2013 DOTY Awards Ceremony, Melanoma Mini-PIF and Potluck

Saturday January 18th.

SWS Beach

Dive in AM.

Melanoma Mini-PIF presentation, Awards Ceremony and Potluck at 2pm until ?

Unload and load at pier, park in hedgerow spots or at tennis courts or spa

Mini-PIF details:

$20 to enter. Winner gets a donated print from Amadeo Bachar. ALL of his works are great but I asked if he could donate the attached Big Fish Pinups cancer themed one and he agreed. 

Each diver can enter 3 fish. 1 Rockfish (any kind), 1 Cabezon, 1 Lingcod.

Points per inch as follows:

Rockfish: 10
Cabezon: 8.5
Lingcod: 5.5

Diver with the most points wins Amadeo's print and all the $ goes to the Melanoma cause below:

The son of one of my good friends from Team in Training was recently diagnosed with Stage 4 Melanoma and is fighting for his life right now.

Dear Friends and Family,

I began fundraising for this event the 4th week of October.  At that point, when I wrote the message below, we believed that our 20 year old son, Connor, was cancer-free.   He was enrolled in college full time and had a job where he worked about 25 hours a week.   Everything was normal.

Also about the 4th week of October, Connor texted me a picture that he'd taken of his eyelid that showed a suspicious looking black spot.   We immediately called his oncologist and had an appt scheduled.    Until that point, Connor felt fine though he had experienced occasional nausea and some body pain, but nothing that stopped him from his daily activities.

On November 1st our family traveled to NYC where I would be running the 2013 NYC Marathon.    During dinner our first night Connor became so sick that the following morning we went to emergency room.     It was there that the first CT scan was done - and it showed all of the tumors in Connor's body.      We immediately returned to California and went directly to emergeny room from the airport.   After a quick review of his CT scan and the report we brought from the NYC hospital - Connor was admitted and we began the long journey of battling stage 4, the final stage, of metastatic melanoma.

Connor has tumors in almost every organ and bones and shows signs of growth in his lungs, but fortunately his MRI brain scan was clear.     He is being treated at UCSF Medical Center - and is on the Tafinlar-Mekinist combo therapy - which is a fairly new drug combo.       He's been on the medication for 3.5 weeks and so far is showing no signs of responding.    This combo is effective in shrinking tumors about 80% of the time.    We are scheduled to have a scan in the next 10 days and based on those results may move to another treatment.    We are not giving up hope.

Our days now are spent with an unrelenting medication schedule to help manage pain and nausea.   His doctors have told me they are not sure how he was walking around with all of this in his body.    Interestingly, he'd had a physical two months prior and all of his blood work was normal.

So, that's the update.  When I read the message I wrote below I recall how wonderful it felt that my son was healthy.   I'm looking forward to a time when I can write a "my son is cancer-free" again.

The dollars that are raised by wonderful organizations like MFNE help support research that are saving peoples lives.    The research is terribly important - but MFNE also does a tremendous amount to raise awareness.   Many people think that melanoma is "just a skin cancer" and no big deal.     Here's what I have to say to that....take a look at a stage 4 CT Scan and you will see the melanoma so much more than skin deep.     I'm leaving my original message below because it gives me hope!

Again, much gratitude to you!

 

 

******************************************************************

Thanks for visiting my fundraising page!    Most of you know that I'm passionate about supporting cancer-related causes.     Over the past 4 years we've contributed about $55k to support cancer research, and to help cancer victims and their families while they are in treatment.   I say "we" because it was only through the generosity of people like you that raising those dollars were possible.

 When I started this journey 4 years ago I was simply looking for a way to give back to my community.   Little did I know that I would be touched so personally during this short time - both my husband and my youngest son - are now cancer survivors.    My husband has had 2 bouts - and is now one year cancer free.

My son, Connor,  was diagnosed with malignant melanoma during his senior year of high school.  I can personally say that having any family member with any kind of illness is awful.   But having a child have go through something like this is unimaginable and there aren't words to describe it.   In fact, it brings tears to my eyes just typing the words.

Am happy to say that after 2 surgeries, over 300 stitches, multiple biopsies, skin grafts and a reconstructive surgery - Connor is now clear, though never out of danger.    Connor will likely have one more reconstructive surgery during the next 2-3 years.

So this cause is near and dear to my heart.

A few facts:

Melanoma is the most common form of cancer for young adults 25-29 years old and the second most common form of cancer for adolescents and young adults 15-29 years old.

One American dies of melanoma almost every hour. In 2013, it is estimated that 9,480 deaths will be attributed to melanoma — 6,280 men and 3,200 women.

The World Health Organization estimates that as many as 65,000 people a year worldwide die malignant skin cancer.

Approximately 75 percent of skin cancer deaths are from melanoma.

I'm honored to have been selected by the MFNE team to raise funds for this cause.   Please help me by contributing this year.

I'm Running for Cover for Connor - my ginger kid and the light of my life!

Much gratitude and love to all of you for your support.

Trace

http://www.crowdrise.com/mfneboston2014/fundraiser/tracycockerham 

All $ will be given to Tracy to either help with Connor's needs or to help with her fundraising for the Melanoma Foundation.

You can use the following PayPal Link or just give me $20 cash/check at beach.

https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=BAKMAHZLUPNWN

Hope to see you all on January 18th!

Sincerely,

Jim

ps...I confirmed with the Beach Club Manager that the hedgerow parking SHOULD be open and not being used for Pro-Am prep (2/3-2/9). Of course, we can always park at tennis courts and spa if we need to as well. 

In case the hedgerow parking is full when you show up on Saturday 1/18...here's a little map to help out with finding the additional free guest parking at the Spa and Tennis Courts....and a close up one of the Spa and Tennis Courts as well.

It's only a .26 mile walk from the spa parking back down to where the hedgerow parking is. It's paved, flat and easy.  :  )

You can see how big the lots are at Spa and tennis courts. :  )

The spots next to the pier/stairs/bathrooms are for members of pebble beach, not for kayakers/divers/guests.  Unload your gear there, move your car, and just walk on back. No biggie.  :  )

Hope this helps! I marked in blue where we will be doing the DOTY Awards/Potluck/Chill/Fish check in etc.

Thanks fellas!!

 

Sincerely,

Jim

sending good thoughts to your friends jim, one of my oldest friends, my sista from anotha mista, was diagnosed with stage four melenoma 3 years ago today, it nearly took her, but after a year of some serious treatments that alomst took her life, and several surgeries, she is now in remmission, and NA, so there is always hope, cameron

sending good thoughts to your friends jim, one of my oldest friends, my sista from anotha mista, was diagnosed with stage four melenoma 3 years ago today, it nearly took her, but after a year of some serious treatments that alomst took her life, and several surgeries, she is now in remmission, and NA, so there is always hope, cameron

Thanks Cameron...I never really knew much about Melanoma until I heard from Tracy about Connor's diagnosis...and then even more recently a good friend of mine's Mom got the same diagnosis...

Really scary stuff, and that is why I thought this would be a good cause to have the DOTY Awards Ceremony raise some $ for this year.

Sincerely,

Jim

I'll put it on my calendar--count me in!

My fryer and myself will be present. Could also bring A pop up tent and table.

sending good thoughts to your friends jim, one of my oldest friends, my sista from anotha mista, was diagnosed with stage four melenoma 3 years ago today, it nearly took her, but after a year of some serious treatments that alomst took her life, and several surgeries, she is now in remmission, and NA, so there is always hope, cameron

My aunt dies from Melanoma when she was 30,  my brother was diagnosed 3 weeks ago and went in for surgery yesterday.  I have had a few punch biopsies myself, but have dodged the bullet so far.

Thanks for doing this, Jim!

My fryer and myself will be present. Could also bring A pop up tent and table.

Thanks Andy!!!!!!!!

 

My aunt dies from Melanoma when she was 30, my brother was diagnosed 3 weeks ago and went in for surgery yesterday.  I have had a few punch biopsies myself, but have dodged the bullet so far.

Thanks for doing this, Jim!

Sorry to hear that Adam...glad we can get together and raise a little $ and raise some awareness at the same time.

Sincerely,

Jim

On my calendar love to join and see every one. Multiple biops. Myself. At dermatologist right now doing face burn prevent for keratoses removal.
Protect your skin!

My fryer and myself will be present. Could also bring A pop up tent and table.

Speaking of Pop-Up tent .....   Can you bring mine with you on saturday if there's room?

   Thanks!

Bill

I'll be there...

Update on Connor's condition from his Mom...not looking good...please keep him in your thoughts and prayers:

We've had an awful day.    Connor rapidly declined.    His pain became almost unmanageable.   

Based on this turn we believe he cannot tolerate radiation and it would not provide any benefit.

So I made the decision today to move him to comfort care.    We are being moved to a special palliative care wing at ucsf to figure out how to make him comfortable.  If we can make him comfortable at home we will eventually come home. If not we will stay here.    We've also removed his fluids.

It could go for weeks but they really expect days. 

He became completely delirious and so I don't believe is aware of any of this.  He will likely not wake up again.

No matter what happens between now and 1/18 any money donated/collected will be given to Connor's Mom Tracy...

You can use the following PayPal Link or just give me $20 cash/check at beach.

https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=BAKMAHZLUPNWN

Hope to see some of you on January 18th.

Sincerely,

Jim

I will be there with a Happy face but a Sad Heart  . My Brother Dave just went through his second bout of melanoma. He sends his best and a Huge Thank You Jim for spearheading this. 
Russ

Some pics of Connor and his Mom Tracy...

Sincerely,

Jim

Opened up Facebook just now on my phone and read the very sad news that Connor passed away this morning...

We will still give whatever $ we raise on 1/18 to his Mom Tracy to either donate to the Melanoma Foundation to help find a cure for Melanoma, or to help with his final expenses...whatever she feels is best/most needed...

Please keep Connor, his Mom and family and friends in your thoughts and prayers.

I know I will be thinking about him on 1/18 when I am out in the water and hope that you all will as well...

Sincerely,

Jim