3rd Annual Charity Softball Tournament

We are thrilled to announce our next WACKY event - the 3rd Annual Charity Softball Tournament to be held on September 10th & 11th (during National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month). Salt Lake County Parks & Rec have generously donated 12 fields so the number of teams that can play have TRIPLED! It is going to be a blast!

In addition to traditional ASA tournament play for 10u, 12u, 14u & 16u girls, we will be hosting the skills contest again this year on the 10th. We will have a raffle and Nick has challenged his sister, Carly, to a co-ed, slow-pitch game - also on the 10th. All attendees (excluding players and umpires) are encourage to dress WACKY!

Please visit www.nickswarriors.org or www.wackywarriors.org for flyers and registration information. Or, feel free to email me: lorib@quadrantliving.com.

I am shamelessly asking our readers to help us find prizes to be donated for our raffle, the winners of the 4 different age brackets and the winners of the skills contest. I also could use anyone's connections with fundraiser ideas - headbands, wristbands, etc. We have been given permission to sell our own merchandise on the fields and we want to take full advantage of this great money-making opportunity.

Of a special note, we acknowledge there are many children in our area that have been affected by cancer. If you know of any child and their family that would like to be our honorary guest at this tournament, please contact me. Nick's charities supports CureSearch, which does research for ALL children's cancers.

Nick is still doing terrific! Love to all,

Lori

Donations Made Today!

It is with humble appreciation to announce that I mailed out two checks today - to both CureSearch and First Descents for $10,393.78 EACH! We still have some pledges floating in, but we can send those in with the donations raised for the charity softball tournament in September. I truly can't believe the generosity, commitment and support of Nick's WACKY Warriors. We WILL make a difference!!!
Nick riding Shadow (our friend, Melanie, took Nick on a trail ride up at Middle Fork, Utah)

Nick has been working - yes, that's right - working in Moab for the past few weeks as a wrangler. Besides cleaning horse stalls, digging fence posts and other cowboy duties, he has been working with a 5-year old horse named Toby. Toby hasn't been ridden much so Nick is learning how to work with him to be a trail horse. They are both getting an educational experience.

Before he left, I captured an amazing event in Nick's life... he did his own laundry! I was speechless, thrilled beyond words, a monumental maternal moment that my son was indeed independent. After he left, however, my euphoria immediately deflated when I went into his bedroom, wanting to suprise him by changing his bedding. To my dismay, I found dirty dishes, dirty cups, tissues, toothpicks, heaps of dirty clothes, heaps of clean clothes (what in the world was left to wear in Moab? Is he now the naked cowboy?), 37 shoes, 5 belts, receipts, school books... and that was only 2 feet inside his room. I cried. Then I cursed. Its a good thing he is still in Moab.

He will update when he returns. He has some fun summer trips coming up and we are so very, very grateful he is feeling good.

Please pray for a couple of very sweet spirits I have been following:
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/elliepotvin and http://www.carepages.com/carepages/DavidBuckUpdates/updates/

They, and others, are our reasons to keep fighting!

Love to all,

Lori

We'll miss you, Coach Wooden

Way back in 1996, Lee Brower co-founded the Utah Tip Off Club as a way to honor Utah's prep players, coaches and referees. To promote the event, Lee invited Coach John Wooden to participate by simultaneously awarding the national NCAA basketball coach of the year, the "John & Nellie Wooden Award". This annual event involved many hours by those in our office, especially Lee's oldest daughter, Melody. We worked countless hours tallying votes, making travel arrangements for the winners, working with the press and organizing every detail of the actual event itself.

Working with Coach Wooden and his daughter, Nan, for over six years was a memory I will cherish for the rest of my life. Everything you have read about Coach recently is true. He is by far the most humble, gracious, kind, man-of-his-word, gentleman I have ever had the privilege of meeting. Each year, he gave a speech that was humorous, poetry-filled, accurate and relevant. Each year, his body moved a little slower, but the gleam in his eyes never dimmed.

Working with Coach also allowed me to include Nick in the activities. On one occasion, Nick had the opportunity to go with me to pick up Coach and his family at the airport - executive terminal, of course - in a stretch limousine. Nick was only 10-years old at the time and his eyes were big as saucers sitting in the big back seat. He really didn't seem to know why there was such a fuss over this older man - looked like a regular grandpa to him. Coach Wooden came straight over to Nick, shook his hand and the first thing he asked Nick was if he was getting good grades in school. His second question was if he played basketball. Nick shyly nodded his head to both. I kept whispering to Nick, "remember this moment, remember this moment." He began to realize something big was up when we escorted Coach and his family to a private room in the hotel, where an informal interview was set up with a few of our local reporters. Many photos were taken, many basketballs were signed - all with a warm smile by Coach.

Lee and I became close friends with Coach and our last visit to his condo a few years ago was incredible. One moment included Coach showing us his new children's book, Inch and Miles. It is a beautifully illustrated book, based upon his "Pyramid of Success" principles, written in terms that children can understand. He had just received the original drawing from the illustrator earlier in the day. She had sent him page 12 from the book, because she knew it would be his favorite. He smiled as he showed it to us and we knew instantly why: on the drawing of the tree, she had inscribed "Nellie + JW" enclosed by a heart. His love for his beloved Nellie grew stronger every day, although she had passed over 20 years ago.

We purchased 100 books and have used them on numerous occasions. We have hosted a team-building meeting for both Carly & Kelsey's softball teams and gave each girl a book. Very powerful and impactful, yet had nothing to do with softball directly.

Coach Wooden was an extraordinary man, mentor and friend. We learned much from him. Although he lived a spiritually gifted life and is finally with his sweetheart, Nellie, we will miss him dearly and thank God that Coach found his way into our lives. He is the epitome of the rock that makes a ripple - ripples that will reach many more generations to come.

Lori

Ogden Marathon - a ton of fun!

Oakley, our #1 Wacky!

Cami, Morgan & Kelsey (Kelsey couldn't participte in the 5k due to a softball tournament commitment).

We kicked off the event by attending a spaghetti dinner at the Davis Conference Center in Layton on Friday. Many had to fight with horrendous traffic, including the additional time it took to pick up the participant packets at the race expo in Ogden. With 70 family and friends in attendance, Nick welcomed all by announcing his latest set of scans proved the cancer is still not active (that we can see)! He then presented a video of a 30-minute documentary on four cancer survivors attending a First Descents camp. It elegently portrayed why First Descents is so important to young adult cancer survivors - very impactful. Tee shirts were handed out and we all got excited for the upcoming race.

Saturday morning, the marathoners and half marathoners boarded their assigned busses at 4:45 a.m. The rest of us slackers - 5k participants - boarded our very own rented school bus at a more reasonable hour of 6:00 a.m. Nick had us rolling with laughter as he donned his Buzz Lightyear costume - "To infinity and beyond!"

We all had our silly hats, costumes and very cool looking WACKY tee shirts on, ready to begin our 3.1 mile trek. Please visit http://www.nickswarriors.org/ to view all the pictures and a short video on Nick coming out of the starting gates.

Congrats to:

Marathon:

Ashley Sorenson

Paul Anderson

Ann Leoni

Carlos

Todd Raitt

Heather VanTassell

Lee Brower

Dave Sheffield

Sylvia Do

Pat Do

Half Marathon:

Jill Frey

David Vynerib

Jessica Peterson/Leigh Corbin

5k:

Ginger Balcom

Becky (with Oakley) Brower

Bo Brower

Lori Brower

Denise Cummins

Jerry Gill

Melanie Davis

Cami Griffiths

Deanna Hadley

Beth Holt

Kailey Larsen

Steve Larsen

Cory Love

Alane Macrum

Makelle Macrum

Mason Macrum

Mike Macrum

Morgan Macrum

Jennie Magnesen

Bernadette McGowan

Jon McGowan

Kelly Meacham

Brandon Newby

Carly Raitt

Nick Raitt

Erin Wilkes

We had a few that were genuinely sick with colds, a few under-trained and a few that ran with serious injuries. The weather, however, was perfect. Nick had a few kids that would look at each other when he passed and would say, "Do you know who that is!!!!" One person asked Nick why he didn't finish first, having super powers and all (he sprinted out of the starting gate, only to get a massive side-ache 50 yards later and had to walk the remaining way). Nick responded that his battery pack died. Cory Love (age 21) used Nick's grandpa's bib and as he approached the finish line, the announcer said, "And here comes 68 year-old John Balcom!" Nick's dad, Todd, finished very respectfully in his first marathon - quite a feat! And Nick's stepdad, Lee, despite suffering a dislocated shoulder, partially torn achilles and broken forearm during the past 9 months in training, finished running on a torn labrum in his hip.

I'm still working on the numbers as the pledges keep coming in, but we have raised over $20,000 between both running events! I'm stunned and enormously grateful. Our support system remains to be strong and generous!

While Nick remains to be blessed with no evidence of disease, I am reminded again about the seriousness of our cause. On Friday, a received a phone call from a mother whose son is fighting rhabdo (Nick's age). She is feeling utterly overwhelmed and frightened, not knowing where to turn next. We also are praying with a personal friend - he raised a significant amount of money for Nick's Warriors - whose wife is waiting for final results on a potentially very serious cancer diagnosis. And also on the same day, received another phone call from another personal friend of the family needing the name of a neurosurgeon from Huntsman Cancer Institute. Three new situations and all so deserving of our prayers. Thank you all for joining us, being part of a bigger family, to fight this horrible disease.

Blessings of health to everyone! We have already had our initial meeting for our next event - the WACKY Annual Charity Softball Tournament, on September 10th & 11th, 2010. And here we go!!!!!

With loads of love,

Lori

2010 Ogden Marathon – Half Marathon – 5K

The time is nearing! Are you ready? Things to remember:

FRIDAY – May 14th

1. Be sure to pick up your race packet at the Runners Expo at Union Station – Wall & 25th Street – between 10:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. This will have your bib and timing chip!
2. 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. – dinner at the Davis Conference Center for Nick’s Warriors at the Davis Conference Center, 1651 N. 700 W. in Layton (adjacent to the Hilton Garden Inn). Nick will give a short presentation on First Descents (30 minute movie). We will hand out the WACKY tee shirts.

SATURDAY – May 15th

1. 5k’ers ONLY! I have made arrangements for a school bus to pick us up at 6:00 a.m. at the Davis Conference Center to take us up to the 5k starting place – Timbermine Restaurant. The bus will also be available to take us from the finish line (downtown Ogden) back to Davis Conference Center later in the morning (time to be determined based on popular demand). We will have juice and bagels for the ride up.
2. Everyone participating in race – please be sure to visit www.ogdenmarathon.com to review the details of the race. There are different starting places for marathoners and half marathoners, but all racers start at 7:00 a.m. sharp!
3. Don’t forget – DRESS WACKY! We will be giving a prize for best WACKY runner and best WACKY supporter!
4. Later in the afternoon, Nick’s dad, Todd, is hosting a barbeque for the Raitt side of the family in Huntsville and the Brower’s will be hosting a barbeque for the out-of-town guests, family and friends at their home in Layton. Very informal and casual – invitation open to everyone.

Forecast indicates beautiful weather!

Please feel free to call me if you have any questions at 801-554-5505 or email lorib@quadrantliving.com.

With love and gratitude,
Lori Brower

Broad Street Run - Stories & Pictures

Our inagural WACKY event was inspiring and fun! Here's how it began:

Nick and I flew out to Philly Friday morning, after he took his economics final (studied until 4:00 a.m.). When we arrived, we were whisked off for a wonderful dinner at Osteria, hosted by Michael Rouse. Michaels parents, John & Choppy Rouse, came along with Dr. Karen Pape, Michael's sister - Christine, a dear friend of the Rouse family, General Steele, and of course, Lee - who had flown in the day before.

The next morning, we were invited to participate in ESF's TLC event. Nick and I were priveleged to hear several guest speakers, including Lee and General Steele. We also got a glimpse of the amazing energy the top team camp leaders exude in preparing for the upcoming camp season. Off to another dinner for those WACKY runners and cheerleaders from ESF, including a few other friends from Strategic Coach. Nick was presented a giant check for $3,700!!!! representing the money raised for his foundation. A big, fat THANK YOU to Michael Rouse and Dani Mezzino for their hard work organizing this effort and to Michael Barron for his significant fundraising!

Mrs. Rouse is agreeing to participate in next years' event!

Sunday morning, the WACKY's gathered for a big send off and pictures and then to RUN!
Our next WACKY recruit - Batman!

Tony, Lori, Nick, Karen, Dani, Melissa, Austin, Lee & Michael

Michael Rouse - 1:34:17
Karen Fox - 1:39:25
Pet McHale - 1:34:27
Melissa Williams - 1:28:06
Mike Trachtenberg - 2:02:10
Ross Trachtenberg - 1:35:14
Lori Trachtenberg - 1:53:23
Jocylen Trachtenberg -
Bridget -
Lisa Caesar - 2:07:58
Ryan Carney - 1:03:52
Meghan Baker - 1:08:41
Lyndsey Horan - 2:01:03
Lee Brower - 1:35:45
Nicholas Pulos - 1:34:01
Jonathan Trenkle - 1:54:32
Shane Hostetter - 1:41:28
Gina Feliciani - 1:43:28
Elizabeth Becker - 2:25:00
Dani Mezzino - 2:07:32
Polly Medved - 2:36:05
Kristen Medved - 2:36:05
Jen Standen - 2:36:07
Josh Standen - 2:36:07
Tony Childress - 2:08:16
Dan Mcdermott - 1:30:28
Kathryn Mcdermott - 1:20:30
Michael Barron - 1:39:39

WAY TO GO RUNNERS!!!!! We will post the winner of the most WACKY runner and WACKY cheerleader soon!
Lee, Melissa, Austin, Dani & Michael

Unfortunately, Nick got a monster headache and wasn't feeling well at all so we headed to Four Seasons to recoupe with some Tylenol, fruit, gin rummy (he slaughtered me - headache, my foot!) and a nap.

Michael and Lee joined us after the race and by then, Nick was feeling much better and the three guys enjoyed the marvelous brunch offered by the hotel. We were all in slow motion and we barely caught our flight home. The highlight was watching Nick grin ear to ear as he held the giant check in his arms, going through the airport.

Thank you, our WACKY warriors! You have made a difference, truly, and our gratitude and love are forever yours.

Lori

Lee wrote the following story, capturing his experience of the race. Here it is:

Soles versus Souls

Today, May 3rd, was a marvelous day!

So much is thrown at us as we swim through this journey of life. Based upon what we read in the newspapers, hear on the radio, see on the television and discuss around the water cooler, you would have to think that we are swimming in the cesspool of life.

It’s not true. There are those negative, stinky clumps of …well you know… yucky stuff… that do float by. But there is so much that is pure, pristine and downright healthy that we can bathe in every day if we so choose. This is not to say we should do something about the crud. But it is to say that we can be inspired, encouraged and empowered by the unseen good that is always around us.

Yesterday, Lori, Nick and I attended the Broad Street Run in Philadelphia. This is a ten mile run with 30,000 participants. AND, it was also our inaugural WACKY event. Warriors Against Cancer in Kids & Young-adults. Thank you to Michael Rouse and Dani Mezzino--plus all of those amazing WACKY’s from ESF--we couldn’t have done it without you! Also, thank you to my WACKY friends from Strategic Coach- Michael Barron, Tony Childress and Joe Zimmerman. Your support is making a very important difference.

What makes WACKY’s different? They follow the WACKY guidelines:
1) pay it forward through service to others.
2) always have something exciting to look forward to.
3) and have fun!

Tony Childress is an example of a true WACKY. A year ago we ran our first ever marathon/half marathon at the Country Music Marathon in Nashville. It was our first attempt to raise money and awareness for research for young adults living with cancer. Tony fully intended to run the half marathon with his sister, Joella, who was in remission at that time. However, as we moved closer to the marathon date, her sister relapsed and the cancer was becoming more aggressive. At first, she said she couldn’t run, but that she would be there and Tony would push her in a wheel chair. When her doctors told her she couldn’t fly, she and Tony agreed that he would push the wheel chair with a picture of her and he would take a video camera of the run so she could experience it.

Well, Tony showed up with a wheel chair. He hadn’t really trained for the 13.1 mile event. He is a tennis and basketball player—not a runner. He didn’t even have running gear. The night before the run, Tony purchased his first set of running gear. As we stood together prior to the race, Tony told me that maybe he wasn’t prepared physically—however, he was prepared mentally and spiritually. We then prayed together and off we went. Since Tony was running the half and I the full, we only saw each other once on the course. Tony was pushing forward relentlessly. Other runners would come along and ask if they could help. Tony politely refused all such offers, even though his back felt like it was going to break. Tony told me later that he had divided memories of Joella into 13 time-lines and with each new mile, he focused on a different segment of her life. He told me afterward that it was though he had help from above. (The next day, however, he did have to ask two young girls to help him load the wheel chair into his car.)

Fast forward to yesterday - one year later - the hottest, most humid day in the history of the Broad Street Run. About three miles into the race, I saw someone pushing a young lady in a racing wheel chair up a hill. You have seen this kind of chair - they sit very low to the ground. As I neared this pair, I could not believe my eyes. It was Tony!

Déjà vu! Apparently, the young lady had a flat tire and Tony approached her and asked if she needed help. She, at first, said it was too late because she was too far behind the other wheel chair competitors and the runners had overtaken the course. Tony could see her disappointment and told her he would do his best to get her back in the race. Close by was a gas station with a “pay” air pump. With the help of a couple of good Samaritans, Tony got the four quarters needed, filled the tire, patched the valve with chewing gum and they were back in the race in less than five minutes.

It was obvious with a less than fully inflated tire, going up the hills was an extra struggle and there was Tony hunched over running up the hill. I thought he was going to collapse. His face was bright red, veins bulging and obviously exhausted. Several people had passed him offering words of encouragement obviously believing they were a pair. For several miles he had been encouraging her and pushing her along as needed. Michael Rouse quickly took over for him and I stayed with Tony to make sure he was all right. As I accompanied Tony to the water, he whispered that the young woman in the wheel chair was the reason God wanted him to be here.

I later caught up with Michael and he, along with a couple of other racers, accompanied this young lady to the finish. Tony finished the race in a fairly good time. Considering the conditions and the weather, this was an amazing accomplishment.

Thank you, Tony and Michael. Thank you for being aware. Thank you for your courage. Thank you for being present. Thank you for not passing up opportunities to “give forward”. Thank you for inspiring me to focus more on the present and the opportunities around me. Thank you for in some small way making others better—including me. Thank you for being WACKY!

Lee Brower

And the Philly Wackys are off and running!

Well, almost - reposted email dated today:

Hello WACKY friends!

I hope this finds everyone well and SUPER excited for the race this weekend! It is amazing how quick time goes and I know that we are ALL ready to go! The email below contains A LOT of information, please review and print so you have all you need for race day and for the WACKY TEAM!! It’s been an honor getting to know all of you and being on this team! Nick arrives on Saturday and looks forward to meeting everyone too!

Race Packets:
Please make sure to pick up your race packets on Friday or Saturday. It is suppose to be BONKERS so get there early. Those of you that I am picking up I will be going at 11am tomorrow! Don’t forget to have safety pins to pin your BIB number on your front that morning. The shoe chip gets put around your laces (for first time runners!)

Dinner Saturday NIGHT:
We will be having our pasta dinner at Primavera’s Pizza Kitchen Saturday, May 1st at 630pm. If you have not RSVP’ed, please let me know.
Primavera Pizza Kitchen
www.primaverapk.com
7 East Lancaster Avenue
Ardmore - (610) 642-8000

Meeting Place for START and FINISH:
Getting to the start and back from the finish is up to each of us. It will not be easy but the Broad Street Recommends the following:
Due to the limited amount of parking in the start area, we recommend that runners park their cars for free near the finish area (at the Stadium Complex at Broad & Pattison) and take the Broad Street Line to the start.
To get to the starting line, ride SEPTA for free. ALL RUNNERS CAN RIDE SEPTA'S BROAD STREET SUBWAY LINE FOR FREE by displaying your official race number to the cashier at any Broad Street Line stop. You must be wearing the number on the front of your shirt. Shuttle buses will return you from the finish area back to the parking areas.
It is in your best interest to board the train before 6:30 AM (This should get you to the start area at approximately 7:45 AM). Please allow yourself extra time for any unfortunate delays. The race will begin promptly at 8:30 AM. Schedule times may vary. It takes approximately 35 minutes to reach the SEPTA Broad & Olney Transportation Center, which is a few blocks above the start. SEPTA will also be providing express trains on the morning of the race.
Karen and I scoped out the race the other day and we will meeting at the following places. At the start we will have Brightly Colored balloons and meet at 745AM! We will not have cell phones. At the end, you are welcomed to cheer people on as they come in…however we will also be meeting to celebrate with each other at the statue below. It will also be a good point for family and friends to find you. If you finish early and want to head out that is fine too. We would love to get a final end race picture though! Hopefully they’ll be someone to take a start one too!

We’ll all try to run on the RIGHT side of BROAD ST. (GOING DOWN) if you want to pass on to friends and family of where to stand when cheering. At the beginning, City Hall, and at the End are the best points. Make sure they know to look for the WACKY logo!!

Starting Point 7:45AM:
15th and Somerville Ave (right in front of Girls High Football field)
Look for ESF “A” frame with balloons brightly colored
On the RIGHT if you are looking DOWN Somerville at 15th. One block off of Broad and Up from Olney

End Point (as everyone comes in):
4700 South Broad (in Naval Yard complex) ADDRESS ON BUILDING
Meet in front of Melville Statue ON RIGHT which is directly next to a HUGE naval ship

Shirts:
Shirts….look great and will deliver LATE tomorrow at the ESF Headquarters. They can be picked up here late in the day, at TLC on Saturday, or at the dinner on Saturday night. I will NOT have shirts on Sunday with me! Don’t forget to bring your WACKY attire too…the crazier the better! Wigs, crazy socks, hats, you name it…you can wear it!

Donations:
We are doing Great! ESF has agreed to match all that has been donated by end of day today, so make sure to let Karen know if you are bringing it to TLC or the dinner. We’ll want to include it in our total amount. We’ll present the check that night at the dinner. Her email, is Kfox@esfcamps.com she’ll add you in if you email her by 5 with the amount! Remember we asked for $20 to run on our team and then if you chose to raise or put in more.

WACKY Runners: Some chickened out but the rest remain…Drum Roll….
Michael Rouse Mary Franco Ross T. Maureen Fox
Karen Fox Melissa Williams Jocylen T. Ryan Carney
Pete McHale Mike T. Lisa Caesar Meghan Baker
Lyndsey Horan Lori T. Dani Mezzino Tony Childress
Lee Brower Bridget Polly Medved Dan Mcdermott
Nicholas Pulos Mike Morris Kristen Medved Kathryn Mcdermott
Jonathan Trenkle Gina Feliciani Jen Stayden Michael Barron
Shane Hostetter Elizabeth Becker Josh Stayden Joe Zimmerman

Last Minute:
Don’t forget to hydrate ALL day on Saturday and up to 2 hours before the race! See Hal Higdon site for nutritional and hydration tips.

http://www.halhigdon.com/Articles/Diet.htm

My cell is 610-496-4994 for any last minute questions!

Good Luck! I am so exciting to be on this team and this journey with all of you!

Smiles and a HUGE good luck HUG,
Dani 



Danielle Mezzino
ESF Dream Camp Philadelphia
750 E. Haverford Rd.
Bryn Mawr, PA 19010
610-581-0100, ext. 215
610-496-4994 (Cell)
dmezzino@esfdreamcamp.org