As we’ve been saying, there is A LOT going on! And we need to take advantage of the opportunities for publicity. That means letters, phone calls, and emails….advocacy work. That’s what you do. And you’re damn good at it. It works. I’ve never doubted that and you shouldn’t either. You got our question into the President’s hands…in only four months! So, here we go. I’m just trying to organize all these fantastic ideas and initiatives you guys have going already. Tonight I’d like to introduce you to the PAC2 Initiative Page. The page will have a big link, easy to see I hope (colorblind), on the right column of the Home Page (and underneath it will be a childhood cancer "Factoid" for your reading pleasure). And, when you are ready to do something, participate in the efforts of your fellow PAC2 members….all you have to do is click the link....------------------------>>

It will take you to a page where PAC2 Initiatives are listed. We think that one or two things to do each week are doable for most of us. We are starting this off with a campaign to tie the release of the movie “My Sisters Keeper” about a childhood cancer situation starting Cameron Diaz; with contacting local media and offering to tell the “real life” story from a local angle. So, on the PAC2 Initiative Page you will find a brief description of the initiative, and links to both an Event and a Forum Post. These two should combine to provide a way to pass on information, example letters, links to media or govt. They will allow us to see what’s working and what’s not thru you guys posting what you did and the results. Real-time approval ratings…..

So, tonight’s it's “My Sister’s Keeper”. Coming up are initiatives to obtain recognition from:

· Oprah - just matched a little girl's fundraising money, $1200.....
· SU2C - fighting for money to COG and pediatric research.....
· NFL - one at a time, we will get all teams.....
· President Obama's Reply to the Citizens Briefing Book - He still hasn't written back....
· Pediatric Caucus - work to get your House Rep. signed up....
· Second Annual Paper Petition Day - still my fav......

(if I just stand back at look at that list, I like our goals…whew…)

Again, I've said it before and I will say it again, I have never Co-Founded an on-line, grass-roots community advocating for awareness and funding before. I don't have all the answers or ideas. You guys do...So, here's a link to a a Forum topic for listing your ideas...what are we doing right, what are we doing wrong. How can we improve. What do you think we should do? Honestly, it's totally read and replied to. Promise.

As this continues, I will try to insert a calendar with links to the Initiatives. But due to the newness of the movie, and the other event we’ll post, coming up later this weekend, we wanted to strike while the iron is hot so to speak, and introduce you to the PAC2 Initiative Page! Thank you all for all you do.

A variety of links and photos from Reach The Day 2009. Next year, 1,000 of us.....and chain.

Guest Column - Reach the Day - Kate Schafer, CureSearch
Reach the Day, What is it all about and how you can help - Kathi Clarke
Reach the End of This Day - Amy Bucher
Photos of PAC2 at the Capital Brewery
Additional Media Coverage

Please, let us know about your DC experience.

Dean Crowe, the Founder and CEO of the Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research and I were talking today. I got mixed up on the schedule for posting Coach's Corner, and Nicole, who is supposedly "busy", well; we will let that go.....:) But anyway, we both expressed our frustration in the use of children to promote NON-CHILDHOOD specific fundraising events. You know the deal, those events where 3% of what you raise will be directed towards childhood cancer research. So, you raise $2000, $60 goes towards a cure for our kids. That's a FACT.

Here is another fact. Rally gives 93 cents of every dollar raised to support childhood cancer research and offers a wonderful alternative if you want to participate in an athletic event:

Rally Athletes for Childhood Cancer Research.

At ANY athletic event, like a 5K, 10K, half marathon, marathon, triathlon, bike ride or walk, you can register as a Rally Athlete and know funds raised are directed to childhood cancer research. Last year, Rally Athletes raised over $90,000 and ALL the proceeds went to CHILDHOOD CANCER RESEARCH—not just 3%! Hmmm…do we want 3 cents or 93 cents of every dollar going to support our kids? That is not difficult math!

Rally also has Rally Athlete Training Teams for specific marathons that come with expert coaching, a training schedule and more. Let's say you or a friend are thinking about doing a marathon, half marathon or doing both the full and half (that’s called Goofy’s Challenge), join the Rally Athlete Disney World Marathon Training Team. This year’s Walt Disney World Marathon is January 9th, 2010. Let’s have a HUGE showing at Disney for childhood cancer research. I’d love to see Disney covered with Rally Athlete runners! When you register for the Disney Rally Athlete Team here's what you get:

• YOU KNOW YOUR EFFORT AND MONEY YOU RAISE WILL provide funding for childhood cancer research to find better treatments with fewer long-term side effects and ultimately a cure!
• Race Number, transportation and a chance to qualify for hotel accommodations for three nights at Disney’s Pop Century Resort in WALT DISNEY WORLD
• You can run in honor or memory of a Rally Kid (If you haven't registered your child as a Rally Kid, just click here and do it!)
• Fundraising Made Easy with Your Own Webpage - Click to create your own fundraising web page or Nicole will help you set up your page!
• Rally Athlete T-shirt, Rally Athlete Dri-Fit Race Day Shirt and Rally Athlete band
• Pre-Race Pasta Dinner and discount on theme park tickets
• Training Manual and 5 Month Training Schedule (individual attention and training schedule is based on your pace, abilities, and experience)
• Enjoy the benefits of training with a professional coach
• Receive advice on nutrition, proper footwear and gear, injury prevention, and continued support and team work to reach your goals
• Special clinics about nutrition, injury prevention, proper footwear, etc, and webinars with the Rally coach
• Motivational group runs and accountability to reach your goals

To get a feel for it, here's a link to a story about The Rally Team preparing for the Bank of America Chicago Marathon in October. And, if you're not up to a full marathon, you can always dream something up and Rally will be sure to help promote your efforts and make donating easy. Rally is currently helping several families plan races and rides in honor or in memory of their children.

There is another big Rally Athlete event you can support and you don’t even have to be athletic! It’s the Rally Across America bike ride. On Wednesday, July 22 Magan, a recent college graduate, is a novice cyclist and about to depart on an incredible journey for our kids. As this summer’s Rally Foundation intern, Magan and her two teammates will push themselves to the max by biking 1,000 miles in 10 days to raise money for childhood cancer research. Magan and her team start “biking for bucks” in Atlanta pedaling their way to Greenwich, CT. Their goal is to raise $75,000 for childhood cancer research. And, I get to meet her when she's in Raleigh! The Rally Across America team will be pedaling through NC, DC, MD, PA and NY. If you would like to host the team (there are four of them) or help them reach their goal, email Magan at magan@rallyfoundation.org.

So, just to reiterate on the first bullet, about where the money goes....in its first three years, Rally Foundation has provided more than $1 million in childhood cancer research grants, 2nd year research awards for young investigators, research nurses and fellowships supporting 39 projects in 22 hospitals nationwide. For every dollar Rally receives, 93 cents goes to support Rally's mission. Rally supports all phases of childhood cancer research from science at the bench (very early research) to Phase I, II, and III clinical trials including targeted therapies, DNA studies and survivorship studies. Rally is also excited to help fund the collaborative research of more than 5,000 physicians, scientists and nurses at 200 hospitals nationwide. These physicians and nurses treat more than 90% of the children in the US with cancer.
So, my fellow athletes, marathoners, bikers, swimmers and walkers—next race/walk get yourself registered as a Rally Athlete. Get a cool t-shirt, and feel good knowing you are fighting 110% for the kids....and please tell your friends if they want to run, walk, swim or bike for your child or a child who has cancer, please do it as a Rally Athlete where 93 cents of every dollar goes to CHILDHOOD CANCER RESEARCH!

Dean Crowe - Founder - Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research

AJs Dad - Co-Founder - PAC2

We have tried to make the lies, damn lies and statistics post a bit more user-friendly. We also understand that this argument was discussed at Reach the Day by CureSearch....

We have all been lead to believe that childhood cancer is rare. And, when you look at the number of cases, it is. But, is the number of cases the only number we should be looking at when comparing it to other cancers? We don't think it is. We think we should also look at the total number of years of life lost (Person Years Life Lost or PYLL) for each cancer. And then compare funding based on the number of years of life lost for each cancer. Basically, a method to "level the playing field" and compare apples to apples.

So there are two questions:
#1 - How many years of potential life are stolen by each cancer?
#2 - Are the funding dollars per life year lost fair and equitable?

To keep reading, click here.