Rod in Training

Racing to Save Lives

UPDATE: I ran the Bay to Breakers race on May 17th and finished in the top 8000. I didn't exactly run alongside the Kenyans, but I did the damn thing as my coach would say, in spite of the heat and shin splints. No wimps! (Another one of my coach's catch phrases.)

You can view some photos my running mates and I took during the race here, along with several from my personal photographer, Doug, who watched from the sidelines. Enjoy!

Thanks to everyone for their support, especially those who donated to my fundraising campaign. I hit my personal goal and couldn't have done it without your help! I'm grateful and humbled by your generosity and kindness. Congratulations to all raffle winners, especially Rob Kaufman, who donated the highest amount and won free accommodations in Vegas. Names of all winners will be posted on my website.

BTW...it's not too late to donate. My race may be over, but the race for a cure continues.

Cheers,

Rod Reyes

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If you look closely, you might be able to see me running in the picture above. Why am I running? I'm training to participate in the ING Bay to Breakers race as a member of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's (LLS) Team In Training. All of us on Team In Training are raising funds to help stop leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma and myeloma from taking more lives. I am completing this event on May 17 in honor of all individuals who are battling blood cancers, especially for:

* Adrianna Tucker - 11 years old, battling AML.

* Maddie Badger-Scherer - 12 years old, battling ALL, diagnosed Jan 4, 2008.

* Louis Lai - Diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma in August 2004.

* Matt Parrott - Diagnosed with B-cell follicular lymphoma in July 2007.

* Cole Regan - October 22, 2002 - July 28, 2004. Passed away from AML

* Brenda Donato - July 6, 1970 - April 4, 2007. Passed away from AML.

* Stephen Heisler - Recently diagnosed with Lymphoma.

* Suzanne H. Spencer - Died of large-cell (non-Hodgkins) lymphoma in May of 1988.

* Nicolas Fong - 7 yrs old, battling leukemia.

* Carole Kramer - Died of leukemia in 2008.

* Scott Eppler - Diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2008.

* Bert L Smith II - Passed away from leukemia in 1982.

* Bert L Smith III - Passed away from leukemia in 1983.

* Roger Austin - Diagnosed with lymphoma.

* Lisa Considine - Recovering from multiple myeloma.

* Ryan Fausett - Passed away from leukemia.

* Jeanne Washburn - Passed away from a blood cancer.

These people are the real heroes on our team == TEAM HEART == and we need your support to cross the ultimate finish line - a cure! If you have your own personal connections to blood cancers, please let me know. Tell me their names and any other details you'd like to share. I'll add their names to my honoree list and my team's honoree banner. I will also write their name(s) on my jersey for the big race.

I will also be honoring the following individuals who are suffering or have passed away from other cancers or illnesses:

* Auntie Baby (Silvie Chang)

* Auntie Marie

* Rob Kaufman

* Laura Hallberg

* Lita LaGuardia

* Stephen Cross

* Janice Cross

If you're able and willing, please make a donation to help advance LLS's mission. No amount is too small. Whether it's $5 or $500...every dollar donated is tax-deductible. The Tax ID number for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is 13-5644916. Don't forget to check with your employer to see if they will match your donation! Let me know if you'd prefer to send a check (payable to LLS), so I can give you my mailing address.

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MY 12 KILOMETER SPONSORS

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Thanks to the following donors for sponsoring each kilometer of my race, and helping me cross the financial finish line:

KM 1 - Elaine Baker

KM 2 - Ivan Choy

KM 3 - Steven Friese

KM 4 - Donna Flavetta / Elliston Winery

KM 5 - S Madelina Leadbetter

KM 6 - Alex Pacanza

KM 7 - Cyndi Eppler, in honor of Scott Eppler

KM 8 - Ruta Krusa-Anthony, in honor of Scott Eppler

KM 9 - Heather Justison

KM 10 - Cheryl Pallas

KM 11 - Deeann Carrillo, in honor of Scott Eppler

KM 12 - Doug Higgins

THE FINISH LINE

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DONORS

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I'd like to thank the following businesses for generously providing gift cards, merchandise, services, or venues for fundraising events:

- 24 Hour Fitness, 3925 Piedmont Ave., Oakland, CA 94611, (510) 595-2400, 24hourfitness.com

- Ace Grand Lake Hardware, 1221 Grand Ave, Piedmont, CA 94610, (510) 652-9143, acehardware.com

- Alameda Theatre, 2317 Central Ave, Alameda, CA 94501, (510) 769-3456, alamedatheatres.com

- Bally Total Fitness, 35630 Fremont Blvd, Fremont, CA 94536, (510) 608-6230, ballyfitness.com

- Bar Cesar, 4039 Piedmont Ave, Oakland, CA 94611, (510) 985-1200, barcesar.com

- Bead Inspirations, 1544 Park St, Alameda, CA 94501, (510) 337-1203, beadinspirations.com

- Ben & Jerry's, 505 Embarcadero West, Oakland, CA 94607, (510) 663-3477, www.benjerry.com

- Blue Dot Cafe, 1910 Encinal Ave., Alameda, CA 94501, (510) 523-BLUE, www.bluedotcafeandcoffeebar.com

- C'Era Una Volta, 1332 Park St # D, Alameda, CA, (510) 769-4828, ceraunavolta.us

- Color Me Mine, 2205 South Shore Center, Alameda Towne Centre, Alameda, California 94501, (510) 521-8893, alameda.colormemine.com

- Dale Hardware, 37100 Post St, Fremont, CA 94536, (510) 797-3700, dale-hardware.com

- Fitness 19, Walnut Creek, CA

- Folks' Art, 4158 Piedmont Ave, Oakland, CA 94611, (510) 653-5448, folksart.com

- Fresh Choice, 15555 E. 14th, Suite 105, San Leandro, CA 94578, (510) 278-5404, freshchoice.com

- Fresh Choice, 32155 Union Lndg, Union City, CA, (510) 675-0472, freshchoice.com

- Fudgelato, 2353 Santa Clara Ave, Alameda, CA 94501, (510) 748-9697

- Grand Lake Theatre, 3200 Grand Ave, Oakland, CA 94610, (510) 452-3556, renaissancerialto.com

- Green Buddha, info@thegreenbuddha.net, (925) 858-6069, thegreenbuddha.net

- Happy Feet, 2311 Santa Clara Ave, Alameda, CA 94501, (510) 748-0524, yelp.com/biz/happy-feet-childrens-shoes-alameda

- Home of Chicken and Waffles, Jack London Square, 444 Embarcadero W, Oakland, CA 94607, (866) 421-1482, hcwchickenandwaffles.com

- iFlySFBay, 31310 Alvarado-Niles Rd., Union City, CA 9458, (510) 489-4359, iflysfbay.com

- Jamba Juice, 2306 S Shore Ctr, Alameda, CA 94501, (510) 521-1112, jambajuice.com

- Lakeshore Cafe, 3257 Lakeshore Ave, Oakland, CA 94610, (510) 832-4374, lakeshorecafe.net

- Linguini's Restaurant, 1506 Park St, Alameda, CA 94501, (510) 865-5101, linguinisrestaurant.com

- Loard's Ice Cream & Candies, 2265 S Shore Ctr, Alameda, CA 94501, (510) 521-0873, loards.com

- Lucky, Brookvale Shopping Center, 35550 Fremont Blvd., Fremont, CA 94538

- Mariposa Botanica, 1309 Park St, Alameda, CA 94501, (510) 522-6786, mariposabotanica.com

- Massage Envy, Walnut Creek, CA

- Pasta Pelican,2455 Mariner Square Dr, Alameda, CA 94501, (510) 864-7427, pastapelican.com

- Peet's Coffee, 1365 Park St, Alameda, CA, (510) 473-0136, peets.com

- Piedmont Spa, 4022 Piedmont Ave, Oakland, CA 94611, (510) 655-7174, piedmontspa.com

- Piedmont Yoga Studio, 3966 Piedmont Ave., Oakland, CA 94611, (510) 652-3336, piedmontyoga.com

- Pizza Pazza, 3905 Piedmont Ave, Oakland, CA 94611, (510) 653-0157, yelp.com/biz/pizza-pazza-oakland

- Scott's Seafood Restaurant, 2 Broadway, Oakland, CA, (510) 444-3456, scottseastbay.com

- SMART Phone and Photo, 2006 Encinal Avenue, Alameda, CA 94501, (510) 529-1812, smartphonephoto.com

- Sports Basement, 1881 Ygnacio Valley Road, Walnut Creek, CA 94598, (925) 941-6100, sportsbasement.com

- Starbucks, 1364 Park St, Alameda, CA 94501, (510) 521-5815, starbucks.com

- Sweet Affair Bakery, 1815 Ygnacio Valley Rd # F, Walnut Creek, CA 94598, (925) 944-1910, sweetaffairbakery.com

- Team in Training, 1390 Market Street, Suite 1200, San Francisco, CA 94102, (415) 625-1100, teamintraining.org/sf

- Trader Joe's, Alameda Towne Centre, 2217 S Shore Ctr, Alameda, CA 94501, (510) 769-5450, traderjoes.com

- Tropix Caribbean Restaurant, 3814 Piedmont Ave, Oakland, CA 94611, (510) 653-2444, tropixrestaurant.com

- Vitamin Shoppe, 32109 Union Lndg, Union City, CA,(510) 475-1067, vitaminshoppe.com

- VITAS, 39899 Balentine Dr., Suite 161, Newark, CA 94560, vitas.com

- Waterlilies, 3935 Piedmont Ave, Oakland, CA 94611, (510) 601-7768, yelp.com/biz/waterlilies-oakland

- Yoga Cheryl, Cheryl Fenner Brown, Alameda, CA, (510) 290-2641, yogacheryl.com

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UPDATES

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Eat Green for St. Patrick's Day Weekend

Fresh Choice (Union Landing & Bayfair)

Sat., Mar 14 thru Tues., Mar 17

11am - 9pm

Thanks to everyone who came out for some healthy eating at Fresh Choice. I really appreciate the support! A special thanks to the Fresh Choice team and to my Tuesday night buddy run teammates for celebrating St. Paddy's Day at the Bayfair restaurant. Go Team Heart!

I raised almost $70 from meal proceeds!

View photos from the event here.

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Temescal Farmer's Market

Sun., Mar 29

Lupita F. and I sold books, Easter eggs, toys and gifts at the Farmer's Market and made over $100! We'll definitely be going back, so come by and visit us! Check out these photos.

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Centerville Farmer's Market

Sat., Apr 11

I sold Easter eggs, tattoos, stickers and Ducks for Bucks at the Farmer's Market. Not as successful as the last time, but I'm thankful I it didn't rain!

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TNT Picture Party at SMART Phone and Photo Grand Opening

Friday, April 24, 2009, 10am - 9pm

2006 Encinal Avenue

Alameda, CA 94501

I attended the ribbon-cutting at grand opening of SMART Phone and Photo's new store location. Patrons came for a Mother's Day gift photo shoot. Later we enjoyed some great pizza from Linguini's Restaurant and delicious smoothie samples from Jamba Juice. Thanks also to Vitamin Shoppe for stopping by to hand out fitness and nutrition-related freebies!

A special thanks to SMART Phone and Photo owner, Lars S. and his family for providing the space and support during the event. Anyone needing a venue for a fundraising event should contact Lars!

We raised $339 from sale and raffle ticket proceeds!

Congrats to Rose Quintero, the big winner of the XBox 360, and to all other winners!

View photos from the event here.

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15th Annual Tri-Cities' Ducks 4 Bucks Benefit Race

Saturday, April 25, 2009 at 1pm

Lake Elizabeth, Fremont

Thanks to all of my duck sponsors. According to the final report, I sold 50 ducks and earned $150! UPDATE: There was an accounting error, so my total actually improved. I sold 63 ducks for a total of $189!

Had a great time at the Duck Race. None of my sponsors won unfortunately :( ...Maybe next year!

View photos of the race here.

You can view the 2009 duck adoption report here:

http://tr.im/jMJc

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Rockclimbing at City Beach

Saturday, April 26, 3-7pm (raffle at 5pm)

City Beach Fremont

The Fremont team collected $1500 in donations for this fundraising event! Thanks to everyone that participated. A special thanks to my mentor, Devina G., for organizing the event, and to teammate, Seema J., for her effort collecting prizes for the raffle. GO TEAM!

See blog for more info.

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TNT Week at Color Me Mine

Silent Auction & Raffle

Sunday, April 26 thru Sunday, May 3, 2009

Color Me Mine

2205 South Shore Center

Alameda Towne Centre

Alameda, CA 94501

Come into the Color Me Mine ceramic arts studio, and create a work of art or gift for Mother's Day, graduation, or any other occasion! A drawing (on May 3 after 4pm) and silent auction (for entire week) will also be held. Contact me or read more details here.

UPDATE: I raised $144 through sale proceeds from this event.

View photos from the event here.

20% of studio sale proceeds & 100% of raffle/auction proceeds will benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

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Restorative Yoga Class

Friday, May 1, 2009, 6 - 8pm

Piedmont Yoga Studio

3966 Piedmont Avenue, Oakland, CA 94611

Join us for a gentle active & restorative yoga class, taught by Cheryl Fenner Brown, who teaches a series of classes for people living with cancer. $20 suggested donation (no one turned away for lack of funds). Stay for pizza (courtesy of Pizza Pazza), a chair massage (courtesy of Piedmont Spa) and a raffle after the class. Everyone (18 or older) is welcome to attend the class itself. Or anyone can just come to the gathering and enter the drawing after the class.

UPDATE: We raised $220 through this event. See Jennifer W.'s fundraising page for the posted amounts.

View photos of the event here.

100% of proceeds will benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

View event website for more details.

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Cinco de Mayo celebration at Sports Basement

A Social/Professional Networking Party

Tuesday, May 5, 6:00-8:30PM

1881 Ygnacio Valley Road

Walnut Creek, CA 94598 US

(510) 918-7089

Join us for this Professional Networking & Social Mixer Benefit for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS). There will be Fantastic Drinks, Tasty Food, Networking/Mixer Games, 20% Off on All Sports Items, and Great Raffle Prizes, including a 4-day/3-night stay at a Las Vegas Resort. Remember to bring your business cards for networking, and your sombrero to celebrate Cinco de Mayo. Sliding Scale $15-30.

Check Evite for more details.

UPDATE: We raised at least $120 at this event. Check Chi Mei's fundraising page for posted amounts.

View photos of the event here.

All Proceeds will benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

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