Monday, February 23, 2009

Manitoba Challenge for Life 20 km Walk

In 2008 an estimated 6100 Manitobans were diagnosed with cancer. So many Manitoban lives are affected by cancer each year and in 2008 I too was touched by cancer. My family’s World was set on its ear when my Mom was diagnosed with cancer in early 2008. She battled through surgery and treatments through2008 and is now a survivor. I am proud of her for how she faced cancer head on and always kept a healthy attitude about the battle she was deeply rooted in. I know I can't truly understand how she felt, but her spirit was an inspiration to her family, friends and me. With her sister, who was fighting cancer for a second time in 2008, by her side, they walked the road to being survivors together.
That is why this year I’ve decided to join the fight! I’m taking the Challenge – CancerCare’s Challenge for Life! This walk will place an exclamation point at the end of that chapter and 2008 for me, with the caption reading "Cancer is no match for my Mom!”
The Challenge for Life is a 20k walk on June 13, 2009 to raise money for CancerCare Manitoba. By participating in this “made-in-Manitoba” event, I am committing to raise at least $1000 to support CancerCare’s work on behalf of all Manitobans. The Challenge for Life is more than just a walk. It’s a promise. It’s a promise to myself to continue to live a healthier lifestyle and build on lifestyle changes I have already made. It’s the commitment to taking the steps to improve my overall health and help reduce my own risk of cancer.
Last year over 500 Manitobans joined together for the first ever Challenge for Life. The $650,000 raised stayed within Manitoba and went towards patient care and support, early detection, research, and clinical trials. Take a stand and help me create hope for all Manitobans and their families living with cancer by either joining my team or making a generous donation. To learn more, please visit my personal webpage at www.challengeforlife.ca/netcommunity/jamiecm.
Take the challenge.

Together we can make a difference!

Sincerely,
Jamie Cinq-Mars

Friday, February 13, 2009

Memo From A Child To Their Parents

I don't know who the author of this list is, but it struck a cord with me. So much of it is true and so many parents need to wake up and listen. Print it out and post it up some where important to remind ourselves to step into our children's shoes from time to time. Understand the World from their side of the fence.

Enjoy!

Memo From
A Child To Parents

1. Don't spoil me. I know quite well that I ought not to have all I ask for. I'm only testing you.
2. Don't be afraid to be firm with me. I prefer it, it makes me feel secure.
3. Don't let me form bad habits. I have to rely on you to detect them in the early stages.
4. Don't make me feel smaller than I am. It only makes me behave stupidly "big".
5. Don't correct me in front of people if you can help it. I'll take much more notice if you talk quietly with me in private.
6. Don't make me feel that my mistakes are sins. It upsets my sense of values.
7. Don't protect me from consequences. I need to learn the painful way sometimes.
8. Don't be too upset when I say "I hate you". Sometimes it isn't you I hate but your power to thwart me.
9. Don't take too much notice of my small ailments. Sometimes they get me the attention I need.
10. Don't nag. If you do, I shall have to protect myself by appearing deaf.
11. Don't forget that I cannot explain myself as well as I should like. That is why I am not always accurate.
12. Don't put me off when I ask questions. If you do, you will find that I stop asking and seek my information elsewhere.
13. Don't be inconsistent. That completely confuses me and makes me lose faith in you.
14. Don't tell me my fears are silly. They are terribly real and you can do much to reassure me if you try to understand.
15. Don't ever suggest that you are perfect or infallible. It gives me too great a shock when I discover that you are neither.
16. Don't ever think that it is beneath your dignity to apologize to me. An honest apology makes me feel surprisingly warm towards you.
17. Don't forget I love experimenting. I couldn't get along without it, so please put up with it.
18. Don't forget how quickly I am growing up. It must be very difficult for you to keep pace with me, but please do try.
19. Don't forget that I don't thrive without lots of love and understanding, but I don't need to tell you, do I?
20. Please keep yourself fit and healthy. I need you.