Wonderful “Girls” Of The World
Posted by Michelle Moquin on February 4th, 2012
Good morning!
Not only women, but young girls deserve the title too. Here’s one of them…actually a three of them:
Teen Impact: Grand Prize Winner
This blog post was submitted as an entry in the Teen Impact contest and awarded as the Grand Prize Winner.
When I was 10 years old, my friend Sydney was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Sydney fought against it, but the tumor did not respond to treatment, and could not be surgically removed. The mass wrapped around her brainstem, the area of the brain that controls the vital functions of life such as breathing and blood pressure. Sydney died at the age of 11.
After her death, I felt immense grief for my friend and extreme frustration about pediatric cancer. I decided to turn these negative emotions into positive actions. When I was 11 years old, I founded the Pink Polka Dots Guild (PPD) with two friends. The guild is named after Sydney’s favorite color and pattern, which represents both the memory of my friend and the guild’s positive approach. My goal has been to raise enough money to find a cure for brain cancer, which is the second most common cancer in children.
Over the years, PPD has held fundraisers from lemonade stands to art expositions to golf tournaments. I have played a leading role in planning and organizing each PPD event. The very first Pink Polka Dots event, a garage sale, raised $9,000, and our most recent fundraiser, the fifth annual golf tournament, brought in over $73,000. The guild progressed faster than I ever anticipated. In five years, we have become 40 members strong, and raised almost half of a million dollars.
I’ve been astounded by the public recognition that the guild has earned. PPD received an award from a U.S. Senator, spoke at a TED Conference, was featured in Teen Vogue, and appeared on the Nate Berkus Show. Each of these honors has raised awareness and money for our cause.
The initiative that I have taken has truly impacted the world of cancer research. PPD has provided start-up funding for groundbreaking scientific discoveries, such as “Tumor Paint,” which illuminates cancerous cells so that surgeons can remove them with unprecedented accuracy. The discovery appeared in Time Magazine, and will be reviewed by the Food & Drug Administration starting in early 2012. If approved, “Tumor Paint” will significantly increase the success rate of cancer surgeries, decreasing the necessity for further surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. I am extremely proud to have helped fund the research of this life-saving technology.
Pink Polka Dots has inspired me to be an activist. My experience has taught me that with passion and dedication, it is possible to make an impact in the world. The determination that Pink Polka Dots sparked in me has carried over to all aspects of my life, making me a driven academic, a competitive debater, a scrupulous editor, and a dedicated volunteer.
As PPD’s impact grows, it’s hard to decide what is more gratifying — knowing how many cancer patients’ lives will improve because of my work, or imagining how proud Sydney would be of all the accomplishments Pink Polka Dots has made in her honor.
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Readers: As usual, it is nice to open up my blog and see all of you here. I am planning on catching up with the comments this weekend, so until then…blog me.
Henry: My only answer to the story is: “It served its purpose.”
xoxo
Lastly, greed over a great story is surfacing from my “loyal”(?) readers. With all this back and forth about who owns what, that appears on my blog, let me reiterate that all material posted on my blog becomes the sole property of my blog. If you want to reserve any proprietary rights don’t post it to my blog. I will prominently display this caveat on my blog from now on to remind those who may have forgotten this notice.
Gratefully your blog host,
michelle
Aka BABE: We all know what this means by now :)
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February 4th, 2012 at 11:30 am
I must be the bearer of more bad news for Humankind: The earth will soon experience shortages of water to its Asian populations along the glacier divide that provides fresh water to their rivers.
The Himalayas — Hindu Kush, Kunlun Shan, Pamir and Tien Shan mountain ranges function as water towers, providing water to people through much of Asia. These mountains influence the lives of about 40 per cent of the world’s population.
War will result when the scarcity causes China to begin genocidal measures to preserve what’s left for its peoples alone.
The Glaciers that melt and flow down to form the major rivers of the world that eventually reach the oceans are melting at an accelerated pace, allowing billions of gallons of fresh water to reach the oceans and not be stored in natural lakes for its many uses. Instead, fresh water is being dumped into the world’s oceans until there will be no more glaciers to keep lakes full and rivers flowing.
The Great Lakes in North America rely on the Arctic Ice to supply its fresh water, which includes its runoff into via Mighty Mississippi — into the Gulf of Mexico, raising the Sea Level.
Water has, and will continue to flow into the Major Rivers and Lakes which provide fresh water to populations throughout the world. Unfortunately Global Warming is causing this to accelerate — causing the Oceans to rise and drinking water to diminish.
Water is much more precious than oil — and will prove itself because it keeps the earth’s population alive. Without it, life will perish from most of this planet.
In the near future will Billionaires possess the rights to reservoirs and lakes for their personal and corporate use? I often wonder what the future holds for us? In my imagination it is not pleasant.
We should be warned that when water becomes a scarce commodity which only the very rich can afford, the masses are in big trouble. War would be inevitable, populations will drop tremendously, and things will never be the same for humans.
Water is something we take for granted and waste only because we have never really run low on this vital Natural Resource. When the sh_t hit’s the fan we will wish we had a second chance — the means to start over again and not screw up our planet.
HOWIE
February 4th, 2012 at 11:34 am
Howie, thank you for catching my reference about the Kindle and Doug main dude for your two on the subject as well. I mentioned it briefly once before and no one said anything, so I tossed it again hoping someone would bc I could rant on about this one thing for awhile (and you two seem to grab more attention than I do on certain matters).
Mostly I could endlessly rant, bc now, at least, we hear about Texas and govt wanting to change/rewrite history books, but one day, if allow it, it’ll just happen through your conveniently downloaded ebooks/Kindle and voila’ your kids or their kids won’t even know slavery existed (or pick a point in history to replace my example), I find this very troublesome – bc on the one hand we asked for it (like ATM cards) bc it’s convenient and easy to carry, etc…on the other hand, ATM cards can track a lot of info we don’t want tracked (cell phones, too) and Kindles ala ‘Fahrenheit 451′ (without even the book bonfire) will just revise what we know, what we’re allowed to know, and bc people notoriously have short memories, the powers that be can and will alter our known historical reality without resistance (ignore your rights and they go away).
…and they know where you are-GPS on cells, and know all your spending/income info via your ATM, anything else they want to control?! Hmm, how about our food and water supply…oh yes, that, too. Am I sounding like a conspiracy theorist yet? Yep, I been spending too much time in ‘rabbit hole’ – Ok, I’ll get off my soapbox now : )
Misch, hi : ) great and inspiring story, love it. I love ted.com just in general : )
Anonz, hi and thanks for the info though, it’s not good news, it’s very bad news. My question: is there ANY good news? Hope you’re safe and well, as usual…
PLuvness, Zen Lill
February 4th, 2012 at 12:04 pm
Lill,
stop getting and receiving information from your cell phone. The Iphone and “crackberry” craze has permeated our society to make it antisocial behavior to “not” text and get Facebook on your phone. Pay with cash whenever possible.
February 4th, 2012 at 12:13 pm
Hi Boggzy : ) I’ve got a droid – & I never FB from phone and I carry cash only…though, hmm, I a serioouuus texter, there are areas here that cell coverage cuts out but texts always go through, it’s a south bay anomaly though and when I’m elsewhere – I call. I like voices better than keyboards.
Ok, now I’m outta here – ZL
February 4th, 2012 at 12:40 pm
Howie, we need to do better. Too bad you can’t be the spokesman for a rally to take better care of this earth.
February 4th, 2012 at 1:11 pm
Dear Erica; I am honored that I remind your mother of her departed husband, and I am sorry you had to lose your father at nine years old. That must have been a very difficult time for you.
Thank you for your kind words and regards to you and your mother.
Al
Hi Linda; yes I am still out here or out there, maybe both. Just another rider on the bus, like yourself. It is good to hear from you. Hope that all has been well for you.
I think “greatness” is stretching it a bit, but I’m not going to argue with you about it. You obviously see something I don’t possess. Although I am very flattered by your compliment, I don’t think I am in danger of going off on an ego trip or anything. Hmmm……
Bye-Bye Sweetie,
Al
February 4th, 2012 at 2:00 pm
I love you.
February 4th, 2012 at 8:40 pm
Ym,
I love you.
February 4th, 2012 at 11:38 pm
Is Coconut Water Really Good for You?
Many people see coconut water at the grocery store and wonder if it’s a healthful alternative to juices, soft drinks or sports drinks. You’ll recognize it by brand names such as Zico…Vita Coco…Naked Juice…or O.N.E. The manufacturers claim that it’s good for you, but is it?
Let’s take a look…
Don’t confuse coconut water with coconut milk, which is much thicker and sweeter.
Coconut water is thin and tastes mildly like coconut. It contains many nutrients and is especially high in potassium, with as much as 560 milligrams (mg) to 670 mg per serving (some brands have more potassium than others). In comparison, one medium banana has about 422 mg of potassium. Coconut water contains far less sodium than typical sports drinks—and contains magnesium, calcium and phosphorus, the other major minerals lost during perspiration.
Athletes who exercise vigorously often need sodium to compensate for the amount that they lose during exercise, but people who don’t exercise vigorously tend to consume too much sodium and too little potassium.
That is one reason I often recommend coconut water to my patients who need to boost their potassium intake.
In addition to providing potassium, coconut water contains fewer calories and less sugar than sports drinks.
Example: Naked Juice Coconut Water has 44 calories and 8 grams of sugar per cup, while Gatorade G-Natural has 50 calories and 14 grams of sugar per cup.
Coconut water also contains healthful amounts of B vitamins and, most important, cytokinins (plant growth hormones), including kinetin, a potent antioxidant that lab studies have suggested may have anti-aging, anticancer and anti-blood-clotting effects…and zeatin, which is known to improve nerve signal transmission and inhibit formation of the brain plaques associated with Alzheimer’s disease.
While I do recommend coconut water to people who need extra potassium—and as an occasional thirst quencher for people who like it—it is best consumed in moderation, not as a substitute for water.
People with diabetes should steer clear of coconut water and other drinks that contain sugar—or consume small amounts of coconut water diluted with water.
People with chronic kidney disease should avoid coconut water because of its high potassium content.
Source: Mark A. Stengler, NMD, is a naturopathic medical doctor and leading authority on the practice of alternative and integrated medicine.
Dr. Stengler is the author of The Natural Physician’s Healing Therapies (Bottom Line Books), founder and medical director of the Stengler Center for Integrative Medicine in Encinitas, California, and adjunct associate clinical professor at the National College of Natural Medicine in Portland, Oregon. http://www.DrStengler.com
February 4th, 2012 at 11:55 pm
Obama is very close to convincing the rest of us that allowing him to bring 4700 marines to Guam from Japan is not going to impact our positions.
23/te
February 5th, 2012 at 12:03 am
Al, oooooooooh how much money did you win for Linda with that “sweetie” comment.
90% of the bets said that you would go off on Linda. But Linda said that you are so much more deep now, with a non threatened compassion that makes you the one to address issues in a way that is acceptable to every one.
Okay I lost twenty bucks, but hey, welcome back and hello to the New, more compassionate Al.
Trish
February 5th, 2012 at 12:04 am
Zen, baby you can text me any day.
February 5th, 2012 at 12:07 am
Michelle, I don’t know what your purpose was, but I think that nigger was way to uppity for newly freed slave.
Reading it just pissed me off. Our ancestors housed, fed and clothed the niggers and that was their thanks.
Too bad the Colonel missed.
George, WN
February 5th, 2012 at 12:11 am
Ym, I live in Finland. I have never been interested in leaving in my 31 years hear. I find your devotion to your Mistress so compelling that I will head to the US to meet my true love.
US men obviously have it over the staid character of the males in my country.
Aamu
February 5th, 2012 at 12:13 am
Howie I saw that UFO that crossed the Texas sky. We were told it was a meteorite.
What I say was not meteorite!
February 5th, 2012 at 4:49 am
Michelle, Russia is not the only world power supporting Assad in his bid to hold on to power in Syria. China is sending plenty of goods and services to him for a lot of money.
Neither countries want to see him forced out. My brothers, uncles and cousins are all in with the Assad mob. They claim that representatives of both countries have promised to keep the UN and the US from interfering.
My sick relatives are bragging that all Assad has to do is to use the weapons and technology being supplied by them to kill the opposition.
Shulgareh
February 5th, 2012 at 8:44 am
Lawrence:
What you saw over Texas was probably a UFO. Only you know for sure.
There are plenty of them flying around to see one.
Of course “They” called it a meteorite. Officially it was a meteorite but those that witnessed it (like yourself) know the truth.
HOWIE
February 9th, 2012 at 2:46 am
Awesome blog! Is your theme custom made or did you download it from somewhere? A design like yours with a few simple tweeks would really make my blog stand out. Please let me know where you got your design. With thanks