Kids run the 1/2k sprint during the 2009 Bedford 5k Run to Beat Lung Cancer.

Even though it still feels like yesterday, it has been two years since I lost my dad to lung cancer. A few days after I came home from the funeral and the many weeks spent in Ontario leading up to my father’s death, I read about Jean St-Amand organizing the first annual 5k Run to Beat Lung Cancer.

I immediately signed up to do the run. It seemed like a ray of hope after weeks and weeks of seeing my dad deteriorate. There was a lot of anger inside me, and a very strong desire to squash this monster that had taken my father away from me.

Unfortunately, I had to have surgery and although our family signed up for the run, we couldn’t run it.

Last year my husband and three kids participated in the run. After running all winter on the treadmill, it was hard!

This year I have been running the 5k route since the beginning of April. For me, the training has been as much a part of getting involved as the race itself.

My father was a regular visitor to Nova Scotia. He always saw the beauty in everything around him. Having grown up a sailor on the Mediterranean, in Tuscany, Italy, he loved the ocean and all it has to offer.

The 5k run takes you along Shore Drive to Fish Hatchery Lane, back again to DeWolf Park and past, to the end of the pier (past the Ultramar), and back again to the park. It is a beautiful run – every day is a different experience.

Sometimes the ocean is so flat that the clouds reflected on its surface appear to be floating in the water. Sometimes the fog rolls in and you can’t see the other side of the Basin. Sometimes the waves are so rough they crash against the rocks that line the boardwalk. The jellyfish and starfish are there now too.

The time I spend running in the mornings is my time to reflect, and I take this time especially to think about all that has happened in the past two years.

I think about my family, my friends, my work…but I especially remember my dad.

I remember what a caring and thoughtful man he was. I remember his kisses at bedtime. I remember the fun times we had growing up. I remember his gentleness.

And I also remember the weeks leading up to his death. I remember his body being “eaten” by this awful disease, a disease that doesn’t show any mercy.

I remember how until the very last day he had a smile for everyone who walked through the door.

I think about all the mothers, and grandparents and sons and daughters who die of this disease.

I think and I remember. That is why I’m running the 5k to Beat Lung Cancer.

The Countdown to the Bedford 5k is on!

Hello, everyone. Registration is picking up steadily and the anticipation is growing for this year’s Bedford 5k to Beat Lung Cancer.

Our big emphasis this year is on participation. Not only is that the source of the bulk of the funds we raise for the Canadian Cancer Society, but it’s also a central part of our mission with this event – to raise awareness and increase the profile of the struggle against lung cancer that so many families face.

The Canadian Cancer Society is projecting that in 2010 alone, some 24,200 Canadians will be diagnosed with lung cancer. And more than 85% will die from it. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death for both men and women in Canada.

Just imagine how significant a change in peoples’ lives there would be if researchers were able to make significant steps toward finding a cure for lung cancer? Currently, 5-year survival is only 15%. This is a form of cancer that badly needs more attention and more funding for research.

So, my email today is a simple appeal. Please bring a buddy to the Bedford 5k to Beat Lung Cancer. If you can, bring ten. The more people we have together on Sunday, the more good this event can do.

Friends, neighbours, family members, coworkers – all are impacted personally by lung cancer in some fashion in the course of their lives. It’s my hope that with light shining on this dark disease, we’ll finally give researchers the help they need to strike a blow for lung cancer fighters and honour the memory of those who fought and lost their fight with the disease.

80 registrants and counting. Help us get over the 300 mark by Sunday.

Thanks everyone!

Jean St-Amand

Buy a milestone marker on the route, get a receipt, and keep it!

Our milestone markers are back and we have more available for you this year. For those of you that don’t know… we have markers along the route that help tell you where to go. And those markers are sponsored by individuals, families and businesses in honour of a cancer fighter, or just generally for the cause. You get to keep your marker afterwards, and if you buy it for your company, you can have your logo put on it and display it in your office! They’re only $50, for which you will receive a charitable donation receipt from the Canadian Cancer Society. Email me at info@bedford5k.com if you’d like to buy one for yourself!

Online registration closing on Friday, June 25th at 2pm!

If you know people that plan to register, please remind them that online registration closes a week from today.

Race kit pickup and race-day registration

Race kit pickup will be available at the Running Room in Sunnyside Mall on Friday, June 25 from 6-8 p.m. and Saturday, June 26 from 12-4 p.m. We will also be taking registrations in person during those times. On race day, we also offer race kit pickup and last-minute registration from 7 a.m.-8:30 a.m.

The run will start at 9 a.m. this year

The run will start at 9 a.m. this year, again with the kids going first to be cheered on by the adults. We do have some activities planned, including formal warmups, announcements, thank-you’s, etc. beginning at 8:30, so please come on down to DeWolf Park early.

Raise pledges offline and online

Make more money for the Canadian Cancer Society! For those that are interested, pledge forms are available – just email me and I’ll get them to you. For those of you that have registered through the Running Room website, if you log in to your “athlete dashboard” you can use their system to send emails to your contacts and solicit donations online!

Prizes, Prizes, Prizes

We have many prizes to give away, so if we’re lucky and weather doesn’t chase all of you away, stick around for more entertainment and draw prizes after your run or walk. You do have to be there to win!

Medal customization and possibly even t-shirts

We’re of course going to keep on with our service of medal customization. Every Bedford 5k medal has a spot on the back for your name, the date and your time. Just remember to bring a little extra cash to the run if you want to take advantage of that – the service is $5 per medal with $2 each going to the Canadian Cancer Society. And, due to popular demand, we’re working on t-shirts! I say “working” because we had an unfortunate supply problem that may mean we won’t get them in time, but our fingers are crossed. If all goes according to plan, we’ll have a limited supply of adult dry-fit t-shirts with the Bedford 5k logo for $25 each, and kids cotton t-shirts with the logo for $15.

Announcing the G.D. St-Amand Memorial Trophy

This event, while clearly about every family that is affected by cancer, also has a personal relevance to me and my family. It was my father’s struggle with Lung Cancer, which he finally lost in December, that inspired me to start this event 3 years ago. And so this year, I am pleased to announce the G.D. St-Amand Memorial Trophy, upon which the names of the male and female adult winners of the Bedford 5k to Beat Lung Cancer will be inscribed (including the winners of our past two years). The trophy will have a permanent home in Bedford sport, likely in the trophy case at the new FourPad when complete. We felt this was a fitting way to honour my father’s contribution to his community and the values he instilled in me for volunteerism and community building.

Become a Fan on Facebook

Don’t forgot to become a fan of the Bedford 5k to Beat Lung Cancer on Facebook. We make plenty of announcements there, and we’ll upload pictures after the run there as well.

Put up some posters

Sure, there’s only a week to go – but quite honestly we get more than half of our participants on the last day before the run, so there’s still time to help us promote the run/walk. If you would like a poster to put up at work, you can either print one off yourself from the website (www.bedford5k.com) or you can email me and I’ll arrange to get a couple to you. I greatly appreciate any help you can provide.

Listen for us on C100

C100 is going to help us promote the run/walk – they’re a long-time part of Bedford Days and so we’re grateful they’re going to give us a push.

We’re on the lookout for final sponsors or draw prize donors

And finally, we’re always looking for companies interested in helping out with their wallets or gear to give away. So if you own a company or know of someone that you think might have a personal tie to our cause, please let them know that we’re interested in speaking with them.

That’s it for now. Please share this email with anyone you can think of that may have an interest in our event. See you for race kit pickup and a terrific run/walk on the 27th! As always, if anyone has any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to email me at info@bedford5k.com.

Cheers,

Jean St-Amand
Director, Bedford 5k to Beat Lung Cancer
www.bedford5k.com | 902.830.1055

HRM Council last night (June 22) passed the Nustadia Recreation Inc.’s Community Access Plan.

The plan focuses on ensuring some of the groups who have had a hard time in the past accessing arena time are given a chance within the new facility, expected to open Fall 2010.

By putting in writing the need to open up time to new groups like women’s hockey leagues, ringette, other hockey teams and skaters, for example, the plan levels the playing field.

It is important to note that each year the usage will be reviewed. This will give interested groups a chance to have their say if there is concerns real access needs are not being met.

Nustadia Recreation Inc. – chosen to operate the new arena because of its extensive experience operating similar facilities across the country – will manage the facility based on the plan as passed by council today.

The arena is a two-storey complex with four, NHL-sized ice surfaces and all the amenities. It is being constructed to meet LEED Silver standard – a set of leading environmental and energy efficiency standards.

The arena will bring the total number of ice surfaces available in HRM to 26.

While this new arena will help with accessibility in the short-term, HRM Council has recently set up a committee to look at the long-term issues facing arena availability.

To view the complete Council presentation on the Accessibility Plan for the new HRM 4 Pad Arena, go to www.halifax.ca/facilities/Multi-PadArena.

In support of the Suburban FC Senior Soccer Teams, Suburban FC is hosting a golf tournament fundraiser on June 24 at Lost Creek Golf Course (located at 310 Kinsac Road, Beaver Bank).

The men’s and women’s senior teams are a very important part of the development path for our young soccer players. It represents the highest level of play in the province and these teams represent the pinnacle of soccer in our region.

Bedford Soccer Association actively supports this fundraising event and wants to see our club well represented. This event is a great opportunity to play some golf, have some fun, network with fellow soccer enthusiasts and support a great cause.

For $150 as an individual or $600 for a foursome you get a game of golf including the golf cart, a steak dinner, a ton of laughs and lots of great prizes!

Corporate sponsors are welcome and if you are too busy to participate you can still support the event by sponsoring a hole for $200.

Golf ability is not a requirement, just the ability to laugh and have fun.

For more information or to reguister please visit www.suburbanfc.ca.

See you on the course.

Simon and Garfunkel are coming to Halifax soon – would love to see them play a few tunes – especially Bridge over Troubled Waters and my favourite, The 59th Street Bridge Song (aka: Feelin’ Groovy!).

I have my own version of the words, and it goes something like this:

“Slow Down, you eat too fast
you gotta make the meal laaaaast,
chew, taste, enjoy your food…
life, I love you…
feelin’ healthy!!
bada bada bada bada bada”

There is a lot of mindless munching going on in our society these days. Eating quickly and eating everywhere while multitasking is the norm; while sitting down to really enjoy a meal seems to be the exception.

Research is showing that this lack of awareness during eating is hurting our health. Why? Because it tends to lead to overeating and less than healthy food choices.

Mindful eating can lead to better food choices, weight loss and an improved state of health.

The WAY you eat really will make a difference in what you eat, how much you eat, your digestion, your weight and your overall health!

Practice these techniques to mindful eating:

- Before you start to eat; notice whether you are hungry.

- Make sure you are sitting at a table and your food is on a plate or bowl (not in a box).

-Acknowledge the work it took to get the food to your plate. Notice the food’s colour, smell, amount.

-Digestion starts in the mouth, so chew your food well. Put your fork down between bites. Notice the taste and texture of every bite and pause between bites.

-Check in with your level of hunger during the meal; it takes 20-30 minutes to get the signal to the brain that you have had enough to eat.

Health and Happiness,

Edie

Edie is a regular contributor to the Bedford Beacon.

Edie believes in using real and natural foods to achieve the healthiest body and mind that we were meant to possess.

She will provide you with the tools, support and the plan you need to live a healthier lifestyle!

For more information on Edie and all that she has to offer visit nutritioncoachedie.com.

Join her blog at nutritioncoachedie.blogspot.com.

Two youths from the neighbourhood enjoy an evening dip in Papermill Lake on Friday evening.

Merchant Rob MacLeod stands outside Entity Boardshop. Entity first opened its doors on May 9 of last year.

This weekend is Entity Boardshop’s one year anniversary and they are celebrating with a bang.

Entity would like to thank everyone over this past year. They have expanded once already; moved things around a few times and still growing daily.

Come and celebrate with Entity!

Entity Boardshop is located at 1270 Bedford Highway.

You can also visit their website at www.entityboardshop.com.

-Bbq on Saturday, May 8
- 40-70% Sale rack
-25% off Jeans
-20% off Shoe wall
-15% off Entire store (10% off skate)
-Buy one t-shirt and get the 2nd for $5
-They now carry youth sizing (boys)

Reminder:

On Friday, May 7 at the Leburn Recreation Center Area HRM Community Recreation and Bedford Skate park Action Team Present:

BEDFORD SKATEBOARD SHOW CASE

HRM Mobile Skate park

Skate show 7 p.m.
Free skate 8-9:30 p.m.

Helmets Mandatory!
Ages 12-18

The event will also serve as a fundraiser and all funds will go towards building a skatepark in Bedford.

The event will take place Friday, May 7 from 6:30-9:30 p.m. in the Lebrun Centre Arena (located at 36 Holland Avenue).

National Youth Week is May 1 to 7 every year, and is dedicated to the celebration of youth and their active participation in their community.

Whether it is recreation, drama, sport, dance, civic engagement, art, volunteerism or leadership, every day young people are involved in meaningful activities during their discretionary time.

National Youth Week is a time to honour their involvement!

B-SPAT will also be holding a community yard sale in Ridgevale Subdivision, 28 Ridgevale Drive,  on June 5 at 8 a.m.

She coaches clients to use real and natural foods to achieve their healthiest body and mind. She runs her own business called Nova Scotia’s Nutrition Coach.

Visit her website at www.nutritioncoachedie.com and her blog at www.nutritioncoachedie.blogspot.com.

Gabriela has been practicing and studying yoga for 20 years and is passionate about sharing it with others. With her nurturing and intuitive style, Gabriela teaches yoga in St. Margaret’s Bay. She has led many life-changing yoga retreats in her native Mexico and Nova Scotia.

Join these two women on a yoga and prana nutrition retreat at Oceanstone Inn and Cottages (located in Indian Harbour; visit www.oceanstone.ns.ca), on May 14 to 15.

Come renew and refresh!

- 1 night stay at a seaside cottage
- yoga sessions (all levels welcome)
- guided meditation sessions
- nourishing meals
- cooking demos and nutrition discussions

Price: $175 per person
Early bird $160 if register by May 30.

To register contact Edie at 441-6602 or Gabriela at 826-2968.

To date, we raised over $11,000! Help us reach new heights this year!

The Bedford 5k to Beat Lung Cancer is about demonstrating that we as a community support those fighting or who have fought lung cancer; they are not alone.

It’s about our community, together, setting small goals and meeting the challenge so that one day, the greater goal of a cure may be achieved.

This year’s walk-run takes place Sunday, June 27 at 9 a.m.

Mail-in registrations for the 2010 Bedford 5K to Beat Lung Cancer are now available.

To register by mail, visit www.Bedford5k.com and download an individual, family, or team registration form.

Web registration will be available soon.

To show your support for the Bedford 5K to Beat Lung Cancer, why not purchase a milestone marker? For $50, you can emblazon your company logo or a personal message on a directional marker along the Bedford 5K route.

Our milestone markers are 20” x 20” signs placed along our 5k adult route and our 500m kids route that help direct runners and walkers along the course path.

They also demonstrate to our participants, our volunteers, our spectators and our community that we come together to help the Canadian Cancer Society beat lung cancer.

Milestone markers may be kept by their sponsoring company or individual as a memento of their contribution to the event.

For more information, visit www.bedford5k.com and click on “Milestone Marker Program”. Or, contact Jean St.Amand at 830-1055.

Also, plan to attend a fundraising Trivia Night on May 5th at the Hart & Thistle Pub in Historic Properties from 7 to 9 p.m.

There are lots of prizes to give away that night in addition to the great prizes from the pub itself. It’s a great time with unique multimedia trivia. Come on out for some fun and help raise more for the Bedford 5k to Beat Lung Cancer.

$10 entry fee and there are prizes for the winning team for each of six rounds.

Also, join the Bedford 5k to Beat Lung Cancer group on Facebook.