We are happy to announce that $13,000 in proceeds from the Second Central Coast Cancer Challenge have been donated to our beneficiaries, Jack’s Helping Hand and the Cancer WellFit program. We have been told by both that the money will help tremendously. In fact, the CCCC donation to Cancer WellFit will help fund the program through 2012! That is just great news.
We want to thank all of our participants and volunteers for just an exceptional day. Please tell all of your friends, family and colleagues so we can make the Third Central Coast Cancer Challenge on Sunday, August 5, 2012 the best ever.

I agreed to walk to support my friend Jan and her Cancer Well Fit project.  Jan Secord, our trainer, is a great friend and a real encourager to me personally.  She has been challenging me to incorporate exercise into my personal get fit program.  I am not a cancer survivor, but both of my parents were cancer survivors and my Dad passed away from liver cancer after battling and winning against prostate cancer.
My own battle is with Rheumatoid Arthritis and Jan has helped me build muscle and endurance to help keep me walking.  RA has attacked my knee joints and hands, feet and lower back, but walking strengthens the muscles that support those joints and makes me stronger.   I have been challenged and encouraged by this group of women.  Most of them have fought bigger fights in the health department than I have, but they are strong, and fast and energetic and excited and they make me want to be Well Fit too.  I came into this group to help raise the funds, now I am in it to be stronger myself and to do things I never thought I would be able to do.  Laughing all the way.  I love it.   suz

Yeah! We are pumped up for baseball season! So, SAVE THE DATE, Friday, June 3 to come out to the ballpark (Sinsheimer) to cheer on the SLO Blues and learn about the Central Coast Cancer Challenge events. We’re raising funds for Jack’s Helping Hand and Cancer WellFit, two great local organizations that support cancer patients, survivors and their families. The Blues have been playing baseball in San Luis Obispo for over 40 years. Many of the current players are collegiate, and some of the best in the nation. Many Blues players have gone on to play in MLB. So don’t miss this!

Reason No. 2 to come to the Kick-off Pep Rally at Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center on Saturday, June 4 from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.: The cooking demonstration-taste sampling by Chef Nancy Walker of the Wellness Kitchen in Templeton. Learn to prepare meals that are good for you and will fuel your race. RSVP for the event by going to our Facebook Fan Page and click on the Events link in the left column or send us an email on our Contact Page!! Hope to see you there!!

Reason No. 4 to come to the CCCC Kick-off at Sierra Vista Hospital on June 4: Meet Dr. Tom Vendegna, cancer survivor and advocate for exercise. Dr. Tom is an avid and really good cyclist. He’s also one tough guy. A huge proponent of exercise, Dr. Tom rode a stationary bicycle while being administered chemotherapy. He said it helped him flush the toxins and recover faster. Please come and register at the event and meet Dr. Tom. The kick-off begins at 9 a.m.

I was so very sad to hear this. I worked with Grete when I was doing the Manufacturers Hanover Corporate Challenge in the 80’s. Such a gracious and wonderful lady. Cancer strikes again. This makes me even more resolved to kick this disease into extinction. – Heather
Norwegian icon and pioneer of women’s Marathon running, Grete Waitz, passed away on 19 April.
Grete Waitz had a long and successful career on the track (recording two world records at 3000m) and in cross country before turning to the Marathon in 1978. She ran the New York City Marathon and posted a world best time in her debut of 2:32:30, lowering it to 2:27:33 in the same race the following year, and to 2:25:41 in 1980. She won New York again in 1982 and 1983, in the same year briefly recapturing the world record in the London Marathon in 2:25:29 and winning the inaugural World Championships in Athletics women’s Marathon in Helsinki. In 1984 she finished second in the Inaugural Women’s Olympic Marathon in Los Angeles. She won nine times in New York and twice in London. She dropped out of the 1988 Olympic Marathon in the later stages, and although later retired from competition continued to participate in events, encouraging fitness awareness and and charitable causes. She ran the 1992 New York City Marathon with race founder Fred Lebow, after he was diagnosed with brain cancer. In 2005 she was herself diagnosed with cancer, and in 2007 set up a cancer care foundation funded through an agreement with adidas to direct a percentage of sales receipts from their Grete Waitz and Modern Classics collections. She died of cancer on 19 April 2011, aged 57.

MEET MO CLANCY, THE CENTRAL COAST CANCER CHALLENGE OUTREACH QUEEN. WE’RE HAPPY TO HAVE HER ON THE TEAM!
Hi, my name is Mo Clancy and I am a 3 ½ year ovarian cancer survivor. WOW….did I just say that! Back in the spring of 2005, after the passing of my parents, I ran a marathon in Mesa, Arizona in qualifying time for the Boston Marathon in April 2006.
Upon my return to Arroyo Grande, I continued my training and in the fall of 2005, I officially entered the race and made all the necessary arrangements.
What excitement…..My training was going well, Christmas was approaching, holiday get togethers happening. Oh, speaking of that, I attended one in particular at my God parent’s house and met an Irish fella, Seamus.  Imagine that, being that I am of Irish descent, it brought a “twinkle to me eye”.  Between that Christmas and New Year’s Day,
I developed urinary retention that I chalked up to “old age”, but then at my New Year’s Eve party I felt a side ache that would not go away.
As I was working at Arroyo Grande Community Hospital on New Year’s Day, I reluctantly went to our emergency room to be examined.  That day the physician found a large mass and the testing done determined that I had ovarian cancer.
That was the day I became a survivor!
Immediately, my total hysterectomy surgery was scheduled “ouch”, plans for chemotherapy were arranged, Boston Athletic Association notified and thankfully deferred my race to 2007.
After five days in the hospital, I was discharged home and immediately started walking and examined my diet in my quest to gain strength before my chemotherapy began on February 14, 2006 and we know what day that is!  Even though my treatment lasted until June 2006, I managed to go to Boston in 2006 along with Seamus to support fellow runners from our community. It was awesome! I then resolved to return to Boston in 2007.
We came home and I continued my rehabilitation. I slowly began jogging in August 2006, returned to part time work at the hospital, continued being monitored by my physician and life began to have some normalcy again.
Guess what! In December 2006, as Seamus and I are heading to Ireland to celebrate the holidays, he asked me to marry him and of course, I said “yes”. We decided to marry in his home town of Sligo, Ireland at a small church with a reception in a castle…..
Dreams do come true!
But before that took place in October 2007, there was a house to be renovated, moving to be done and most importantly a race to be run.  I became a Boston Marathon Finisher in April 2007 and was “happy as Paddy’s pig” especially having Seamus waiting for me at the finish line.
Once again, we returned home and prepared for our wedding which was a beautiful day celebrated with family and friends.
Fast forward to June 2008, I had a recurrence and was subsequently treated. I was able to continue working during this time with wonderful support from my co-workers at the hospital.
In Spring 2008, since my days of running are behind me, I found The SurviveOars, a group of cancer survivors who for leisure or competition row in Morro Bay.  We took two 1st Place trophies on August 1, 2009 at the Long Beach Dragon Boat Races. Way to go team!
And now here I am, telling my story, happily married, in good health and hoping to raise awareness on this silent disease.
Please………..”Turn Up the Volume”
Maureen “Mo” Clancy

Our illustrious Race Director, Samantha Pruitt is blogging on the Living The Run website. She is recording her adventures in training for the IronMan race in Arizona. If you know Sam, this should be a hoot!! So check it out.

The Central Coast Cancer Challenge wants to congratulate Bridget Ready, co-founder of Jack’s Helping Hand, on being named 2011 Woman of the Year by Assemblyman Katcho Achadjian from the 33rd District. Jack’s Helping Hand is one of our beneficiaries this year. The organization does such wonderful work and a portion of our event proceeds will help children with cancer, survivors and their families.