They Call Me Galvez

Last week mAss Kickers Foundation had the opportunity to speak to Social Work Students and Social Work faculty at the University of Hawaii – Manoa. 3 tumor/cancer thrivers shared their stories and resources that they utilized to pass on to their patients. Marc Rodriguiez, Hannah Hansen, and Eric Galvez presented their unique and often times humorous perspectives as young adult survivors turned “tumor/cancer thrivers.” Survivorship is only the first step in recovery from these diseases. It was determined that each individual survivor will move on to “tumor/cancer thrivership” at their own pace. “A Thriver” is someone who gets an intimidating tumor/cancer diagnosis and REFUSES to let it control their life.  They become LEADERS in the fight against all forms of tumors/ cancer.

Along with the speaking engagements at University of Hawaii, this group of thrivers had the opportunity to take in a few sites in Honolulu and experience the authentic Hawaiian cuisine. The Honolulu zoo, Dole Plantation, and of course the beautiful beach on the west side of the island were a few of the sites they were able to visit in their short time on Honolulu. Future trips to speak in Hawaii are in the works to talk about “thrivership” life after an intimidating tumor/cancer diagnosis.

Later this summer mAss Kickers Foundation has plans to go to Tokyo, Japan and Manila, Philippines to speak to future physicians and tumor/cancer patients about “thrivership”. Stay tuned.
More trips are in the work next year!

February was an extremely busy month!  Things kept popping up.  I got to spend a month by myself, explored the public transportation system in SD, rediscovered cooking, and growing in the San Diego nonprofit community… I’m discovering how to do MORE things on my own!  As always I’ve got big plans!  Check this out!  I wanna take mAss Kickers Foundation INTERNATIONAL.  Please support the next ambitious MKF project!  We need your help to make it a success!

12 Days of Kick mAss 2012

On the 12th day of Kick mAss my doctor gave to me…

• a patient research seminar in San Diego,
• a charity kickball tournament in San Diego,
• a paintball benefit in Michigan,
• INTERNATIONAL TUMORS SUCK DAY an international awareness campaign, and
• NEW EVENTS: a survivor speaking tour to Hawaii and the Philippines/Japan
• attending select cancer conferences
• a US Healthcare colleges/universities lecture tour

I noticed that I eat too much stuff that is “bad for me”.

In December I am pledging to promote a heathy lifestyle for ALL tumor/cancer “thrivers” by:

giving up candy and sweet desserts for the month of December.

I’m not crazy!  I’m doing this to honor my fellow tumor/cancer “thrivers” and promote a healthier lifestyle.

I’VE BEEN ON A WILD RIDE SINCE BEING DIAGNOSED WITH A “NON-MAALIGNANT” BRAIN TUMOR! THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING ALL MY CRAZY IDEAS… I HAVE MORE IN THE WORKS!

Here are recap videos from 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011…

Kinda cool to see how things have changed over time, but cool to see how the support is growing. Please help me promote a healthier lifestyle by making a tax deductible donation to mAss Kickers Foundation or JOIN ME by creating your own mAss Kickers Holiday Challenge! WE CAN CHALLENGE OURSELVES TO HONOR THE PEOPLE WE LOVE.

2012 was a great year for mAss Kickers Foundation!

We started off 2012 at the E! Studios in Hollywood and saw a live taping of “The Soup”.  E! personality, Ken Baker was kind enough to give us a VIP tour of the E! Studios.

In February, Eric spoke at The Rehab Institute of Chicago about his experiences as a young physical therapist turned neuro rehab patient.  Later in the month, MKF was at the C4YW conference in New Orleans represented by Heather Swift, Gayle Wismar, and Cindy Sanchez.  Also in February, Lyman Ng, and Brent Glova guest bartended at Local Habit with all tips going to mAss Kickers Foundation to sponsor the Kickball tournament!.

In March, Heather Swift represented MKF again at the Dana Farber Conference for Young Adult Survivors.  That same weekend, we traveled to Ann Arbor to meet with Google Ann Arbor. Eric also spoke at the University of Michigan to the student groups: Lambda Phi Epsilon, the Filipino American Student Association, and 58 Greene.  Later in March, Eric spoke at his Alma Mater, the University of Michigan Flint Physical Therapy program about his experiences as a physical therapist turned neuro rehab patient.

In April, MKF sponsored our first basketball team in the FASAMI Sports league.  MKF was also represented in Las Vegas for the OMG conference for young adult survivors by San Diego based mAss Kickers.  The Vegas crew consisted of: Amamda Hitt, John Holt, Amanda Traub, Joey Evans, Will Booker, Brian Anderson, Craig Rodgers, Heather Swift, Peter Gracheck, and Michelle De Nicola.  Later in the month, Amanda James, Ian Xavier, and Lindsay Hawley organized the first fundraiser at Bootlegger in Downtown San Diego.

In May, MKF teamed up with First Descents, Young Survival Coalition – San Diego chapter, Fin Forward, and International Pilots 4 Patients for a unity bon fire. Later in May, we also hosted the first mAss Kickers Charity KickBall Tournament in San Diego.  The winners of the tournament, the SoCal Riot took home the Inaugural Championship P.I.M.P. cups.

In June, MKF teamed with the SAMFund and 24Hour fitness on an event called Fit2Survive.   Eric presented Dr. Steve Morris’s research findings on the benefits of exercise for cancer survivors.

In August, MKF hosted the fourth Annual TUMORS SUCK Paintball Benefit.  It has gotten bigger each year and >$11000 was raised!   Eric returned to University of Michigan -Flint Physical Therapy Program at the end of the month as a speaker at Doctor of Physical Therapy Hooding Ceremony.

In September, Eric traveled to Texas again to speak at University of Texas – Southwestern about his experiences as a young PT turned neuro rehab patient.  MKF also connected with Community Boost Consulting at the Stay Classy Collaborative in San Diego to help promote International TUMORS SUCK Day 2012.

In October MKF was represented at Fil-Am Fest in San Diego.  Later in the month, we teamed with Hawktober and Floyd’s 99 Barbershop to promote brain tumor awareness and show support for breast cancer patients.  On October 25, we hosted the International Tumors Suck Day Celebration of Life. This was an event for survivors to formally SAY “THANKS FOR BEING THERE FOR US” with toasts to honor our families, friends, and fellow survivors who stuck with us through the difficult times.  They transformed us into “thrivers”.  Also in October, the website was given a new “in your face” look by Matt McAlexander.

In November, we spear headed the creation of a mustache group for “Movember”, the Whiskered Warriors to literally show support for prostate cancer awareness..  MKF was present at Critical Mass – conference.  Meagan Sutherland organized a successful Wigs For Kids Hair donation event AND fun bowling night in Michigan!  Eric was also able to speak at Georgia State Physical Therapy Program before attending the Critical Mass: Young Adult Cancer Alliance.

This month, MKF will start planning for 2013 events and activities!  We are already planning:

• a patient research seminar in San Diego,
• a charity kickball tournament in San Diego,
• a paintball benefit in Michigan,
• INTERNATIONAL TUMORS SUCK DAY an international tumor/cancer awareness campaign
• a NEW EVENT: a survivor speaking tour to the Philippines/Japan
• attending select conferences in 2013
• a US Healthcare colleges/universities lecture tour…

Please support mAss Kickers Foundation activities in 2013,

Click here to step up to the challenge . 

CLICK TO SEE VIDEO!

OCTOBER 25, 2012  SAN DIEGO, CA USA.  At Taste and Thirst, in the heart of San Diego’s Historic Gas Lamp District, a dedicated group of tumor/cancer survivors celebrated the 2012 International TUMORS SUCK Day. They created a unique happy hour to celebrate another year of living and wanted to recognize their personal supporters with a “Thriver Toast” dedicated to the unsung heros in the survivorship journey:  our family, our friends, and our fellow survivors.  It takes a special group of individuals to step up or step in when someone they know is facing an intimidating tumor/cancer diagnosis.  These unsung heroes deserve recognition because they fill a role that is sorely needed, but seldom formally requested.  They are the ones who watch their friends and loved ones become weak from treatment, yet still are there to pick them up or support them!  They see survivors at their weakest and most vulnerable, yet care enough about them to stick around.   It is because of them that tumor/cancer survivors can evolve into “Tumor/Cancer Thrivers.”  They are the unsung heros in the journey to “Thrivership.  They deserve recognition!  WE CAN’T THANK THEM ENOUGH FOR STICKING AROUND AND BEING THERE FOR US!

International TUMORS SUCK Day is a day to celebrate life AND the people who make life worth living.  ALL TUMORS SUCK, BUT WE DON’T!  Thanks for sharing this day with us!  We look forward to celebrating it with you in 2013!  Keep October 25 open next year!  Organize your own Tumors Suck Day event next year.  Say thanks to YOUR amazing ”mAss Kicking” posse!

I didn’t get to post as much as I would have liked this past month.  I’ve been getting extremely busy.  I restarted physical therapy at SHARP REES-STEALY to get a different perspective on my personal rehab.  It reinforced the fact that my “core” is not stable.  The strength is there, but that is a moot point if I’m not stable.  Proximal Stability before distal mobility!  We are working on isolating the core muscles because they are easily overlooked/ neglected.  The problem is that I find those exercises boring.

Anyways, a friend of mine took the reins on a mohawk brain tumor awareness campaign, Hawktober and I’ve been helping to promote it.  The first week we got a few people to rock hawks.  We think mohawks represent the fighting attitude it takes to rally people to fight these horrible diseases.  A mohawk definitely grabs people’s attention!  With a mohawk, you can see easily the battle scars on our heads from brain surgery!   To honor our Breast Cancer sisters, we decided to do pink highlights to show our support for breast cancer patients since October is also breast cancer awareness month!  We actually went up to Hollywood to do the pink highlights.  I decided to honor my aunt that passed away from breast cancer by dying my mohawk pink!  A few of my friends dyed pink highlights in their hair to honor their breast cancer sisters!  BIG PROPS to Floyd’s 99 Rock N Roll Barbershop!  They have been extremely helpful in promoting our efforts!   On Thursday night we will be celebrating International TUMORS SUCK Day.  This is a day we created to celebrate life!

Over the last few years, we have met tumor/cancer survivors from all over the world from North America to Australia to Africa to Europe to Asia.  To unify the international battle against all forms of tumors/cancer we created a day when everyone can voice their displeasure with ALL FORMS OF TUMORS/CANCER.  INTERNATIONAL TUMORS SUCK DAY was created to express this sentiment.  All that it requires is printing out the logo and posting a picture with it on facebook.  It is easy to participate.

1.  Print out the TUMORS SUCK LOGO. 

2.  SHARE A PICTURE OF THE TUMORS SUCK LOGO ON THE TUMORS SUCK FACEBOOK PAGE.

Please support our efforts to make tumor/cancer survivoship a global issue!   CONSIDER making a small donation or becoming a leader and joining us in this epic battle.   PLEASE HELP US FIGHT ALL FORMS OF TUMORS,  BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY PASS THIS PAGE ON!!!  THIS CAMPAIGN IS BEING LEAD BY A SMALL BUT PASSIONATE GROUP OF TUMOR/CANCER SURVIVORS!  WE CANNOT FIGHT THIS BATTLE ALONE!!!  PLEASE JOIN US IN DECLARING “TUMORS SUCK!”

About mAss Kickers Foundation:

MISSION STATEMENT

mAss Kickers Foundation (MKF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in San Diego, CA, USA, which provides support and motivation to all newly-diagnosed patients, family, and friends affected by tumors or cancer.  MKF serves this mission through its website, fund-raising, and select events throughout the year.

VISION STATEMENT

To be the first website newly diagnosed tumor/cancer patients and their loved ones visit for information, inspiration, and a “pugilistic attitude” after getting an intimidating diagnosis.  A unique “mAss Kicking Community” will be formed to unite ALL affected by tumors/cancer to battle these horrible diseases.

Proceeds from the funds raised will be dispersed to tumor/cancer research organizations

On 10-25 in San Diego, CA USA we are putting together a Tumors Suck Day Happy Hour at Taste and Thirst in the historic Gas Lamp District.  Please come celebrate life with us!

CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS!

It was so cool going to Dallas.  I got to reconnect with some old friends from college.  I’ve noticed more and more of my friends are beginning to start families and have kids.  I got another taste of life with babies.  It’s still kind of strange seeing the guys I used to do stupid stuff with in college acting like fathers. Most of my friends are “all grows up” now… married with children. I can’t wait till the kids get older so I can tell them all the  stupid stuff Uncle G and their dad used to do!  hahaha!  The majority of  the weddings that I attended in the past few years are now yielding families with kids!  I guess it’s a natural progression!

I did a talk at the University of Texas – Southwestern to the physical therapy programs at UT Southwestern and Texas Women’s University.  I think that I’m getting more comfortable talking in front of large crowds.  I get nervous when I think about it, but when I get my “game face” on, I can deliver because I figure that I should know what I’m talking about VERY WELL… HAHAHA!  I’m an “expert” on what I’m talking about:  my personal perspective as a healthcare professional turned young brain tumor survivor.  It’s kind of funny because growing up I’ve always been a pretty reserved/laidback guy.  I’m becoming a strong voice in BOTH the young adult brain tumor thriver community and in the newly diagnosed tumor/cancer patient advocacy movement.  Rallying people around a goal has always been a passion of mine that started in high school sports and continued into my career as a physical therapist!  I always hold a high respect for the captains of a good sports teams.  They have their finger on the pulse of what it takes to succeed.  Anyways, things are still getting pretty exciting!  I’m gearing up for a very busy fall! I’ll be doing a lot of traveling and speaking at places I’ve  never been!

Tumors Suck 2012 Part 3 from mAssKicker1 on Vimeo.