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Community Corner

Ring Around The Needle Pub Crawl

The date has been secured, and details are being finalized soon. Save August 27th for an afternoon of ROWDY FUN while helping fight Lou Gehrig's Disease.

YOU MUST BE 21+ and you MUST REGISTER ON THE WEBSITE TO PARTICIPATE. 

www.ringaroundtheneedle.com (all last year's info is still up)

I encourage everyone to go to Janell and My photo albums to see how much fun we had last year: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=198899&id=750683982and http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2046110&id=1236761691

Here's some extra details on the event and Melissa:

Date of event: Saturday, August 27 at 1 - 5pm. Check-in begins at 11:30am. All participants must complete check-in before starting the pub crawl. Tickets purchased online are will-call only, please just bring your ID to check-in. Online registration is closed, but you can register day of event for $50 per person. All proceeds go directly to Melissa.

Check-in location: Jabu's parking lot in Lower Queen Anne on Roy between 2nd & Warren.
Check-in time: Check-in and day-of registration begins at 11:30 a.m. on August 28th. The pub crawl is from 1 to 5 pm.

At check-in you will receive your drink tickets, sponsor coupons, a participating bar map and your t-shirt.* You will be issued an ID band once we have checked your ID and verified you are of legal drinking age, so make sure to bring your ID. Participants signed up under a Team Captain will have the same starting bar location.

*Participants who have pre-registered by noon on Friday, August 20th are guaranteed free t-shirt. Additional T-shirts will be available for purchase at check-in while supplies last.

If you're unable to attend, you can still donate via PayPal.

About Melissa

Hello everyone, thank you for your interest in our event.

Let me give you all a little background on me. I am 31 years old and for the first 27 years of my life I was extremely active. I started playing basketball when I was 10 years old and it has defined my life and has given me incredible opportunities for which I am most grateful. I earned a basketball scholarship to the University of Washington which enabled me to continue my education. From there I went on to coach and play professionally in Germany and Portugal. Basketball brought me to many countries and gave me immeasurable amounts of pleasure, pride and independence. When I was 25 and in my last season in Portugal, I started to feel very inadequate on the court. I was out of balance, slow and unable to jump as high as normal. I felt that I was just getting old and not training as I used to. I moved back to Seattle and became part of the working world. I continued to play basketball recreationally and go to the gym to work out. My inadequacies continued to progress and it became very difficult to play or run on my own.

After a workout at my local gym, my personal trainer informed me that my problems with balance and strength were not normal of a typical 27 year old. So in August of 2006, I started my search for reason. A day before my 28th birthday, doctors told me that there were definite signs of a neuromuscular disease. I was devastated to know that the active life I have lived was in for a drastic change. I currently am unable to walk without aid of crutches or hand rails. I have started to use a power chair and it has increased my independence and mobility so much. Life is easier despite the restrictions of living on wheels.

In 2007, I attended numerous doctors’ appointments in Seattle and Boston, and undergone several tests; doctors continue to lean on the initial diagnosis of ALS. My life has taken many different turns and I have journeyed down a path I never thought existed. However, despite all of the disappointment and setbacks I have learned to view life in a new way. I can truly say that I enjoy the simple things in life. Each day is cherished in a new and inviting way. My family and friends are the very blood that runs through my veins.

On behalf of myself, my family and all of my friends who have supported me along the way, I send a huge THANKS for your thoughts, prayers and support.

Sincerely, Melissa Erickson

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