rest in peace...

taken far too early

tortured far too long

wherever you are

may you have

PEACE

ring around the needle

ok, its been long enough. yes, i know, almost a year but i promise that i have a good excuse. enough of that, let's just get to the point... on August 27th the Ring Around The Needle returns for its third consecutive attempt to fill Lower Queen Anne with colorful, loud and slightly drunk pub crawlers. last year over 500 people circled through 8 bars raising over $30,000 for the Melissa Erickson Foundation!!! this year promises to be even bigger and better. we are anticipating a larger crowd so we are hoping to add new bars to the already amazing line up. sign up early and bring all of your friends! everyone 21 years and older is welcome to participate. sign up at www.ringaroundtheneedle.com right now!!! to whet your appetite, i'll leave you with a few pictures from last year...

take two

i'm feeling the urge to blog...stay tuned.

So Official

Thassss right, the Melissa Erickson Foundation is elevating to new heights. Of course, the Ring Around the Needle is Saturday and you ALL are going. AND we are in the jewelry market...and by jewelry, I mean this!!!

Oh yeah, limited addition, plastic stretchy tennis bracelets that are inscribed with "WHY I OUGHTA FIGHT FOR MO" on one side, and "CURE ALS" on the other. They were created with love by a well known karaoke-er/designer, Michelle Boline. One for $3 or two for $5. With Husky football around the corner, you better get both so you can show your support in multiple ways. On sale at the pub crawl or message me for a PRIVATE viewing. Hurry, do not miss out on this special offer!

(insert a giddy Ashley Sofie here)

Pub Crawl!

It's that time again! Time to drink beer, stumble from bar to pub, and feel great about it!

RING AROUND THE NEEDLE is BACK FOR MO'!!!!!!

August 28th from 1-5pm in Lower Queen Anne...do NOT miss this. Click the link to register!

Sitting On the Dock By the Bay

When the Young Faces of ALS Campaign presented me with the opportunity to help raise awareness while attending Major League Baseball games, I was ecstatic. I then found out I would be traveling to San Francisco, I could hardly contain myself. I consider San Fran to b

e one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Bridges, beautiful buildings, unique neighborhoods, wonderful food and awesome public

transportation. The last being important to the wheelchair dependent.

Back to baseball. First up, the Oakland Coliseum for the A's vs the Giants. Being a Seattle girl, I was uncertain who to cheer for. However, being a University of Washington graduate, I was immediately drawn to the Giants' Cy Young Award winner and UW grad, Tim Lincecum. Once a Husky, always husky, so Giants it was. Plus the A's are one of the Seattle Mariners division rivals and the M's need all the help they can get.

Our crew headed down to the field to catch a little batting practice and hopefully the attention of a few all-stars. Visiting ball parks always excites me. Each one is so unique, the atmospheres electric in their own way. We watched the Giants hit bombs out of the park and enjoyed the perfect weather. I hoped to grab Lincecum for an autograph but he had better things to do. I guess warming up for your game against your cross town rival may be a little more important. Game time was nearing to we decided to make our way up to the suite. Just our luck, Mr Lincecum was chilling in the outfield near our exit. He was kind enough to visit with us, sign autographs and take pictures. What a great guy!

After our epic star filled pregame we met the real all-stars of ALS. Our two suites filled with patients, family, advocates and supporters of ALS-TDI. Being surrounded by people that are passionate about finding a treatment for a disease that makes my life hell, gives me hope and happiness. Attending sporting events and visiting with truly inspiring people gives me respite from worries about my future. Meeting other young people living with ALS helps me not to feel isolated in my neurologically challenged world.

Our baseball fun did not end in Oakland. Across the bay a few days later, our crew set out to watch the Giants and Nationals at AT&T Park. I had heard from multiple people that this is one of the most beautiful parks in all of Major League Baseball. Beautiful does not do it justice. More like stunning, gorgeous or breathtaking. The hosts and Giants staff we inviting, warm and intrigued by our campaign. The weather and sunset set the perfect stage for a Giants win. To our luck, my main man, Tim Lincecum was the starting pitcher. A win was inevitable, right? Not so much. The only disappointment out of our trip was two Giant losses.

The positive experiences of being surrounded by inspiring people completely outweighed the outcomes of each game.

The pleasure of my trip; meeting, campaigning and dreaming about a day when the letters ALS become as obsolete as childhood chicken pox. A day when this diagnosis doesn't give the innocent a death sentence. A day when ALS becomes understood by the people who can lobby for funds for a treatment. The young men and women whose lives have been stunted by this disease deserve a chance. All men and women living with ALS deserve a chance. We owe it to all who have lost their battle to ALS to make sure that no one else perishes from this disease. Treatment is not impossible. ALS-TDI will one day prove this true and I am happy that my name will be linked to this progressive group of people.

The In's and Out's of ALS

I recently participated in a video for the ALS Association and it gives you a glimpse of my thoughts as well as another brave PALS (person with ALS). You have two opportunities to help...the bike ride and the Pub Crawl. I promise it will change your life and bring a huge smile to mine.