The 12 Days of Kick mAss

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

There is still time to Support unique mAss Kickers Foundation activities in 2013
http://www.stayclassy.org/charity/mass-kickers-foundation/c5205

• a patient reseach 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

mAss Kickers 2012 Holiday Challenge

Everyday a tumor or cancer patient faces different challenges that make life a little more difficult.  This holiday season we ask you to symbolically challenge yourself while promoting mAss Kickers Foundation's mission to "provide support and motivation to newly diagnosed tumor/cancer patients and their loved ones."  You can symbolically join their fight by declaring a personal challenge to support them.  Think of it as an "early new year's resolution" with a charitable spin.  We are asking you to create a personal fundraising page and gather support from your family and friends for your personal challenge. 

All you need to do is click on the blue "BECOME A FUNDRAISER" button on the top right of this page AND declare...  

1. Who you are honoring with this challenge,
2. What you are doing
3. Why you are doing this challenge, 
4. How your friends/ family can support your challenge.

For example one might give up desserts in December to promote a healthy lifestyle to prevent the risk for cancer.  Or one might pledge to exercise at least 3 hours a week to honor a loved one's fight against a tumor or cancer.  This campaign is only limited by your creativity.  Ask your friends and family to show support for your challenge

The funds raised from this campaign will:
 1.  support unique 2013 MKF events

• a patient reseach seminar in San Diego,
• a charity kickball tournament in San Diego,
• a paintball benefit in Michigan,
• INTERNATIONAL TUMORS SUCK DAY an international campaign, and
• a NEW EVENT: a survivor speaking tour to the Philippines/Japan

2.   support tumor/cancer research via Stand Up 2 Cancer in 2013, and

3.  support MKF's vision to empower individuals to be proactive in the struggle against tumors and cancer.  

mAss Kickers Foundation is looking to secure our first official office space in 2013.  That is a HUGE STEP!  YOU CAN BE A PART OF THE NEXT PHASE OF MASS KICKERS FOUNDATION!

Tumors Suck stickers will be mailed to you upon creation of a fundraising page.  These unique stickers are a reminder of why you are taking up this challenge. PLEASE SHARE YOUR PHOTOS WITH US ON FACEBOOK! 

Click HERE TO JOIN THE CHALLENGE! 

2012 mAss Kickers Foundation Year In Review

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, MKF Founder, Eric Galvez spoke at The Rehab Institute of Chicago about his experiences as a young physical therapist turned neuro rehab patient and offered unique advice in treating brain tumor patients.  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 DanaFarber 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 Cancer Summit for Young Adults by San Diego based mAss Kickers.

In May, MKF teamed up with First Descents, Young Survival Coalition – San Diego chapter, Fin Forward, and International Alliance of Pilots 4 Patients for a bon fire.  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 with toasts to our families, friends, and fellow survivors who stuck with us through the difficult times.  They transformed us into “thrivers”.

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 also present at Critical Mass – The Young Adult Cancer Alliance conference.  Eric was also able to speak at Georgia State Physical Therapy Program.

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

• a unique patient reseach seminar in San Diego,
• a charity kickball tournament in San Diego,
• a paintball benefit in Michigan,
• INTERNATIONAL TUMORS SUCK DAY an international campaign, and
• 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 .

Critical Mass: The Young Adult Cancer Alliance Conference 2012

November 7-9, 2012, Atlanta, Georgia: USA  Critical Mass, The Young Adult Cancer Alliance. Annual Conference.  We were again blown away by the unique display of unity between leaders in young adult tumor/cancer advocacy organizations, scientists, and healthcare professionals to address the unique needs of young adult tumor and cancer patients!  The event started with a mixer in the hotel after everyone arrived to register for the event.  On Thursday, the conference was kicked off with a Keynote from NY Times blogger and Young Adult  Cancer Patient, Suleika Jaouad.  Insurance, fertility issues, current young adult cancer clinical research/psycho social/support services presentations, and on oncology programming issues were highlighted throughout the day.  The day ended with an informal social event at an off- site venue.  This is where relationships are created or solidified and the seeds for "real" interaction between organizations are planted.  

The following morning, the day was opened by Benjamin Rubenstein and highlighted by discussions addressing genomics, collaboration, and resources for patients.  We are excited to see how the relationships built from the conference will address the unmet needs of the young adult tumor/cancer patients.  mAss Kickers Foundation is proud to be a part of this unique collaboration!

2012 International TUMORS SUCK Day

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 fulfill 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 "mAss Kicking" posse!

Rock Da Hawk in Hawktober for Brain Tumor Awareness and Highlight it Pink to Support Breast Cancer Patients!

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 (liquid or solid) 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!

Childhood Cancer Awareness Month - Nathan Mwenda

Nathan Mwenda

Diagnosed at age: 8

Currently: a high school junior, age 17

Lives in: Richmond, VA

What was your diagnosis?

Craniopharyngioma (brain tumor)

What treatments or surgeries did you have?

I had surgery to get a shunt and radiation treatment at VCU Medical Center.

What organizations are you involved with?

I am involved with Children's Brain Tumor Foundation as well as Camp Sunshine in Casco, Maine and Camp Mak-A- Dream in Gold Creek, Montana.

Who were the first survivors/thrivers you met?

The first cancer survivors that I met were those from Camp Sunshine. I found out about Camp Sunshine and Camp Mak-A-Dream through Children’s Brain Tumor Foundation.

What is your personal theme song?

My personal theme song is “Lean on Me” by Bill Withers

How are you fighting back against tumors?

I’m fighting back against cancer by advocating for myself, others, and staying positive.

Any advice for people at the beginning of their battle against tumors?

My advice is to be strong and hang in there. Don't let the bad things people say about what you’re going through bring you down. Cherish your family and friends.