Winding down the year



So much has happened in the last two weeks!  Roger ran the Richmond Marathon.  Thanks to many of your last minute donations (as well as a wonderful anonymous matching gift), we reached the $10,000 fundraising goal.  As promised, Roger ran the 26.2 miles in his hot pink running skirt.  He finished the race in somewhere between 5 and 6 hours (depending on whether you go by the "chip time" or the "official time") and after a few days of recovery, he was fit as a fiddle (or at least no worse for wear).

Thanks again to Rachel Pustilnik of Stroller Strides and the Mother Runners fitness group for providing training and moral support during this last year.  Special thanks to Dr. Anna of Atlee Chiropractic for the regular adjustments that keep Roger's joints limber!

Roger's next marathon will be the Big Sur race in California in May.  If anyone is interested in running this race (or the many smaller races associated with the event), please contact Roger so we can build a Race Team. 

One week after the marathon, Ashland was abuzz with Citations for CJ.  This event helped us raise over $650 for the Foundation.  Special thanks to everyone that helped make this event a success, including:





Kellan Morris tries to get bailed out!


• Ashland Police Chief Doug Goodman

• Celebrity Judges Faye Prichard and Mark Joy
• Chick-Fil-A Virginia Center
• Susan Greenbaum
• Alpha Phi Omega chapter at Randolph-Macon College
•  Henry Clay Elementary School 
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon chapter at Randolph-Macon College 
  Ashland resident Dan McCaffrey gets cited for "failure to trim beard"
    



Roger and Celebrity Judge Mark Joy give the "thumbs up"

Board Member Meredith Hayes gets a "sobriety check"

We finish off the year with another distribution of Financial Assistance Grants.  We received over 17 applications for this round and we were able to award 12 grants for a total of $6000.  The remaining applications will be held "in place" until our next distribution period in 2011.  For more information about the good work we have been able to do thanks to your generous donations, please check out our Annual Report. 

On the personal front, Roger and I have been inundated by all kinds of emotions over the last few weeks.  Any of you who have experienced a personal loss know that the holidays can be a difficult time.  We are flooded with memories of holidays of the past and sad that we cannot share this year's holidays with our dear Charlotte.  In all honesty, it is difficult to have a Happy Holiday.  Last year at this time, we were preparing for our amazing Make-A-Wish trip to Florida and I think often of those days.  We are grateful for the support and space that our friends and family continue to provide for us at this time.  Though the year is coming to a close, there is still much to do at work and that will keep us busy and (somewhat) distracted.  In addition, we plan to take a few days after Christmas for some personal "retreat" time.  I am definitely looking forward to that. 

Thank you for joining us on this journey.

Thank you for helping CJSTUF become a reality.

Thank you for helping us give back to the community that gave us so much in 2009.

Peace Train...Crazy Train...Love Train

So we made it to November.  Oh my goodness.  There is SO much to share and talk about with CJSTUF I don't know where to begin.  I think I will just direct you to the website.  Your attention please to the following announcements:

• First and foremost: VOTE!  Yes, Election Day was yesterday but CJSTUF has applied for a Pespi Refresh grant.  We are hoping for $50K to help us get the CJ's Meal Fairies program off and running.  We need EVERYONE's help.  Voting can happen through Facebook, the Pepsi Refresh website, or text 103934 to PEPSI (73774).  Most importantly, you need to vote EVERY DAY.  We are currently ranked 352 and we need to crack the top 10 to win.  Tell all your friends.  Links to the site are on our website. 
• Did you get an email from us recently?  If not, sign up for your email newsletter here.  If you don't follow us on Facebook or Twitter, it's another great way to know about all the things we are doing.  We will try not to harass you with spammy emails but we hope this will be another way to keep everyone up to date and informed. 
• Start your holiday shopping with our jewelry auction.  Twenty-one original pieces created by Sarah Blankenship of Crystal Paintbrush on ebay.  Just search for CJSTUF to find the pieces.  100% of the proceeds will benefit our organization and eBay credits our listing and final fees so it's a great way to support our organization.  Each piece was inspired by Charlotte and many feature pink and purple Swarovski crystal butterflies. 
• Wanna see a DUDE run the Richmond Marathon  in a skirt?  If we raise $3000 before November 12th Roger will don the pink skirt and wear it as he runs all 26.2 miles!  The goal is $10,000 total.  We can do it!
• Citations for CJ is coming November 20th.  This is an easy way to support our organization.  The Alpha Phi Omega chapter at Randolph Macon is building our jail and our celebrity judges are getting ready to hand out their "verdicts".  Come on out for a fun morning and donate from the comfort of your own car.  Tell your friends!
• Finally, our Biz of the Month is our corporate sponsor, Jade Enterprises.  This family business specializes in web design, web hosting, data management, and many other business applications.  Jade Enterprises is donating 25% of all contracts signed during the month of November to CJSTUF.  If you run your own business and are looking for a great way to improve your web performance and visibility in the marketplace, please give them a call. 

Now that the business is out of the way, let's talk.  It's been a crazy year.  As we approach the end of 2010, it seems that my emotions are ramped up as well.  November 6th was the day last year when we learned that there was nothing else we could do.  That was the day that we had to accept what we had seen coming down the pike for about 5 months: the treatment was not working.  We prepared to say goodbye to our girl. I miss her so much.  I know that many of you do too.  I look at her pictures every day and I just think: DAMN.   

I don't understand why she is gone and I don't think it's fair in any way.  I am so grateful for the time I spent with her, especially the last 10 weeks of her life.  We were so blessed with the generosity of friends, family, and strangers who moved mountains to bring us amazing experiences: pro football games and field trips to the aquarium; meetings with Giant Pandas; horseback rides in our cul de sac; spa days at the salon; the most amazing Disney World vacation that a kid could ever have (slight aside: have you seen the new Disney commercials where they show the home movies of  the kids who get all excited when they hear they are going to Disney World?  It makes me cry every time.); days sitting by the ocean; days spent reading and singing; days when her firsts were often also her lasts. 

Some of you know that I took the opportunity this past weekend to go to the Rally to Restore Sanity (and/or Fear) in Washington, DC.  It was a fun event with tons of people.  My aunt and I were squarely in the middle of the craziness and we were fortunate to fix ourselves in front of a jumbotron so while we couldn't see the stage directly, we got a great view of the event.  Great music, funny sketches, and a throng of people to watch.  If you've seen the show on TV, you know that there was a bit where Jon Stewart brought out Yusuf Islam (AKA Cat Stevens) to sing Peace Train.  Not to be outdone by "hippy music", Colbert brings out Ozzy Osbourne for a rendition of Crazy Train and a musical mashup ensues.  Finally, the compromise is to bring out the O' Jays for a unifying version of Love Train.  It was a creative skit.  It also seems like a somehow apt metaphor for my life right now. 

We feel so supported and comforted by our friends and family. That Love Train  is pushing us down the road, allowing us to give back through CJSTUF and to support others in their individual journeys.  At the same time, no matter how much love we feel, I'm still rockin' and rollin' on the Crazy Train.  Each day the stress in my life continues and every stressor is like a freight car adding to the length of the train.  It weighs down each aspect of my daily responsibilities and threatens to derail at the slightest hiccup.  Sometimes it takes three engines just to make the train run on the track.  There are times when I feel the Peace Train coming.  I have moments when I sense its presence and I hope that someday it will be the guiding force in my life.  Someday I hope to leave those freight cars at the depot or abandon them in the railyard.  Then my engine will run smoother, faster....more peacefully.  For now, the Crazy Train seems to rule the roost. 

Anyway, thanks for all the love and support.  The holiday season is going to be rough this year.  We've already acknowledged it and sometimes that's half the battle.  The more you do to support our cause, the more we are able to feel at peace with what is, in all honesty, a crappy situation for everyone involved. 

Peace!

A long overdue update

So as many of you knew, Roger survived the Chicago Marathon.  Official finish time was 5 hours and 55 minutes.  Roger would like to thank our chiropractor (and CJSTUF board member) Dr. Anna Madland of Atlee Chiropractic for her diligent care before the race and Rachel Pustilnik of Stroller Strides for her exceptional training.  It was a warm day with temperatures reaching above 80 degrees by the end of the race so all things considered, he did a fantastic job!  His recovery has been exceptional as well.  I don't think I've ever seen him in such great condition 24 hours after a long race.

Now on to Richmond....

The typical recommended recovery between one marathon and another is 6 weeks but Roger is going to run ANOTHER marathon in Richmond on November 13th.  That's just a month away.  His goal for the Double Marathon Challenge is to raise $10,000.  Our current fundraising update is that we have collected about $6400.  The University of Miami fans are still leading the charge in pledge donations; however, Roger has raised a new challenge.  If Virginia Tech fans manage to raise more money than UM fans before November 13th, Roger will still run the Richmond Marathon in Hokie gear.  If we reach our $10,000 goal, regardless of pledges, Roger will run in the PINK running skirt!  Yes, folks.  You heard it right here.  If you want to see Roger run in a skirt, we have about a month to gain $3600 more in donations.  You can send donations directly to PO Box 854, Ashland, VA 23005 or donate directly on our website via PayPal.

Speaking of PayPal, I am excited to report that we are now able to accept all forms of payment for orders of T-shirts and window clings.  Just go to our CJSTUF store and place your order directly.  What are you waiting for? Christmas and Hanukkah are right around the corner!

October is quickly waning but mark your calendars for some very important November events:

Local jewelry artist Sarah Blankenship of Crystal Paintbrush has created a limited edition set of jewelry exclusively for CJSTUF.  We will be auctioning these pieces on eBay from November 1-November 15th.  100% of the proceeds will go to CJSTUF.  There will be necklaces, earrings, pins, and bracelets.  There will be about 20 pieces in total.  All pieces will be one of a kind, hand crafted with semi-precious beads and stones, freshwater pearls, and swarovski crystal butterflies.  Here's a preview:

Word has it that Richmond Magazine will be running a feature on Sarah's jewelry and the charity auction so we are excited for the publicity!

  

Our other major November event is set for Saturday November 20th.  Come out to the parking lot at Henry Clay Elementary School from 9 AM-12 PM for Citations for CJ.  Here's your chance to get a "moving violation" for a great cause.  All you have to do is drive through the parking lot, select your "fine" (ranging from $5-25).  Ashland's Chief of Police will cite you accordingly and then our celebrity judges (Ashland's Mayor Faye Pritchard and the Sheehy Ford judge "Mark Down" (AKA Mark Joy) will collect your fines.  We will also have opportunities for you to get thrown in "jail", getting friends and family to bail you out.  All for a good cause!  Mark you calendars, tell your friends, and get ready to get Ex-Cited for CJ!

I think Roger will share his own post-marathon update so I will end it here.  Thanks for the continued support.  I can't believe 2010 is almost coming to a close.  This has been a great inaugural year for CJSTUF.

Change of seasons

We woke this morning to the sound of raindrops against the window.  I haven't heard a better sound in WEEKS.  Here in Richmond, we have gone almost a month without any significant rainfall and with the regional water restrictions, we have had to water CJ's Butterfly Bush sparingly.  This has been a great year for the butterfly garden.  Our yard was visited by many butterflies and bumblebees.  I have seen butterflies everywhere this summer.  I know some of that is just the power of suggestion.  It's like when you buy a new car and all of a sudden you see how many people on the road drive the same, exact car.  They were always there.  You just didn't notice. 

Now I cherish those butterfly visits.  A few weeks ago, I was working the front desk at Romp n' Roll and a small monarch flew right up to the front door, perched on the glass for a few minutes, and gently opened and closed her wings.  She stayed there for what seemed like a long time and then flew away again.  It's moments like those that are gentle reminders of CJ's presence in our lives.

How many butterflies have you seen this summer?

Now that fall is upon us, we are preparing for the change that is to come.  Roger and I both spent some time in the yard yesterday, chopping wood for the winter wood pile and clearing out the window boxes and pots on the back deck. You can definitely feel the change that is coming in the air.

On that note, let me share some news and announcements to bring you up to speed on all the CJSTUF...stuff. 

This week is your last opportunity to get a copy of childrens book Richmond Rocks at Romp n' Roll-Mechanicsville.  The autographed hardback books are $15.70 (tax included) and 30% of the proceeds will go back to CJSTUF.  We can accept cash, check, or credit cards for the books at Romp n' Roll. 





With October right around the corner, we have another Business of the Month to feature:

Madison Fairburn of M. Chase Photography is hosting family photo sessions on October 16th at Pole Green Park to benefit CJSTUF.  This is a perfect opportunity to schedule your family portraits for upcoming holiday pictures.  If that date doesn't work for you or you want a different setting for your portraits, contact her and schedule CJ's Storybook Package any time between October and March.  25% of the proceeds will benefit our organization. 

Doris Hassell of Arbonne skin care will also be a featured business for October.  We will give you more details about opportunities to give back to CJSTUF through Arbonne soon.

The Double Marathon Challenge continues!  Roger has been running quite a bit lately.  His weekly totals are around 35-40 miles at this point.  Two weeks from today, he will be running the Chicago Marathon.  Six weeks from yesterday, he will be running the Richmond Marathon.  For anyone curious about our pledge totals, you can visit our Double Marathon page.  If anyone has been collecting pledges for the UM or VT teams, please begin to turn them in to us.  The University of Miami fans (or non-Hokie fans?) have been leading the charge almost 2:1.  We have received a little over $5000 in pledges and Roger's goal is $10,000 by the November 13th Richmond Marathon. 

Coming Soon in November: 
First, we will be holding an online auction for about 20 unique jewelry pieces that have been created exclusively for CJSTUF by Crystal Paintbrush artist Sarah Blankenship.  The collection will include necklaces, earrings, pins, and bracelets that have been designed with pink, purple, and white semiprecious stones and beads. The butterfly is a prominent theme in many of the pieces.  We are planning for the online auction to take place on eBay during the first two weeks in November.  On that note, we are now registered through eBay Giving Works.  If you are selling items on eBay and want to give a portion of your proceeds to our organization, it's easy through this program.  Simply follow the links to set up your sale.  A portion of the proceeds from the sale (whatever you decide) will automatically be donated to us and you will receive a listing credit for your item. 

Mark your calendars for Saturday November 20th.  From 9 AM-12 PM, the Henry Clay Elementary school parking lot in Ashland will be the site of Citations for CJ.  This will be a fun, easy way to give back to our organization and we are hoping to attract some publicity for the Foundation with this unique event.  More information to come soon. 

There always seems to be more news to report.  Thanks for continuing to follow our blog and website as well as our many musings on Facebook.