Great Strides Honolulu





Saturday, May 28th was Great Strides (GS) Honolulu. 

We had a big, great group of volunteers that helped make the day special.  We had roughly 150 people and at the end of walk day had raised over $18,000; $6,000 more on this day last year.  I can't wait to hear what the final number will be when the CF Foundation closes the books for GS in October.  

I was extra excited for GS 2011 because I was getting to participate.  The CF Foundation sent the GS coordinator to take care of all the logistics and assist the volunteers.  It was awesome but I have to admit - I felt a little weird not having to do anything. Weird but I was very grateful.





Our team Princess Power and friends - some of our greatest support!
They are awesome. 

Our team "Princess Power" raised more than it ever has.  We had 3 team members plus myself raising money bringing in as of today $4,106.  Our team goal was $4,000.  I think that's pretty amazing. 

 





I love this.  Rach and her friends at her poster.

Of course, I had to get a pic with her, too!

Rachel's storyboard.

One of the Kids Korner activities - egg race.

Oops! 



"Go Princess Power" on Giovanni's Shrimp Truck.

After the walk, Rachel and I gave Bri from the CF Foundation a quick mini tour.  We took her to a few of our favorite places.  One of those places was Giovanni's Shrimp Truck.  It's a food truck that is parked in the town of Haleiwa.  It's neat and if you bring a permanent marker you can even sign it!

What a great weekend we had.

 

Go Princess Power

and

Great Strides.

 

CF Surf Day with Mauli Ola Foundation

Surfing with Mauli Ola



Rachel and I are with Kala Alexander.
Kala is the VP of Mauli Ola Foundation,
pro surfer, Kawika on Hawaii 5-0, and just
great guy that shares his love of surfing with
the kids with CF so they can breathe easy.
Aloha, Kala. 



We had CF surf day with Mauli Ola Foundation again on Friday, May 27th. 

Rachel really LOVED it!

We are so lucky to get to participate in such an awesome event

with people that are even more awesome.  The Mauli Ola volunteers and surfers

show Rachel nothing but love and allow her to be free; having the time of her life.





Waitin' for their wave.

And she's up.

Aloha and shaka.



She really liked surfing with Bobby.

She told me he told her "mermaids are real".






Aloha and Mahalo

Mauli Ola!

We love you.



Eventful Weekend Ahead

I'm super excited about our upcoming weekend.  Mauli Ola is hosting CF Surf Education Day.  So, Rachel will get to see Gavin Beschen.  She surfed with him last surf day and, well, all I hear is Gavin this and Gavin that.  All I have to say is, "He better be there on Friday or Rachel will be very disappointed."  We just love Mauli Ola's surf day.



Rach and Gavin
Dec. 2010



Carvin' it up!
Dec. 2010

So, we have surf day Friday and then Saturday is the Great Strides Walk Honolulu.  I've been working on getting the walk together with CFF San Diego and some friends that have joined the GS volunteer committee.  I'm a extra happy about the walk this year for two reasons; #1 we've already raised more that we did last year and it's not even walk day and #2 I get to walk this year; CFF is sending someone from their office.  I'm very excited to get to participate and walk that symbolic walk with my Rachel.  Yay for Great Strides. 



GS Walk 2009

I do what I do for my Rachel.  She's my baby and I just want her to have a happy, healthy, long life.  Check out our Great Strides homepage and if you have a few bucks to spare, we'd really be grateful for your support.  As, it stands right now, we are $270 away from meeting our $3,000 goal.  Great things are happening in the CF community right now.  I strongly feel that someday soon, that a cure for CF will no longer be a dream, but will in fact be a reality. 



My princess. 





Take a Hike CF!



Lighthouse hike - Makapu'u


Last week Rachel and I had our cousin, Emily, from Virginia Beach visiting.  We love playing tour guide.  We took her to a few of our favorite places, a couple places I thought she must go to, and we knew Emily loves the outdoors, so we figured she'd like to go for a hike.  Rachel and I have really been more active lately and love hiking Hawaii.

The first hike we went on was the hike to the lighthouse, Makapu'u. We've been on this one several times.  The view is absolutely beautiful, beginner to moderate hike (due to the incline).  Rachel and I enjoy going here during whale season to whale watch and picnic. 



It wouldn't be me if there wasn't a silly pic



We were off the main trail,
going up to look at some old bunkers with cousin



Rach took this pic of me and cousin; wish I was ready!



Rach giving the "shaka" (Feb. 2011)



The second hike we did last week was Diamond Head.  It was a first for all of us.  I have to say it wasn't as bad as I expected, except for the stairs - the stairs I thought I was going to die on! ha.  Rachel breezed right through it.  She did the whole hike except for a portion of the stairs because there were so many people.  We didn't want her getting bumped and tumbling down, so she got to be carried up by my cousin's husband.  She loved hiking Diamond Head.  We may go back one day. 

Diamond Head - May 23, 2011



Climbing up Diamond Head



Rach jogged some of it.

At the top! 

At the top!  Waikiki behind us.
And another silly face.



Lighthouse below Diamond Head.



View of Waikiki - from the top.



View of the crater - from the top.





May Clinic Visit

Awareness Cookies - the treat we took to the CF care team.

CF clinic time has come again.  Rachel had her appointment last week.  I have more great news.  She's doing even better with her PFT's.  She started using the acapella device during chest therapy to help with getting the mucus out.  She's gained two pounds since February.  That put her in the 96th percentile.  Her routine chest x-ray is good.  The abdominal x-ray showed a little something....but nothing a little Miralax won't fix.  Oh, and the dietitian said we could start using 2% milk. 

A CF milestone!

That's it in a nutshell.  I'm so proud of Rachel and very happy she's a fighter!

My sweet love.