Friday, November 18, 2011

My guest blogger: David Haas

David Haas has contacted to me while he stumbled upon my blog to discuss the benefits of eating healthy and exercising while being diagnosed with cancer. I am delighted to have him shared his experience and advice with us.

Who is David?
David is a cancer patient advocate who has seen friends and family members struggle from all different types of cancers. He writes and researches in order to find information and shares that information in order to help better people's lives who are going through cancer.


Fitness: Helping Cancer Patients Recover

Being diagnosed with cancer is a terrifying experience for anyone. You suddenly have to change your life and carefully maintain your health. These lifestyle changes may influence eating habits, rest hours and physical fitness. Fitness is the key to being healthy, regardless of whether you are sick or not. Many cancer patients have used physical fitness to improve their lives and handle the stress of their diagnosis. Working out is an easy, cheap and fun way to keep you and your body motivated to fight cancer and win. Though fitness is certainly not the only answer, it is one alternative worth considering in the battle against such a debilitating disease.

The precise benefits of exercise to cancer patients are still unknown. On the one hand, cancer is a life threatening disease that is hard to understand and even harder to predict. On the other hand, fitness does improve the body and helps it to rebuild and recover. Any doctor will tell you that steady exercise improves the body, advice that can apply to anybody in any sort of physical or mental condition. This is why it is so tempting to try to use fitness as a recovery tool for cancer patients. Many have already tried workout routines and daily exercise to this end. Though the results may vary, it is worth considering the potential benefits of fitness for those who fight cancer.

There are a couple programs in the United States, which are already turning to fitness as a way to improve the recovery process. At the University of Wisconsin at Eau Claire, doctors are enlisting cancer survivors to participate in an experimental exercise regimen. Professor Matt Wiggins started this program. Dr. Wiggins has been publishing articles on the relationship between fitness and cancer for the past five years. Earlier in his career, Dr. Wiggins supervised a similar program at Murray State University. His expertise is improving the ways doctors can help patients recover from cancer.

Even if you have been diagnosed with cancer, there is still hope. Though you may be sick, your body can still do wonders for you. Research the benefits of fitness for cancer patients. You will find that exercise offers physical and emotional help. Even those suffering from the rarest forms of cancer, such as Mesothelioma, can find hope in their body’s potential to recover and succeed.

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Hike Preview

This is what my Hike will look like.....

Voici à quoi ressemblera mon ascension....

Monday, November 14, 2011

The world is small...Le Monde est petit...

This week end I was with my good friend Dave P. in Tremblant, a small mountain to hike compared to the heights of the Kilimanjaro and met someone, Charles, who has climbed the Kili about a year ago.
Quite insightful to listen to his stories and his experience which seem both mind-blowing and thus it fuels even more the energy I have and will put towards the accomplishment of this project.
He was kind enough to be willing to share with me his equipment tips so stay tuned since the equipment- and preparation-related questions are the ones you are asking me the most about...
This week end first stop at La Cordee to get few pieces of gear for the Kili hike but also 2 hikes thta I am contemplating of doing in Bali = Mount Agung (3142m) and in Lombok Mount Rinjani (3726m) at the end of this month...
Quite a good physical test due to the levels of oxygene & humidity around... 

Also a note to thank my Donors of last week.

Mr. Rocheleau and Madame Lise Watier for their generous support
Richard Heneine with whom I shared a lot of laughs and moments of happiness
Damien Jumelais who is from far my favourite mustache on earth (and the best neighbor!!!)
David Gordon who is an inspiration at work for his calm and serenity (thanks for bringing crab yogourt at the office!)
Activis Staff from whom I learnt so much
Sebastien Savage who puts on smile on my face every time I look at him!
Lorenzo Cefaloni who has a HUGE Heart and l'uomo del piu paziente del mondo
Giorgina Bigioni who is a wonderful successful business woman who is a constant inspiration

Again, if you feel that you would like also to contribute to my Cancer Research Society challenge, feel free to donate at:
http://bit.ly/v0xYBb

Thanks so much!

*********

Ce week end j'etais chez des amis a Tremblant et ai profite du beau temps pour partir en randonnee avec mon ami David P. et ses amis. De ce fait, j'ai rencontre Charles, qui a escalade le Kili il y a de cela un an. Son experience et ses anecdotes n'ont que plus conforte mon envie de mener a bien ce projet.
Il partagera sous peu avec moi ses "tips" d'equipement que je m'empresserais de partager avec vous car vous etes nombreux a me poser des questions relatives a ma preparation et l equipement necessaire.
Donc info a suivre sous peu...

De plus, je vais faire mon premiere stop shopping a la Cordee ce week end pour m'equiper "serieusement" pour mes 2 premieres randonnees de l annee a Bali = Mont Agung (3142 m) et a Lombok = Mont Rinjani (3726m) a la fin de ce mois.
Ces 2 montagnes vont etre un bon test de resistance face a l'oxygene et a l'humidite ambiante

Je tenais aussi a remercier mes donateurs de la semaine ecoulee:

Mr. Rocheleau and Madame Lise Watierpour leur soutien genereux
Richard Heneine avec qui j'ai partage beaucoup d'eclats de rire et d'aventures cocasses
Damien Jumelais qui a de loin la plus belle moustache sur terrer(et est un voisin toutes categories!!!)
David Gordon qui est un exemple de calme et de serenite (merci de ramener des yaourts au crabe au travail!)
L'equipe Activis de laquelle j'ai beaucoup appris
Sebastien Savage qui me fait sourire des que je le vois
Lorenzo Cefaloni un homme avec un GRAND coeur et l'italien le plus patient au monde
Giorgina Bigioni qui est une personne rayonnante par son charisme et son assurance et avec qui je me rejouis de retravailler bientot, j'espere!

De meme, si vous souhaitez contribuer a la realisation de mon defi pour la Societe de Recherche contre le Cancer, vous pouvez me faire un don au:
http://bit.ly/v0xYBb

« Le bonheur le plus doux est celui qu'on partage. » de Jacques Delille

Merci! 

Saturday, November 5, 2011

First week of donations/Premier semaine de dons

I have just started spreading the words around my Kilimanjaro hike and I consider myself very blessed for the support I am already getting.

To start, thanks to the ALDO family:
Thanks to Tommy Landry who dared to be the first one to support me
Thanks to Alex Martin, who despite his busy schedule was able to show me his friendship
Thanks to Norman Jaskolka who is more than a talented businessman, who is a Man with a BIG heart

Thanks to Jean-Seb, my Shanghai partner for his smiles and good words.

Thanks to Ed Truant, whom I am working for and who is always the first one to embrace in my sometimes crazy ideas!

Thanks to Rainer, with whom I am sharing more than a "Heimat"


If you want to keep spreading the love, feel free to support me at:
bit.ly/v0xYBb

Thanks!
***

J'ai a peine commence a solliciter mon entourage, que je me trouve comblee d'avoir tant d'amis et de connaissances qui embarquent dans ma cause.

Tout d'abord Merci a la ALDO Family:
Merci a Tommy Landry d'avoir ete le premier a ouvrir le bal :)
Merci a Alex Martin qui malgre son emploi du temps charge a pu me faire une grande preuve d'amitie
Merci a Norman Jaskolka qui est non seulement un grand businessman mais aussi un homme au grand coeur

Merci a Jean-Seb, mon complice de Shanghai pour ses sourires et ses bons mots

Merci a Ed Truant, avec qui je travaille et qui est toujours le premier a embarquer dans mes idees aussi farfelues soient-elles!

Merci a Rainer, avec qui nous partageons plus que notre "Heimat"!

Si vous aussi, vous voulez rejoindre ce groupe, n'hesitez pas a me faire vos donations a:
bit.ly/v0xYBb

Merci!

Carmen, my Cancer Hero! Mon Heroine du Cancer


Let me introduce you to Carmen, who I am dedicating the hike to.
Carmen has been diagnosed in April with lung cancer.
Despite the treatment and the disease what struck me about her is her beauty, her courage and conviction that she uses to fight the Cancer.

I could not be happier to have her as my Hero, she is truly inspiring!


*****

Je voulais vous ecrire un mot sur Carmen, la personne a qui je dedie ma randonnee!
Ce qui m'a frappe lors de notre de notre rencontre c'est sa beaute, la force et conviction avec laquelle elle se bat contre la maladie!

Cette montagne de 6000m me parait bien peu de choses face a la force et l'energie de cette femme dont j'admire le courage.

Sunday, October 30, 2011

First Official day of this blog...

Here I am, ready to embrace the challenge of raising $11,000 to help the Cancer Research Society with my hike to Kilimandjaro in the Fall 2012.
Uhuru Peak is the highest summit in Africa on Kibo's crater rim close to 6,000m and this is what we are going to climb over about 10 days.

It will definitely not be an easy challenge to raise those funds by July next year and to get ready for it but this is the least I can do to show how much I care about putting a STOP to the spread of this disease.
Thanks for being on my board with me.
And if you feel that your spare change weights too heavy in your pocket, I'll be more than happy to help you release your pain, here is where you can donate...
http://bit.ly/v0xYBb

I will on purpose end my post every time with a quote of the day that will reflect what's on my mind.
Cancer has taken away recently a great leader who has changed the way we read, listen to music, work and live?
So allow me to put his wise words as my first quote:
“Those who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, usually do”
Steve Jobs (1955- 2011)

*****
Me voici, prete à commencer l'incroyable aventure de lever 11,000$ pour la Société de Recherche contre le Cancer pour juillet 2012.

Juste pour jouer un peu la prof de géo, grosso modo le Kilimanjaro est composé de volcans éteints et certains plus actifs dont le plus haut culmine à presque 6,000 mètres : le Pic Uhuru. Celui-ci est la montagne la plus élevée d'Afrique.

Vous allez me dire quel est l'intéret d'aller grimper une montagne pour combattre le cancer?
Etant en forme, ce défi est ma facon de rendre hommage aux personnes souffrant de la maladie qui sont dans un défi physique et mental bien supérieur au mien.
C est une humble facon de me mettre hors de ma zone de confort et d'etre moi-aussi dans un combat physique et mental face à l'effort.
Alors, si vous vous sentez les poches trop lourdes, et bien n'hésitez pas à donner à ma cause (et oui, vous allez recevoir un credit d'impot donc comment joindre l'utile à l'agreable!)
Voici ma page de soutien:

http://bit.ly/v0xYBb

Un Grand merci du fond du coeur!


Aussi, j'ai l'intention de finir chacun de mes billets par une citation qui représente l'humeur du moment.
J'ai choisi de facon delibérée un leader canadien qui a été terrassé en quelques mois par la maladie.
Loin de moi l'idée d etre politique mais les mots qu'il a écrit sur son lit de mort résonnent encore dans nos coeurs du fait de leur universalité.



“Mes amis, l’amour est cent fois meilleur que la haine. L’espoir est meilleur que la peur. L’optimisme est meilleur que le désespoir. Alors aimons, gardons espoir et restons optimistes. Et nous changerons le monde.”
Jack Layton (1950-2011)