Manila Flood Relief

A fundraiser is in the works to support flood relief work in Manila. Please set time aside this Saturday August 11th from 6pm onwards. More information to come.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-19159509

Loving the pain!

"Pain is meant to wake us up. People try to hide their pain. But they're wrong. Pain is something to carry, like a radio. You feel your strength in the experience of pain. It's all in how you carry it. That's what matters. Pain is a feeling. Your feelings are a part of you; your own reality. If you feel ashamed of them, and hide them, you're letting society destroy your reality; you should stand up for your right to feel pain." – Jim Morrison.

Yesterday the Pancreatic Cancer Fighters ran the BMO Vancouver Half Marathon in support of Pancreatic Cancer Canada's attempts to fund research. Despite the sprained knees, blisters and soreness I feel pretty great! I am so thankful for all the support I've received from my family and friends that the pain is well worth everything I've gained.

Many heartfelt thanks,
Maria Bernardo
www.medianfundraising.com

 

22K for Pancreatic Cancer Research

There are so many thoughts and emotions running through my head. In attempt to express them all I'll probably forget my grammar or vocabulary. Here it goes ...

Thought #1 Terrifiedness - is that a word? It should be! Before February, when I enlisted to run the BMO Half Marathon, I rarely went to the gym or did any physically activity. For the past three months I've been trying so hard to run at least four days a week to eventually be prepared for this half marathon. In that time I managed to trip over a pine cone and sprain my knee so now here I am trying to rid myself of my anxiety by venting in a blog.

Thought #2 Wonderment - apparently that is a word. This experience has brought on plenty of surprises. One is that there are people out there able to run a half and full marathon and that I have muscles that exist in several strange places (only discovered after I've pulled them of course).

I am genuinely grateful for everyone's support from my coworkers and the CEO of a great company called Urban Impact, the founders and directors of Pancreatic Cancer Canada and of course my family and friends.  I am sincerely grateful for the overwhelming support and encouragement I have received as I try to tackle this challenge.

Not many people have the ability to take on this challenge; to have full capacity to breathe and live my life ultimately as I am have without having the limitations of a terminal disease like pancreatic cancer. While I am terrified of not being able to finish the half marathon or the potential of an injury, I am thankful and fully acknowledge that this is a great accomplishment.

So thank you for your support through donations to pancreatic cancer research, your encouragements and most of all your love.

Sincerely,
Maria Bernardo
www.medianfundraising.com

Thank You Urban Impact!

A HUGE THANK YOU to Urban Impact Recycling for donating their Shred Day proceeds to Pancreatic Cancer Canada research!

New home, new look

Please check out our new website:
www.MEDIANfundraising.com

We would love your feed back on what other handy things you'd like to see on our official site.

Definitely a Journey

Each of us in our own way experiences life as a journey. Most often these journeys are driven by wealth, beauty and spirituality. To be able to work for a better occupation or to discipline ourselves to tune into our spirituality --we all have a right to experience this journey. 

Cancer along with many other deadly diseases takes this right away from many of our family and friends. With the advancements in medical and communication technology we, as human beings, have been able to fund preventative and curative research for the most recognized diseases. Yet, it's 2012 and we still know very little about pancreatic cancer.

According to the Charity Intelligence Canada 2011 report patients diagnosed early only have a 9% survival rate. While other diseases are researching for cures, pancreatic cancer research is still in the midst of diagnostic and detection research. Doctors have no means of detecting this disease until most patients are within their late stage. This is not a surprise since in Canada this disease is in need of the most research funding (see chart below). It's a sad fact and definitely something personal for me.

This May I will be running a half marathon to raise awareness and support research for pancreatic cancer. I am by no means anyone who can run and a mere 5K has already proved to be a challenge for me. This is the journey I choose to face in order to help those who have had their own life journey cut.

Please help by sponsoring my half marathon through a direct donation to Pancreatic Cancer Canada. I avidly advocate supporting different causes; however, while each of us have our own journeys I hope that at the very least you can consider mine.

Genuinely grateful & sincerely yours,
Maria Bernardo

PanCancer Fighters Team Lunch!

The Pancreatic Cancer Fighters team running the BMO half marathon will be getting together this Saturday at 1pm for lunch on Commercial Drive. If you are interested in joining the team please email median.fundraising@gmail.com

We look forward to your support during the journey to run our first ever half marathon.

Sincerely,
Karra Barron - freelance copywriter & writer (http://www.karrabarron.com/)
Marie Grape - culinary & pastry artist (MMindulgences.blogspot.com)
Maria Bernardo - MEDIAN founder & executive director