LLS Gala

We ended The Man, Woman and Celebrity of the Year Campaign with The Iowa LLS Gala. This phenomenal event was held at The Meadows in Altoona, IA on May 15th.

I'm honored and excited to announce I was awarded 1st Runner - up this year! Our winner for the celebrity category was Olympic Gold Medalist Shawn Johnson! We are so honored to have Shawn advocate for LLS!

I am so honored to have my family with me during the amazing event! Pictured above are the inspirations behind my advocacy and philanthropy work for LLS. L to R: Dad (Don Redeker), Mom (Rhonda Redeker) and Mr. Iowa (Ryan).

We await the announcement of winners on stage ... drum roll please!

The Meadows was FABULOUS! We had an evening of fun with our honorary families and honorary chair (ISU Head Football Coach Paul Rhodes). I do think I even gained some points with Ryan by getting him an autograph from Coach Rhodes!

We also had a wonderful dinner and silent / live auction with all the proceeds going to LLS!

Thanks to all of our friends and family for supporting LLS!

Pictured Above: Theresa and Matt Fettkether.

Pictured Below: The BEST Mom and Dad a girl could ever dream of!

A mother holds her hand for a little while, BUT holds her heart FOREVER!

Mom ... you are my inspiration and I love you more than words can ever express!

Pictured below with two sweet little ladies! Jason Wulff is also a 2010 Candidate for Man, Woman and Celebrity of the Year ... these are his wonderful girls!

Ryan, I love you with all my being! I love that you willingly wear your cancer ribbon tie! You have inspired me to be the woman I have always wanted to be. You stand beside me and support me more than I could ever have imagined you would ... you constantly make me so proud to be Mrs. York!

LLS at Iowa Cubs

It was LLS Day at The Iowa Cubs Game on May 8th, 2010! About 10 weeks ago, I accepted a nomination by LLS to participate in a philanthropic campaign. The Man, Woman and Celebrity of the Year Campaign has been such a blessing!! I have met GREAT people who share the same passion for blood cancer awareness as Ryan and I do. What an honor to be a part of throwing out the game pitch!

Pictured below with several of the candidates for Man, Woman and Celebrity of the Year from L to R: Jason Wulf, Rhonda Vrendenburg, Edye Beckerman, Shawn Johnson, Chasity Young, Corey Jansen, Ryan Kolder and Sharon Keeling our campaign manager.

What an opportunity to campaign for LLS with Olympic Gold Medalist Shawn Johnson!! Thanks for your support for LLS Shawn!

LLS hits the Iowa Cubs!

Ryan's "crowning" moment! Ryan was honored as 2009's Celebrity of the Year winner. We are so excited to have his support again this year as he campaigns for Man of the Year.

Pictured below with Rhonda (Woman of the Year candidate). It was such an honor to meet her! We instantly connected as her son (Steve) was diagnosed with CML. Like my mother, Steve is on the medication Gleevec to help control their leukemia.

Getting ready to throw out the first pitch!

Shawn takes her position ... what better person to throw out our first pitch than an Olympic Gold Gymnast?!

Pictured below: The Man, Woman and Celebrity of the Year candidates cheer on the Iowa Cubs onto the field!

THANKS Iowa Cubs ... for supporting LLS!!!

2010 Arthritis Walk

I had such a great time at The 2010 Arthritis Walk in Cedar Rapids, IA. I was honored to lead the group's warm-up before their walk. I LOVED being on the Kernels Field at Perfect Game Ball Park on May 8th!

Pictured below with Cathy and Alycia at The Physiotherapy Associates booth for pre-event and post-event stretching.

After a much needed warm-up (it was a very chilly and rainy Saturday morning), the walkers began their walk around the Kernels Field.

Pictured below with Gabe ... he braved the cold to walk to support a cure for arthritis.

I had the honor of meeting today's honorary walk chair (pictured below) ... she is such an inspiration! She suffers with osteoarthritis, but still finds a way to exercise regularly ... GREAT example for all of us!

Celebrity Bartending at Daniel Arthurs

On May 6th, I continued my philanthropy and advocacy efforts for LLS and Live ... Learn ... Survive. I tried my hand making martini's ... WOW ... working as a bartender is hard work! A huge thanks to Daniel Arthurs in Cedar Rapids for supporting my philanthropy efforts!

I also want to thank the staff for helping me out all night long!

We enjoyed live music during the evening as well.

Thanks to all our friends and the Daniel Arthurs patrons who graciously support our efforts ... what would Ryan and I do without each and every one of you?!

Paws and a Cause

Happy May Day and Happy 1st Annual Paws and a Cause!!! A dream came true for me at Gutheridge Park in Hiawatha, Iowa. I have personally witnessed what happens when people and animals come together for a common cause. Live ... Learn ... Survive created this dog walk to encourage individuals to exercise for better physical and emotional health all while supporting those whose lives have been touched by blood cancer.

I had the opportunity to partner with Iowa Human Alliance (IHA) for Paws and a Cause. Collectively, we were able to raise over $600 for Iowa Humane Alliance and The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS)!

Two things inspired me to create Paws and a Cause: My Mother and Zipp ... pictured above with Zipp a.k.a. "Little Mr. Iowa."

One of my goals for Paws and a Cause included pet blessings. A huge thanks to Karen Johns (chaplain at St. Luke's Hospital in Cedar Rapids, IA) for coming out to bless our four-legged furry kids that really illustrate the meaning of un-conditional love!

Pictured above: Zipp received his blessing.

Pictured below: A sweet pooch loving his/her pet blessing!

Thanks to Tamia and Jean for coming out to volunteer for Paws and a Cause. Jean is sporting her Live ... Learn ... Survive shirt too!

Pictured below: Mr. and Little Mr. Iowa

Paws and a Cause was a family event. Thanks to Claire, Aaron, Xavier High School Key Club Members for assisting our face painter!

Prizes for everyone!! Special thanks to Sue and Xavier High School Key Club Members made sure everyone signed up for door prizes.

Pictured below: one of our first participants donned his new Paws and a Cause bandanna ... how CUTE!!!

Huge thanks to Susan and Sandy with IHA for all the help!!! Just think, without Deb, we wouldn't have met! Paws and a Cause wouldn't have been as much fun ore as successful without each and every one of us!

Thanks Anne for coming to volunteer at the Live ... Learn ... Survive booth! I am truly blessed to have you in my life!!!

I can't wait to make Paws and a Cause a yearly event! Even better ... Paws and a Cause at a variety of cities accross the nation!

Fight Like A Girl

On May 1st, we celebrated the fight against breast cancer at a wonderful boutique "It's All About Me" in Ames, IA. Many have heard of the slogan, "Fight Like a Girl" ... it found it's origin in Ames. Several of "Iowa's Royalty" gathered to "Signify Pink" by participating in a fundraiser organized by Fight Like A Girl and Michelle Berndt (Mrs. Iowa US Beauties).

This cause is near and dear to my heart! My aunt and grandmother have both fought breast cancer. Aunt Sandy is such a trooper and has been cancer free for nearly 20 years. My grandmother had radiation treatment for her breast cancer. We now are aware that it may have been the start behind her diagnosis of myelosplastic anemia or pre-leukemia. Grandma "O" fought this anemia for nearly 10 years. She has left an impression on more lives than she ever knew ... Love you Grandma "O"!!

Pictured below: I "Fight Like A Girl!"