Time has come for the Journey to make a right at the fork in the Road.

I have really enjoyed blogging here on Blog spot, but I feel like I have out grown it a little. Maybe not! Maybe it's just that life has hit another one of those twist and turns in the road. I have decided that I needed a blog with a little more to offer. So I have decided to head on over to wordpress. It just has a little more to offer and I want this new journey to be shared in hopes that I might inspire just one person along the way.  

So to continue on this amazing journey with me, head on over to the new site HERE.

Tears in my soul.

 
It is with a heavy heart and tears in my soul that I post today that a dear sweet little girl has earned her Wings today. Talia is an amazing soul who made a bigger difference in this world in her 13 short years than most people make in a lifetime. Talia is a 13 year old girl who is a professional, YouTube Makeup Guru. She loves fashion, dancing, her family, and her doggie Bella.

I am so angry right now. My heart is in a million pieces. Not just for the loss of such a wonderful young lady, but it aches for her Mom. I just can't imagine what it could feel like to have to go through such a horrible thing. Talia has been in the hospital for almost 6 month and Desiree has been right there by her side every step of the way. This mom has given up so much, and now this horrible disease cancer has taken away something so precious from her.

I am angry, I hate it. I hate that cancer keeps taking away so many people around me. Especially children. Christian and then Lily and now Talia. THIS MUST STOP!!! I will make this promise I will NEVER stop fighting for answers. I will NEVER give up raise money and awareness for Childhood Cancer. This horrible monster needs to be defeated and STOPPED from taking our children away from us.

I just don't know what else to say right now. Sorry if this post is just a rant, but I just needed to get this off my chest.

Please pray for Talia's Mom and her Sister.

 Lord, God in heaven please open you arms and welcome Talia today. Give her the prettiest wings you have. She has earned them well. Please be with Desiree and Mattia today and all days in the future, they need your light and your warm arms around them. Help heal all those that are with heavy heart today, and let them be able to celebrate the beauty of this precious little girl, and the amazing legacy that she leaves behind. In Jesus name I pray

Prayers for Talia.

This is going to be a short post I just want to ask everyone out there to please pray for a little girl named Talia.

I recently watched a video log that she did about 4 weeks ago. As I sat there and watched this little girl try to pronounce the names of medications and technical words 13 year old girls shouldn't have to know. I could see the pain in her eyes. If you watch andy of her earlier videos on YouTube you would understand, as she said in her own words she just wasn't feeling like Talia.

It breaks my heart to see her have to go through this. I ask that anybody reading this please take a little time and pray for this little girl.

My running club moms run this town will be doing a fundraiser over the next month. We will be running in honor of Talia. If anyone else that's reading this would like to be a sponsor or make a donation, please email me at Seminolecomrtt@gmail.com.

Money raised will go to benefit Base Camp. An Orlando area organization that not only helps children with cancer but their families as well.  Also an organization that has been a big part of Talia's life and is special to her

You can learn more about Base Camp at: http://basecamp.org/.

You can watch the video I am talking about here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxxRaNMKzmM&feature=youtube_gdata_player 

Thank you all

Angi

my heart aches tonight and I don't know why

As I was riding home from work tonight I was listening to the song Wind Beneath my Wings by Bette Midler. Then out of nowhere my heart just started to aches so bad. I had to pull over and cry. All I could think about was Talia and her mom and how hard it must be to be a mom and have to watch your child go through something so horrible ad fighting cancer. All I could do was cry it just hurts so much.

I just can't imagine if it hurts me this much for a little girl that I haven't even had the opportunity to meet then how hard it must be for her mom.  

I've run in honor of people, I've run to memory of people, but nothing is more important to me right now than this fundraiser I'm trying to start up for Basecamp.

I don't really have anything else to say right now. I just had to get this off my chest. Lord above I just pray that you please be with Talia and her mom and her sister. please guide them and comfort them.

Amen

11th Annual Greater Oviedo 5k Recap & #Run3rd Honor

Today I ran the 11th Annual Greater Oviedo 5k. This was the first time that I ran this race, but it was a great race. It is put on every year by the First Baptist Church of Oviedo and there were over 700 participants.

It was a mostly shaded course through the neighborhood behind the church, then you ended on the Cross Seminole Trail and returned to the Finish line in front of the church. After the race there was a pancake and egg breakfast, vendors and prizes. The only down fall to the race was the 7:30 am start time. It was pretty hot out today, and by the end it was getting to the point of too hot. Even just a half hour earlier at 7am would have made a difference. Still a race I would do again.

I ran this race with my ever faithful, ever growing, ever loved Mom's Run This Town. We had a great turnout this time with Okely, Caryn, Brandyn, Trisha, Michele and I in attendance.

Brandyn, Trisha, Me, Okely, Caryn, Michele

 Being Memorial Day Weekend, it was also the perfect race to #Run3rd for our Military. Actually, i have a special story I would like to share about the little White start that you can see attached to my shirt over my heart. Also pictured below with the paper that explains what the star is for. While I was at work the other day, I was talking with a coworker about #Run3rd and what it means, about the different races that I have done, and why i keep doing these races in honor of other people, some that I don't even know. One of my guest came up to me and handed me a little baggy with a white star in it. He told me it belonged to his friend that recently passed, and that they both served in Vietnam together. He didn't say anything other than that then walked away. When I read the little piece of paper that was inside, it brought me to tears, and I new exactly what I needed to do. I will #Run3rd with this star proudly displayed in all my future races. Today was my chance to honor the man who once proudly flew this flag over his home and his friend that gave it to me. It's a pure HONOR!!!!

I also #Run3rd today for All our Military, Past Present & Future. For Harry a friends father who I pray for to heal. For Boston and all the Heroes there, & for the Victims of the Oklahoma tornado's

My Race Bib with my #Run3rd Dedications

The Star and paper that was with it. A Real Honor!

My new 5k PR

 Today was also a PR Day for both myself and my teammate Trisha. She finished a very strong 30:46.68 (9:55 min mile) She did an amazing job. So very proud of her. I too PR'd. I am still pretty slow, but I celebrate ever milestone. My new 5k time is 49:57.12 (16:04min mile)  For some it may not sound like much, but for me it is a major accomplishment and I post this time very proudly. As my friend Robyn would say. I'm faster than the couch!

Michele and her son. It was his 1st 5k

After the race it was nice to go home and relax and ice my knees and wear my Pro Compression Socks. AHHHH!

ahh Pro Compression Socks and Ice

Mothers Day Teal Ribbon 5k race recap.

On Sunday May 12th 2013, I ran yet another of my repeat races. It's nice to run a race and say in the back of my mind, "I did this last year, now lets see if I improved?" I love that I am repeating race, that just means that I am really sticking with this.

Last year I ran this race with the Waste Pro Group, but this year I ran with my Chapter of Moms Run This Town. I have really enjoyed being a Chapter Leader for this running group, and it helps keep me motivated to keep on moving and gives me something to be accountable to. I know me I NEED something or someone to be accountable to or else I tend to just give up.That's just one of my many faults.

Now back to the race. This race is held at the Oviedo Mall, which is really starting to grow on me. This is the 4th time that I have run a race here. it's sounds weird to say i ran a race around the mall. Especially since I worked at the theatre there for over 5 years, but it's actually a nice course. It goes out around the mall, then turns around and comes back.

This race is special to me because it is for Ovarian Cancer, of which I am a survivor. This years race was even more special because it was on Mothers Day and my Daughter ran it with me, what better Mothers Day present than to run a 5k with your little girl. OK, so she is 19 and not that little anymore, but in my heart she will always be my little girl. It was her first 5k, and I was honored to run it with her. I was also very proud that she finished strong. I hope that we can run more races together in the future, maybe even run a 1/2 Marathon together.

It was also an honor to run it with my fellow Moms Run This Town team mates. In attendance were Jean and her Daughter Emi, who is always a pleasure to run with. Trisha, Miranda, Patrice and Noelle.

Overall, this was a good race that I will do year after year (hopefully with my daughter). It is a baby-stroller friendly race and has a kids race as well. The proceeds from this event go to the Ovarian Cancer Alliance of Florida, and is managed by racetime managment. This event is a chip timed event using the RFID Timing Systems Ultra disposable chip on bib. Awards will be given to the Overall Male and Female, overall masters male and female, and 3 deep in the following male and female age categories.  10 and under, 11-14,  15-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70 and Over.

Mom's Run For Talia!! & Why!!

I have done many races since starting with Team in Training in August of 2011. I have blogged here about those races, and also about my life in general. Things seem to be evolving for me to a whole new level. Now I'm a Chapter Leader for a Running Group called Mom's Run this Town, I'm a member of my beloved running groups Endurance Sports Connection, #run3rd, and Disney Pacebook Running Club. I am still a full time Movie Theatre Manager, Fiance, Mom of 3 and Cancer Survivor. My hats seem to change from time to time, but the constant in my life beside my Family and my battle with cancer, RUNNING is tops in my life.

I have run for Team in Training, I have Run for Angel Snugs, and I have run for myself. Through all those races, I have always #run3rd for Christian & Lily. Two courageous children that I have never even had the pleasure to meet, but love there parents so much, that my heart continue to ache for their loss. And for Talia & Jacob who continue to fight Cancer yet find a way to reach out to the world through social media to encourage others.

Christian

Lily

Jacob

Talia

I know I've posted this before, but since my blog has taken on a whole new meaning, I wanted to post this for those who may have not gone back to read old post. My reason for this site in both personal and now public.

Why it's personal for me:

In 2002 I was diagnosed with Grade II Atypical Meningioma. Basically it is a tumor that forms on the lining of the Brain. I started to go through radiation therapy, which was successful. In 2006 the tumor had come back as a Grade III Malignant Meningioma. I then went through another session of radiation Therapy. This time not as successful as the first. In 2007 I had Endoscopic Surgery to remove a majority of the tumor. In 2009 I went through a procedure called Stereotactic Gamma knife something or other Surgery that was very successful in removing the last bit of the tumor. So they thought.  I was also diagnosed with Ovarian cancer which after a short treatment period and a complete Hysterectomy I am still doing fine.In October 2012, I had a brief scare that cancer had returned to a little piece of Tumor that was actually left behind, but good news it was not Cancer, but what the DR called a per-cancerous state, that later he said was fine?? So as of now I continue to be Cancer Free. Although my DR will not consider me completely cancer Free until it has been 5 years with no scares. So I guess that starts over now with the last Scare in October 2012. NAH!!! I'm going by the 2009 Surgery. So Feb 2013 was 4 years.


So that's where it all began.....

Why run for Talia:

Now I am starting a new fundraising Journey. Because of Talia and her amazing inspiration, My self and my Running Group Mom's Run This Town will be running and raising money for Base Camp. We will participate in the Base Camp Miles for Smiles event on September 21st 2013. Each of us will raise money for Base Camp and help them to continue to help make a difference in the lives of Children with Cancer and Their Families. About BASE Camp Children’s Cancer Foundation: BASE Camp website is www.basecamp.org and Facebook page is www.facebook.com/BaseCampRocks . For over 30 years, BASE Camp, has been providing financial support, recreation, food and transportation to over 12,000 families battling childhood cancer.


Talia, has been a big part of my Running Journey. She motivates me to keep going and to continue to find new ways to help out and make a difference in this world. To make a difference in the fight against cancer, especially childhood cancer. 

Basecamp released this this week: 

Talia Joy Castellano has been fighting cancer for nearly 7 years and last August she was told she has a new second kind of cancer. The 13 year old was already a YouTube sensation with her makeup tutorials. When she delivered the news about this new form of cancer, she said, “Life is like a journey. It has a beginning, a middle and an end. And I guess my journey is nearing the end.” This video went viral and Talia went from 25,000 YouTube subscribers to over a half a million in addition to 100,000 Facebook likes, 1 Million Instagram followers and 60,000 Twitter followers. Talia has continued to do her makeup videos and do cancer updates. She has enjoyed all the opportunities that she was able to in the last few months. Through it all, she has continued to be her spunky, sassy self. When Talia appeared on The Ellen Show, she was asked how does she keep her spirits up? Her answer; “A little fish once told me, just keep swimming.”

A couple of weeks ago, new scans revealed that her cancer has spread throughout her bones and it is giving her a lot of pain. She has been on IV pain medication to help. While Talia is now out of treatment options, she is still living her life and wants to make sure that she leaves her “footprints and fingerprints” on the world.

She still has a lot of dreams and one of them is to help children and families who are battling cancer. Talia's favorite charity is the BASE Camp Children's Cancer Foundation. Talia wants to help Base Camp have a permanent home, so she is launching a fundraising campaign called “Bring Hope Home” to raise $100,000. Talia intends to leave her legacy, and one way is by helping BASE Camp. The donation site is: http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/bring-hope-home.

So that is why Seminole County Chapter of Mom's Run this town will run for Talia!!!  Please keep your eyes open for upcoming information on how you can help me raise funds. Also is you want to join us at this race, or want more information on how you can help, please email me at SeminoleCoMRTT@gmail.com. 

 

the many faces of Base Camp.