Canary in a coal mine

" The continual increase in cancer cases cannot be dismissed as a statistical fluke. It is part of a greater problem: environmental illness on a global scale. We should see each new case of cancer as a "canary in a coal mine."

Canaries, small finches with rapid metabolisms, were the companions of coal miners, always there to warn of the greatest threat: deadly methane gas. Methane has no natural color, odor, or taste. The small you perceive when you turn on a gas stove is added. That added odor allows you to detect a leak or an unlit burner. If miners saw the canary acting funny or falling off its perch, they knew that methane gas was building up in the mine. When the bird went down, it was time to get above ground.

An increase in cancer among pets is another sign that something is subtly and quietly poisoning us. Many of us own dogs and cats that live in our homes and ride in our cars. They drink the same water and breathe the same air as us. The result: they also have skyrocketing rate of cancer. Rover's biggest nemesis used to be a speeding car, now its a tumor. The cancer rates of some "indoor" dogs have tripled in the past thirty years. To date, the reaction of animal doctors is the same as that of people doctors: build more hospitals and offer more chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation treatments. Instead of looking for the cause, we are focusing on the cure. We have forgotten our grandmother's axiom: "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." '

~ Excerpt taken from "Serve God Save the Planet" by J. Matthew Sleeth, MD

New Pack, New Poles!

TURK MOUNTAIN -- Shenandoah National Park, Virginia

This was my first hike with my new pack, hiking poles, and Asolo boots! As part of the Climb Against the Odds the Breast Cancer Fund gets lots of gear goodies donated to climbers :) The pack and the poles are from my first goodie box!

For this training hike I parked at Jarmna Gap on Skyline Drive in the Shenandoah National Park and then hiked along the AT to the Turk Mountain Gap Trail that goes to the summit, elevation 2981 ft.

Trail the summit...

NEW OSPREY PACK! I really like the design and fit of this pack :)

-- NEW LEKKI POLES TAKE A BREAK AT THE TOP FOR LUNCH --

CHECK OUT THESE KILLER NEW HIKING BOOTS FROM ASOLO -- All the BCF climbers got an amazing discount on these Asolo Powermatic shoes! This we my first test drive in them and they passed the test with flying colors!

Lunch of champions on the summit... PB&J, Goldfish, and a banana! All my favs :)

I love a lunch with a view!

Concert for the Climb!

"CONCERT FOR THE CLIMB" - MARCH 13, 2009 - GALLERY 5 - RICHMOND, VA

I can not thank everyone enough that was involved in pulling this concert off!! I do want to give some shout outs though ... THANK YOU Allison for designing the poster, THANK YOU James River Press for printing the lovely posters and hand bills printed at a reduced rate, THANK YOU to the many wonderful musicians that showcased their talent at the show, THANK YOU WRIR 97.3 for helping get the word out and promoting the concert and BCF on the air, THANK YOU Gallery 5 for opening up your space to the show, THANK YOU Grant for bringing the bands together, and finally THANK YOU to all of you who attended the concert and helped me raise $900 in one night!

Here are some photos from the night... enjoy!

Me behind the BCF table...WRIR had a table as well and put purple ribbons on the WRIR buttons they gave out -- PURPLE for PREVENTION!

Herschel Stratego opened up the night with his always entertaining and very funny one man show of humor and lyrics....

Next was Zac Hryciak and the Jungle Beat ...a very talent group of young guys and gal -- I love the violin mixed in with the drums!

Next was Liza Kate with her beautiful voice, lyrics, and guitar...


Then....ekkk -- me! I took a moment on stage to tell everyone more about BCF, my part in their Climb Against the Odds, and the materials we had available on the table...as well as a few of the astounding facts about breast cancer.


Now for more great music!

Johnathan Vassar and the Speckled Bird was up next -- the instrument ensemble for this band is quite impressive! Guitar (a very pretty one I must add), banjo, chelo, accordion, harmonica, mandolin, and xylophone (or something like one)!


And then, for the grand finale -- David Shultz and the Skyline!


The girls --Kelly, Jess, Kristin -- up front and center during "Already There" (our fave).



I know it's a little dark, but check out the crowd....!

THANK YOU AGAIN TO EVERYONE!
YAY -- CONCERT FOR THE CLIMB WAS A SUCCESS!

Climb On,

Jess

www.breastcancerfund.org/climb09/Jbarton