Volunteer Vacations....anybody done them?

So, a coworker just forwarded me an email from his older sister.  His sister just returned from Costa Rica (I want to go back!), but instead of partying and seeing the sights, she went down there to volunteer with Habitat for Humanity.  After her Habitat project was done, she did get to hang out with the monkeys in Manual Antonio, and watch Arenal erupt.....

Over the last year, I've thought about going on a volunteer vacation.  The basic premise is that instead of relaxing, you get to help others out....

While I can't swing another trip down to Costa Rica, I'm thinking about heading down to Louisiana to help out in the post-Katrina madness.  Do a little bit of good while visiting a place that I've never been...seems like a win-win to me.

Has anybody done this before?  Anything that I should know before I start booking flights???

Summertime = Volunteering

Now that the weather is over 70 degrees, and the humidity is kicking in, I think its safe to declare that summer is officially here.

Being a Midwesterner who is buried under snow for 6 months a year, I love the summer. I love being outside and running, playing basketball, going to the beach, and....volunteering?

I've wrote about my time with the American Brain Tumor Association. While that's definetly a worthy cause (especially given my past), but in the summertime, I like to help out Chicago Cares.

Chicagocares.org is a listing service that updates various community projects on a daily basis. This morning, Mona and I went out to the Drake Community Gardens, and helped them get their place in order.

Being outside, working with our hands, enjoying the weather, and helping the community. all around, a great event, and I can't wait to sign up for my next event.

If you're in Chicago, check out Chicago Cares. If not in Chicago, I'm sure that your city has its own list, so seek it out! happy volunteering!

Terrible, but Necessary - Who would you let die???

A bunch of influential doctors took a break from their golf and came up with a very interesting list of the people that they'd leave behind in the event of a disaster.

With the events in Burma / Myanmar unfolding today, this list is incredibly timely. Here's a quick rundown:

- Older than 85.
- Suffering from severe trauma
- Mentally impaired

It is lists like these that validate my decision to stay away from Medical School. While these doctors are creating checklists to maximize the number of lives saved, I'm making checklists to ensure that documents are printed in landscape.

Since I'm not in charge (nobody is stupid enough to put me in charge), here's my list of people that I'd be forced to leave behind:

- physically impaired (unable to walk or move without assistance)
- mentally impaired (unable to follow directions or help out)

clearly from my list, I don't believe in age discrimination, or disability discrimination.....but, if you had to play God, who would you leave behind?

note - post tagged with "being good" because we are trying to save the most lives, which I would consider a good act.

The ABTA 5K Path To Progress

A quick review of this past Saturday's 5K race that I participated in.

The race took place in Montrose Harbor, on the Northside of Chicago's Lake Michigan front. Being Chicago in April, the weather is always unpredictable...and it was freezing. I think it was something like 40 degrees when I left home for the race.

The course has changed from last year. I wasn't a huge fan of the prior course, and I like how the entire race was along the lakefront this year.

Some other positives....wider running lanes, great food afterwards

The only 2 cons....non-dry fit shirt, which isn't a huge deal. The only thing that I didn't like about this race (other than the weather) was that runner's weren't given time updates at every mile. Its hard to keep your pace steady without some type of visual cue, and so I was hoping for that.

But other than my 2 anal concerns....I liked this race, the American Brain Tumor Association raised over $600,000 (so far, please still donate), and over 6000 people participated.

Thanks (v2)

Just logged into my participant center for the American Brain Tumor Association and saw that I passed $1000 in donations!

Thanks for the continued support, I really appreciate it!

For those of you that are new readers, I am on the planning committee for the upcoming American Brain Tumor Association 5K Path to Progress Run/Walk, taking place this Saturday along the Lake Michigan lakefront in Chicago.

I was diagnosed with a brain tumor in June 2000, had that tumor removed in August, and have spent the last 8 years slowly recovering and putting my life back together. While I have recovered from my ordeal, and I'm incredibly lucky that I had a support group to lean on, there are people that don't have the resources or support that I had.

The American Brain Tumor Association is using 100% of the money raised to help fund research programs and support groups.

Its a great cause that is near to my heart, so I really appreciate everything that you have already given to the ABTA.

If you have a few moments, please donate.

Thanks again!

Annoying fundraising emails.....and blog posts....

Since the summer is rolling closer and closer, I'm sure that our inboxes are going to get spammed with incredibly worthwhile causes that sometimes we just can't afford....

but, since its still spring (or, at least the calendar claims that its spring), I'm going to make my pitch before the masses do...please donate if you can, if you can't, please forward the link along. I really appreciate it guys....

I'm on the planning committee for this year's American Brain Tumor Association Path to Progress 5K run/walk, taking place in Chicago's Montrose Harbor on April 26. The race is being held to raise money for brain tumor research, and 100% of the funds raised will go towards that end.

Back when I suffered from a brain tumor, I found the American Brain Tumor Association to be invaluable in my path to recovery. Now, as a survivor, I help council current patients with their own struggles.

If you are in the Chicago area, I'd really appreciate if you could join me in running the 5k alongside Lake Michigan. If you aren't in the Chicago area, I'd appreciate if you could read and follow this link to your friends and colleagues.

http://hope.abta.org/goto/smangalick2008

Thanks again for your help and support!

Sharad

Help Needed: Walk-a-thon

Now that baseball season has finally started, it seems like Spring and Summer are just around the corner.

While this time of the year brings out the planner in all of us....planning up fun things like:

- Cubs games at Wrigley (is it still even called Wrigley?)
- beer gardens
- Castaways at the North Ave. Beach
- Not wearing overcoats (unless you plan on flashing people, which is sometimes fun)
- the endless supply of fundraising emails

wait, that last item doesn't sound like fun. but for those of us in Chicago (or places that get snow), the summertime means running outdoors, instead of at Ballys.

so to kick off the outdoor season in the North, my uncle is participating in the Minneapolis Walk-A-Thon to benefit the American Heart Association. Check out his progress, and please spare some $ if you can....

You know you want to click me

thanks