the day has come and gone, and it has been incredibly inspiring and memorable ... the 2008 susan g. komen race for the cure is an amazing success! and in no small part thanks to your love, support, and effort!
although the weather is menacing in the forecasts, it is a gorgeous, sunny 90 degrees in central park today! 28,000 walkers and runners descend to be a part of this incredible community, eager to eradicate breast cancer once and for all - a sea of pink and white t-shirts, worn by men, women, and children of every imaginable background!
our day starts off early, in the ann taylor survivor café, a temporary pavilion set up in the middle of the park. we are greeted enthusiastically by dara richardson-heron MD, the CEO of the organization in new york, and the other key players who organize this event on all of our behalves. most of team jane's journey is on hand at this early hour, as is rabbi adler from our synagogue. special guests include my parents, sarah and arnie, who fly in stealthily without us knowing last night, to surprise our family - fantastic!!!
i am introduced to jayne jamison, the publisher of seventeen magazine, who is receiving the survivor award - congratulations! also on hand are cynthia nixon (sex and the city), deanna favre (wife of NY jets quarterback brett favre), and petra nemcova (supermodel). i am called upon by deanna, and receive a lovely introduction. i am attaching a copy of my preprared statement that i deliver to the crowd on hand (who cheer heartily - both embarrassing and thrilling!).
i am whisked away in a golf cart with deanna immediately following the presentation, to the race start location ... where i am introduced to maurice dubois, the CBS anchor, and am reintroduced to 'judge judy' (who is with at kas and sasha's wedding a few weeks ago!). stephen colbert of the colbert report is also there - funny!!!
finally, the rest of the team catches up with me, and off we go ... unbelievable! the park, the city, taken over by a huge group of people with a common cause!
an update - i am amongst the TOP TEN fundraisers for this event in new york this year - all thanks to you! the total stands at $14,267 - which can go even further as the final date for donations is 31 cctober 2008. the team has raised over $22,000 - making us one of the top teams (but not quite top ten yet - we'll get there!).
in addition to my remarks, I am happy to include a link to our pictures - hope you can visit! check it out by going to:
www.swedlerkomen.shutterfly.com
with much love and appreciation, harley
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from today's presentation:
dear friends:
one year ago, i find myself in rwanda, a volunteer architect designing a village for children orphaned by the 1994 genocide. rather than being filled with dread and despair, it is clear to me that the survivors of that horrific event carry hope, joy, and optimism with them. frantically busy during the day, i return to the comfort of my hotel in the evening, fascinated by the people that soldier on against all odds.
miles away from home, i sit diligently with my laptop, meticulously documenting what i am seeing, experiencing, feeling. strangely, in the heart of east africa, fatigued and perplexed, i find my voice in a daily blog. it evolves into my true and positive snapshot of life flourishing under the most adverse circumstances.
and so it goes with our family’s experience with breast cancer. i cannot possibly project how my first visit to rwanda will prepare me for events to follow. prior to my second scheduled trip, my wife jane is diagnosed. fear and panic set in immediately, and subside just as quickly. as both a physician and a patient, she decisively selects a path to follow. as she sets out to research, discuss, and weigh options for her treatment, i return to my trusty keyboard and starting tapping away. from the first day of jane’s journey, i know that all is not lost, that there is hope.
five days on, living with a new reality, i tell jane that i've started another blog. horrified, she protests vehemently, and despite enjoying my postings from the hills of kigali, she does not, most certainly not, relish the prospect of having her life become an open virtual book. i persevere, promising that post surgery and chemo, we will be able to keep our huge and global network of friends well informed of her progress. at a minimum, it means less phone calls to return. she finally, and wisely, relents.
through daily manifestos ushered out via cyberspace, i draw on the positive energy around us, and relegate negative moments to temporary insanity. as numerous physical indignities are heaped upon jane, i humorously notate the absurdity of the day’s events in trite rhyme, melancholic prose, skippy limericks ... all complimented by a bastion of whacky vignettes.
i humbly stand before you this morning, honored to receive the susan g. komen co-survivor award. i gratefully accept this distinction on behalf of all those who move forward graciously despite tremendous hardships. whether it be halfway around the world, or here in central park, i am thrilled to know that in some small way, my take on a difficult situation has touched, and possibly sustained others.
many thanks, and bravo!
although the weather is menacing in the forecasts, it is a gorgeous, sunny 90 degrees in central park today! 28,000 walkers and runners descend to be a part of this incredible community, eager to eradicate breast cancer once and for all - a sea of pink and white t-shirts, worn by men, women, and children of every imaginable background!
our day starts off early, in the ann taylor survivor café, a temporary pavilion set up in the middle of the park. we are greeted enthusiastically by dara richardson-heron MD, the CEO of the organization in new york, and the other key players who organize this event on all of our behalves. most of team jane's journey is on hand at this early hour, as is rabbi adler from our synagogue. special guests include my parents, sarah and arnie, who fly in stealthily without us knowing last night, to surprise our family - fantastic!!!
i am introduced to jayne jamison, the publisher of seventeen magazine, who is receiving the survivor award - congratulations! also on hand are cynthia nixon (sex and the city), deanna favre (wife of NY jets quarterback brett favre), and petra nemcova (supermodel). i am called upon by deanna, and receive a lovely introduction. i am attaching a copy of my preprared statement that i deliver to the crowd on hand (who cheer heartily - both embarrassing and thrilling!).
i am whisked away in a golf cart with deanna immediately following the presentation, to the race start location ... where i am introduced to maurice dubois, the CBS anchor, and am reintroduced to 'judge judy' (who is with at kas and sasha's wedding a few weeks ago!). stephen colbert of the colbert report is also there - funny!!!
finally, the rest of the team catches up with me, and off we go ... unbelievable! the park, the city, taken over by a huge group of people with a common cause!
an update - i am amongst the TOP TEN fundraisers for this event in new york this year - all thanks to you! the total stands at $14,267 - which can go even further as the final date for donations is 31 cctober 2008. the team has raised over $22,000 - making us one of the top teams (but not quite top ten yet - we'll get there!).
in addition to my remarks, I am happy to include a link to our pictures - hope you can visit! check it out by going to:
www.swedlerkomen.shutterfly.com
with much love and appreciation, harley
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
from today's presentation:
dear friends:
one year ago, i find myself in rwanda, a volunteer architect designing a village for children orphaned by the 1994 genocide. rather than being filled with dread and despair, it is clear to me that the survivors of that horrific event carry hope, joy, and optimism with them. frantically busy during the day, i return to the comfort of my hotel in the evening, fascinated by the people that soldier on against all odds.
miles away from home, i sit diligently with my laptop, meticulously documenting what i am seeing, experiencing, feeling. strangely, in the heart of east africa, fatigued and perplexed, i find my voice in a daily blog. it evolves into my true and positive snapshot of life flourishing under the most adverse circumstances.
and so it goes with our family’s experience with breast cancer. i cannot possibly project how my first visit to rwanda will prepare me for events to follow. prior to my second scheduled trip, my wife jane is diagnosed. fear and panic set in immediately, and subside just as quickly. as both a physician and a patient, she decisively selects a path to follow. as she sets out to research, discuss, and weigh options for her treatment, i return to my trusty keyboard and starting tapping away. from the first day of jane’s journey, i know that all is not lost, that there is hope.
five days on, living with a new reality, i tell jane that i've started another blog. horrified, she protests vehemently, and despite enjoying my postings from the hills of kigali, she does not, most certainly not, relish the prospect of having her life become an open virtual book. i persevere, promising that post surgery and chemo, we will be able to keep our huge and global network of friends well informed of her progress. at a minimum, it means less phone calls to return. she finally, and wisely, relents.
through daily manifestos ushered out via cyberspace, i draw on the positive energy around us, and relegate negative moments to temporary insanity. as numerous physical indignities are heaped upon jane, i humorously notate the absurdity of the day’s events in trite rhyme, melancholic prose, skippy limericks ... all complimented by a bastion of whacky vignettes.
i humbly stand before you this morning, honored to receive the susan g. komen co-survivor award. i gratefully accept this distinction on behalf of all those who move forward graciously despite tremendous hardships. whether it be halfway around the world, or here in central park, i am thrilled to know that in some small way, my take on a difficult situation has touched, and possibly sustained others.
many thanks, and bravo!
