Matt Dery's Weekend
As many of you know, 97.1 The Ticket is not just a sports station. We talk a lot about life and life-changing events and things that go on in our community. This past weekend I had the opportunity to spend three amazing days in my hometown of Cleveland, Ohio working (crewing) at the Susan G. Komen 3 Day for the Cure. It is the second time that I have volunteered at the event and once again, it was an amazing experience.
We spend so much time in our lives worrying and complaining about minor things. The weather, our Facebook accounts, our cell minutes, and even what we should order for dinner. When you get an opportunity to give back and give both yourself and your time to an event like the 3 Day, it really puts life into perspective. Breast cancer is a very prevalent disease and 1 in 8 women in this country are diagnosed with breast cancer. My mom had it. My fiancee Heather's grandmother had it. Luckily, those two amazing ladies beat it. Not everybody beats it. This is why I work the event. I raise my $300 and spend the weekend with Heather assisting our amazing walkers who march 60 miles in 3 days to help find a cure.
We worked Pit Stop 1, which is the first rest area for the walkers each day (about 2.5 miles in). Wake up is at 3:30 AM and our team of 10 sets up the entire Pit Stop with a food tent, medical tent, and hydration. This means putting up the tents, cutting bananas, bagels and oranges, making Gatorade, dressing up in theme-based costumes, and most importantly greeting the walkers with smiles and stickers and food and drink. By 10 AM, it feels like it is 5 PM. This is REAL work and work that is rewarding and gives you a sense of pride. This is a work environment that by day 3 turns into a family. You drive in the van together, you eat together, camp together in tents, and join together to fight for an amazing cause. Plus, you find out about the people who are really struggling to fight the disease and you personally touch their lives, by just shaking their hand or offering them an Uncrustable sandwich or a sip of water as they walk. I was so proud to be a part of Cleveland Pit Stop 1 with Heather, Captain Molly, Chuck, Condiment Girl Michelle, Carol, Joanne, Christine, Krazy Karen and Amy. Together we made a difference.
I know many of you may say, "Geez.. enough with all of this Breast Cancer talk." I say hogwash. Komen for the Cure is the real deal and just because they market better than anybody else, does not mean that they should be ignored. They feed you and the food is very good, plus, you shower in a truck and it is a great place to meet chicks! Guys can walk in this event too and WXYT's own Tim Grzecki is going to walk next weekend here in Michigan. Tim is one of our Tigers and Pistons producers and he is walking because his best friend's mom is a 7 year survivor. What an amazing gesture and project for Tim (get in shape bro). You can donate to Tim's cause at www.the3day.org. Just click "donate" and find Tim Grzecki for the Michigan event.
And we are not just attempting to cure breast cancer, why not cure them all? The research funded by Komen can also aid in developing cures for other cancers. I hope my weekend recap and story can influence you to participate in any way you can. Who doesn't love boobs?
