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All my Portland-area hoopers and wannabe hoopers!!
Come play at the Rip City 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament July 25th & 26th! Divisions for all ages, abilities and skill levels. Activities include the tournament, Slam Dunk contest, 3-Point Shootout and a Youth Skills Challenge.
Benefits Special Olympics Oregon -- so hurry and get your team signed up before registration closes July 10th.
Showing posts with label Portland. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Portland. Show all posts
Thursday, June 18, 2015
Rip City 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament
Monday, January 5, 2015
Knight Cancer Challenge
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| The Knight Cancer Challenge has almost been met! |
A year ago, this past September 20th, Nike founder Phil Knight, and his wife Penny, launched one of the most-impressive and inspiring cancer research challenges to date:
If OHSU can raise $500 million by February, 2016 the Knight family will match that $500 million -- all benefiting cancer research.OHSU & The Knight Cancer Institute
For those of you outside the Portland area, Oregon Health Science University (OHSU) is a nationally prominent research university, and Oregon's only public academic health center.
Over the years, OHSU has grown into a world class teaching hospital and research center.
The Knights and OHSU have history together in the cancer research community. In 2008, a $100 million donation from the Knights turned the then-named OHSU Cancer Institute into the Knight Cancer Institute. The NCI-designated institute is an international leader in cancer research and personalized cancer treatment.
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| OHSU sits above Portland's West Hills. |
Together, their mission is to 'end cancer as we know it.'
The Knight Cancer Institute focuses on attacking cancer on a molecular level, and looks for ways to detect cancers earlier, before they become deadly, giving more patients the chance to survive more cancers.
If OHSU is able to match the Knights' $500 million challenge, the vision for those funds will go towards:
- Seeking faster, smarter ways to detect and treat cancer – before it becomes deadly.
- Putting unprecedented research resources behind this initiative so that it can make a significant impact in a decade. We can’t ask those living with cancer to be patient.
- Assembling a collaborative, multidisciplinary team of cancer researchers, combining new recruits with top talent at OHSU to focus on improving early cancer detection, and fund their programs sufficiently to ensure they can devote their time to innovation.
- Investing in the resources to accelerate discovery. Investments in equipment, shared research resources and computational biology will generate new discoveries.
As of January 5th 2015, OHSU has received nearly $450 million towards the challenge. One anonymous donor, pledged $100 million to the effort in July of 2014.
Pretty impressive to raise those kinds of funds in less than a year. Nothing is guaranteed, but it seems that the Knight Cancer Challenge will be met (it feels crazy to assume $50 MILLION is a guarantee in a relatively short time frame), and $1 billion will be on its way to OHSU and cancer research.
If you'd like to participate in the challenge, go here for more information.
LINKS:
Tuesday, September 16, 2014
Walk to End Alzheimer's Recap -- Year 2
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| Walk day with Papa's Team. |
Two Sundays ago -- Grandparents Day -- the Portland Alzheimer's Association hosted their annual Walk to End Alzheimer's.
As you may know, for the second straight year, I organized a team in memory of Papa -- my grandpa -- who we lost in 2009 to Alzheimer's after a 12 year bout.
Papa's Team, By the Numbers
Thanks to you, Papa's Team raised $660.00. We landed a couple bucks short of last years numbers, but all in all I think we did a great job fundraising for a worthy cause.
We had 14 total donors, many of whom were repeat donors from last year's team -- I can't thank you enough for showing an interest, contributing money, and helping out!
Money raised from the Walk goes directly to funding care and support services, along with research efforts by the Alzheimer's Association.
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| Post-walk treats -- Mom and Nana. |
Walk day participants for Papa's Team were down to three -- me, my mom, and Nana. But over the last several years of Papa's life, I remember many a-day spent -- the three of us and Papa. So it kind of seemed right to be with my mom and Nana on this day, remembering Papa.
This year's walk was very similar to the year prior, even down to the hot, sunny afternoon on the race track. The Portland Chapter does a great job of making Walk more than just a 2+ mile walk around a race track. There's music, a car show, a kids' playhouse and food.
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Purple flower for Papa.
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What stood out again to me this year, as it did last, was the Promise Garden. Depending on how Alzheimer's has impacted your life, you're given a corresponding colored flower pinwheel:
- Blue represents someone with Alzheimer's or dementia.
- Purple is for someone who has lost a loved one to the disease.
- Yellow represents someone who is currently supporting or caring for someone with Alzheimer’s.
- Orange is for everyone who supports the cause and vision of a world without Alzheimer’s.
As walkers neared the finish line, we were allowed to 'plant' our flower. The garden that resulted from all the flowers makes for a very memorable image, representing the reach Alzheimer's has.
Portland Walk By the Numbers (all unofficial, as things are still being counted)
- Total Raised: $270,836.25
- Total Teams: 341
- Total Walkers: 3,688
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| Pre-walk festivities. |
As I promised last September, I hope to continue to make Papa's Team a yearly presence in Portland's Walk to End Alzheimer's. So mark your calendars!
Many of our families have been affected by Alzheimer's in some way, so I'm happy to be able to raise awareness for the disease, and for the Alzheimer's Association.
And again, I'm so grateful for everyone who contributed, and helped me honor Papa in a small way.
Thank you!
Thank you!
LINKS:
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| Mom and I on the racetrack. |
Sunday, August 31, 2014
Walk to End Alzheimer's Countdown
T-minus one week and counting until the Walk to End Alzheimer's kicks off at Portland International Raceway on Sunday, September 7th.
I know everyone's wallets have been opened this summer with the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. If you haven't yet put those wallets away, Papa's Team -- my family's team in memory of my grandpa, who we lost to Alzheimer's in 2009 -- would love your participation or your donation.
As a quick reminder, The Alzheimer's Association's Walk to End Alzheimer’s is the nation’s largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support and research. It's held annually in more than 600 communities across the US.
When you donate to the Walk to End Alzheimer's, your fundraising dollars directly fuel the Alzheimer's Association's mission-related initiatives of care, support and research. Their mission is: to eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health.
Walk Day Schedule -- September 7th 2014
Registration: 12-2
Live Music: 12:30-3:15
Promise Garden Pick-Up/Decorating: 12-2
Team Photos: 12-2
Bus Rally/Voting: 12-2
Car Show/Voting: 12-2
Panorama Photo: 1:30
Opening Ceremony: 1:45
Bus Rally Winner: 2
Walk Start: 2
Car Show Winner: 2
Route Length: 2.99 miles
***Between now and Saturday night -- September 6th, I will match all donations made by 'Social Media Friends' (People I've reached through social media...Mom, you don't count).*** Donate to Papa's Team, or if you'd like to join us on Sunday, register for the walk by clicking on the links -- walking is free!
Alzheimer's is a far-reaching disease that does not discriminate -- help us try to put an end to the 'long goodbyes' and see the Alzheimer's Association's vision: a world without Alzheimer's disease.
LINKS:
RELATED POSTS:
Wednesday, August 27, 2014
Hood to Coast: Perspectives from Van 2
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| The whole squad at the finish. |
From the mountains to the beach. Mt. Hood to Seaside. Hood to Coast 2014.
They call it the Mother of All Relays for good reason: 197 miles. 12 runners. 2 vans. Little, to no sleep.
Sounds potentially awful, doesn't it?
In actuality, it was one of the most memorable team experiences I've ever had.
The 33rd rendition of Hood to Coast was one I was finally able to participate in.
As a driver.
The Brownstars -- a team from Nike asked if I could drive one of their two vans for the race. I, of course, said yes.
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We took a detour to get out of traffic to Clatskanie --
that turned out to be a time-saving move.
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Even when it's with teammates I'd never met.
A lot happened in the span of those 24 hours, but it went surprisingly fast (officially, we finished in just under 24 hours).
Maybe it was because my teammates were awesome runners -- some clocking in paces of 5:40 and 6:00 miles.
They knew their bodies, knew how and when they needed to be fueled, and how hard they could push themselves. And they cheered their teammates til the end.
So what, you ask, could be so great about staying up all night, while you wait for people you barely know, run from Mt. Hood to Seaside?
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| Van 1 at the start -- Mt. Hood. |
In those situations, every person needs to do his/her job to allow the team to succeed. Those are the things I've always loved -- and one reason why basketball was always so fun to me -- you needed every teammate on their game to make great things happen.
And those are the experiences that make us, as individuals, better.
Secondly, you're accomplishing things you would never dream of doing alone. Each individual running three different times, for a total of roughly 17 miles, in the span of 20 hours -- on no sleep -- who does that? Not something your average Joe is willing to do.
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| Van 2 -- making a pit stop. |
It was being surrounded by people, who, when we were stuck in miles of traffic, offered to hop out of the van and run twice the distance their scheduled leg called for.
Those same people, readying towels and water for teammates as they came in from midday (read: hot) runs.
It was seeing another teammate run the toughest leg of the relay -- through brutally hilly, dusty (gravel) roads, in the dark of night (or 5am) -- even when they were coming off a stress fracture and hadn't trained.
Those were my teammates, and that's what made it special.
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| The 197 mile course. |
At the end of leg six, near Sandy, Oregon, Van 2 entered the fray. The six runners in Van 2 then took to the roads to log their legs, while Van 2 had several hours to make their way to the next van exchange.
Since we were still near Portland, many vans chose to go someplace (someone's home, a hotel, etc) where runners could clean up, and if they were lucky, take a little nap.
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| Van exchange 2 -- at the Hawthorne Bridge along the Willamette river. |
There were five van exchanges over the course of the 197 miles, and at the end of the 36th leg, everyone was united at the beach in Seaside.
My teammates talked about how lonely it was while running their first leg. It was dark, quiet (no headphones allowed), and since we started fairly late in the day, there weren't many other teams around. As the race progressed, and we caught up to slower teams, it got more and more crowded along the route, and loneliness was no longer a concern.
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| Awaiting one runner to come in and pass the baton (slap bracelet) off to another runner. |
As vans piled up at exchange points (for miles), the runners would pass the van up as we sat idling.
In order to keep the team on pace, the 'on-deck' runners jumped out of the van, finished the leg with their teammate, then took over the baton as they both crossed into the exchange. Then, in turn, the runner who just finished their leg would turn back and run towards the van until meeting it.
After van exchange four, my van made the decision to bail out of who-knows-how-many-miles of sitting traffic, and go north to Clatskanie, west to Astoria, and then meet back up with Van 1 in time for van exchange five.
It was an amazing experience -- even just as a driver. You're reminded how team plus sport allows for amazing things to happen. That has always driven me and inspired me, and it was awesome to be a part of something like that once again.
Next year, if I'm able, I'll be running.
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| Brownstars |
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| Seaside, Oregon. |
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| The always sunny Oregon Coast. |
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| The finish line. |
Wednesday, July 23, 2014
Papa's Team's Revival
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| Papa's Team -- the 2013 rendition. |
Last summer, I had the opportunity to lead a fundraising and walk effort on behalf of my grandpa benefiting the Alzheimer's Association.
Through the help of friends, family and loyal readers, Papa's Team was able to collect $700 for the Portland edition of the 2013 Walk to End Alzheimer's.
After the walk last summer, I wanted to commit to making the walk a yearly event --to bring attention to the far-reaching disease, raise funds for an outstanding organization, and most importantly, walk in the memory of Papa each and every year.
As promised, it's that time again to start leading fundraising efforts, and asking friends and family to join us for a walk at PIR in September.
As promised, it's that time again to start leading fundraising efforts, and asking friends and family to join us for a walk at PIR in September.
Walk details are as follows:
2014 Walk to End Alzheimer's
Portland, OR
Date: Sunday, September 7, 2014 at 2pm
Location: Portland International Raceway
1940 North Victory Boulevard Portland, OR 97217
Coordinator: Kara Busick
Phone: 503-416-0209
Why Walk is Important |
| Click for details about Alzheimer's. |
Together, we can end Alzheimer’s disease -- the nation’s sixth-leading cause of death.
The cost of care and support is rising on a yearly basis because the number of those living with Alzheimer's continues to grow exponentially. It is up to us to help ease those costs, and hopefully, eventually, find a cure.
My family lost Papa to Alzheimer's in the Spring of 2009, after a 12-year bout with the disease. If our fundraising can help bring awareness to, aid a caregiver or family member, or eventually help with finding a cure, then we have done our job.
I hope you can join us on September 7th, or donate on behalf of Papa's Team! Let me know if you have any questions.
LINKS:
RELATED POSTS:
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| Nana & Papa |
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| The Dresslers |
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| My cousin, Robbie, & I with Papa. |
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| Nana & Papa on their anniversary in 2009. |
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| The Promise Garden at the 2013 Walk. |
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| Walk start like at Portland International Raceway. |
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| The button I had made for Papa's Team. |
Friday, July 18, 2014
Texting & Walking
There's a new hazard in the streets of Portland (and to venture a guess, every other city throughout the country): people with their faces glued to their phones.
The number of people walking down the street, any street -- in a city, along a country road, crossing the street in a suburb -- with their noses in their phones is astounding.
Let them walk into a pole the next time they're at it -- and if it's me, let me run into it head on. Is that too harsh? That way, we'd learn our lesson!
Just over the past week or so, I've nearly been run into by text and walkers (or Tweeters/Instagrammers and walkers) on four or five occasions.
Unless you're lost, is what's on your phone really that important?
Sure, I'm guilty too. But I'm making a conscious effort to put my phone away. When I'm out and about, take in the sights, pay attention to my surroundings -- I've found they can be pretty entertaining and interesting as well.
It feels like we don't enjoy the moment anymore -- we can just 'be' for a couple minutes. We have to be entertained by some thing at every moment. And we're constantly looking for that next 'thing' --whatever it is -- the video or photo to share, the funny moment to text your friend about.
But let's be real, it's kind of embarrassing. Go into a work break room, a cafeteria, a library, a mall, any place really -- and we've all got our noses firmly planted in our phones.
Enjoy our company. Enjoy our surroundings. Enjoy the scenery.
If you want, take a picture, but then put your phone right back into your pocket or purse.
How quick, are we as adults, to judge a group of kids sitting at a table, ignoring their surroundings and their 'friends', nose glued to a screen of some sort? But when it's us at the table, we don't bat an eye.
It's not a good look.
Let's give it a shot, and see how it goes. And if you must, please stop in one place, lest you won't run into me (or be hit by a car).
Sunday, June 29, 2014
Run Club with Nike Portland
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| Nike Portland Run Club. |
May and June in the Northwest can be frustrating. Summer is near, but the weather may not always reflect what the calendar says.
Of course, there are teasers on occasion. But usually the warm, sunny days are scattered between week long bouts of gray, drizzly days.
In the two weeks that I've been home, I've
caught myself feeling like it's mid-July or August on several
occasions, but obviously that isn't the case.
What the summer-like weather has allowed me to do is get a jump on a few summer activities.
What the summer-like weather has allowed me to do is get a jump on a few summer activities.
One of those activities is the Run Club at Nike Portland. It's something I've been wanting to do for a while now, but haven't gotten a chance to participate in.
I've
written before about my fondness/obsession with running.
More often than not though, running is a solo act for me. Running gives me a chance to clear my head, plan out my day, think through whatever might be running through my mind, and just get outside into the fresh air. No matter how the day is going for me, after 35-45 minutes of pounding the pavement (or the sand, when I'm lucky), the day always gets that much better.
More often than not though, running is a solo act for me. Running gives me a chance to clear my head, plan out my day, think through whatever might be running through my mind, and just get outside into the fresh air. No matter how the day is going for me, after 35-45 minutes of pounding the pavement (or the sand, when I'm lucky), the day always gets that much better.
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| Tom McCall Waterfront Park. |
Run Club Plusses
For one, it makes running social.
Portland is an active city, and Oregon in general, is a state that runs. So there are a lot of runners, each with their own interesting story throughout the Rose City. Who knows who you might meet at run club!
It's been said that the toughest step is a runner's first step out the door. Sometimes that is absolutely true. There are days when you just don't want to get out there. Where you're tired, or don't feel like running. If you do make it out the door, the run usually gets better after those first tough steps or those unmotivated thoughts. But the key is getting out the door.
Portland is an active city, and Oregon in general, is a state that runs. So there are a lot of runners, each with their own interesting story throughout the Rose City. Who knows who you might meet at run club!
It's been said that the toughest step is a runner's first step out the door. Sometimes that is absolutely true. There are days when you just don't want to get out there. Where you're tired, or don't feel like running. If you do make it out the door, the run usually gets better after those first tough steps or those unmotivated thoughts. But the key is getting out the door.
Having
a run club to go to, makes those first steps easier. It's scheduled.
You're going to meet people. Even though they'd run even without you
there, you're being held accountable to a certain extent.
Run
club also gives you a change from your usual routes/routines. Every
route gets tiresome and boring at some point. Why not find a few new
ones?
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| I got to take the Flyknit Lunar 1 out for a spin! |
For three weeks at a time, Nike Portland has new shoe models and products available to try out. If you're thinking about a new pair of shoes, or a new gadget, your local Nike store might let you test it out. If it's a new product for you, you can test it to see if it's to your liking before you plunk down the money.
I tested the Flyknit Lunar 1. And just one test run was all it took for me to decide they'd be my next runner.
Finally, Run Club is free, and I'm betting you'll gain more than you lose from participating. Though I did have to pay for parking.
Specifics of the Nike Portland Run Club:
Portland run club meets
twice a week, on Mondays and Wednesdays at 6:30, at Nike Portland (on SW 5th & Morrison). They have four
different routes they cycle through (Waterfront left, Waterfront right, Terwilliger and the Waterfront Esplanade). Since Portland's downtown sits on the Willamette River waterfront, most of the runs have some pretty scenery.
Depending on how you're feeling that day, you can choose between a 3, 5 or 7-mile run. All the
runs are led by numerous pacers, so no runner will be left behind!
The
warm, sunny Wednesday I went to Run Club there were about 10 other
runners. I was told that as the summer weather becomes more and more
consistent (usually July thru September), there can be
as many as 30-35 runners.
The
out-and-back went quickly for me that day. It was nice chatting up new
people, hearing about what they do, what they were training for, what
event they had just run, and anything else that might have come up over the
course of a 5-mile run.
After
we made our way back to SW 5th and Morrison, there was water, coconut
water, recovery gels and protein bars if we wanted. I've never tried
coconut water, so again this gave me the perfect opportunity to test out
something new. Can't say I'm a fan, however, so I'll just stick to water.
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| It's looking a lot like summer in Portland. |
A few things I didn't like: getting out of the city center. It was constant stop and go at
crosswalks and lights the first five-plus minutes. Though, once we got to the waterfront, it was fabulous.
And for me, since I don't work downtown, it's a little difficult to get into the city during the busiest time of the day. But it makes perfect sense for people who already are working downtown, or live close by.
And for me, since I don't work downtown, it's a little difficult to get into the city during the busiest time of the day. But it makes perfect sense for people who already are working downtown, or live close by.
There
are different run clubs all over the country. They don't always have to be associated with a
worldwide corporation like Nike. Sometimes they can just be a group of friends
who plan to meet a couple times a week.
Finding various run clubs in your area can be as easy as googling it,
or maybe even check Facebook for a group.
If running is your thing, or you want it to be your thing, check one out! You won't regret it. I know I'll be going back to the Nike Portland Run Club as often as I can!
If running is your thing, or you want it to be your thing, check one out! You won't regret it. I know I'll be going back to the Nike Portland Run Club as often as I can!
Friday, April 25, 2014
Stronger Every Run
Nike's Stronger Every Run campaign -- benefiting the Challenged Athletes Foundation in support of athletes and families affected by last April's Boston Marathon tragedy.
Friday, September 13, 2013
Event Recap: Walk to End Alzheimer's
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| With Mom and Nana after the walk. |
The Walk to End Alzheimer's was a huge success for Papa's Team!
After fundraising for the majority of the summer, I can happily say that my team was able to contribute $700, thanks to many of you, to the Alzheimer's Association at September 8th's walk.
We had 20 total donors, and seven walkers participate in memory of Papa in the walk on Sunday at Portland International Raceway.
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| Mom, Amy, Greg, & Mari -- part of Papa's Team! |
The walk took place at Portland International Raceway, a road race course in North Portland.
Behind the bagpipes of Timber's Army members (the fan club for the MLS Portland Timbers walking in support of longtime Timber, Jimmy Conway) and several Timbers' players, the 2.5 mile walk got underway.
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| The Promise Garden -- a pretty cool visual. |
Participation numbers were estimated at 4,500 walkers, but the racetrack was full (I'm still waiting on final participation numbers and total money raised (and our official team picture) from the Portland Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association).
A neat feature of this year's walk was the Promise Garden. Depending on your relationship with Alzheimer's, each walker was given a corresponding color flower-pinwheel. This really allowed participants to visually see the impact Alzheimer's has on us as a society.
A purple flower represented a loved one who has been lost to Alzheimer's. While an orange flower represented someone who doesn't have a direct tie to Alzheimer's, but is supporting the effort nonetheless. There were also yellow flowers for Alzheimer's sufferers still living, and blue flowers for care givers.
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| Purple promise flower for Papa. |
All in all, it was a pretty great afternoon!
A huge thanks to those who were willing to donate! Your money is going to an excellent charity, and towards a cause that is in need of more funding across the board. And a extra-special thanks to the group of Twitter ladies who were nice enough to contribute! It means a lot when people support causes you find important.
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| The button I had made for Papa's Team participants. |
I hope to make Papa's Team an annual Walk to End Alzheimer's participant, as I think this is a very important cause. And I would love to honor Papa on a yearly basis. I know you're looking forward to my pestering when next summer rolls around, and I re-start Papa's Team fundraising!
Next year, I hope to equal money raised, maybe even top it, and would love to see more participation in walk day festivities.
Thanks again for the support. I am hugely appreciative!
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| Papa's Team representing on Walk day! |
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| With Mari! |
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| Me & Mom. |
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| Me & Amy! |
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| Gathering for the start at PIR. |
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| Rounding the final curve. |
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| Thank you! |
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| Planting of the Promise Garden. |
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