Calling all NYC Restaurants!  The Team Fox Young Professionals of NYC are going to be hosting a Sunday Funday at The Griffin on April 29th!  You can help make this event a huge success, while getting your name out there, by making a donation in the form of your delicious food. For the past 3 years, they’ve raised over $25,000 for Team Fox and they hope to keep the momentum going!  Any amount of food you are able to donate would be greatly appreciated, as well as necessary to making this event a hit! Email teamfox@michaeljfox.org for more information!

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Abby with Gigi

10 year-old Abby Tutterow isn’t asking for presents for her upcoming birthday, instead she’s decided to host a Pancakes for Parkinson’s event in honor of her grandmother (“Gigi”).  Abby’s mom Meredith ran the 2011 Chicago Marathon for Team Fox and Abby was inspired to help too.  This Sunday, January 29th, she’s invited over 50 people to her family’s local country club to host the event.  Check out Abby’s Team Fox Page – she’s already raised over $600!  Good luck Abby!

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photo via Crumbs.com

I had such a great run that I felt it deserved a blog post! I really enjoy when I have a great run. My confidence goes up, I feel great and I immediately am convinced that I can run 13.1 miles in a decent time. I ultimately would love to beat my time last year, but I’m not going to push it. I find if I don’t think about running while I’m running (if that makes sense) I almost go on cruise control. Does anyone know what I’m talking about it? It’s the craziest feeling. I ran 3 miles without stopping and even ran a little faster than usual. So naturally on my way home I picked up a congratulatory treat.  Can you blame me? Look how good that thing looks! I hope everyone’s training is going well! Don’t forget that I’m here if you have any questions or need a pep talk. If you live in NYC, shoot me an email at teamfox@michaeljfox.org and maybe we can do a group run!

Orange & red,

Kristina

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We’re happy to announce that great new Team Fox gear has arrived! New t-shirts, sweatshirts and women’s styles available! Visit the Fox Shop to stock up and show your Team Fox pride in 2012!

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Remember Kerry Twibell? We introduced you to her before the holidays as she was gearing up for her hike to the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro.

We checked in with her to see how the experience went. Interested climbers, take note – Kerry shared a thoughtful recap and some wise words about preparing for the trip. Check out the interview below.

 

 

Team Fox: What were some moments from the climb that stand out?
Kerry Twibell: The happiest moments were interacting with all the great people I met and the camaraderie shared by the team and the guides. The friendliness and happiness of the local porters was contagious and every time you passed someone on the trail, you’d say “Jambo” which means “Hello.” Their positive energy really kept you going when the going got tough. Also, as we were ascending on summit day, I saw the sun begin to come up on top of the clouds and over the Shira peak, which is a lower peak that we could see very clearly as we were scaling Kilimanjaro. The sun was such a barrage of colors and warmth that I can’t even explain and it was a feeling that I don’t think I could ever have again. The best way to describe it… it’s the most beautiful sunrise you have ever seen x 1000.

TF: Is there anything about the experience you would have changed?
KT: The only thing I would have changed is that I would have brought more rain gear because it poured for three days straight and none of our clothes were able to dry after they got wet. However, we had an absolutely picture perfect, clear morning at the summit. With the way things worked out, I wouldn’t have traded the rain for anything.

TF: What is the greatest thing you learned?
KT: Mind over matter. It may sound very cliché, but I am convinced that’s how we got the top. We didn’t think about anything but getting there. And there were plenty of reasons not to. I got sick a few times; my team was in pain, feeling tired, etc.  Our guides would tell us “pole, pole” which in Swahili means “slow & steady”. This challenge, like all others, was conquered one step at a time. So many brave Parkinson’s patients like my mom take things one step at a time each day. I will take that learning with me through all new challenges I embark on.

TF: You raised more than $10,000 in the three weeks before your departure, and donations are still coming in. Did you have a particular fundraising strategy?
KT: I decided pretty late in the game (only a month before) to do the climb. I decided to fundraise to tell my story of why I am passionate about this cause. I used Facebook, which is a great real time medium, and email. On Facebook, I posted daily status updates with the countdown to the climb and made sure the link to my fundraising page was always visible. And I decided to email everyone – and I mean everyone – in my email address books. I wanted to be very sensitive toward asking for money over the holidays so I asked for a small donation of $10. I was so humbled by the generosity that I experienced – people went well beyond the $10. And so many people were kind enough to support me and the cause. My tips are (1) keep the message simple (2) design your page with Team Fox to tell the details of your story, e.g. why you are fundraising (3) promote promote promote – using a countdown to the event seemed to generate interest from my network. Team Fox makes it very easy for people to donate online and that I think was a huge catalyst for donations. In addition, I think the great reputation of the Foundation made people confident that their money was going to the right place.

TF: Anything else you’d like to share?
KT: Reaching the summit was a true elation; let me tell you, you’re VERY happy when you’re finally there. One of the big milestones toward reaching the summit was when you reach Stella Point at 18,652 ft. after climbing through the night. The incline from Barafu Camp (15,297 ft) to Stella Point is some 3,000 feet; it’s the hardest part of the journey. I remember when we started out from Barafu Camp the only thing you can see aside from the millions of stars in the sky are the headlamps of the other hikers, which themselves look like stars because they seem to be aligned straight up in the air. It takes you a moment to recognize that those lights are moving and they in fact belong to other climbers – AND that seemingly straight vertical ascent is where you are headed! That leg of the journey takes about seven hours and is the most physically and mentally taxing… it takes everything you have inside of you to put one foot in front of the other and you’re moving almost comically slow. You lose perspective on all time and place and all you think about is that with each step you get closer to the top. The thought [of quitting] never entered my mind. I derived strength from my mom, in whose honor I was climbing, and all the people who had supported me with their generosity, prayers and well wishes. I honestly feel that they were behind me helping to push me along towards the summit.

Having that experience, combined with the elation of reaching the summit was quite emotional and I definitely cried tears of pure joy at the accomplishment and also tears of humbleness at those who have summits to overcome daily and how they have the strength to do it.

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Team Fox Member Matthew Witcher is hosting The 2nd Annual Drive for Show-Putt for Parkinson’s Tournament at Angeles National Golf Club. Last year there 88 people participated and this year they will have over 120 participants! Any  Team Fox members in the Los Angeles area who want to have a day of fun golfing at a championship golf course check out their Facebook page! The event is January 26th, 2012!

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The Calabas were inspired to join Team Fox to honor Barbara’s father, who has been living with Parkinson’s disease for the past 10 years. They hope to make “Play for Parkinson’s” an annual event.

Visit their Team Fox page to learn more.

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Want the opportunity to run over the Thames River? How about cruising on by Buckingham Palace? Well here’s your chance! Team Fox still has a few entries left in the 2012 London Marathon happening on April 22nd! If you’re interested, shoot us an email at teamfox@michaeljfox.org! Click here to learn more about the London Marathon!

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To him, that means running from Charleston, SC, to New York, NY, in 30 days—a total of 1,000 miles. In honor of his father, James hopes to raise funds and awareness for Parkinson’s research along much of the east coast.

1000-Mile Marathon

The journey begins on May 1, 2012. Until then, James is busy training and planning a number of events along the route. Click here to learn more about this endeavor and how you can get involved!

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