TEAM CATS - Center for Assault Treatment Services Official LA Marathon Charity

I am excited to be a team captain of Team CATS this year. the Northridge Hospital's Center for Assault Treatment Services (CATS) has been selected one of 63 official charities of the Honda Los Angeles Marathon on March 20, 2011. Tonight was our initial meeting, and we had a great turnout, with 9 people registering with Team CATS! We have partnered with Alpha Running who will providing the training support on Saturday mornings in beautiful Griffith Park. I am excited to support our team in their fundraising efforts. The minimum fundraising goal is $250 - Only $250! That's a piece of cake! If running your first marathon for such an amazing program as CATS, you will find people to support you - I promise!

Please let me know if you are interested in joining Team CATS to Race to break the silence and end the abuse. CATS provides the only 24 hour, 7 a day week program for victims of sexual abuse and assault. Unfortunately, more than 50% of those treated are children. Instead of being taken to an Emergency Room, waiting around for hours to be examined and questioned by police in a hospital setting, CATS offers a comforting location with nurses trained in forensics, who are dedicated to the cause of victims of sexual abuse. We are the only program that serves San Fernando and Santa Clarita Valleys.

Support Team CATS!

My First 5K and Yours too

My first 5K was a charity run in 2007. I was covering a lecture for the Sun Community Newspapers in September- An event at the El Caballero Country Club in Tarzana hosted by an affiliate group in support of the Jewish Home of the Aging. I had recently started running seriously, and the goal of a 5K two months away was both feasible and exciting. I liked the Jewish Home too and wanted to help with this worthy cause. I set up my fundraising site through kintera.org and by that December, I had raised $500 and set an all time PR with my first 5K.

It isn't difficult to raise money when you are promoting a good organization and putting your feet where your mouth is. I had fun that first race, and it eventually led to many more 5Ks, 10Ks, a couple of half-marathons, and three marathons.

Would you like to set a goal to complete your first 5K? If so, I encourage you to do so at the Lexus Santa Monica 5000 on September 12, 2010 and choose the John Wayne Cancer Institute (JWCI) as your cause. Just like the Jewish Home for the Aging, the JWCI also has affiliate groups that support the mission of the institute. Partners in Progress is one of these groups. They help raise funds that promote institute functions not commonly supported by charitable donations such as lab and specimen maintenance and education & outreach.

I raised $500 when I ran my first 5K. How much will you raise?

First, register for the Lexus Santa Monica 5000 on September 12th. Then, set up your http://www.firstgiving.com/ fundraising page, or use the one Partners in Progress has established for the group. Then, start contacting your friends and family. You will be surprised at all the people in your life who will support YOU and the your cause.

And let me know if you sign up!

Happy running,

You're still looking over here?

So even though I do not write in this blog anymore, I still manage to get a whole lot more hits on this site, than on my more regular runner's almanac blog. This is probably because I have a lot of my published pieces on here, in addition to other blog postings that are not writing related. Also, if anyone searches for me, they are brought here. So if you are directed to this blog and see that the last posting hasn't been since November 2009, and a picture only at that, feel free to check me out on runnersalmanac.blogspot.com . Until I find other interesting non-running things to write about, I'll be over there. BUT, I do have happy news that crosses pop culture and running....Yesterday, I found out that I was accepted into the ING New York City Marathon 2010! First time application..and accepted! I don't have an exact number of how many people apply, but one number I found was upwards of 100,000 people who attempt to run.

I was happy...thrilled...to get in! Le the happy dance continue!

And as always, read my runners almanac. Even if you are not a runner, any comments on the prospects of running, walking, exercising, or any other form you use your body in a positive way, is appreciated.