Pilates for A Cause!

Have you ever worked out with ten plus of our closest friends? Well that EXACTLY what I did on Sunday, and all for a good cause! You see I partnered with Kelly Moore, who just recently got her pilates certification, for a Charity Pilates class. Kelly is working with Invoke Studio, and needs hours of teaching. This was just Kelly's second class to teach (the first on Monday!!) and she was great. I had quite a few moans today about "I am sore!" I had incredible support and well exceeded my expectations! I believe that everyone had a great time. You will have to join us next time! Come back and check out updates for times. Special thanks to : Invoke Studio www.invokestudio.com and Kelly Moore! SUPER Special Thanks to : Jen, Mom, Sarah, Brett, Lauri, Nichole, Kelly, Lauren, Joe, Shannon, Gwen and Amanda for sweating it out! If you would like to donate to my cause here is site: http://in.mwoy.llsevent.org/Julie

Luke

Soon after being approached to participate in this campaign, I met Luke from afar. A little over a week ago, I was honored to spend more time with him and his amazing family. You see Luke, 6, was diagnosed with ALL on May 17, 2007. One day he was running, laughing and playing. The next day he woke up unable to move from the shoulders down. His days of digging in the dirt and skinning his knees were quickly replaced with monthly infusions, spinal taps, bone marrows, MRI's and daily chemo. He was a 3-year old that grew up rapidly before his family's eyes. Now 8 months out of treatment, Luke enjoys playing with his 4 siblings, playing the bongos and superheroes.

Luke has even taken the time to send me a fantastic Valentine’s day card! I have it taped to my fridge to remind me each morning that he is my inspiration for all fundraising. The money that I raise is in honor of Luke.

Here is more about his story that his parents shared with us:

http://www.youtube.com/user/vandritsch#p/a/u/0/3m_nULPAJRA

If you would like to help me out here is my campaign site :

http://in.mwoy.llsevent.org/Julie

So the quest begins....

This new adventure began about November of last year, when my best friend Sara (Fehsenfeld) Morris and a few other girls asked me to work on a campaign for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society - Called Woman of the Year.

Now you might be asking yourself "What is the Woman of the Year?" Well it is a campaign in which each dollar the candidate raise is a vote for the person for Man or Woman of the Year. The candidate who raises the most money is named the Indianapolis Man or Woman of the Year. I am raising money in honor of our Boy of the Year, Luke Andritsch, and truly hope to make blood cancers a thing of the past. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society programs, including research, patient services, advocacy, public and professional education, and community services. The campaign is from March 10 - May 13th.

Your second question probably "Julie why are you interested in this campaign?" This is when my story comes into play. When I was in the 5th grade, I received a phone call waking me up one morning that changed the course of my life. With that phone call I learned my best friend’s mother had lost her battle with lymphoma cancer and I had to tell my mother that she had lost a friend. Cancer has continued to touch my life over the years in different ways, unfortunately most recently when a good friend was diagnosis with Leukemia in September. While I hope that through the years, I have been able to help those affected by these diseases by just being a friend, I am hoping through this campaign I can offer them more. I am ready to dedicate my time and efforts through this campaign to help to raise money and awareness of the great things for which the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society stands.

Last year I committed myself to living in Sao Paulo Brazil for 6 months for work and it was a life changing adventure and roller coaster. From the moment I said yes to this campaign, my life started to change again. I hope by following me on this blog, you will see my adventure this year and you will even feel compelled to help me out.

Here is my donation website:

http://in.mwoy.llsevent.org/Julie

Visit often as I update my progress, let you know about events that I have planned and you can see the fun that I have been having - all in the name of a good cause.