My Monthly Charity October 2008

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and fittingly my charity for October 2008 will be the Susan G. Komen for the Cure charity for the fight against breast cancer. The Susan G. Komen for the Cure organization was started by Nancy G. Brinker as a promise to her sister to do everything in her power to end breast cancer. Founded in 1982 Komen for the Cure has become the world’s largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors, activist and source of nonprofit funds to fight breast cancer worldwide.

“As Susan G. Komen for the Cure, we’ll continue to be the world’s largest, boldest and most progressive grassroots network of survivors and activists, the only organization fighting to cure breast cancer at every stage. To date, we’ve invested $1 billion in research, education and health services. And because so many millions of people are counting on us to fulfill our promise, we will invest an additional $2 billion over the next decade to do just that.” - http://cms.komen.org/komen/AboutUs/index.htm

Just this year in 2008 there is going to be an estimated 182,460 new cases of invasive breast cancer in women with approximately 40,480 deaths and 1,990 in men with 450 deaths (Statistics from the American Cancer Society Cancer Facts & Figures 2008).

Breast cancer has affected me personally and I’m extremely happy to say that my Mom is a breast cancer survivor. This is not only My Monthly Charity October 2008 it is also a honor to my Mom as a survivor. Join the fight against breast cancer and make a donation to Komen for the Cure.

My Trip to Cleveland, Fort Wayne, and Chicago

I was away last weekend and I have to say it was refreshing and intense. Many of the trips that I take are usually go, go, go and this one was no different. In three days starting at 5:35 am on Friday I was off to Cleveland, Fort Wayne, Chicago and back home at 11:15 on Sunday with my girlfriend.

The Itinerary
Friday
5:35am Leaving Albany to Cleveland by plane
9:05am Arrive in Cleveland and spend half the day with my brother Sam.
3:30pm Leaving Cleveland to Fort Wayne by car
7:45pm Arrive in Fort Wayne Indiana for James’s Wedding
Saturday
6:45am Leaving Fort Wayne for Chicago
9:00am Central time arrive in Chicago
Sunday
8:15pm Leaving Chicago for home sweet home
11:05pm Eastern time arrive home in Albany

That was the plan with a lot in between. Check out some of the pictures of my trip.

Cleveland

Lebron James larger than life.

My Brother and I.

Chameleon at the Cleveland Institute of Art Botanical Gardens.

Botanical Gardens

Fort Wayne, Indiana

Massive wind turbines on my way to Fort Wayne.

Me and James at his wedding. Congratulations James and Stephanie. I also want to thank James for his service to our country in the US Army and work as a NYPD Police Officer.

James and Stephanie eating the cake.

Chicago, Illinois

Arriving in Chicago under the El just like “The Dark Knight” chases.

The shiny Cloud Gate piece of art by British artist Anish Kapoor.

Me taking a picture of me taking a picture of the Cloud Gate

Awesome statue at the Chicago Museum of Art.

The ferris wheel at the Chicago Navy Pier.

View from the ferris wheel of the Navy Pier.

Our walk to the Chicago Field Museum happened to be the same time everyone was going to the Bears vs. Vikings game at Soldier Field right near there.

Sue the Tyrannosaurus Rex at Chicago Field Museum is the most complete set of bones in the world of a Tyrannosaurus Rex.

Clown Fish just like Nemo at the John Shed Aquarium.

View from the Sears Tower at sunset.

View from the Sears Tower at sunset #2.

The view from the Sears Tower was was amazing. The elevator was crazy as you fly up and down 103 floors in about a minute.

My trips are always go, go, go but I’m glad I got to jam pack my trip and do all the things I got to do. It was a great trip and I’m sure I’ll be back out to the Midwest again since my Brother is out there.