The last 24 hours have been amazing for YCSC. We officially have our first two corporate sponsors! Boone County and YCSC have made an agreement to be the annual location for our club night fundraisers. Basically it means that they will support us at our once a year event, and throughout the year they will collect prizes through promotional materials, bands that play there etc. I asked them to take this position for us after they have been absolutely amazing through the planning of this event. Johnny, the manager, has been touched by young cancer himself, as he lost his mother at a young age to cancer. They will advertise and support our efforts on whatever level they can, and I am honoured to have them as an official sponsor. On our end, we will use their very cool logo on all our advertising and gear. We will also end our Spring Ride for young cancer at their bar. I think that the club is a mid aged ranged clientelle that will be great for support in an environment that YCSC members can feel comfortable in.

The second sponsor is a little more controversial, I know that the decision I have made to have them on board will tun off some, but I stand firm in my decision and I feel that it will be a great partnership as well. Michelle and I were out canvassing for silent auction items. In one of he strip malls, there was an adult novelty store, I joked about going in to request a donation. We laughed for a bit and then Michelle says, "Well, why not try?"

I am a very open minded individual and have never ben one to pass judgement on anything that anyone chooses to do as long as it does not hurt themselves or others. While we live in a society that is slowly loosening up when it comes to personal choices on a variety of levels, there are still something that are sensitive to some people.

Adult stores are one of those things that I think a good part of poplation has utilized to some degree, but aside from the more outgoing and less discrete, most people don't discuss it. Personally, I believe there is a time and a place for everything.

Michelle joked that if we were to have a silent auction item of this nature, being that the event is being held in a night club, it would be a great conversation piece and would likely strike some competitiveness on who would bid on it, pay the most for it etc.. One of the things we have always promoted with our organizational events, is fun. When someone comes to our events, they know why they are coming, chances are they personally know someone who is affected by cancer, and they are there to support them. This being said, there is no reason for us to set the mood somber at our events. Also since our organization stands for quality of life, it is important to us that our events are not only a fundraiser, but a good time for our members and an upbeat image of those of us who are clawing our way through whatever stage of our illness we are in.

As an additional item, I know that sexuality and personal relationships are often a source of discussion amongst the young adult cancer community, and it is sad to see how many people feel this has to be such a private struggle. The truth is that many marriages and relationships have sexual issues at some point and that is without the added bonus of loss of self esteem and sexual tensions that come with young cancer, heck cancer of any age!

Regardless, it d0es come down to alot of fun! People have been having sex toy parties in their homes for years. It's on TV, it's in the newspapers, people do talk about it more and more these days, but I am very aware that by taking this partnership, I will offend some, to those people, I appologize in advance, and welcome anyone who would like to discuss my stand point on this further. My decision to accept the sponsorship of an Adult Novelty store, does not change the group, what we stand for, or how we help, it only means that we will allow sexual expression items at our club night events.

The store we first went to, turned us down on behalf of their supporting Children's Charities only. We all have to pick and choose our causes, there are so many desperate charities out there just like us, and even I have had to choose my core charities to support.

This left me with time to think overnight and come to the decision I did. The intent was to go and ask a good acquaintance of mine who happens to run the adult store in Mission, for a donation for the auction. At first she said she would ask the owner, as we talked, she started putting bottles on the counter. She told me she would talk to her distributors as well and get back to me, within acouple hours she had called back and had settup gift baskets through several of her suppliers! We discussed again for a bit and she too, offered to collect items over the year for us to use at events as suitable. I have a feeling that this will be a very succesful source of support for us as these baskets are quite valuable.

We have also had the complete and total support of White Bear Tattoo, I have talked about Conway before, the tattoo arist who was diagnosed with Lymphoma and did our Young Strength tattoos for us. He has agreed to do on site tattooing at our next event and donate a portion back to our organization, he has also donated two hours of tatoo time to our auction. Conways support has been amazing and inspirational!

I know that our first few sponsors could be somewhat controversial, but I stand behind them 100%. Each and every one is doing what they are doing to support our cause full heartedly, and while they not be the traditional sources of sponsorship, they each hold their own connections to young cancer and in some way or another have the faces of typical young adult normalacy to them. My job as a Director and facilitator in YCSC is to provide oppurtunity, and funding for our objectives. We have made some HUGE steps in the past several months, and even without our charity status, we have some strong supporters behind us. We will continue to move forward and will always consider all offers of support, decisions will be made based on suitablity and oppurtunity available.

On a personal level, I am struggling a bit. I have been in fairly consistent pain for the past two weeks. I haven't been sleeping well and have felt drained and stressed consistently. My shoulder, My tailbone, Headaches and lack of energy. Once again I am finding myself irritated and annoyed with my inability to accomplish as many things as I need to, in a limited amount of time, with the physical limitations I am having. At the same time, I feel guilt that I am complaining when I have dear friends going through much more severe physical extremes than myself.

I am hoping to have all the event planning finished by Friday night, and will spend next week wrapping prizes, and doing all of the computer work based event stuff.

I have my first theory class for my class 6 licence on Friday night, and am really hoping that my body works out it's glitches before I start my bike time. I know they are fairly small bikes we learn on, but am concerned about the extra weight on my shoulder, the pressure on my tailbone and my ability to focus. As always, I am determined, and will do it regardless. I am also starting to feel the need to get back to work. We are waiting on Chris's surgery date to try and figure out our timeline, but I am hoping to be back to work by mid september.

On the upside, I have began getting my head around the back to the school scheduling, and have started working my tanning back in, I have a beautiful bronze glow right now, and am happy to be making the time again. In september, Chris and I are going to join a gym. Chris is going to work his arms and legs as well as cardio while he wait for his surgery so he will heal faster and so he can get himself toned up after surgery in hopes of continuing in the forces. I am going o be working on Cardio and my core muscles in hopes of bringing down my chronic pain syndrome again. When I was doing the home workouts, I was feeling alot better. I am hoping paying the gym membership will help motivate me.... The gym is beautiful, it has a swimming pool, hot tub, pretty well everything! I am really looking forward to it, and secretly hoping it will help firm up all the flabby, hangy skin I have from all the weight I lost last year.

Kristie had her appointment today with her new oncologist and has been given some prescriptions names to cross check with her extended medical to see if she is covered, and they will then plan the treatment. He sas the lump in her neck has gone down and is less grainy. I continue to stay optimistic.