This is my day!

"So, yes this is MY day, and I will be somewhere." - Dan Field

This is a day in which I give you the words from another. Each of us have family, friends and others that have been affected by cancer. When we hear of it, we feel powerless and deficient to do anything about it. But there are things we can do.

- We can support fundraising efforts in support of research.
- We can take part in awareness campaigns that help minimize risk of cancer.
- We can support those dealing with cancer today, simply being there, loving them.

The following are words from a work friend of mine regarding his close friend. It is about the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. It is about words from a man who embodied hope for others, even as hope faded for him.

Please take the time to read and possibly support this one of many good causes. Ten, one hundred or a thousand dollars go a long way and every dime is greatly appreciated.

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From Tim Colligan - Profile

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I again would like to start by thanking everyone who has generously donated to the DFCI supporting my ride this year. I also appreciate your words of encouragement and thanks. The thanks however, need to be directed to the good people at DFCI and the hard work they do caring for patients and families and of course working to discover better treatment, care and ultimately a cure for this horrible disease that affects too many.

Back on February 4th which was World Cancer Day, I briefly wrote about a few of the people I personally dedicate my fundraising efforts and my bike ride to; Dan Field was one of them.

Dan is a close friend who is the guy that got me back on a bike and involved with this event, the Pan-Mass Challenge. I have been involved as a rider, event volunteer or kids ride volunteer every year since. Dan’s journey started back in 2002 around the holidays after a health event at work. Shortly after, Dan was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. A husband and father of two, his worst fears were realized. Dan’s 1st brain surgery was shortly before Christmas that year followed by a specific treatment protocol.

Living in Massachusetts and being a cycling enthusiast, I knew about the Pan-Mass Challenge and day one of the route runs through a portion of the town we live in. As a thank you for the care and treatment Dan received at BWMC/DFCI he committed to and rode his 1st PMC in 2003, 8 months after surgery and treatment.

I was more than happy to support his efforts and donated to his ride. I believe it was in 2004 when I got the first “why don’t you ride the PMC this year” from Dan. I laughed it off and stated that I will stick to donating money. But in 2005, the tumors in Dan’s brain returned. A second surgery followed and when time to sign up for the 2006 PMC came, Dan did not hesitate. If he he could physically ride the bike, he was in.

Here is where my role changed.

When Dan asked me to join him in 2006, how could I say no? This guy endured two brain surgeries, radiation, chemo, months of treatment, countless tests, hospital visits and he is still on the bike. What was my excuse? So my PMC journey began and it was personal.

We all have a friend, a family member, someone we love affected by cancer, I only had to look to my wife who was diagnosed with malignant melanoma. Not to mention aunts, uncles, friends and Dan.

Then in the summer of 2012, Dan said in his cool, ‘I have it covered’ style, told me his latest MRI was not good and the tumors were back. More tests and surgery number three followed just days before Dan’s 10th PMC. Dan was unable to ride, but I met him Sunday morning, day two of the PMC to greet our teammates on Setucket Rd in the town of Dennis enroute to P-town.

A third brain surgery could not keep him away. And Dan continued to defy the cancer for two more years, but his body could not take it and as Dan said to me once, ‘the cancer has gotten smarter. It learned how to beat the treatment.’

Dan passed away July 17, 2014 surrounded by his loving family.

Through the last 12+ years Dan was battling this disease, not once did I hear him complain or feel sorry for himself. He endeavored, fought on and gave back. I’m a better person for having Dan in my life.

Here is an excerpt from a message Dan wrote to his family and friends in 2012:

“I have been training hard for the PMC (my 10th year riding!) and feel like I am ahead of the game with being in perfect shape for this ride. Time will tell whether I will ride the whole thing, part of it or I will be at the pedal partner stop cheering my team on.

I will be somewhere on my day!

I say my day, because I feel very strongly about raising the money so desperately needed to fund cancer research. This disease affects so many people, people with the cancer, people who take care of the people with cancer, family, and friends. One day I wish this would never have to be the case, and the only way possible is to raise the money, one dollar at a time.

So, yes this is MY day, and I will be somewhere.”

It is Dan’s day and he will be there with me and the rest of his teammates August 2 & 3 pushing us up that hill or helping us reach deep when we are out of gas in the dunes in Truro, because that’s what Dan would do.

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I ask you to generously support Tim's 2014 PMC ride with a tax deductible donation. Any amount is appreciated and 100% of the funds raised goes directly to the DFCI.

Each year, Tim carries with him the names of friends and family of those who are or have battled cancer in honor and tribute for the 190 miles. It is both a reminder and incentive to push through the miles and is truly the reason why each cyclist and volunteer is out there.

Thank you everyone and stay inspired.

DONATE HERE

The Fire Inside

“Abruptly the poker of memory stirs the ashes of recollection and uncovers a forgotten ember, still smoldering down there, still hot, still glowing, still red as red.” ~ William Manchester

This is a story that comes from a former church Pastor of mine. He was was speaking to a large group of men about re-igniting their lives. And as the story goes, many years ago he was attending a beach-side conference which always held a very large bonfire at conference end.

In the days leading up to the conference, folks involved with putting on the event had built a huge pile of wood and timbers. This was going to be a very large fire for those gathered. Think Burning Man Festival size fire but at a church related event.

As the conference began, the rains began with it. There was rain pouring down for two to three days. Through out the week it was soaking everything including the wood being piled high for the final night bonfire. Of course the final night came, the rains had ceased and everyone had expectations of a grand fire.

As you would guess, the wood was wet and the days sunshine had not dried it fully. So organizers and good intentioned folks began gathering anything flammable. They found newspaper, dry brush and lots of matches were consumed trying to get this bonfire burning bright.

Then out of the corner of Steve's eye, he sees a person coming with a large fuel can, gasoline one would expect, letting the liquid fly towards the pile. It was estimated this person had two or more gallons of the highly flammable liquid.

To no one's surprise, there were a few small embers from the failed attempts to fully ignite the wood pile. Those embers were still glowing within the pile of wood, newspaper and twigs. I am sure you have seen what happens with gasoline. The fumes are flammable and all it takes it a small spark or ember to ignite it completely.

An instant solar flare occurred which lit up the entire coastline. News reports indicate ships off-shore thought it was a light beacon. So intense that...well, you get the picture.

The amazing thing about this story is all it took was one small flame.

One small spark or ember to change everything.

Something so small and singular in purpose we somehow forget that it exists, but it does exist. It exists in each of us, deep inside where we have forgotten it.

That one small flame glows, just waiting for you to throw something on it. To let it ignite your life and explode into something great. Oh yes, it does exist and all it takes is that one small flame. A small touch or a small amount of movement to change your life.

Stay inspired my friends.

Where To From Here

"Success is not a matter of getting it right every time. Success comes from continuing to persist until you eventually get it right." - Unknown

The phrase "where to from here" is a question you hear often enough or even ask yourself plenty of times. You reach a point in your journey of life where you wonder what to do next. The same can be said about achieving a goal. Either way, you run out of steam or ideas and now you are just not sure what to do.

Richard Bach said, "There are no mistakes. The events we bring upon ourselves, no matter how unpleasant, are necessary in order to learn what we need to learn; whatever steps we take, they're necessary to reach the places we've chosen to go."

So the decision of "where to from here" should not be all that hard. It is in the continual movement you will reach your destination.

Your past will have taught and given you a certain instinct on which path to follow. Do not be afraid that it might be the wrong path. Consider each path, a path of learning. Each day, each experience, each road we take teaches us more.

There will be those people who have seemingly taken a straight and direct path to their success. But if you really chart their personal map in life, you find it filled with many of the turns and detours you have taken.

The notable thing is they never stood still for very long.

You may be right here on your map of life, but the only place to "go from here" is in any direction. Just keep moving.

And stay inspired my friends.

Raising the Bar

“One of the most important phases of maturing is that of growth from self-centering to an understanding relationship to others. A person is not mature until he has both an ability and a willingness to see himself as one among others and to do unto those others as he would have them do to him.” - Walter Scott

One key to living a positive and fruitful life is to move away from being self-centered. When you understand that your life is and has impact amongst everything and everyone around you, then you will begin to live a more enjoyable and fulfilling life.

There is a tendency when living a self-centered life to blame every and anything else for our own woes. It is always someone else or company or object that is the cause. The blame game starts to become very trendy in your life. The current object of blame in society becomes your object of blame. It becomes something to accuse of all your troubles.

So it can be an odd feeling to fully grasp the idea when you step out of a "me only" life into acceptance of your part in a bigger world. It is a big step when you end up taking responsibility for your own actions and woes. Everything around you has an impact and influences your life. But the key is how you choose to react to all of the stuff which will and does happen to us.

Once you have taken the path of responsibility and accepted to be in charge of your own attitude, only then will life begin to turn for the better. Once you do, stay committed to that new life. Be the better person.

Be the one that raises the BAR for others.

B-elief A-ction R-ealization of expectation in your life.

Stay inspired my friends!