Wow, I’m still amazed at the success of UDance.  And, I’m slowly getting my voice back!

Now, we have to go into high gear for the “4th Annual B+ Fighting Childhood Cancer 5k Run/Walk” at Salesianum on Thurs. June 17th.  We’ve had a lot of people emailing us asking about when the online registration will be available for individuals and teams.  I’m sorry that we’re a little bit behind, but it should be ready in about 2 weeks.  Please start thinking about forming teams.  This year’s event is going to be bigger, better, and drier than ever!  Thanks for your patience.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I’ve been asked to post a link about a family in PA who is trying to win money in the Pepsi Refresh project.  Unfortunately, this family has lost 2 children to leukemia and they’re trying to win money to purchase a house for other families of children with cancer to use as a temporary shelter, I believe.  All you have to do to help is click on the link and vote.  It’s a pretty cool contest.  Each monthly contest ends at the end of the month, so there’s still a few days left to vote.  Thanks.

http://www.refresheverything.com/ErinsDream

~~~~~~~~

Last night, we joined our friends, the Gladnicks, for the Salesianum sports banquet.  The banquet honors the Senior athletes.  Chris and I didn’t really realize what we were in for and walked in to see all the seniors lined up at the tables in their white dinner jackets & bow ties… the same outfit that they will wear at graduation.  I felt like someone punched me in the stomach.  Seriously.  It just took me by surprise…it looked like the pictures I’ve seen from Sallies graduations.  Chris and I stayed for a little while, but had to escape before the program started.  It was just too hard.  I’ll be ready (sort of) for graduation, though.  Andrew will always be a member of the Class of 2010 and we will be there for ‘his’ graduation.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I want to tell you about a really neat guy and neat concept.  Mike Womer, one of the owners of 1614 Fitness in Bear and Newark, DE, is organizing what is called a “Pump & Run”.  Mike is ‘borrowing’ the concept from Paul Schweitzer, the owner of Pro Physical Therapy where Andrew used to do personal training sessions.  For this event, you can simply run the 5k in the traditional way OR you can do the “Pump & Run”.  For every rep that you can bench press of your weight, 30 seconds comes off of your 5k time.  Interesting, huh!  Mike is an amazing guy and last year, he did this event to raise money for B+ Hero, Savannah Pauley.  This year, and I think going forward, the beneficiary will be our Foundation.  Mike, Dino, John, and the rest of the 1614 folks want to help local families battling cancer.

Chris will post a flyer on www.BePositive.org soon, but in short, it will be held on Sat. May 15th at 10am at 1614 Fitness on South College Avenue in Newark, DE (at the entrance to the UD campus).

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I hope you’re enjoying the weather…wherever you are.

Live Like Andrew - make someone laugh.  (Boy, could he get me laughing!!!)

B+

Ali’s & Andrew’s Dad

www.caringbridge.org/visit/andrewmcdonough

Increased awareness of childhood cancer!

B+ Heroes - and their families put up on pedestals!

A fun & life-changing experience for the UD students!

$112,930!!!!

UDance 2010 WAS A SMASHING SUCCESS!

We had a very lofty goal of raising $100,000, and the students of the University of Delaware simply amazed me by raising $112,930. 

There are so many people to thank, but I know I’ll miss someone if I try to capture each one.  But there are a few groups that I must thank.

• Katie Wilson & Jay Mercandetti were the UDance 2010 Co-Chairs
• Matt Lenno of the University of DE
• Gov. Jack Markell for joining us
• The UDance Executive Board, which included our daughter, Ali
• All of the B+ Heroes and their families
• All of the UD students who took the time to raise money for children with cancer and to fight these terrible diseases
• All of our donors
• All of the sponsors for their support

You can’t believe how many hours of work went into this event over the past year on the part of the students.  I’m so proud and appreciative of the UD students.  I didn’t think I could be more proud to be a UD alum, but you have taken me up a notch.

In case you want to read the article in the local paper, please click on the following link:

http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20100322/NEWS/3220325/-1/updates#pluckcomments

It’s a nice article, but I would like to clarify that NOTHING happens without the collective efforts of all of us.  Sometimes articles give me too much credit.  As I have said repeatedly, it’s OUR Foundation — it belongs to all of us — I’m just the mouthpiece (and a big one at that :)  ) of the organization.

I’ve lost my hearing and my voice, but I couldn’t be happier about the success of UDance 2010. 

Thank you to everyone for honoring our kids - those hearing fighting cancer and those who are with us from Heaven!

God bless you all.

Live Like Andrew - B+

Ali’s & Andrew’s Dad

www.caringbridge.org/visit/andrewmcdonough

Happy St. Patrick’s Day…and happy birthday to B+ Hero, Drew Koenig!

Ali was featured in a really nice article yesterday in The Review, the University of Delaware student-run newspaper.  We’re SO proud of her!

http://www.udreview.com/news/student-raises-money-for-cancer-research-in-brother-s-memory-1.1268717

As you’ll see in the article, UDance (the largest student-run philanthropy at UD) is this coming Sunday from 11am-11pm.  It’s open to the public.  Please come out and join us, especially at 4:30pm, when we honor the B+ Heroes on stage.  There will be great auction and raffle items available as well.  If you’re interested in learning more about UDance - or about donating - please see the link on the www.BePositive.org homepage.  Hope to see a lot of you there on Sunday.

~~~~~~~

The Wilmington Blue Rocks (minor league baseball team) has told me that they’re getting a ton of ticket orders already for “B+ Night at the Blue Rocks”.   That’s really awesome…thank you very much.  “B+ Night” is Fri. Aug. 20th (”fireworks night” always sold out) and $2 from every ticket will be donated to our mission to fight childhood cancers.  The Blue Rocks will wear special jerseys that night which will feature the B+ logo.  Please check out the blurb on our homepage of www.BePositive.org or click here for the order form. http://76.12.197.222/documents/BlueRocksOrderForm.pdf  We want to pack the house with B+ supporters.   More exciting news about about an amazing sponsorship is forthcoming.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Some friends of ours from California, the Barker family, lost their son and brother - Christian- from this world as well.  They are participating in a contest that Jon Bon Jovi is sponsoring.  There will be a prize for the most watched video during the 3/15 - 3/21 time period.  A friend of the Barkers put together a really nice (and professional) video honoring Christian.  Please take a minute to watch the video…that’s all it takes to ‘vote’.  Thanks.

http://animoto.com/play/RiE8Ikk0DSV7xJ4azWRZQQ?utm_source=share&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=animoto&utm_content=main_link

 ~~~~~~~~~

Erin go bragh!

Live Like Andrew - “Be who you are, and be that well!” (St. F. deS.)

B+

Ali’s & Andrew’s Dad

www.caringbridge.org/visit/andrewmcdonough

“Beware the ides of March” (Wm S.)

While most know this as a literary reference, I will always remember “the ides of March” in 2007 as a very, very dark day.  It was on that day that we learned that Andrew’s eyes were being impacted by the complications of the disease. 

~~~~~~~~~~

$206,804

On the one hand, it is just a number.  It’s the aggregate amount of 258 checks written by your Foundation to families of critically ill children around the country.  More importantly, though, that number represents HOPE…LOVE…FAITH…and TRUST.  When you are in the hospital worrying about your child’s life and death battle and you face eviction, for example, this support from ‘friends you have never met yet’ is truly a God-send.  More than paying a bill or two, it lets you know that people care about you.

     “We came home today from chemo round #3 and were moved to tears to find your letter and check in the mail.”  (Austin’s family)

      “You guys have been such a blessing to us!  There are times that I feel like I could lose my mind, but the other day I received the gift, and it changed my day.  Nobody except the people who have gone through this situation can begin to understand the financial and emotional hardships this brings on.”  (Mariah’s family)

Thank you very much for your continued support.  Andrew is the leader of our Foundation, but you all are the backbone!

~~~~~~~~~~~

I had the privilege of being interviewed last week by a gentleman named Todd Welch.  Todd has embarked upon a very ambitious undertaking to travel the country documenting stories of trust.  If you’re interested, you can view our interview at his website below.

http://trusttour.com/

~~~~~~~~~~

If you’re local, please plan to come out and join us for UDance on Sun. March 21st at the Field House at the University of Delaware.  UDance is a 12 hour dance marathon (11am-11pm) open to the public.  The highlight of the day will come at 4:30pm when we introduce the B+ Heroes (children with cancer) on stage.  More information can be found at www.BePositive.org.

Make it a great week!

Live Like Andrew

B+

Ali’s & Andrew’s Dad

www.caringbridge.org/visit/andrewmcdonough

It’s been a little while since my last update.  Sometimes, I just don’t feel like, or have the strength, to post.  I’ve given three talks this week and, while part of me LOVES to talk about my Andrew, it’s pretty draining re-telling our story.  It’s truly hard to believe the words that come out of my mouth when I re-count the events of the past 3 years.  There are, literally, no words to describe how much I miss Andrew and no words to describe the pain that I see on Ali’s & Chris’ faces.  But, unfortunately, I know we can’t change what has happened.  I really hope everyone who reads this will live their lives a little differently because of “Andrew’s story”.  I can’t, of course, promise that something like this will never happen to you, but I hope you’ll all make the most of each day and let those close to you know how much they mean to you.  If people can learn from our journey, then there’s a little purpose there.  One of the things that allows us to live is that we don’t have any regrets about Andrew.  Andrew lived every day knowing how much we loved him and he wasn’t shy about showing that love back to us.  We had an awesome 14 years.  We have been blessed.

people come into our lives for a reason
Bringing something we must learn
And we are led
To those who help us most to grow
If we let them

I think one of the things that surprises me, pleasantly of course, is the impact that Andrew continues to have on people from Heaven.  Andrew is continuing to help us grow, but we must be open to the message.  People, especially youth, are constantly reminding us that Andrew still ‘lives’…and I can’t tell you how important that is to us.

So much of me
Is made of what I learned from you
You’ll be with me
Like a handprint on my heart
And now whatever way our stories end
I know you have re-written mine
By being my friend…

 But I know I’m who I am today
Because I knew you

Andrew is so much more than just a ‘handprint on my heart’.  I know that “I’m who I am today because I knew” Andrew.  I am who I am today most significantly because of Andrew, Chris, and Ali.  If you’ve never experienced the loss of a child, you may wonder ‘when are you going to get over it’?  Fortunately, that question has not been asked of me; but I know other families who have heard that question.  The simple answer is - YOU NEVER GET OVER IT!  When someone is such a huge part of your life and your heart, the void is so great that it cannot be filled.  That doesn’t mean that you don’t try to live anymore.  But, honestly, there is not a 15 minute period when I don’t think of my son.  I can’t describe how close Andrew and I are.

I do believe I have been
Changed for the better
And because I knew you…
I have been changed for good.

There is NO doubt that Andrew has changed me for the better and FOR GOOD!  Thank you, Andrew.  I LOVE YOU!

Finally, last night I had the opportunity to speak to the new members of Ali’s sorority with the hope of encouraging their participation in the upcoming UDance.  I knew that I might embarrass Ali, but I would have been terribly remiss if I did not acknowledge, in front of the sorority, how proud I am of my little girl.  Ali has battled every day to survive in a world without her brother here.  She reaches out to children with cancer and their siblings.  She is on the Exec. Board of UDance and spent 5 hours ‘canning’ in the freezing cold on Main St the other day.  And, she declared her major a few months ago.  She wants to ultimately get her PhD so that she can counsel children going through grief, trauma, cancer, and similar situations.  I am so incredibly proud of my daughter.  That’s why I continue to say that I’m blessed.  I’m living my worst nightmare, but Chris and I have been married for almost 27 years and we HAVE two wonderful children.

If you’re still reading, great job.  To everyone else that fell asleep, sorry! 

Thank you for your continued support of our family and our extended family of children fighting cancer all around the country!

MAKE it a great weekend.

God bless you.

Live Like Andrew — B+

Couldn’t be prouder to be - Ali’s & Andrew’s Dad

The closing song from “The Celebration of Andrew’s Life” (July 21, 2007)

“FOR GOOD” from Wicked

 (Elphaba) I’m limited
Just look at me - I’m limited
And just look at you
You can do all I couldn’t do, Glinda
So now it’s up to you
For both of us - now it’s up to you…

(Glinda) I’ve heard it said
That people come into our lives for a reason
Bringing something we must learn
And we are led
To those who help us most to grow
If we let them
And we help them in return
Well, I don’t know if I believe that’s true
But I know I’m who I am today
Because I knew you

Like a comet pulled from orbit
As it passes a sun
Like a stream that meets a boulder
Halfway through the wood
Who can say if I’ve been changed for the better?
But because I knew you
I have been changed for good

(Elphaba) It well may be
That we will never meet again
In this lifetime
So let me say before we part
So much of me
Is made of what I learned from you
You’ll be with me
Like a handprint on my heart
And now whatever way our stories end
I know you have re-written mine
By being my friend…

Like a ship blown from its mooring
By a wind off the sea
Like a seed dropped by a skybird
In a distant wood
Who can say if I’ve been changed for the better?
But because I knew you

(Glinda) Because I knew you

(Both) I have been changed for good

(Elphaba) And just to clear the air
I ask forgiveness
For the thing I’ve done you blame me for

(Glinda) But then, I guess we know
There’s blame to share

(Both) And none of it seems to matter anymore

(Glinda) Like a comet pulled from orbit
As it passes a sun
Like a stream that meets a boulder
Halfway through the wood

(Elphaba) Like a ship blown from its mooring
By a wind off the sea
Like a seed dropped by a bird in the wood

(Both) Who can say if I’ve been
Changed for the better?
I do believe I have been
Changed for the better

(Glinda) And because I knew you…

(Elphaba) Because I knew you…

(Both) Because I knew you…
I have been changed for good.