Courage Night

Courage Night

I have been invited to participate in Courage Night, an author event sponsored by the Young Survival Coalition where 5 young survivors of breast cancer will read from their books, followed by a book signing. Well, in my case, I will read from my blog. I’m beside myself with excitement about this event, and a little nervous. I hope all my friends in the Seattle area will come to support me.

I’m so honored to be included in this group of amazing writers.

I was also a little perplexed about how to gracefully manage the whole signing of books part at the end. It’s not like you can sign a blog. And the other authors are donating their proceeds to YSC…   Finally, last night I got that little light bulb over my head. Why don’t I have some of my photos printed, and sell those? Then I’ll have proceeds to donate, and something to sign.

So which photos?

I picked a few, and I’m going to narrow it down again to a selection of four. Which ones do you like?

Poppy bud - courage night

1.

blooming poppy - courage night

2.

reflection lake - courage night

3.

market - courage night

4.

turnagain pass - courage night

5.

dandelion - courage night

6.

Courage Night

And here’s the flyer for Courage Night. If you’re in the Seattle area, stop by and say hi. I’d love to see you!

courage night

border-green

Traveling Companions

The second anniversary of my cancer diagnosis is quickly approaching. Of course it has me thinking. A lot. Not all the thoughts are happy thoughts, but that just comes with the territory.

But some of those thoughts are happy thoughts. Warm, fuzzy, happy thoughts. Like the girls I met because I have cancer.

138

These are women I would have been proud to count among my friends even before diagnosis, but I can’t imagine a scenario in which I would have met any of them outside of cancer.

084

This weekend a group of us traveled to New Orleans to a conference for young women with breast cancer. We learned about treatment protocols, late effects of treatment, nutrition, dealing with the impact of cancer treatment in the bedroom, and myriad other topics, and we got to spend time with other women whose lives have been similarly impacted.

134

Good times, good music, good food, good company…

026

I think the people with whom we surround ourselves have a huge influence on our happiness. Sure, we all have those people around whom we have to tiptoe and walk on eggshells, but we can dilute their influence with so many more amazing people, people who lift us up and love us for who we really are. I’m so blessed to have such amazing friends – that they understand what I’m going through with cancer because they’ve been there too just makes it that much better.

096

I’m a very lucky woman.

047

Of course I still worry about how many years I have left, but even more important than the number of trips you make around the sun is your traveling companions along the way.

.
You can learn more about my cancer story here:

my cancer story | Judy Schwartz Haley

 

Let’s Connect

. . . .  .  . . . .
Follow on Bloglovin

Get Hitched Give Hope

Get Hitched Give Hope

What happens when you take a few good friends

get hitched give hope

Add some bedazzled furnishings

get hitched give hope

A little finery, and a little wine

get hitched give hope

And a few cameras?

get hitched give hope

Well, for starters, you end up with some fun pictures…

GH130-XL
GH129-XL

But more importantly, this event raised money for some pretty awesome organizations.

Get Hitched Give Hope brings together wedding related vendors from around the region, allowing the wedding party to meet the vendors, bid on wedding products and services, and plan their weddings while raising money for a great cause.

Brilliant, really.

And Swanky.

Food, wine, flowers, rhinestones, and feathers…

get hitched give hope

Vendors were there to show off the best of what they have to offer

get hitched give hope

And the Young Survival Coalition (an organization which has been of immense help to me in my cancer battle) was one of the beneficiaries, along with The Dream Foundation, which grants wishes to adults in the last year of their battle with life threatening diseases.

Such an amazing event. And thanks to all these events in October, we’ve got a good jump on hitting our budget for next year.  But I’ve got to admit, I’m thankful that October is over; I’m exhausted, and ready for a two week nap.

Also, I think I’m going to try to get one of those photo booths for all my events in the future. That was fun!

In Living Pink 2011 – Young Survival Coalition

In Living Pink 2011 – Young Survival Coalition

It sounds cliche to say that women who have faced down a life-threatening diagnosis really know how to embrace life. It is cliche. It’s not even always true. But my girls? My friends? They know how to party.

Suzanne Wastier - Young Survival Coalition

 

Friday night we celebrated and raised money for the Young Survival Coalition with our annual silent auction and dance party, In Living Pink.

The silent auction was wildly successful, and boasted donated items such as massage certificates, white water rafting, sight seeing cruises and flights, art, event tickets, A NYC package including Letterman tickets, Seahawks gear – autographed by players, jewelry, restaurants, vacation packages, and too much more to list.

Silent auction - Young Survival Coalition

So what does all this money we’re raising go to? Here’s a few examples:

  • $25 pays for a resource kit for young women newly diagnosed with breast cancer. This resource kit includes an organizer for tracking the onslaught of information that must be managed through treatment, an encouraging and helpful DVD “you are not alone,” a guide to services available to young women with cancer, and a chemo-hat – hand-knit by the mother of one of our members.
  • $50 pays for flowers for one of our girls in the hospital, or going through a rough patch
  • $125 pays for facility rental so we can bring in educational guest speakers on a wide variety of issues such as nutrition, dealing with the effects of treatment on sexuality, and post-treatment breast reconstruction.
  • $200 pays for the facility rental and therapist facilitator for twice monthly group therapy sessions.
  • $300 will send one of our members to our annual retreat at Harmony Hill
This is more than just a dance party, this event raises money that makes a difference.
But we do know how to have fun…
Nicole Taylor - Young Survival Coalition

 

Seattle Young Survival Coalition YSC

The guys, too…

YSC Seattle Young Survival Coalition

Hey, look, it’s me. (One of the best parts of having a 2 year old little girl: Gem declared me to be a “mermaid princess” before I left the house #mamaswoon)

Carrie Sieber Massey, Judy Schwartz Haley, Barb Greenlee

Thank you to everyone who contributed so much to this event, from the planning committee to the volunteers who put in so many hours the night of the party.

in living pink

The decorations looked amazing, Brooke from Movin’ 92.5 kept the party hoppin’, and Miss Shelrawka rocked the house.

Brooke Fox at In Living Pink, Young Survival Coalition

Thank you so much. I puffy heart love all of you.

 

coffeejitters border pink

You can learn more about my cancer story here:

my cancer story | Judy Schwartz Haley

 

Let’s Connect

. . . .  .  . . . .
Follow on Bloglovin

Harmony Hill

I’ve spent the past two days working on a couple projects that have had me knee deep in photographs from the Young Survival Coalition. That’s had me a little emotional, to say the least: memories, faces, friends…

One of those projects a presentation on our getaway to the Harmony Hill Cancer Retreat Center. I’ve just got to share a few of these photos.

246

There’s just something about the ability to get away from it all, and bond with the girls –

272

girls who have been through what I’ve been through…

283

at my age, rather than me being the youngest by 30 years…

248

Who knew getting our craft on would be so cathartic?

032

or so much fun

043

We noshed on homegrown vegetarian fare

066

Wined a bit

212

Practiced a little yoga

170

enjoyed the scenery

260

186

and got a little clarity.

240

224

The words on the back of our jackets:

“When it hurts
to look back,
And you’re scared
to look ahead,
Look beside you…
your friends
will be there.”

.

You can learn more about my cancer story here:

my cancer story | Judy Schwartz Haley

 

Let’s Connect

. . . .  .  . . . .
Follow on Bloglovin