Team Fox Singlet

My Team Fox singlet for the Missoula 1/2 Marathon came in today!!

I started out with a simple goal, to raise $250 as a member of Team Fox for Parkinson’s research. With the help of Donor Anonymous, I not only shattered my initial goal in two weeks, but I set my sights higher. Yesterday I raised my goal from $250 to $500. That’s not enough either. I need more. I feel like if we (I say we because I didn’t do this on my own) can raise over $250 in less than two weeks, then why can’t I raise $1,000 before the Missoula ½ Marathon, which is still thirty some days away?

How do I go about raising those kinds of funds? How do I inspire people to open up their hearts and their wallets to Parkinson’s disease? … … …

Close your eyes for a moment. Just kidding! How are you supposed to read with your eyes closed? Just imagine picking up the phone one day and hearing your dad’s voice on the other end. You live over 2,000 miles away from each other so weekly phone calls are something you’ve not only become accustomed to but look forward to. Tonight however, there is something different in your dad’s voice. When you ask, he tells you that the tremors in his limbs he’s been experiencing have been diagnosed as Parkinson’s disease. Now imagine your world stopping for a moment. When you hang up the phone you can’t stop the tears from coming.

That’s where my story began. When the tears dried I begin a mad search to find out as much about this disease as I possibly could. In my search to learn as much about Parkinson’s disease as I could I discovered Team Fox and the Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF) for Parkinson’s Research.  Team Fox is The Michael J. Fox Foundation’s grassroots community fundraising program. All funds raised through Team Fox go directly to MJFF to advance its mission to accelerate the delivery of life-changing treatments, and ultimately a cure, to people with Parkinson’s disease.  Sergey Brin and Anne Wojcicki have challenged Team Fox members new to the program as of January 2012 to raise $50 million by December 31, 2012, which they will match dollar for dollar.

Even if you’re unable to donate (believe me, I’ve spent my months eating ramen noodles) please share my story, send me a note or suggest music to help me on my runs. Xoxo.

Please visit my page at: http://www2.michaeljfox.org/site/TR/TeamFox/TeamFox?px=1010384&pg=personal&fr_id=1053

Or visit this site to learn more about the Brin Wojcicki Challenge:
http://blog.michaeljfox.org/2011/05/the-brin-wojcicki-challenge-and-team-fox/

Cousins

My younger cousin Sam & a pair of her friends decided that they wanted to take a road trip across the country. Having no particular route in mind, Sam suggested they come see me & spend a few days in Montana. I was of course delighted by this idea since it's not very often that I get visitors from back east.

So off they went on an epic journey sleeping in tents & visiting historic places such as the Badlands, Mount Rushmore, & the like. When they finally reached Missoula, it was my turn to play tour guide & show them some sights of the place I now call home.

Hot springs & naked hippies were involved, as were hiking shoes, bison, big lakes & bigger waterfalls, Idaho, mountain passes, farmer's markets, tax free shopping, Big Dipper ice cream, new foods, coyotes, & a lot more.


Sadly, this will also be the last adventure for Mi Baja for a little while as she is currently broken. I seem to be good at breaking things as of late...

Blue Mountain Lookout

 The Blue Mountain Lookout Trail is a 2.2 mile hike from the Blue Mountain Saddle to a working forest service fire tower. From the summit are incredible panoramic views of the Garnet, Swan, Rattlesnake, Mission Mountain, and Cabinet Ranges; the Scapegoat, Bob Marshall, and Cabinet Ranges; the Missoula Valley; and Lolo Peak. After spending a beautiful day in the office, Shane & I decided to hit up a new trail rather than waste any more time inside. We were unsuccessful in reaching the fire tower b/c we tried to take an alternative route through the forest & were met w/ several feet of snow for longer than we care to hike. We still enjoyed the trip & the views, as well as the best place to view sunsets in the Missoula Valley.

Team Fox

He's the strongest man I know, but someday he'll lose his ability to walk. It's taught me to be grateful for mine. On July 8th, I am running 13.2 miles to raise awareness for a life changing diagnosis in hopes that some day this disease will no longer exist.

Please join me as I join Team FOX to raise money to support research in finding a cure for Parkinson's Disease.

Even if you are unable to donate, please pass this along in hopes that it will makes its way to as many people as possible!
THANK YOU!!

CLICK HERE TO DONATE

Big Creek Trail

Another beautiful day for an adventure! Becky & I saddled up the horses & once again attempted the trail that put us in a compromising situation & led to the death of my camera. The "cliff of death" however was free of all snow & ice this trip. I am still however w/out a camera. *insert sad face here*

The day was beautiful & since temps were expected to be in the mid 80's we took off early in the morning for out 7.5 mile ride.

Big Creek Trail winds along the mountainside next to Big Creek for a few miles to several white sand beaches near wide, slow moving sections of the creek.

North Loop Trail

Completing this trail has eluded me for several years. It's a 5-mile loop at the top of Mount Jumbo that should of been an easy finish a few years ago. However, something always seemed to keep me from completing this trail until today.

I finished up work at a decent hour, packed up Bosco in the baja & we took off for the trail head in the heat of the day. It was also graduation at U of M today, so rather than spend a few hours on this trail I decided to do it as my run for the day to be able to get home in time to shower & attend a few graduation parties of friends.

The weather was hot and beautiful. Just the way I like it. Bosco wasn't such a fan tho. My phone isn't doing such a bad job as acting like a camera for the time being.

Crawfish Boil

I attended my first crawfish boil today. These little creepy crawlers were flown in from the bayou only a few days earlier. Although the fiesta itself was great fun, I'm not a fan of their flavor & doubt I'll be doing this again anytime soon.