Second Annual Wake Up Narcolepsy Golf Outing

This past Tuesday, I made a special appearance up in Massachusetts for the Second Annual Wake Up Narcolepsy Golf Outing.  At 10am, over 120 golfers set out in different directions across the18 hole course at Wachusett Country Club in West Boylston. While everyone else was hard at work swinging golf clubs, I enjoyed a nice leisurely morning as official photographer.

In  the afternoon, I joined up with my Dad and his law partners foursome to assume the role of official heckler.  At hole 6, we stopped for some photos with the "Team Julie" sign sponsored by their law firm!

At hole 18, there was an exciting raffle/contest for an Apple iPad! At this hole, all golfers had a chance to go up against a golfing pro - the pro took three shots and if any of the golfers' shots came closer to the hole than the pro's best shot, than the golfer received double his or her chances in a raffle. 

Around 3pm, everyone gathered at the clubhouse to relax with some drinks and take a look at the well-stocked silent auction before sitting down for a buffet dinner. The silent auction included such items as an iPad, Garmin, itouch, Red Sox and concert tickets, sports memorabilia, golf outings and a ski vacation! Also included in the silent auction were three framed photographs of Boston - all Photography by Julie Flygare, of course!

Following dinner, WUN leaders Kevin Cosgrove and David Gow said a few words of thanks and announced the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners of the golf outing.  Lastly, they handed the mic over to me to say "a few words" about running the marathon for narcolepsy. A few words? This assignment was difficult for me -- it would be like asking an astronaut to say a few words about landing on the moon! Nonetheless, I did my best to pick out a few major points (stolen directly from this blog) to try and capture the experience for the large gathering of golfers and supporters.

I'm proud to report that Wake Up Narcolepsy's second annual golf outing raised over $20,000 towards it's mission.  Put together with the money raised by the Boston Marathon team, WUN has already raised over $50,000 in 2010!

It is so wonderful to be a part of a group of people reaching out into the greater community to raise awareness and funds for narcolepsy.  After witnessing the incredible growth of WUN in the last year and a half, I'm convinced that there are no limits to what a small group of motivated people can accomplish.

Below are are few pictures from this year's outing. Already looking forward to next year's! I'm thinking next year, I'll participate as an official "golfer." This is about as scary to me as running a marathon - but I suppose if I'm willing to run a marathon for narcolepsy, I ought to be able to try golfing!  

Clubhouse Entrance

Welcome Signs

Golfers getting ready for 10am start!

Posing with a few of the golfers!

Wake Up Narcolepsy founder, Kevin Cosgrove with friends and family

 Me and my Dad

Inside the Clubhouse

Silent Auction

The Winning Foursome

Ready to Golf!

I grew up a total tomboy. I was "that girl" who played touch-football with the boys during recess in the 5th and 6th grade.  Sports have always been an important part of my life from tennis, squash, running, swimming, basketball, ping-pong, badminton, bowling, darts to softball. I don't discriminate against any sport and generally, I think I'm not so bad at any of these. However, I must admit my weakness: I'm a terrible golfer.

This is surprising, considering that I come from a line of excellent golfers. My mom and my aunt are both very good golfers; my aunt (also named Julie) is constantly winning golf tournaments out in Arizona like it's her job. Yet, somehow, this lovely sport was lost on me. 

Nonetheless, I am very excited for Wake Up Narcolepsy's Second Annual Golf Outing this coming Tuesday, May 18th, at the lovely Wachusett Country Club in West Boylston, MA (outside of Worcester)!  The format will be a four man scramble, with a long drive and closest to the pin hole contest.  In addition, there will be a buffet dinner, silent auction, and awards presentation at the conclusion of the day.

So although the title of this blog post is "Ready to Golf!", that was misleading. I'm sorry. Maybe next year, but for now, I think its best for everyone's safety that I opt out of the golfing part of this outing. Instead, I will be assuming my favorite role as official paparazzi, zipping around the greens on a golf cart with my camera -- an equally scary proposition. I'm 26 and still get a thrill from driving a golf cart? Always a child at heart.

Below are a few pictures from W.U.N. 's First Annual Golf Outing. This event was a total success, raising an outstanding $25,000 towards finding a cure for narcolepsy!

One of my favorite memories of last year's outing was a conversation I had with one of the golfers (a cute boy about my age). After some small talk, he asked me, "So what's your connection to Wake Up Narcolepsy?" (as I was clearly not dressed to golf).

For the first time, I responded without hesitation, "Well, I have narcolepsy actually." He followed up asking me how this affected my life, etc. This turned into a nice informative conversation for him and something even more important for me.

For the year and a half prior to this, I had kept my narcolepsy very private, only disclosing it when necessary to friends, family and others when the time was "just right."  Yet, this was the day I started speaking up... and I haven't stopped talking since. Now, it's hard to imagine my life any other way.   
  
I look forward to seeing some of you on Tuesday, and as always, I will report back here with pictures and stories.

An Inspirational Walk

Last Sunday morning, much too early for my liking, I got up and dressed in my warmest running pants, a pink sweatshirt, and my Wake Up Narcolepsy cap. Crossing the national mall by 8am, the area seemed eerily deserted, as in later hours of the day, tourists usually flood these pathways by the hundreds. But I wasn't alone here either.

Walking towards the Washington Monument, I noticed a few other women walking in the same direction, also wearing pink. In the distance, I heard an inspirational U2 song blasting from a loudspeaker - I walked faster.  Finally, I rounded one last corner and saw the stage, the tables, the tents, and the large crowds of people gathered. My throat tightened up, I was overwhelmed with emotion.

Earlier in the week, my friend Gail invited me to join her and some friends in the Breast Cancer Network of Strength's "Mother's Day Walk to Empower" here in Washington, D.C.  I'd heard so much about different breast cancer walks over the past couple years, but I'd never participated in one. I said yes immediately.

I had no expectations for the morning other than to meet up with friends, make a donation and enjoy a nice 3 mile walk around the mall for a good cause.  I hadn't expected to be so affected, but seeing the large group of men, women and children rallying together to make a difference in the lives of those affected by breast cancer, I must admit - I was very moved.

There were many different "teams" of walkers and a plethora of corporate sponsors. Before the walk started, Ronald McDonald led us in a "warm up" session, which was more of a dance party than anything else! There was even a t-shirt contest for most creative t-shirt design (totally up my alley!).

Also, I learned that the Breast Cancer Network of Strength is a very special organization, with a goal of providing information and support to all those affected by breast cancer. It is their belief that "no one should have to go through breast cancer alone."  What a great mission!

Meeting up with my group of walkers, "Pink and Proud," we took a few pictures and started our walking.  I enjoyed the laid back pace of this event, as the last event I'd participated in for charity was the Boston Marathon... which, needless to say, wasn't quite as laid back.

All Sunday morning, I was in total awe.  There was an aura of fun-loving and supportive energy surrounding the event and I couldn't help but think of something I'd read recently.

As "research" for my own medical memoir writing, I read Betty Rollin's breast cancer memoir titled "First, You Cry."  For me, one of the most inspiring parts of Rollin's book was in her Introduction to the second edition, written 25 years after the book was first published in 1976. Rollin wrote:

"It was 1975, when no one even said the word "cancer" (in obituaries the going phrase was 'he/she died after a long illness'); not too many people said the word "breast," and even fewer said the words together. For all I know, I was surrounded by one-breasted women, but we didn't talk to each other because we were all hiding. 

I decided not to hide.  I decided to write about it.  Breast cancer was bad, I thought, but it's not boring.  The writer in me knew that. I also knew there was no point in writing a book unless I leveled with the reader and, in so doing, leveled with myself."   

Participating in the "Walk to Empower" last Sunday, I couldn't help but think how far breast cancer has come.  In the midst of so many people of all ages and walks of life, it was truly hard to believe that there was a time - in our not-so-distant past - that breast cancer was not discussed so openly.

This event was very inspiring to me as I continue forward in my efforts to raise awareness about narcolepsy.  Narcolepsy has already come so far - a few years ago, the thought of running the Boston Marathon for narcolepsy was a dream for the distant future. And now, thanks to Kevin Cosgrove and Wake Up Narcolepsy, that dream is one of the proudest moments of my life!

Always keeping my eyes on the horizon, it is now my greatest hope that some day, in the not-so-distant future, there will be a large event similar to the "Walk to Empower" in support of narcolepsy. "REM-Walking around DC?" I like the sound of that, I like it a lot!

(Pictures courtesy of Gail -- thank you for this wonderful experience and your great photos!)

After the Party Is the After-Party

In the after-glow of the marathon, I made my way from the finish line over to Sonsie Restaurant on Newbury Street, where Wake Up Narcolepsy was hosting a post-race celebration for its four marathon runners and their supporters.

Although physically drained, I was still "flying high" with awe and excitement that I'd actually done it!  It was wonderful to meet up with the other three W.U.N. runners and hear about their race-day experiences, as we all ran at different paces. All four of W.U.N.'s runners successfully finished the marathon in under five hours, (I was the slowest of the group).  Also, it was great to celebrate with my super-fans!

 High Five with my superfan, Steve

REMRunner with superfans

At the Wake Up Narcolepsy Marathon Celebration
 

Wake Up Narcolepsy's founder, Kevin Cosgrove, gave a nice speech thanking the four marathon runners for their contributions to his organization.  I'm proud to announce that I raised over $6,000 through my marathon efforts.  And together, W.U.N.'s four marathoners raised $30,000 towards finding a cure for narcolepsy!

W.U.N.'s four marathoners with founder, Kevin Cosgrove

Thank you for all your support, good wishes, and messages of congratulations. Its been an honor and a joy to share my journey as a person with narcolepsy getting back into shape to run the Boston Marathon here on this blog.

Post-marathon, I took a few weeks off from writing REMRunner updates. Admittedly, I also took a few weeks off from exercising as well.  I've only run once since the big day. But do not fear - I will NOT be signing off for good. I have some new athletic and advocacy projects on the horizon that I will unveil soon!