Thursday, June 21, 2007

Bollywood Meets Charlie's Angels

Please help me fight to cure blood cancers by donating to:
http://www.active.com/donate/tntgsf/roshnir

Actually, this post's title doesn't mean much and is merely a reference to a conversation Auds and I had regarding the sweatband round my head (I insist that it's necessary to keep the hair out of my head).

Anyhow, I've long been enamored of the concept of "endorphins." For years I've heard tales of the "jogger's high," but never, in any form of exercise have I experience such a phenomenon firsthand. While I still haven't felt the jogger's high, I think I may have just felt endorphin withdrawal last night... I didn't go running yesterday, but awoke at 3:30am with a burn in my legs and a need to go running. I actually lay awake for more than an hour and half wishing I could go for a run to get the weird ache out of my legs. Went for a brisk run this morning, and sure enough everything feels back in order.

That's progress of some sort, no?

Tuesday, June 19, 2007

Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes

Please help me fight to cure blood cancers by donating to: http://www.active.com/donate/tntgsf/roshnir

Back in the 3rd grade, I randomly picked out a story from the school library entitled "Sadako and the 1000 Paper Cranes." I haven't seen the book since, but it left a lasting impression on me. Today I recall it simply because that was the first time I'd heard of a blood cancer--leukemia. Sadako Sasaki was a Japanese girl born in Hiroshima at the end of World War II. Diagnosed with leukemia before she even reached her teens, Sadako was told by her best friend that those who could fold 1000 paper cranes were granted a wish. Sadako struggled to make as many cranes as she could so she might live again, and run, but alas she succumbed to the illness. Leukemia is the number one cancer killer in children. Although it's been almost two decades since I read it, Eleanor Coerr's novel recounting Sadako's life has haunted me to this day.

Sadako was a runner and was actually diagnosed after fainting during a school race. Those who run to raise money for Leukemia and Lymphoma research run in the shadow of Sadako's legacy.

Help to Fight Blood Cancers!!

More coming soon, but in the mean time please check out my fundraising website at--
http://www.active.com/donate/tntgsf/roshnir