Breakfast of Champions

Breakfast of Champions
Skip in his Seattle marathon shirt at one of his famous fundraising breakfasts for the LLS

What it means to be "golden" from teammate Michelle De Grand

Our 'Golden' Friends: Gold is considered a precious metal with a very high value. A golden personality is even more precious, and there are few people in this world with that shining spirit. Two people who I am doing this climb in memory of had that priceless zest for life and compassion for other people. Skip Sand passed away last year after a five year battle with Leukemia, but he never once quit living life or caring for others. In fact, he was even growing his hair out for the Locks of Love at the time of his death. He was a truly inspirational and authentic person who was taken away too soon. If we can help cure just one person like Skip, this world will be exponentially better because those people have a positive impact on everyone they meet. My grandfather, Curly DeGrand, is another one of those people. Before he was taken away by a blood cancer, he was active, friendly, social, and caring. All of my memories of him include a smiling face. He didn't live to see all of his grand children. My young cousins won't get to have the adventures with him that I did or know his voice and curly hair. If we can join together and save the grandfathers of the world, their knowledge and positive influences, then think how much wiser a society we'll be. Losing those 'golden' people is hard, but it makes us realize why we need to fight so hard for the golden people to come.

by Michelle DeGrand on Mon, Jan 25, 2010 @ 7:26 PM

Saturday, September 4, 2010

STAY TUNED!!!!!!!!

Keep checking in for updates on our team.

10-10-10 Kili Climb to Kill Tumors

In October 2010, 6 members of the Gold's Gym big climb team will tackle a REAL "big climb" as they pursue to summit the "Roof of Africa" on Mt. Kilimanjaro. Follow team captain Rebecca Dufek and Gold's Gym Big Climb team members Redmond gym personal trainer Merrie Vieco, Pedro Vieco, Chris Pierard, Shane Pierard, and Harley Dufek as they aim to reach the top on 10-10-10. The date is not only of historical significance but is also the 1 year anniversary of Skip's passing and 10 years after the dream of climbing Kilimanjaro for NF2 awareness was conceived while Rebecca and Harley were on their honeymoon. Skip will definitely be there with them in spirit!!!!

Like her friend Skip, Rebecca, her grandfather, and a 3rd cousin were diagnosed with various forms of blood cancer. Rebecca is the only remaining survivor, now surpassing 17 years of remission for Hodgkin's Lymphoma - the same cancer that Rebecca's inspiration and Everest/7 summit climber Sean Swarner was stricken with as a child. (visit www.cancerclimber.org to read more about Sean's story)

Although Rebecca was fortunate to sustain a long remission from blood cancer, her life has not remained tumor free. As a matter of fact, it has been very far from tumor free as numerous benign yet slowly growing tumors were found within her brain and spine as the result of a genetic disorder known as Neurofibromatosis, more specifically type 2 (NF2) in Rebecca's case where tumors primarily occupy the central nervous system.

To date, Rebecca has undergone one radiosurgery and two brain surgeries for 6 of the multiple brain tumors. The side effects incurred have been complete deafness, loss of balance function, several vision impairments, and facial paralysis affecting the ability to eat, drink, smile, kiss, and keep the right eye protected from drying out.

As with cancer, Rebecca has known several people who have died and lost loved ones from both NF1 and NF2. While Rebecca and her team embark on this dangerous and challenging adventure, the Seattle Producer Cesari Direct will be making a movie documentary of their trek called "The Perseverence Factor" with anticipated release in 2012. Through the movie, Rebecca and Harley's vision is to bring awareness to the world of NF, cancer, deafness, disability, challenged athletes, and perseverence as well as to inspire.

To learn more of this upcoming adventure and to donate, please visit:

To Donate
www.killatumor.org

Help Stop NF2 Foundation
www.helpstopnf2.org

Climbing Itinerary
www.climbfornf2.org



Details on how to join the team for the Seattle Big Climb 2011 coming in November.