't have us in the most cheerful of moods but upon entering the station, we all perked up. We were greeted by Scott and then waited for the walk of fame. We did approximately 2 minute hits on MAJIC 99, BIG Froggy 101, WRSC-FM and 93.7 THE BUS. Holly did a great job taking the lead and promoting our event. Shane has decided that she should be a DJ and we can call her Holly Wolly in the morning. Um, we'll see how that goes...anyway, the folks at the radio station were so awesome and did a great job. More importantly, however, we were finally able to meet face-to-face with Doreen Perks and her colleague, Jen Finkle of the Bob Perks Cancer Fund. After many emails, it was nice to put a face with a name. We then enjoyed breakfast and spent several hours talking and getting to know each other. I think this really motivated us all and we are all really looking forward to Saturday. Meanwhile, during our chatting (you know how girls can talk and talk and talk...), I received a voice mail from a lady at WTAJ wanting to do a news story on the dinner. WOW!!! I was so excited!! Long story short, Holly will be debuting on the 5 o'clock news. I still don't know how/when/where WTAJ heard about the event but this is so so sooooooo awesome. The Cancer Fund is always looking for donations and we hope advertising will get us a good crowd so we can give them a nice amount of money to help others. I hope to see you at the dinner, and if you don't have tickets yet...call me!!
-Shawna :0)
-Shawna :0)
Monday, August 8, 2011
Incase you missed it....
From Saturday's (August 6) edition of The Progress:
Man battles cancer but helps others in need
Saturday, August 06, 2011
By Tyler Kolesar Staff Writer
GRASSFLAT - Most people who have cancer just try to survive. It's hard enough battling the vicious disease, let alone going out of your way to help others in need. Shane Michaels is a rarity in this day and age, as he does just that. In June 2008, Michaels was diagnosed with a rare form of Hodgkin's lymphoma called Nodular Lymphocyte Predomin- ant Hodgkin's Lymphoma.
"It's kind of a cross between Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's, and that's the weird part," said Michaels about his rare disease. "Hodgkin's is like 99 percent treatable, as in you never get it back. ... It's (his disease) still treatable, but it has a higher tendency of multiple occurrences." Michaels is currently on his third time of fighting the disease, and finished up another five weeks of radiation a few weeks ago. He said he has had quite a few trips over the years to Hershey Medical Center for clinical trials, as well as Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. For the last radiation treatment, Michaels said he traveled to Hershey each day, Monday through Friday. At Johns Hopkins Hospital, Michaels took an experimental drug called Bexxar. "It's basically chemotherapy and IV radiation at the same time," said Michaels. "They've used it for other non-Hodgkin's patients and they're attempting to use it for Hodgkin's patients." One thing Michaels has been blessed with through his trials is help and support from not only family and friends, but also from complete strangers."The amount of people that's helped me is ridiculous," Michaels said. "There's people that I don't even know, never even seen or heard of them in my life, and they've helped me. And that's just amazing. There are still good people out there." It's this generosity by people that drives Michaels to help others in need. One way he is doing this is by helping run a spaghetti dinner benefiting the Bob Perks Cancer Assistance Fund. Michaels said the fund helps cancer patients in Clearfield, Centre, Huntingdon and Blair counties. All proceeds of a fundraiser benefiting the fund goes toward the patients. "The main thing about the dinner is we're trying to let people know the Bob Perks Fund is out there, and it's another way of helping out local cancer patients," said Michaels. "They have no administration fees, so every penny that goes in goes towards a cancer patient." Michaels said his family members, along with members of the Messiah Baptist Church in Lanse, Community Alliance Chuch in Karthaus, and members of the Grassflat, Winburne and Morris Township fire companies are helping put on the next event. The date is set for Aug. 13 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Grassflat firehall. Michaels said more than 100 people have taken the time to help out with this dinner. Lots of donated time and labor have gone into the dinner. Michaels said the Grassflat Fire Co. is donating the building's use.The two churches are making desserts, and a myriad of people and companies are donating for the Chinese auction.
"There's so many companies that are donating items for the Chinese auction," Michaels said. "And individuals are making hand-made things and quilts and stuff. ... It's pretty amazing how people come together really." Tickets for the dinner are $6 for adults, $3 for kids ages 5-11, and kids younger than 5 eat for free. Tickets are available by presale or at the door. "I know that there's a lot of people that don't get the help that they need," said Michaels. "People help me, but I know there's people that don't get the help they deserve. The Bob Perks Cancer Assistance Fund will help them with this (regular bills/travel costs, etc.)." Michaels also has advice for people going through their own trials and tribulations fighting cancer: keep a positive attitude and have your faith.
"You have to trust that God will get you through it," said Michaels. "Yes I'm going through this, but through the clinical trials, maybe they (doctors) learn something about me that they can use for someone else."
Man battles cancer but helps others in need
Saturday, August 06, 2011
By Tyler Kolesar Staff Writer
GRASSFLAT - Most people who have cancer just try to survive. It's hard enough battling the vicious disease, let alone going out of your way to help others in need. Shane Michaels is a rarity in this day and age, as he does just that. In June 2008, Michaels was diagnosed with a rare form of Hodgkin's lymphoma called Nodular Lymphocyte Predomin- ant Hodgkin's Lymphoma.
"It's kind of a cross between Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's, and that's the weird part," said Michaels about his rare disease. "Hodgkin's is like 99 percent treatable, as in you never get it back. ... It's (his disease) still treatable, but it has a higher tendency of multiple occurrences." Michaels is currently on his third time of fighting the disease, and finished up another five weeks of radiation a few weeks ago. He said he has had quite a few trips over the years to Hershey Medical Center for clinical trials, as well as Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. For the last radiation treatment, Michaels said he traveled to Hershey each day, Monday through Friday. At Johns Hopkins Hospital, Michaels took an experimental drug called Bexxar. "It's basically chemotherapy and IV radiation at the same time," said Michaels. "They've used it for other non-Hodgkin's patients and they're attempting to use it for Hodgkin's patients." One thing Michaels has been blessed with through his trials is help and support from not only family and friends, but also from complete strangers."The amount of people that's helped me is ridiculous," Michaels said. "There's people that I don't even know, never even seen or heard of them in my life, and they've helped me. And that's just amazing. There are still good people out there." It's this generosity by people that drives Michaels to help others in need. One way he is doing this is by helping run a spaghetti dinner benefiting the Bob Perks Cancer Assistance Fund. Michaels said the fund helps cancer patients in Clearfield, Centre, Huntingdon and Blair counties. All proceeds of a fundraiser benefiting the fund goes toward the patients. "The main thing about the dinner is we're trying to let people know the Bob Perks Fund is out there, and it's another way of helping out local cancer patients," said Michaels. "They have no administration fees, so every penny that goes in goes towards a cancer patient." Michaels said his family members, along with members of the Messiah Baptist Church in Lanse, Community Alliance Chuch in Karthaus, and members of the Grassflat, Winburne and Morris Township fire companies are helping put on the next event. The date is set for Aug. 13 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Grassflat firehall. Michaels said more than 100 people have taken the time to help out with this dinner. Lots of donated time and labor have gone into the dinner. Michaels said the Grassflat Fire Co. is donating the building's use.The two churches are making desserts, and a myriad of people and companies are donating for the Chinese auction.
"There's so many companies that are donating items for the Chinese auction," Michaels said. "And individuals are making hand-made things and quilts and stuff. ... It's pretty amazing how people come together really." Tickets for the dinner are $6 for adults, $3 for kids ages 5-11, and kids younger than 5 eat for free. Tickets are available by presale or at the door. "I know that there's a lot of people that don't get the help that they need," said Michaels. "People help me, but I know there's people that don't get the help they deserve. The Bob Perks Cancer Assistance Fund will help them with this (regular bills/travel costs, etc.)." Michaels also has advice for people going through their own trials and tribulations fighting cancer: keep a positive attitude and have your faith.
"You have to trust that God will get you through it," said Michaels. "Yes I'm going through this, but through the clinical trials, maybe they (doctors) learn something about me that they can use for someone else."
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Check out today's edition of The Progress!!
http://www.theprogressnews.com/
Scroll down to the bottom of the page and you will see Shane and Holly's story. Please share with your family and friends.
Thanks!
Shawna :o)
Scroll down to the bottom of the page and you will see Shane and Holly's story. Please share with your family and friends.
Thanks!
Shawna :o)
Friday, August 5, 2011
Could you spare $5?
I've mentioned before about the blog post I follow called "RunningStrong for Hope" and wanted to share today's blog:
Today is August 5th.
Just another day of summer...right?
Not in my world. Each of the next 15 days is significant to me.
Seven years ago, today was the LAST day cancer was not part of our daily world. Tomorrow is the day Brian was admitted to the hospital and the cancer journey began.
Today was still filled with hope of a life time together. I would do anything to have 5 minutes back with Brian....and my sister....and my mother....and my father.
So, in honor of today, I am asking you to join me in donating $5 to LIVESTRONG - $5 for 5 minutes on the 5th.
http://run.livestrong.org/teamls2011/barbarasimmons
Together we can kick cancer to the curb.....I'll do the running!
I know $5 isn't really a significant amount but every little bit adds up. I did my part and donated, will you?
-Shawna :0)
Just another day of summer...right?
Not in my world. Each of the next 15 days is significant to me.
Seven years ago, today was the LAST day cancer was not part of our daily world. Tomorrow is the day Brian was admitted to the hospital and the cancer journey began.
Today was still filled with hope of a life time together. I would do anything to have 5 minutes back with Brian....and my sister....and my mother....and my father.
So, in honor of today, I am asking you to join me in donating $5 to LIVESTRONG - $5 for 5 minutes on the 5th.
http://run.livestrong.org/teamls2011/barbarasimmons
Together we can kick cancer to the curb.....I'll do the running!
I know $5 isn't really a significant amount but every little bit adds up. I did my part and donated, will you?
-Shawna :0)
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Ticket Booth - Saturday!
Shasta, Bill, Shane, Holly, Natalie & I will be at the Mountain View Market Place on
Saturday, July 30 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
selling tickets.
Don't forget to stop by and purchase yours.
Be sure to check The Progress on Saturday, August 6 for a special article on Shane and his family. You can also view it online at: http://theprogressnews.com/
AND on August 9 tune in to either (or all!) MAJIC99, BIG Froggy 101, WRSC-FM or 93.7 THE BUS to hear a live broadcast from Shasta & I and Doreen Perks from the Bob Perks Cancer Fund. We will be giving away a four pack of dinner tickets at each location and I may just throw in a few auction tickets with the package too!
-Shawna :o)
Chinese Auction
Hi, all! So these are all the great items that we have thus far for our Chinese auction:
Mossberg 12 gauge shotgun
Autographed Joe Paterno picture
John Deere wooden sign
John Deere stackable decorative blocks
Lia Sophia
Caterpillar Equipment novelties
Mary Kay basket
Celebrating Home basket
Bath & Body Works gift sets
Hand-made jewelry
Hand-made quilt
Hand-made wall hanging
Kunes' Farms home-made jellies
Hand-made wooden scale log cabin
Hand-made wooden scale truck
Sheetz coupon books
American Diner $15 gift card
Homemade rustic coffee table
Homemade rustic decorative window
Holiday Hair professional hair products and coupons
5 Free games of bowling at Moshannon Valley Super Bowl
Pizza Hut coupons
Hunting basket
Rustic wooden mirror
Tire rotation & oil change from Fred Diehl's
Kitty gift basket
Doggy gift basket
Hand-made wooden decorative sign
Scrap booking gift set
Vintage Heirloom item
Conklin's Corner item
Nature print
...and much more!! Chinese auction tickets will be sold from 10a-6p on August 13th. Tickets are 4/ $1. Winners will be notified by phone. Need not be present to win. Thanks to all of our generous donors!!!
Mossberg 12 gauge shotgun
Autographed Joe Paterno picture
John Deere wooden sign
John Deere stackable decorative blocks
Lia Sophia
Caterpillar Equipment novelties
Mary Kay basket
Celebrating Home basket
Bath & Body Works gift sets
Hand-made jewelry
Hand-made quilt
Hand-made wall hanging
Kunes' Farms home-made jellies
Hand-made wooden scale log cabin
Hand-made wooden scale truck
Sheetz coupon books
American Diner $15 gift card
Homemade rustic coffee table
Homemade rustic decorative window
Holiday Hair professional hair products and coupons
5 Free games of bowling at Moshannon Valley Super Bowl
Pizza Hut coupons
Hunting basket
Rustic wooden mirror
Tire rotation & oil change from Fred Diehl's
Kitty gift basket
Doggy gift basket
Hand-made wooden decorative sign
Scrap booking gift set
Vintage Heirloom item
Conklin's Corner item
Nature print
...and much more!! Chinese auction tickets will be sold from 10a-6p on August 13th. Tickets are 4/ $1. Winners will be notified by phone. Need not be present to win. Thanks to all of our generous donors!!!
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Giving back
Ok, so Shawna is getting on our case about our lack of blogging. Sorry, we're slackers. Anyways, we would like to thank Morris Twp Fire Company for allowing us to sell dinner tickets at their bingo this past Sunday. We sold 22 more tickets. Also, we have 11 dinner tickets to give out due to a generous donor (thanks, Sue). If anyone has any suggestions of who we can give them to, please let us know. We were thinking maybe a cancer pt's family, elderly couple, a family in need, someone in our community who would not be able to go otherwise. I loved this idea! What a great way to give back to the community x2.
Also, we need to start focusing more on a schedule for workers. I know that some of you said that you and your friends would like to help. If you are interested in helping, please let us know what times you are available to help so we can make a schedule.
Of note, Natalie was hugging her baby doll this morning instead of bashing her head off of the piano. The doll's head, that is. I think we're making progress. Also, saw tooth #2 this morning. And she just finished a 2 hour nap. It's a good day. Yay, lil nj!!
~Shane, Holly & Natalie
Also, we need to start focusing more on a schedule for workers. I know that some of you said that you and your friends would like to help. If you are interested in helping, please let us know what times you are available to help so we can make a schedule.
Of note, Natalie was hugging her baby doll this morning instead of bashing her head off of the piano. The doll's head, that is. I think we're making progress. Also, saw tooth #2 this morning. And she just finished a 2 hour nap. It's a good day. Yay, lil nj!!
~Shane, Holly & Natalie
Monday, July 25, 2011
Some Helpful Books for Your Cancer Journey
As we learn more about the relationship between our minds and bodies, we find that integrated cancer care produces better outcomes. A key component of this is that the person with cancer takes charge of what they want to happen in their treatment, and has a strong belief in the desired outcome. To do this, you need information, so read on to find books to support and inform you.
 | Cancer: 50 Essential Things to Doby Greg Anderson This straightforward book provides the single best summing up of a healthy approach to a cancer diagnosis that I've seen. It covers the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual aspects of a return to health, and sums up wisdom gained from those who have recovered against the odds. It also includes some helpful information on nutritional supplements. |
 | Beating Cancer with Nutritionby Patrick Quillin What you eat affects your health. If your instinct is telling you that to get better you need to address your diet, and you're prepared to make changes — possibly large changes — then this book will be very helpful. Mostly extensive and detailed background information, it also includes some recipes. |
 | Crazy Sexy Cancer TipsSheryl Crow, by Kris Carr For those who want to face their cancer with passion, this is a bright and sassy book, The tips are short, easy to digest -– and brightened up with pictures. They cover aspects of lifestyle, treatment, side effects, relationships and emotions. It's mainly aimed at women, though many of the tips would also apply to men. |
 | The Chemotherapy Survival Guide: Everything You Need to Know to Get Through Treatmentby Tamera Schacher, Judith McKay If chemotherapy is part of your treatment, it helps to understand the mechanism so that you can visualize the benefits. This book will also help you to understand the possible side effects and how to avoid or alleviate them. |
 | The Chemotherapy & Radiation Therapy Survival Guideby Nancee Hirano, Judith McKay This is an older edition than the previous book, but it does include radiation therapy. It explains how radiation differs from chemotherapy, and which side effects may occur. Worth looking at if your treatment plan includes radiation therapy. |
 | Fighting Cancer From Within: How to Use the Power of Your Mind For Healingby Dr. Martin L. Rossman The mind has been shown to have great impact over our ability to heal. When you have cancer, adding the strength of your mind to the treatments you are undergoing is a positive step. This book shows specific ways to use in your cancer journey. |
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Dinner Updates!
Updates:
- Next week Shane will be interviewed by a writer for The Progress, our local newspaper. The story will briefly describe Shane's journey and why he wants to have this dinner. This will be a great promotion and the staff writer, Tyler Kolesar, has been great to work with so far. The story will be in the August 6 edition. You can view it online at: theprogressnews.com
- We've obtained some additional auction items: a free tire rotation and oil change from Fred Diehl's, a basket of homemade jelly's from Kune's Farms and an autographed Joe Paterno picture. The following people/company's will donate items but didn't specify what: Lezzer's Lumber, Tracy's Tanning and Front Street Jewelers. There are more but I can't recall the other stuff now. We are getting quite a nice collection.
- REMINDER: Ticket sales at the Mountain View Market Place will happen from 11-1 on July 30.
- REMINDER: Live radio broadcasts for MAJIC 99, BIG Froggy 101, WRSC-FM and 93.7 THE BUS will happen beginning at 7:55 a.m. on August 9.
In other news, Shane & Holly's little peanut will be turning the big ONE in a little over two months! She's doing pretty well with crawling and has her first little tooth. From what I've heard a pink John Deere tractor first birthday party is in the works!
One final thing - please share this blog with your friends and family and encourage them to follow the blog. We want to reach out to as many people as we can and your help is greatly appreciated.
<3,
Shawna :) Sunday, July 17, 2011
Y is for Yesterday
Last week, our mom was invited to visit and tour St. Jude Children's Hospital in Nashville, TN. Her and her friends traveled 14 long hours before finally reaching their destination (hopefully she will be posting more about this adventure later). Anyway, they sent her home with a book that was created by the children at the hospital. The book is called "C is for Cure." After reading the book, which was very emotional, yet uplifting, I decided to share one poem by Vivian, a 14 year old with osteosarcoma.
Y is for YesterdayYesterday I was like everYone else.
Yesterday I had hair, was a cheerleader,
and I could run with the wind blowing in
mY hair and nothing could hold me back.
YesterdaY I had a tibia in my leg instead
of a titanium prosthetic.
TodaY I am cancer free, in remission
and have a whole care team at St. Jude
who fought to make it that waY. Today
I have learned so much from my experiences
here and am so much more thankful for my
life. It may sound crazy to you but this Year
has probably been the best Year in my life.
I consider this a minor setback for me,
compared to all the great things that I'll
do in my life.
Tomorrow I will give hope to other kids
with catastrophic illnesses. We can dwell
on the bad things that happened to us
YESTERDAY or we can look to the future
for the great things that we can achieve
including finding a cure for cancer!
-Shawna :)
Friday, July 8, 2011
Bob Perks Cancer Assistance Fund
No one ever imagines that cancer will strike someone they know and love. I didn't think that would happen to my family that's for sure. As the blog is called, Cancer Sucks. Please consider a donation to the Bob Perks Cancer Assistance Fund. You never know if you or someone you know will need to rely on the funding for help.
For those who aren't familiar with the Bob Perks Cancer Assistance Fund, check out their website:
http://www.bobperkscancerassistancefund.org/get-help/
This site explains the reason and mission for this foundation. It also features several very inspiring success stories, upcoming events and provides an easy way to donate to the foundation.
For those who aren't familiar with the Bob Perks Cancer Assistance Fund, check out their website:
http://www.bobperkscancerassistancefund.org/get-help/
This site explains the reason and mission for this foundation. It also features several very inspiring success stories, upcoming events and provides an easy way to donate to the foundation.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Ticket Booth - July 30 @ Mountain View Market Place
The Mountain View Market Place is allowing us to set up a table on July 30 from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. to sell tickets (the manager said we could come earlier and stay later if we wanted to). They have also offered to market the event in their next flyer.
-Shawna :)
-Shawna :)
Monday, July 4, 2011
Happy 4th of July
"You have to love a nation that celebrates its independence every July 4, not with a parade of guns, tanks, and soldiers who file by the White House in a show of strength and muscle, but with family picnics where kids throw Frisbees, the potato salad gets iffy, and the flies die from happiness. You may think you have overeaten, but it is patriotism." ~Erma Bombeck
Happy 4th of July!!
Some fun facts about 4th of July:
- There's a 1-in-6 chance the beef on your backyard grill came from Texas. The Lone Star State is the leader in the production of cattle and calves.
- Five places adopted the name "freedom." New Freedom, Pennsylvania with 4,464 residents has the largest population among these.
- $486,026 is the dollar value of exports of U.S. flags in 2010. Mexico was the leading customer, purchasing $256,407 worth.
- $190.7 million is the dollar value of fireworks imported from China, representing the bulk of all U.S. fireworks imports ($197.3 million) in 2010. U.S. exports of fireworks, came to just $37 million in 2010, with Japan purchasing more than any other country ($6.3 million)
For more fun facts visit http://www.chiff.com/a/fun-facts-fourth.htm
From the Michaels' Family - Have a safe and Happy 4th of July!
Saturday, July 2, 2011
A Message from Shane's Mom
To everything there is a season, a time and purpose for everything under Heaven
Eccl. 3:1
Dave and I were blessed with 5 beautiful, healthy children. Of course each went through the school of hard knocks, bumps, bruises, scrapes and even one broken arm. We had the childhood colds, flu, ear infections, allergies, and I could not forget the chicken pox. As the world around us became increasingly affected by the dreaded word "cancer" I often thought with such a large family it was sure to hit someone, sometime. As a protective mother, I would of course hope that if it had to happen it would be to me. I didn't want my wonderful husband or any of my children to suffer in that way.
While we were vacationing at Bethany Beach in the summer of 2008, we waited for Shane to get the biopsy report. I had been in the shower and when I got out it seemed that Shane, Holly and Dave had disappeared. My mom told me that they were in Shane and Holly's room and that Holly had been looking for me. As I opened their bedroom door, I said "the doctor called and it isn't good." Dave looked at me with tears in his eyes and said "how did you know that?" In some way, God had prepared me because every night as I asked a special prayer for God to watch over and bring home safely one of my other children, I always heard him say you know I will. But when I asked for the biopsy to be benign, I did not hear those comforting words.
We shared a time of shock and tears together and then we gathered the rest of the family and told them. Joel and Misty were not with us so that phone call also had to be made.
I was so torn inside, my heart was breaking. Why God? Why did it have to happen to my Shane? Why not to me? I needed to talk to someone. Who better than my dearest friend who had suffered through cancer herself? I went out on the deck and called her. It had been raining off and on all morning and as I was talking to her I suddenly saw in the sky the most beautiful, amazing double rainbow over the ocean. I knew at that moment God was answering me. He was promising that he would take care of Shane. I just needed to trust Him.
I know it's going to be a long road for Shane and Holly and it will not be without pain and suffering but I know God will always be with them.
I love you, Shane!
Love,
Mom
Friday, July 1, 2011
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Tickets are on sale NOW!
The Cancer Can’t Conquer
Spaghetti Dinner and Chinese Auction
Presented by Shane Michaels and Family
August 13, 2011
10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Grassflat Fire Hall
505 Firehouse Road, Grassflat, PA 16839
Adult (12 and up) $6
Child (5 to 11) $3
Under 5 Free
All proceeds to benefit the Bob Perks Cancer Assistance Fund
The Bob Perks Cancer Assistance Fund was established to provide financial support for basic necessities to individuals and families dealing with cancer in Clearfield, Centre, Blair and Huntingdon Counties.
For tickets please contact:
Shane or Holly Michaels: (814)345-5211
Shawna Cassick: (814)553-8389 or smm52@psu.edu
A limited number of tickets will be sold at the door.
Take-out available
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