Finding a balance in life is one of the hardest things to do. Splitting time between what I want to do (yoga, meditate, train for a marathon, etc.) and what I need to do (work, household chores, take kids to practices, etc.)…Well, now that’s a balancing act. 

Sports Authority has partnered with GGS Media to help spread the word for all of us to get some ME time!

 If you are interested in the New Balance gear, you can see more  http://bit.ly/pMXIML.   We recevied the Long Bra and Tulip Capri’s and love both pieces. 

Now, I’m off to eat a large salad with all the fixing.  What are you going to do?

Nike has launched “Donate Japan,” a campaign designed to encourage people to log the kilometers they are running to raise money for the relief efforts in Japan after the March earthquake and tsunami devastated the country.

The way the campaign works is runners make a small donation between $5-25 to the American Red Cross and then use Nike Plus to log as many kilometers of running as you can over the course of 30 days. Many companies and individuals have teamed up with Nike and will donate money for each kilometer you run.

Nike Plus is advanced technology that makes cardiovascular training more enjoyable, competitive, and motivating. The program keeps track of your distance, best times, calories burned, and length of trainings, and also offers integrated online challenges, like “Donate Japan,” where you can compete with friends, family, or strangers all over the world. 

If you really want to make a difference, encourage your friends, neighbors and coworkers to sign up for “Donate Japan” and plan daily runs in your area. You can even host a 5k or half marathon and really bring in the money for this great cause

Ready to be a part of one of the world’s best road races? Join The Fresh Air Fund-Racers on March 20th, 2011! The amazing 13.1-mile course takes you through beautiful Central Park, action-packed Times Square and ends with breathtaking finish-line views of the New York City harbor. More than 11,000 runners, of all ages and abilities, finished the NYC Half-Marathon last year, and we are so proud of our very own 2010 Fresh Air Fund-Racers who ran and raised $100,000 for us!

We are calling all runners and Fresh Air Fund supporters to come out and either challenge themselves to run the race or join our cheering squad. The Fresh Air Fund provides runners with guaranteed entry in exchange for fundraising before race day. Entries are limited – please get in touch soon! Please email kbrinkerhoff@freshair.org or call (212) 897-8890. Or click here to learn more about how to fundraise for the race!

Over the past four years as a NY Road Runners charity partner for the NYC Half-Marathon, our 335 Fund-Racers have raised close to $400,000 for The Fresh Air Fund!

Fresh Air Fund Host Families

“It is rewarding to see the smile on our Fresh Air child’s face as she enjoys the simple things we take for granted…”

Friendly Town host families are volunteers who live in the suburbs or small town communities. Host families range in size, ethnicity and background, but share the desire to open their hearts and homes to give city children an experience they will never forget. Hosts say the Fresh Air experience is as enriching for their own families, as it is for the inner-city children. There are no financial requirements for hosting a child. Volunteers may request the age-group and gender of the Fresh Air youngster they would like to host. Stories about real Fresh Air host families and their New York City visitors are just a click away!

Click here to learn more about becoming a host or call (800) 367-0003!

Fresh Air Children

“We made s’mores and hot dogs over the fire. I’ve never cooked outside before!”

Fresh Air children are boys and girls, six to 18 years old, who live in New York City. Children on first-time visits are six to 12 years old and stay for either one or two weeks. Youngsters who are re-invited by the same family may continue with The Fund through age 18, and many enjoy longer summertime visits, year after year. A visit to the home of a warm and loving volunteer host family can make all the difference in the world to an inner-city child. All it takes to create lifelong memories is laughing in the sunshine and making new friends.

The majority of Fresh Air children are from low-income communities. These are often families without the resources to send their children on summer vacations. Most inner-city youngsters grow up in towering apartment buildings without large, open, outdoor play spaces. Concrete playgrounds cannot replace the freedom of running barefoot through the grass or riding bikes down country lanes.

Fresh Air children are registered by more than 90 participating social service and community organizations located in disadvantaged neighborhoods in the five boroughs of New York City. These community-based agencies are in close contact with children in need of summer experiences in rural and suburban areas. Each agency is responsible for registering children for the program.

What do Fresh Air children enjoy?

• Playing in the backyard
• Laughing in the sunshine
• Catching fireflies
• Riding bicycles
• Learning to swim
• Running barefoot through the grass
• Gazing at the stars on moonlit nights
• Building sandcastles
• Making new friends
• Simple pleasures of life away from the inner-city

The Fresh Air Fund at the Five Boro Bike Tour

Join The Fresh Air Fund at the Five Boro Bike Tour on May 1st! The largest recreational cycling event in America, the TD Bank Five Boro Bike Tour, leads bikers on a 42-mile fun course through the city and you can be a part of it! The Fund provides guaranteed entry into the event in exchange for a fundraising minimum. What better way to bike through an amazing route while knowing that the money you raise will help children from low-income communities who live throughout the city. Along the way, bikers will enjoy entertainment, rider photos, bike repair, medical support and the company of thousands of well-wishers!

Click here for more information about the race! If you have questions or are interested in participating, please call Kate Brinkerhoff at (212) 897-8890 or email kbrinkerhoff@freshair.org.

You can give a child the experience of a lifetime with your gift to The Fresh Air Fund!

Every year, The Fresh Air Fund gives thousands of inner-city children the priceless gift of fun – and opens the door to a lifetime of opportunities.

Whether it’s an up to two-week trip to visit a volunteer host family, or a fun-filled and educational stay at one of our camps, our programs make for unforgettable memories – and open a world of new friendships and fresh possibilities. We are a not-for-profit agency and depend on tax-deductible donations from people like you to keep our vital programs flourishing.

THE FRESH AIR FUND, an independent, not-for-profit agency, has provided free summer vacations to more than 1.7 million New York City children from low-income communities since 1877. Nearly 10,000 New York City children enjoy free Fresh Air Fund programs annually. In 2010, close to 5,000 children visited volunteer host families in suburbs and small town communities across 13 states from Virginia to Maine and Canada. 3,000 children also attended five Fresh Air camps on a 2,300-acre site in Fishkill, New York. The Fund’s year-round camping program serves an additional 2,000 young people each year.

Donate online now.
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Rob Hill, a Crohn’s patient and outdoor enthusiast from our home town Vancouver, BC  has embarked on the No Guts Know Glory Seven Summits campaign. His mission is to increase awareness of – and remove the stigma around – IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Disease) by climbing the seven highest mountains on each of the seven continents. His goal is to show IBD can be overcome through hard work, community support and medical treatment. Rob recently accomplished his goal, and on Tuesday, May 25^th, he reached Mount Everest’s South Summit, and became the first Canadian with IBD to achieve this incredible feat. And, here is more of his story.

Rob Hill has shown Canada that IBD ,doesn’t stop him. 

On May 25^th, 2010, Rob reached Mount Everest’s South Summit, and achieved his goal of being the first Canadian with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) to reach the top of the highest mountain on each of the seven continents.  Rob founded IDEAS (Intestinal Diseases Education and Awareness Society) and created the No Guts Know Glory Seven Summits campaign in an effort to educate and raise awareness of IBD, and eliminate the stigma felt by Canadians suffering through this disease.

Rob suffers from Crohn’s disease, a painful and highly stigmatized condition affecting the digestive system. Crohn’s, along with ulcerative colitis, makes up IBD, which affects more than 200,000 Canadians.  Currently, there is no cure.

After his diagnosis in 1994, Rob has made it his personal mission to not only overcome his disease, but to show others that having IBD doesn’t have to control their lives. When he’s not scaling the highest mountains in the world, Rob spends much of his time visiting with children affected by Crohn’s disease. 

IDEAS is home to The Youth Rally summer camp, the School Talks elementary school program, and IBD Adventures.  Each program aims to educate today’s youth about IBD, and also provide a safe and fun environment for kids to come together and meet others who may be dealing with similar life experiences.

During a visit at Calgary’s Camp Horizon Youth Ostomy Camp, Rob met 16-year-old Carly Lindsay. She was so moved by Rob’s campaign, she ended up joining him on his 2010 trek to Mount Everest’s base camp.  Carly, who lives in Waterford, Ontario, received an ileostomy at the age of nine (which she nicknamed “trouble”) and really connected with Rob’ courageous story.  “Rob is the ultimate role model,” says Carly, and avid swimmer. “As someone who knows how challenging it can be to have an ostomy, he proves that you can do anything you put your mind to, whether it’s swimming, hiking, or even climbing a mountain.”  Carly’s main wish is to share her story and inspire others to say “IBD doesn’t stop me!”

Their journey has shown others that with proper treatment and support, IBD doesn’t have to stand in the way of their dreams. Rob hopes his story will encourage others to come out of the shadows and share their own tales of courage and strength. To learn more, visit www.weneedideas.com.

Thank you Rob for sharing your story with our readers.  Happy adventures to you!

Winner: Anne-congrats!

The GGS crew are pleased to team up with The American Cancer society to gently remind, us woman type, to not forget about about YOU! with the Choose You Campaign.  We urge all of our readers to take the online pledge that could save your life!

We recently posted Ellen Pompeo spreading the word about the Choose You Campaign.  Check out the video here.

BUT, we really want YOU to get involved in this great campaign.  Its super easy to get started. The online pledge is for a specific health goal in one of 5 categories:

1. Eat right
2. Get active
3. Get recommended health screenings
4. Protect your skin
5. Quit smoking  

If you do all of these things, than you get an A++.  Sadly most of Americans DO NOT.  The site has a lots of resources, ideas and tips to help you stay on track with your “Choose You commitment”.

The American Cancer Society, Choose You Movement shines a light on a hidden issue: that while one in three American women will get cancer in her lifetime, about 50% of cancer deaths could be prevented if more emphasis were placed on early detection and healthier lifestyles including maintaining a healthy weight through diet and exercise and avoiding tobacco.

We all need to STOP what we are doing right now and CHOOSE YOU!  We want you to be a super, fit and healthy Granny! (one day)

The American Cancer Society is offering a GGS  reader a Choose You Healthy Lifestyle Swag Bag to get you started on your commitment to choose you! 

In the Swag Bag is:

• Super cute Choose You t-shirt
• Stainless steal water bottle
• Neutrogena sun screen
• Pens
• Choose You Pins
• $10 Walgreens Gift Card and more! 

To enter answer this question:

What pledge are you going to make to CHOOSE YOU ?

The winner will be chosen on June 10, 2010.  Good Luck!  Contest is open to US residents only.   GGS was provided with this information and gift package by the American Cancer Society.

Extra Brownie Points for emailing all of the gals in your life this very important message.