I Challenge You.......

I challenge you……

I need some help….what’s new right?..... 

I want to truly take advantage of April being Parkinson’s Awareness month….  I feel like I want to slip on my headphones like I use to before a game….a race…click on some crazy fast pace music to round up the motivation and get the blood flowing…. (I think quickly followed though with me was the urge to want to throw up because my nerves would spike….but we’ll leave that part out for this) J  Should I insert a little Rock Theme music here to help get you ready to want to help or can you just play the tune yourself in your head and create the urge to do something?

Ok…just in case you aren’t good at imagining things…..Rocky Theme Music  (Click on the link)

We’ve discussed this many times, but Parkinson’s is a bit of a hidden disease.  Many who have it don’t really know how to talk about, many may live in a quiet world of confusion because they don’t really know where to turn for guidance, help, advice etc. Many “early signs” of Parkinson’s aren't that noticeable so they think it’s ok to hide it for awhile and just “get by”.  I think with us living in a more rural area the diagnoses and cases of Parkinson’s are spread out more…. so the larger cities have that opportunity of support groups or opportunities to seek out for help with the disease a little more with “numbers”.  Many may just need a little info to know they have somewhere to turn to.  This is what I need some help with from you….. Many may work in an office setting, retail location, restaurant, or even have a social media opportunity to help us. 

What if you could just take one day….Just ONE DAY…..and do something just for Parkinson’s Awareness (With the excuse it's Parkinson's Awareness Month)….just to present a connection with Parkinson’s….you know my dad…you know me…you may know someone else.  BUT…… the people I have discovered through this journey who said “I didn’t know anyone else who knew about Parkinson’s so I didn’t know where to turn”….. All because I’ve opened up about it, I’ve talked about it; I’ve made myself visible in the world of Parkinson’s.  That’s what I want us to get out of this….is someone knowing someone else who needs this….needs a reason to fight this…..needs a shoulder to lean on…..needs another Parkinson’s patient to ask questions to…..

                      Needs a reason to NOT GIVE UP….. I’ve met 2 people who said “There isn’t anything I can do….I’ve got Parkinson’s and that’s that”….. You know one of the biggest “side components” of Parkinson’s is depression?..... It’s so easy to be consumed by “what’s coming” it turns into depression….. We’ve been told by so many nurses/doctors etc.  “You’re so lucky your dad is who he is…his sense of humor….his spirit…..so many people turn slightly hateful, bitter, and depressed”….. You know….. I know I’m lucky….very lucky.

If you’re asking….”But what can I do”….. Ohhhhh I love that question! J 

                Here are some suggestions…..but also please know you can Email me personally to help you pull something together, that’s what I LOVE to do, I Just need to know you want to do it :) My email address is: MissySpangler22@Yahoo.com for anyone who has questions!

·         Host a “Wear Orange Day” for Team Fox…..welcome anyone to wear an article of clothing etc that is orange….donate $1-5 to do so for that day(Something totally easy…but that helps a little bit)  It raises money, it gives you a little opportunity to do a mini explanation of Parkinson’s.

·         Have a morning where people donate a cup of coffee mini donation (Even just $1)…the concept is to give them a reason to do SOMETHING towards the cause.  Have a little 5 minute “coffee break” to explain about things

·         Bring a Brown Bag Lunch Day…donate the $5 you would have maybe spent on lunch maybe going out somewhere

·         If you work in a Restaurant Style Setting……Pick a Day/Week where something associated somehow with Parkinson’s (Orange Cupcakes etc) that So much of something Goes towards the restaurants donation towards our Project….I can help provide you with media/information to have available as well

·         Take up Pennies for Parkinson’s or loose change…..have a little sign with info… include a way for anyone needing/wanting information we can have them contact  

***Something as simple as posting it on your Facebook or twitter pages!

Well…see you get the idea…. I’ve got 1000 more of those ideas so if you want….. Pull together your co-workers and make something happen….. Every $1 TRULY makes a difference.

If you host something you can go directly to our Team Fox Website and submit the donation (list your business name or however you’d like)…. And it’s Tax Deductible (Don’t act like it isn’t 2012 tax season deadline so it’s crossing your mind for this tax year) J

 Team Fox Donation Page for Missy

So…. My question is who is up for the challenge?.....  We don’t call ourselves “Team Spangler” for nothing…..    

****I will also Challenge you.....to Challenge someone else****

 
P.S…..I’ll blog more about this later…but Mom and I are heading to NYC on Friday for the Team Fox MVP Dinner we got invited to with other Team Fox Goers…… and I REALLY want to put in a word we are continuing to make big things happen here!!! 

Let the Icing begin

Apparently I got too excited about the long run Sunday and should have known better as to the soreness that would come next J  I suppose some things you never learn.  (Random) Like eating tortilla chips before a run… I’ve done that a million times, yet, NEVER learn my lesson!?  Maybe it’s just me J

I had a hill workout scheduled for last night that I altered a little bit.  We were supposed to do 8 hill repeats around 1 minute each…I did 6 and added some time onto the other part of the run…our long runs should be on Saturday but since I had to alter days around my legs are still just TIRED…so I didn’t want to do anything too silly.  I suppose nothing a little couch sitting while watching International House Hunters while icing my legs can’t cure J

I am wanting to check in more often as I promised I would with everyone…I want to change these blog entries  around sometimes too so it’s always different J

Yesterday I checked the PO Box (which for me I get excited like it’s Christmas or something)….there was a return address on the envelope around the Pittsburg area that I didn’t recognize so I tore into the envelope and it was a lady in the area who had heard of our story (I believe from my grandma Nelson but still checking that), however she had the sweetest note included that spoke of her husband having Parkinson’s and her daughters are runners and send a little donation to help out with our project here.  I can’t express how the random notes lift my spirits and I always call mom right away to have her relay the information onto dad.  It’s always amazing how connected so many of us are in ways we never knew, and the goal to work together to find a cure for this disease can be discovered $1 at a time.

Tonight we are suppose to do cross training (this storming is aggravating me)…someone please agree with me so I don’t feel crazy that I struggle at the thought and concept of cross training. I  KNOW it’s important, but even in college when we were supposed to do swim workouts instead or something, I somehow always felt I was cheating training because I wasn’t actually running.  I know there are studies done and so forth to prove things….but mentally I still struggle at feeling like it was “ENOUGH” of a workout to mean something. 

I’m trying to stay on the fundraising routine too of keeping up on things we can do and continue to move forward with opportunities to reach our main goal of $10,000.  I’ve discovered I’m going to approach this in 1% increments so I feel like I’m getting somewhere quicker each time….so I’ve broken down my mini goals into $100 which equals 1%.... My cousin Jim has been my email pen pal in planning and he will probably soon regret telling me to tell him what to do… I can tend to be bossy and nonstop J  We are looking to host 1 or 2 after hours/early evening events in Parkersburg so it’s a easier atmosphere to get together mingle/network/visit for a purpose…with the concept of appetizers, drinks etc….we are also working on some sponsors for those events and then obtaining some silent auction items to have at those events to help raise some additional money.  I’m thinkin’ just a little “Shakin it up for Parkinson’s” theme.  We are finalizing some dates so we can move forward and get that going.  Also a scrapbooking crop event is set for October 20^th in Charleston at our other Cousin’s Crop location and she is helping us put this on…so if you are interested in that it will be a all day crop for $30 and will include prizes, some food,  as well as the hope of some silent auction items.  I’ve been asked several times by people what can they do….feel free to reach out to me if there is something particular here you want to be in on, or any other ideas you want to incorporate and I can help you with.  I’m going to be sending out some donation requests and sponsorship letters as soon as we finalize some dates… so just let me know…. ALWAYS feel free to Email me at MissySpangler22@yahoo.com.. I tend to feel like I overwhelm people through all this (I tend to be a non stop go-getter) so I’d love to hear from you J

Just a reminder…we are still doing the dollars for dad project and could still use A LOT of States!... 

If you need the direct website link to the fundraising pages to pass along it is: http://www2.michaeljfox.org/site/TR/Sponsored/TeamFox?px=1007327&pg=personal&fr_id=1210

If you want to write a check please make it out to: Michael J Fox Foundation and you can mail it to our PO Box and I’ll get it sent in with our Team:

Team Spangler

Attention: Missy Spangler

PO Box 403

Ripley, WV 25271

I Heard a GREAT quote the other day and I just wanted to share….

”We run for those who can no longer run for themselves”

  108 Days till NYC….

“Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass, it’s about learning to dance in the rain”

Alright…I’m sitting here feeling guilty for my semi-rant yesterday and the negative-ness revolved around it (Yes I know some things could always be worse, but some days I find myself just wanting to be grumpy I suppose).  Apparently God wanted to entertain me a little bit and make me “think” about things…so after visiting my Grandparents in Charleston we came home to a house we were locked out of for several hours until a Locksmith was able to get us in J  The spring in our doorknob had broken loose so the door itself wouldn’t operate.  By coincidence too our neighbors had driven by to drop off some no-bake cookies (don’t tell dad because it’s quite possible they won’t make it long enough to share) J and it was nice to have company while we “waited the storm out” to re-enter our home.

I somewhat caught myself off-guard upon walking back into the house and showing my neighbors a few things we got in the Amish Country a frame I had on our mantel with the quote “Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass, it’s about learning to dance in the rain” I suppose it was a little bit of a slap in my face for my “bad attitude” J 

I did hear from my “mentor” for the Team Fox “team” who has ran the NYC marathon 3 times, and training for a triathlon for Team Fox now….her father also has Parkinson’s so I’m really looking forward to exchanging training suggestions, ideas, and having someone so similar to work/talk with.

I had to “blog” today…as it’s National Running Day! Info Website: http://www.runningday.org  So I’m looking forward to going home (and getting into my house) J…lacing up my shoes and going for a long run to get back on track J  If you have a chance today…..it might make you feel better ….go out even if it’s for not very long…but run to feel a part of something! J

If you’d like a fun project…I’ve become “twitter friends” with a new program/app called Charity Miles…if you have an Android or iPhone you should really check out this app. Their website info is: http://www.charitymiles.org/  (I’m debating upgrading my phone just to get it)…you can download the app for FREE…choose a charity…and they give you so much $ per mile walked, ran, biked to the Charity of your choice. (Bikers earn 10¢ per mile; walkers and runners earn 25¢ per mile, all up to our initial $1,000,000 sponsorship pool.) Team Fox is a top 10 on their site which of course I’m biased too…BUT you can choose whatever you’d like!  It’s an easy way to get movin’ and make a difference!

Also…if anyone wants a “TEAM FOX” sticker to show your support let me know!  I just got some from Team Fox and I can mail you some!  I’m going to stick them on lots of things I send out.  I have a friend working on Team Spangler’s logo to do some T-shirts, Tanks, and Window Decals for us to take orders on so we can tackle running race season as a team J  Just email me: MissySpangler22@yahoo.com if you’d like some stickers.  Also…you can stick them on a jar to help promote “Pennies…loose change” for Parkinson’s….I have a bank who will count the coins for us and write a check to the foundation on our team’s behalf.

I suppose I should sign off today with a typical “team huddle” to kick off National Running Day and motivate us to do something! J

(This picture is prior to the state meet my senior year…I will call out Meghan Walker as to motivating us so much to make us cry prior to the race! Haha….  I think dad shouted “There’s no crying in cross country) or something to make us stop being "girls" :)