Happy Birthday!

Dad and I during his birthday one year at Durham Creek

Today should have been my Dad's 60th birthday! It should have been a time where he would have another 'mid life crisis' and perm his hair like he did when he turned 30, or buy a crazy sports car like he did in his late 40s.  It should have been a celebration where we made fun of him for getting old. Instead - I am raising money in his memory.  I reached my goal last week thanks to all of you and thanks to a very sweet donation from my brother's racing team (Glenwood Clinical Racing).  Together, our team has funded over a week of lung cancer research!   

As I think about reaching goals, it was never a question that my dad thought we could reach any goal we set out to achieve.  He always supported anything we did, now that didn't mean he didn't give his two cents worth but ultimately we always knew he had our back.  I am thankful my parents were always so supportive.  They worked hard to make sure we had the opportunities they never had.  So what do you do when you reach your goal?  Set a new one of course! We are at $1,125.. The new goal - $1,500! 


To donate or join my team please visit my team page: Nothin' Fancy 

Here is what your money goes toward:

$10- allows 5 lung cancer patients to receive our free education materials, giving them the information, inspiration and hope they need to fight this disease.

$50- keeps our website running for a month, enabling 10,000 patients, their families and healthcare providers to access important information.

$150-funds one day of critical lung cancer research to help all lung cancer patients live longer and better

$500 – allows 50 lung cancer patients to receive our free education materials, giving them the information, inspiration and hope they need to fight this disease. 

THANK you for your help! 

Meet Charlotte

Monday evening I was outside seeing if we had a bell pepper I could pick to make in a stir fry - we didn't have one quite big enough. My husband started knocking on the window above our little garden.  I thought he was being annoying so I ignored him a little while - when I looked up he pointed above my head - a HUGE spider.  This my friends is Charlotte the spider and her web. She spins her web at night over our little garden - Also a note - I am loving my new camera - I promise I did not get that up close and personal with Charlotte... and if anyone can tell me what type of species she/It is that would be great! 

and finally - Charlotte's feast last night: (gross, but awesome photo) 

Let's see if she is back tonight! 

"There's an app for that. It's called compassion''

'Tis that time of year again! The time where my nagging skills come out and I ask you all to spend (at least) $10 on lung cancer research in support of my Free to Breathe Raleigh team - Nothin' Fancy  - In memory of my dad, Don Gill.

Why this cause?!
I was a college sophomore at North Carolina State University.  I loved school, I was active on campus and I was embracing college life.  Then the train hit, my dad had not been feeling well and the doctors did a basic chest x-ray and found a 14cm in-operable mass on his lung—lung cancer. The day they told me is one of the worst days of my life.  My daddy, the strongest man I knew, had lung cancer and they only gave him 8 months to a year.  My world was turned upside down.  He fought hard but passed away only 3 short months after diagnosis.  I knew I had to make a difference, not only for lung cancer patients like my father, but for their daughters. So they have their fathers there to see them graduate college, walk them down the aisle at their wedding or be a grandfather to their children.  No one deserves lung cancer and no one deserves to lose a parent from lung cancer. 


That is why you can join me in making a difference for all those affected by lung cancer in coming out or supporting the Free to Breathe 5K Run/Walk & Rally on November 5 at North Hills in Raleigh.  My goal is to raise $1,000.  Won't you consider donating $10, $20 or even more? 


My team page: Nothin' Fancy 
___ 
**PS This article came out recently and it is excellent - thought I would share. Really puts an interesting perspective on things. 


The Last Refrigerator by Rob Densen
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rob-densen/the-last-refrigerator_b_941286.html?ref=fb&src=sp