Heart Warmers Join Cycle for Survival and Fight Against Rare Cancers

http://livingston.patch.com/articles/heart-warmers-join-fight-against-rare-cancers
Roger Black of Livingston knows how it feels to lose a loved one to a rare cancer. His mother Nancy died five years ago – “five years and one month to be exact,” he says. Black graduated from Livingston High School in 1992 and knew Jennifer Goodman Linn, founder of Cycle for Survival, a charity that has raised more than $5 million for cancer research.

“We all live our lives knowing we can do more,” said Black, owner of Stonybrook Day Camp. “This is a local cause. If we don’t get behind this, what do we have?”

Linn has been battling a rare cancer for the past six years. She’s inspired thousands of people to help her in her efforts to support research on rare cancers at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Rare cancers are far more prevalent than the term implies – more than half of people with cancer have a form of the disease considered "rare." The list includes pancreatic, sarcoma, uterine, cervical, brain, metastatic melanoma, stomach cancer and all pediatric cancers.

Linn, who was inducted into the Livingston High School Hall of Fame this past fall, attended Hillside Elementary School, where teachers hope to raise $10,000 as they join Cycle for Survival for the first time with a team they call H.E.A.R.T Warmers (Helping to Encourage Awareness of Rare cancers for Those in Need).

Black kicked off their donation drive with a $500 matching grant on Friday afterschool for the teachers’ first $500 raised. He’s giving on many levels, as an LHS alumn inspired to join the Livingston-connected friends already involved, and also as the son of a parent who died from cancer.

Black lives in town with his wife Amanda and their son, Nate, who is named for his grandmother, Nancy Black. She was also treated at Memorial Sloan-Kettering for a rare brain cancer before succumbing to the disease.

Livingston will have a satellite spin on February 12 with the teachers from Hillside spearheading a ride at New York Sports Club. Township residents are invited to join them as riders or donors. You can learn more @ www.cycleforsurvival.org and register to join the H.E.A.R.T Warmers team by using the password Hillside. For more information, email hillsidecycleforsurvival@yahoo.com.



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Happy New Year!!!!!

Happy New Year!!!!!

As we approach 2011, many of us are thinking about New Year’s resolutions and what we want to achieve in the upcoming year. And if you are, you are not alone; approximately 45 percent of American adults will set at least one resolution. They will start off with determination, but by February or even mid-January, the majority will have abandoned their goals altogether as they get caught up in busy lives, distractions etc.

So why do we continue to make resolutions year after year?
One reason is excitement of starting from scratch. Another is the idea of bettering ourselves. It may also have something to do with tradition. Setting New Year’s resolutions is believed to go as far back as Babylonian times. It is believed that Julius Caesar started the tradition of making resolutions on January 1st as a way to honor the Roman mythical god Janus, whose two faces allowed him to look back into the past year and forward to the new year.
Bringing this back to camp, as we ring in 2011, we are thinking about how Stonybrook Day Camp and resolutions go hand in hand. Camp is a place where campers set and achieve goals every day. Whether it is improving swimming, tennis or golf; trying a new art technique; or going tubing or zipping for the first time; we see campers excel and try new things everyday. They show up to camp with lots of thoughts about what they want to do and usually by the end of the summer, they have exceeded their own expectations.

So, why are our campers able to achieve so much when so many grown adults can’t keep their New Years resolutions (approx 10% keep their resolutions 1 year later)? Because campers have their friends, counselors and specialists, cheering them on every step of the way. Our counselors and specialists work hard to help our campers achieve their goals; they celebrate when goals are met or campers try new things, and they encourage them to keep trying if they miss the mark. We also try very hard to keep our parents informed so the cheering can continue at home.

Maybe adults can learn a thing or two from our campers as they set their own New Year’s resolutions: BE SURE TO HAVE A BIG CHEERING SECTION ENCOURAGING YOU AS YOU SET YOUR GOALS! AND BE SURE TO SET UP A STRONG SUPPORT SYSTEM TO KEEP YOU GOING! And we are so sorry; Stonybrook Day Camp is only for kids (unless you are part of our fabulous staff)!!!!!

And one more thing…. As you think about Summer 2011, be sure to let us know what your child is looking to accomplish or achieve at camp. We will be sure to ask them ourselves but feel free to start the conversation with us.

Good luck with your own resolutions!

Happy New Year!

http://www.youtube.com/stonybrookdaycamp#p/a/u/1/6-gTWlebRTU


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Happy Holidays Video - Click on Link Today !

Dear Stonybrook Families and Friends,


We have put together a fun project to share with you during this holiday season. I hope you will enjoy watching this as much as we have enjoyed putting this together. Here is the direct link to our video http://www.youtube.com/stonybrookdaycamp#p/a/u/0/6-gTWlebRTU and here is the link to our YouTube Channel http://www.youtube.com/stonybrookdaycamp



Happy Holidays from all of us at Stonybrook Day Camp