It’s that time again: Cycle for Survival is here – tomorrow in Chicago and throughout February in other cities. Cycle for Survival is “the high-energy indoor team cycling event that provides a tangible way to beat rare cancers.” Why do I ride? 50% of people with cancer are battling a “rare cancer.” Rare cancers include brain, pancreatic, cervical, sarcoma, stomach, pediatric and countless others. Unfortunately, I know people who have been impacted by many of these cancers.
Also, if you check out my recap from last year , you will see that I initially got involved three years ago. I read an article about Jennifer Goodman Linn in 2008 or 2009 when the ride was being promoted. In 2004, at age 33, she was diagnosed with a rare cancer, called sarcoma. She was given a 50/50 chance of survival. She was encouraged by her friends and especially people the she worked out with. Jennifer Linn founded Cycle for Survival in 2007 with Equinox gym in New York City. It was a grass-roots program inspired by her love for cycling and the encouragement she found among her gym buddies. Today, thousands of cyclists team up each year with friends, family and coworkers to ride against cancer. Last year all of the rides raised over 14 million dollars. With several weeks to go, the current total is over 10 million!
You can click HERE to learn more and to support my “Erica Finds” team. There are still rides left in several cities – I highly recommend it!
Don sent me this awesome Tedx Toronto talk by Neil Pasricha. He is the author of the blog 1,000 Awesome Things and several books born from the blog starting with The Book of Awesome. After a breakup and the loss of a close friend, he started a “tiny blog” to try to cheer himself up. Watch this talk. It is 17 minutes well spent!
The author tells the story of his (wildly successful) blog. He also offers the 3 As of Awesome:
- Attitude – “we are all going to get lumps and bumps… we will all have high-highs, big days and big moments… but between those high-highs, we will all have some lumps and bumps, too” so “you can choose to swirl and twirl in the gloom and doom forever or two, you can grieve and then face the future with sober eyes.”
- Awareness – he reminds us of how children see the world with a newness of everything and appreciate seeing the world for the first time. “Embrace your inner three year old” and “Remember, you saw everything you saw in life for the first time, too”
- Authenticity – he tells us a great story about Rosie Greer and his passions (watch it…) Basically, embrace your passions and do what you love. It’s what makes you you.
Finally, he reminds us that we have only a limited time on earth. So, we should use the 3As to make our lives awesome. Amen!
PS. There is an app for this! It is free and it offers you something awesome to ponder each day!
Valentine’s Day is coming! Here are some great deals for your Valentine (or yourself!)
- Get $200 for $100 at Blue Nile from Living Social
- Get an adorable custom date coupon book from Datevitation for $9.99 from Groupon – and many more great local and national Valentine’s ideas, too!
- In Chicago? Planning to buy flowers this year? Try Thresholds Urban Meadows – Chicago’s only not for profit florist supporting Thresholds (an agency that supports adults with mental illness and addiction) or Flowers for Dreams offer locally crafted flower bouquets for $35. Delivery is free and save 10% with code EFINDS14. Each purchase benefits an amazing local charity in need! This month it’s Bright Pink. Win – wins!
- Save $7 and get free shipping on an America’s Best Organics gift box with the code STORYBOOK. Trust me your Valentine will LOVE it! Check out my giveaway to enter to win one, too!
- Save 25% – Preorder your Valentine’s Day flower’s & gifts from
- Check out all sorts of great Valentines deals at Brad’s Deals
- Save 20% off on Valentine’s gifts from Shari’s Berries with this link.OrganicBouquet.com!
- Save 55% on “Hugs and Kisses with Chocolates” at ProFlowers and 20% off on other V-Day gifts at ProFlowers with this link.
- Chicago runners, get $5 off Shamrock Shuffle registration with code CACSAVES.
- Get your Valentine a subscription to Love with Food – $10/month for awesome curated goodies, plus they give a meal to a needy child with every box!
- Rue La La is offering a great Valentine’s Gift Boutique if you need ideas!
- Get $15 off of your $50 purchase at Bliss through Valentine’s Day with code 15VDAY.
- Get up to 60% off gifts & heartfelt finds at Beauty.com just in time for Valentine’s Day!
- Order from curated sale hub Gilt and get $25 off your first order (lots of great gifts for V-Day!) or try awesome local metro deals, or cool national online deals, from Gilt City like 30% or more off on V-Day gifts at Chocolate Covered and get 40% off your first purchase. Start with ebates for additional cash back.
- Valentine’s Day Special! Get 15% off at AHAlife.com with promo code VDAY2014 (Valid until 2/15 midnight PST)
or get $20 Credit On Your First Order $100+
on curated “creative and inspired” items at AHALife
- Valentine like to workout ? Get 50% off your first outfit and free shipping from Kate Hudson’s Fabletics.
Are you getting excited for the Olympics or doing other fun stuff this weekend? I am doing Cycle for Survival tomorrow and maybe a 10K on Sunday if the weather is OK… good stuff!
PS. Don’t forget to check out my Best Organics Gift Basket and On the Go snacks giveaways + Valentine’s Deals!
