We hope this email finds you healthy, happy, and well. With the New Year upon us, we hope you have set some lofty goals for yourself to help you push your limits and reach new heights. Remember that if you set your goals too low, you may very well reach them, but could you have done more? Remember that this life is short, and we need to make the very best of the short time we have here.

 Speaking of lofty goals, our friend James Lawrence has out-done himself by taking FIRST PLACE in his first of 30 Ironman races this year. Way to go, James! We’re all watching you and hoping you are able to pull this off! James can use our help, so PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, if you have airmiles or frequent flyer points that you can give to James, please let me know!

 Also, on my letter dated December 14, I failed to mention a few things. The letter included an article by Jackie Clark. Jackie joined the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance in 2009 as research assistant after graduating with a bachelor’s degree in English and a minor in fitness and nutrition. Jackie’s experience in technical and medical research has allowed her to assist in the development of medical content and outreach efforts, with specializations in alternative care, cancer support programs, and social media campaigns. Thanks again for your letter, Jackie, it was very informative.

 Last of all, we wanted to share an inspiring poem with you. It is by Ella Wheeler Wilcox and it encourages us to smile through the difficult times. Don’t let the difficult times take your smile away!

 Worth While

            by Ella Wheeler Wilcox

 It is easy enough to be pleasant,
When life flows by like a song,
But the man worth while is one who will smile,
When everything goes dead wrong.
For the test of the heart is trouble,
And it always comes with the years,
And the smile that is worth the praises of earth
Is the smile that shines through tears.

It is easy enough to be prudent,
When nothing tempts you to stray,
When without or within no voice of sin
Is luring your soul away;
But it’s only a negative virtue
Until it is tried by fire,
And the life that is worth the honor of earth
Is the one that resists desire.

By the cynic, the sad, the fallen,
Who had no strength for the strife,
The world’s highway is cumbered to-day;
They make up the sum of life.
But the virtue that conquers passion,
And the sorrow that hides in a smile,
It is these that are worth the homage on earth
For we find them but once in a while.

Take care and keep on tri-ing!

Your friends at the Hess Cancer Foundation

We hope the holiday season finds you healthy and well.

The Hess Cancer Foundation believes in the importance of fitness. Our slogan is ‘Fitness for the Fight’. There’s a Utah resident who has re-defined what fitness is and has also set a world record in 2010 by completing 22 half-Ironman competitions in 30 weeks. What an amazing feat! His name is James Lawrence. James has decided that in 2012, he’s going to complete 30 FULL IRONMAN RACES IN ONE YEAR! That means on average, he will be completing an Ironman every 2 weeks or less for the entire year. He is already registered for the events and just needs to figure out how he’s going to travel to each of them. That’s where you and I can help. If any of you have airmiles or frequent flyer points that will expire, please consider donating them to James – he could sure use them. He could also use help with airline tickets. If you know how he could get a flight (or several flights) donated or purchased at a discount, please let me know and I’ll let him know. James is also looking for sponsors from individuals or businesses alike. If this sounds like something you’re interested in, please let me know and I can get you in touch with this inspiring individual. KSL recently reported about James and their story can be read here:
http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=148&sid=18283722&title=man-to-complete-30-triathlons-for-world-record

So why does fitness mean so much to the Hess Cancer Foundation? I have always believed that fitness is one of the best and most important ways to fight cancer. Jackie Clark recently confirmed this to me and shed some more light on the subject. She recently sent an article to me that was so good I just had to share it with all of you. Please take the time to read the following short article, it’s worth reading!
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Exercise Benefits Children with Cancer

It’s long been known that exercise lowers the risk of heart disease, diabetes and some forms of cancer. But exercise also can benefit individuals—including children—who already have cancer, even while they’re undergoing treatment.

According to the National Cancer Institute, leukemia is the most common form of cancer to affect children. Other common forms include brain tumors, lymphoma and soft tissue sarcoma. Children have been known to suffer from other forms as well, even mesothelioma cancer, which more commonly inflicts older men.

But whatever the type of cancer, children who are undergoing or have completed cancer treatment can benefit from exercise, according to the Integrative Therapies Program for Children with Cancer at Children’s Hospital of New York-Presbyterian and Columbia University Medical Center.

While the disease and treatment may limit a child’s physical activity, the Integrative Therapies Program reports that exercise has been shown to improve many symptoms, including pain, mood and physical function. To improve a child’s symptoms, physical activity does not have to be rigorous. Children’s Hospital of New York-Presbyterian reports that movement therapy has been shown to be particularly effective for children who have been in the hospital for an extended time or who have encountered pronounced fatigue, anxiety or depression.

The hospital tailors movement therapy based on a child’s interests, physical condition prior to cancer and current physical condition as a result of cancer and treatment complications. The hospital’s Integrative Therapies Program uses a variety of exercises from yoga, karate, Pilates and dance in both group and individual sessions that are scheduled during and after cancer treatment.

The Integrative Therapies Program also cites several research studies that have shown the positive effects of home- and hospital-based exercise and therapy in alleviating fatigue and other symptoms of pediatric cancer patients.

On its informational website, the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) recommends that parents of children with cancer talk with their child’s health care team to plan an appropriate exercise program.

ASCO adds that chemotherapy and radiation therapy often leave patients, even children, feeling too tired to do anything more than stretch or walk slowly. And, in any case, patients undergoing treatment should never elevate their heart rate more than 50% to 60% of their maximum heart rate.
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Since we’re on the subject of fitness, there’s an event coming up on New Year’s Day. Those of you who have stayed fit during the cold months should head south and take part in this event – it’s called the ‘New Year Revolution’, which is a 55, 65, or 100 mile bike ride in Goodyear Arizona. A portion of the proceeds of this event will benefit the Hess Cancer Foundation. For more information and registration info, check it out at http://www.ridemybike.com/rides/view/id:902.

Last of all, I just wanted to encourage all of you to make a small donation to the Hess Cancer Foundation. It’s very easy to make an online donation at http://hesscancer.org/donate/. Your donation is tax-deductible and I promise you that your money will be used for a good cause.

Wishing all of you a very merry Christmas and a happy new year!

Take care and God bless,

Travis P. Hess
Hess Cancer Foundation
510 North 900 East
Lehi, Utah 84043
801-520-9755

We hope this email finds you healthy and happy. Thanksgiving is just around the corner and we hope that you will be able to see the many reasons we have to be grateful. While the economy has been at a real down-turn for the last several years, we still enjoy prosperity that other third-world countries only dream of. Many men and women have given their lives for our freedoms, and we need to remember to show our gratitude through our actions.

The Hess Cancer Foundation has had a year that was filled with events. We were able to help two families in need; the Beltran-Pelaez family from Utah as well as the Ortuno family from New York (http://hesscancer.org/kids-helped/) . We have also had our share of cancer. As many of you know, my family has been diagnosed with a rare syndrome that makes those of us who have it much more susceptible to cancer, and I am one of the carriers. In September of 2010 I was diagnosed with a massive tumor in my chest, which was surgically removed. This past January it came back, and I went through 4 months of chemotherapy as well as 6 weeks of radiation. On July 13, my younger sister Angie was diagnosed with a brain tumor. She also had major surgery, has recovered, and is doing very well. The following week my 12-year old son Dallin was diagnosed with osteosarcoma (bone cancer) in his left shin. For several months now, the doctors have been treating him with chemotherapy. He also had major surgery on October 11, where the doctors amputated his left leg at the knee. He has also been doing amazingly well since his surgery and he’s learned to navigate very well on his crutches. He has been such an inspiration to me through his courage and positive mental attitude, and I’m honored to be his father.

Dallin has two aunts that decided they would like to help us pay for his prosthetic leg by hosting a race. THIS EVENT IS NOT BENEFITING THE HESS CANCER FOUNDATION, but I wanted to let you all know about it anyway, in an effort to help my son. This coming Saturday at 8:00 AM, they are hosting the “Dash for Dallin”, which is a 5K run as well as a 1-mile fun run. The race will start and finish at the Davis High School in Kaysville, Utah, which is at 325 South Main Street in Kaysville. You can register at the high school the morning of the event, or you can also register online at http://www.active.com/running/kaysville-ut/dash-for-dallin-2011. All of the proceeds of this event will be used to help Dallin with his prosthetic leg. We hope you will join us for this event.

Thank you all the support you have given the Hess Cancer Foundation! We appreciate it, as do the many families we have been able to help.

Take care and God bless,

Travis Hess

Hess Cancer Foundation

We hope this email finds you healthy and happy. As you know, the Hess Cancer Foundation promotes staying fit, and what better way to stay fit than running, biking, and swimming (hmm, maybe triathlons would be a better way). This coming Saturday, we’re promoting 2 events; one for runners and another for bikers.

The first section of the Mountain View Corridor (MVC) in Utah County is opening this Saturday! 2100 North in Lehi offers drivers a new east-west connection between I-15 and Redwood Road. This initial phase of MVC is a frontage road system, similar to a divided highway, with one-way eastbound and westbound roadways and signalized intersections where 2100 North crosses local streets.

A community celebration for the opening of 2100 North in Lehi will take place Saturday, September 24 at North Point Elementary School (1901 North 2300 West, Lehi). At 10:30 a.m., a brief ceremonial ribbon cutting will take place, immediately followed by a 5K Fun Run and Walk on the actual road. A registration fee is required for the Fun Run and Walk, with the proceeds donated to local charities, including the Hess Cancer Foundation, Anything for a Friend, The Boys and Girls Club of Utah County and North Point Elementary. The road will open to live traffic after the race and community celebration.

Visit the project website, udot.utah.gov/mountainviewutcounty, to register for the 5K Fun Run and Walk. More information about the project, the roadway configuration and new driving patterns is also available on the project website.

And for you bikers, don’t miss the biking event on September 24 – the Heber Valley Century Ride hosted by Bike2Bike.org! Check out their website at http://wp.bike2bike.org/index.php/rides/heber-valley-century-september-24-2011. A portion of the proceeds of this event will be donated to the Hess Cancer Foundation. We’re looking for volunteers for this event, so if you would like to volunteer, please contact me.

Thanks for your support!

Sincerely,

Travis Hess

Hess Cancer Foundation

Office: 801-220-4326

Mobile: 801-520-9755

www.hesscancer.org

BBSC Endurance Sports, a rather new-comer to the Utah/Nevada triathlon scene, contacted me with a request. They wanted the Hess Cancer Foundation to enlist volunteers for their triathlon held July 16^th, 2011 at Scofield Utah. They explained they were looking for 100 volunteers and would pay HCF $3,500 for providing volunteers for the event.

After the event they change their tune and are only willing to pay $960!

Here is what went down:

BBSC had 274 participants (this includes the kid’s tri). HCF provided 34 volunteers, which is more than 1 volunteer for every 10 athletes! If we had rounded up 100 volunteers we would have had nearly a 1 to 2 ratio – a bit unnecessary.

HCF was able to provide volunteers at every intersection needed, all the aid stations, the transition area, the finish line, in the lake, etc. No one from HCF knew where the volunteers were supposed to report until the DAY BEFORE THE EVENT. We offered 5 volunteers at PowerTri on Thursday the 14^th and we were informed they would not need them. We were informed on Thursday, 2 days before the race, where the volunteers were to report. That is NOT how people should be managed.

TWO DAYS prior to the event, BBSC also requested a motorcycle and 2 kayaks. Not only did HCF come up with volunteers for Thursday, we also came up with a motorcycle, a driver, and 4 kayaks – with only 2 days notice.

 The four reasons BBSC gave for keeping the $2,540:

1 - HCF was asked for 100 volunteers and only came up with 34;

2 – HCF agreed to provide volunteers on Thursday and Friday (HCF offered volunteers on Thursday, they were turned away);

3 - We ate more food than we were supposed to. (Really? We were supposed to have 100 volunteers and only had 34, and we ate too much? That makes absolutely no sense);

4 – According to the Race Director with BBSC, “HCF put an inexperienced 12-year-old boy in a kayak. That was irresponsible and dangerous for everyone.” (If the BBSC Race Director was that concerned about safety, she should have been on the dock instructing the kayakers prior to launch – SHE was supposed to be in charge… NOT the volunteers).

Here is how I see it…

This triathlon had a poor turn-out and earned far less revenue than they hoped. They looked for expenses that could be cut and decided on the Hess Cancer Foundation.

Last of all, here’s what I have the hardest time figuring out: We provided 34 volunteers; if you figure the average hours worked were 8 hours per volunteer (6 am until 2 pm on Saturday – this is not including the hours worked on Friday, the drive time, camping in tents, etc), the total hours would come to 272. If you divide the hours by $960 – the amount the BBSC plans to pay HCF – you get $3.53 per hour. $3.72 LESS THAN MINIMUM WAGE? THAT IS LESS THAN HALF OF THE MINIMUM WAGE! (In case you didn’t know, minimum wage is $7.25 per hour).

Compared to last year, the HCF had more than double the number of volunteers. HCF did what was needed for a good event to be held, the BBSC is looking at the dollar signs and doing the wrong thing.

What I ask:

Please go to http://bbsctri.com/contact and let them know what you think. I have, and I am asking all of my contacts to do the same thing. There is a lot of competition out there and from here on out, and I for one will be signing up for tri’s put on by other organizations like TriUtah, US Tri Sports, and Telos.

 Shame on you Brent Herron, owner of the BBSC!

Travis Hess

President, Hess Cancer Foundation