Almost a year ago I entered an RBC sponsored contest to become an Olympic Torchbearer for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay.The contest asked entrants to make a pledge to "Create a Better Canada." My pledge was to become more physically active in hopes of inspiring friends and family to become physically active. By choosing a more physically active lifestyle, one improves their overall health and fitness and starts making healthier food choices and reducing some of the burden on our health care system. Physical fitness also causes one to be more aware about the food they eat, the water they drink, the air they breathe and one becomes more active in their communities to make sure healthier choices are available. One also becomes more aware of the ecosystem they live in and starts to make choices to protect and improve parks and open spaces to ensure there are places to be more physically active outdoors. If more people make those kinds of choices, it can lead to more sustainable communities.
In mid-May my cellphone rang. It was the national media coordinator for RBC congratulating me on being pre-selected as an Olympic Torchbearer!! My name was chosen out of tens of thousands of entrants. I cried! They loved my pledge and I was asked if I wanted to participate in an RBC media event in June. I said of course, I've done lots of public speaking and media work in the past so had no concerns with taking part in such an event. I was sent forms to fill out and waited patiently for my paperwork to go through so I would be an official Torchbearer.
In early June I received a phone call from the western media coordinator for RBC congratulating me on being selected as a Torchbearer - the paperwork had gone through, it was official. I cried again. The media event was set for the week of June 22nd and I would be contacted by the branch manager of the main branch of the RBC in PG to confirm details.
On June 24th the branch manager called. I cried again. The event was set for Friday, June 26th in the afternoon with an interview with the local television station at 9:30 in the morning. As my car was not-drivable, I rode my mountain bike to the interview - I explained to the bank manager about my car, about my pledge (which I was honoring) and about the adventure race I was training for hence the bike. We did the interview with CKPG, I was presented with a jacket from RBC and an RBC Olympic Torchbearer scarf.
Spent the afternoon with friends and then headed to the bank for the event. The branch manager arranged a taxi to pick up my mom and bring her to the event too. I was introduced in front of a bank full of guests - the Mayor of PG, members of City Council, Olympian Anne-Marie Lefrancois (with a replica of the torch!!), local media, my mom, friends, RBC staff and guests. Interviews for local newspapers, photos with the Mayor, photos with mom, photos with friends. Cake. Smiles. A great day!!
In December I received my email from VANOC welcoming me to the Olympic family (cried again) and informing me of where I would be carrying the Torch on January 29, 2010. I had hoped it would be in Prince George, I was assigned to Valemount - a village in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. At first I was saddened at not being in PG, but then realized I had the honor of carrying "Athens" in a small community in the Rockies that normally doesn't get to participate in events such as this.
Christmas Eve I come home from work to find a parcel from "The Olympic Store." My offical Torchbearer uniform had arrived. I cried again.
Today I paid for my torch. 12,000 torches were made by Bombardier and were offered for sale below cost to torchbearers to allow us the opportunity to keep a piece of Olympic history. I was happy to learn as many recycled materials as possible were used to manufacture the torches. The confirmation email from the Olympic store made me cry again. I am so honored to be part of this.
On January 28th I will be attending an RBC sponsored event in PG where I will meet other RBC Torchbearers in the area. Looking forward to saying hello to the PG branch manager who coordinated the event in June - he was selected as a Torchbearer too!
On January 29 my mom, good family friends and I will be making the journey to Valemount - approximately 300kms east of PG and, depending on the weather and road conditions, a 3 hourish drive. I'm hoping other family members can join me, but I understand the distance may not make that possible.
At 7:45pm I meet with officials and other Valemount torchbearers.
At approximately 9:05pm I carry the flame.
OTR092-0123. Olympic Torch Relay Day 92, Torchbearer 0123. That's me.
See you on the trails,
Barb
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Friday, January 15, 2010
Oh yes it is.
Saw a rheumatologist this past Monday. Specialist in arthritic disorders. He was actually the very first "rheumy" I saw 18 years ago - doubt he remembered ;)
He took my history and then dug out his measuring tape and Sharpie and gave me the arthritic once over. When he was done, he told me that not only is it Ankylosing Spondylitis, but that I need to be on prescription anti-inflammatories every day. Why? I've lost some range of motion (ROM) in my shoulders, axial spine and lower back and my ribcage is at the abnormally low end of the expansion stage. In other words, when I take a deep breath, my ribs don't move. Makes running difficult, trust me.
Ah, I tell him, but I've been on all of the NSAID's - and I rattle them off - and they don't work. So I'm now on Mobicox for a few weeks and then another for a few weeks and then he'll start me on Enbrel - an anti-TNF biologic that will suppress my immune system and, hopefully, stop the inflammation, pain and destruction. That's the plan.
We did a thorough once over of my spinal x-rays - I looked over his shoulder, it's allowed, it's my spine! "The problem with women," he says jokingly, "it takes longer for their spines to fuse." Which is why it's there but not on the x-rays...yet.
Devastated doesn't come close. First a confirmation. Second hearing I've lost mobility due to this disease. Third the knowledge I've reached the biologics stage of treatment and will be suppressing my immune system.
It's like I have to learn to cope all over again. Doesn't help this past few weeks I've been ramping up for a major flare-up. My ribcage is in spasms, my back is in spasms. It hurts to breath, to sit, to move. And the fatigue caused by the inflammation and the disease process has me wiped out.
I'm fortunate to have amazingly supportive friends. Couldn't do this without them.
So now I have to rethink a few things. Still want to do MOMAR this fall - need a fitness goal to work towards as fitness and exercise is so important when living with AS.
I'm tired. It's been a long, hard, 18 years. Hoping the Enbrel gives me some relief.
Until then...
See you on the trails,
Barb
He took my history and then dug out his measuring tape and Sharpie and gave me the arthritic once over. When he was done, he told me that not only is it Ankylosing Spondylitis, but that I need to be on prescription anti-inflammatories every day. Why? I've lost some range of motion (ROM) in my shoulders, axial spine and lower back and my ribcage is at the abnormally low end of the expansion stage. In other words, when I take a deep breath, my ribs don't move. Makes running difficult, trust me.
Ah, I tell him, but I've been on all of the NSAID's - and I rattle them off - and they don't work. So I'm now on Mobicox for a few weeks and then another for a few weeks and then he'll start me on Enbrel - an anti-TNF biologic that will suppress my immune system and, hopefully, stop the inflammation, pain and destruction. That's the plan.
We did a thorough once over of my spinal x-rays - I looked over his shoulder, it's allowed, it's my spine! "The problem with women," he says jokingly, "it takes longer for their spines to fuse." Which is why it's there but not on the x-rays...yet.
Devastated doesn't come close. First a confirmation. Second hearing I've lost mobility due to this disease. Third the knowledge I've reached the biologics stage of treatment and will be suppressing my immune system.
It's like I have to learn to cope all over again. Doesn't help this past few weeks I've been ramping up for a major flare-up. My ribcage is in spasms, my back is in spasms. It hurts to breath, to sit, to move. And the fatigue caused by the inflammation and the disease process has me wiped out.
I'm fortunate to have amazingly supportive friends. Couldn't do this without them.
So now I have to rethink a few things. Still want to do MOMAR this fall - need a fitness goal to work towards as fitness and exercise is so important when living with AS.
I'm tired. It's been a long, hard, 18 years. Hoping the Enbrel gives me some relief.
Until then...
See you on the trails,
Barb
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