Representing

There are things in life you can control and then there are things in life you cannot control. The one thing I believe though is never to give up trying to solve what you cannot control. The one thing about an advocate is that is the mindset. You keep pushing to make things happen. You become the warrior in battle. You accept no defeat. You are the voice, the drive, the push to make things happen. I have been part of the Regular’s for three years. The day I was asked by Enzo was the day I committed myself to his project and to the meaning behind it. The physical part of the project is tough and raising awareness and money can be even tougher. I’ve placed myself amongst a group of extraordinary individuals in the Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s community. I began listening to all of there stories. Becoming very close with many of them. Just one year ago I met Jen, our producer of the documentary 10 mountains 10 years, which is based on The Regular’s. We instantly connected. Two like minds. Closest of friends. From the very beginning we were unsure of the impact the project would make on our lives. We would often say how hard it was to wrap our heads around it all. It still continues to be that way because it is something that is forever changing. New people come into our lives. New connections with others that support our team. New reasons to push the envelope in drawing more awareness and more funds.

It becomes apparent how important the role has become. I am sitting in a plane right now, with my son David to my left, heading to Tennessee to represent the Regular’s at a meeting with a Parkinson’s support group and a representative from the Alzheimer’s Association to meet me and to speak on behalf of the Alzheimer’s Association. When first approached the initial reaction was shock. Why me? But, why not me? The wonderful woman who invited me, Judy Hensley, wanted me to come and tell my story. I love to write and I would hope to believe one day I will publish my memoir’s of this experience with the Regular’s. But reality has hit and I journey out for the first time in my life to tell “my story”. I couldn’t be more honored to be doing this. I guess I shouldn’t speak too soon. I’m not even there yet and maybe I will forget everything and Judy will have to get up to sing and dance. But I honestly feel I have finally found my voice. I do want to tell my story and try to inspire others to help. If we all join together as one it is possible now to take control of those things in our life we feel we have no control over. I can begin or end this but one thing remains strong, “Together is One” and Enzo, our captain, penned it, believes it, and everyday works towards it. So I am Tennessee bound to represent. I keep my son David close, allowing him to see his mom in action and to go back and tell his brother’s and his dad about the experience. Others may think it’s brave of me to be climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro this July but my brave side has to come out in Tennessee so I can stand and represent this group of altruistic individuals in a way that will touch many people’s hearts and lives. I may be telling my story but without the Regular’s there would be no story for me.

I want to take this time to thank Judy and her family for having my son and I in there home and for the Parkinson’s Support group and the Alzheimer’s Association for giving me this opportunity to speak on the behalf of the Regular’s. I would also like to thank Jane Byron, the mayor of there town, for taking the time to come out and speak and meet with me. And of course Enzo Simone, the captain of the Regular’s, the man behind the 10 mountains 10 years project, for believing in me. And to all of my teammates who I will be venturing out with on June 28th with to the roof of Africa. And to all of my family and friends who support and stand by me and understand the importance of what I am doing.

World Up,
Strong Feather aka Eileen

Hey Tennessee: If you happen to be in the neighborhood...

The Northeast TN Parkinson’s Disease Support Group

invites you to a special PD support group meeting

to hear and meet..


Eileen “Strong Feather” Colon

of Hamilton, New Jersey,


who will climb Mount Kilimanjaro in July 2009

as a member of ‘The Regulars’

--a group of regular people committed to climbing a mountain a year to bring awareness to

Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases


Saturday, May 23 6:00-7:30 pm

MSHA Health Resources Annex Classroom,

Johnson City Mall


Eileen will discuss her involvement in a special group making a difference for Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases by climbing mountains on a journey called ‘10 Mountains in 10 Years- A Quest for the Cure‘.

The Regulars (www.theRegulars.org) are an inspiring group of people with a mission of bringing together regular people to make a difference toward a cure for Parkinson‘s and Alzheimer‘s diseases!


Eileen Colon (nicknamed “Strong Feather” by her climbing mates) is a 51 year old wife and mother who has been involved in numerous charity awareness activities such as the MS walk and the Susan G. Koman 3 day Cancer walk. She is a second degree black belt in Teakwondo and climbed Mt. Hood and Mt. Washington last year in her first climbs with The Regulars. She blogs about her mission with the Regulars at www.10mountains10years.blogspot.com. She will climb with team leader Enzo Simone and 9 others up Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa in early July 2009.


Come hear this inspiring woman tell how people like me and you can make a difference! For more information call Judy Hensley 423-773-2244 or the Health Resources Center 423-915-5200.

The Coat to Go International and Up A Mountain

This note is from Judy Good Hensley who will be handing me off Da' Coat when I go to visit here this month as I represent The Regulars in Tennessee. You can read more about Judy and her friend Sherri Woodbridge on www.parkinsonsjourney.com
Truly amazing!!!

Eileen




The Coat to Go International and Up A Mountain

Recently, I was reading about an incredible group of people called the Regulars http://theregulars.org/ who are climbing a mountain a year for 10 year to help raise awareness and funds for cures for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. I contacted one of the people on facebook who will be participating this year as the group climbs Mt. Kilimangaro in Africa in early July. And it didn’t take me long to ask my new mountain climbing facebook friend, Strong Feather (Eileen Colon) if she would do me the favor of carrying a piece of the coat along with an orange string and a Parkinson’s symbol pin with her up the mountain and take a picture with these items on the mountain with her. Upon hearing about ‘da coat, she asked how much it weighed and then told me to my great surprise that she wanted to take the coat with her if possible!!! So ‘da coat is going international. I mean, since I’ve been diagnosed with PD, I’ve been to several new places but none international (not yet, anyway) and ‘da coat is getting some travel time. It is my hope that ‘da coat is a symbol of how life with a chronic illness can still be a life that provides nuggets of happiness, in many different times, places, things, and people!

Judy Good Hensley

Ain't No Mountain High Enough - Ticket Sale Information

Tickets are now available to purchase for "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" Event that I will be hosting June 18th at the new Hamilton Manor in Hamilton, NJ. Click on the button to direct you to the desired charity to purchase a ticket. 100% of ticket proceeds will go to said charity. Thank you for your support of "The Regulars".

World Up,
Strong Feather aka Eileen




The Alzheimer's Association

Online event registration

Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's

Online event registration

Ain't No Mountain High Enough - Fundraising Event for The Regulars

Ain't No Mountain High Enough - Fundraising Event for The Regulars

Hosted by:
Strong Feather - A Trail Called Hope IV

When:
Thursday, Jun 18, 2009 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM EDT

Description
Come out and meet "The Regulars" and help us raise awareness and funds for the Alzheimer's Association and the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's while enjoying live entertainment and a D.J. Take a chance on our Chinese Auction items along with our Silent Auction. Raffle tickets will also be sold and pulled every hour. There will be appetizers and one glass of wine with your admission price.


For ticket information and price please contact Kathryn Hartz at 609-570-0342.


We promise you an enjoyable evening as we all ban together to make a difference in the hundreds of lives affected by these two diseases. "Together is One" is our motto.


Visit us on the web at:

www.theRegulars.org

Also visit the Manor at

www.thehamiltonmanor.com



RSVP Guests:
How many?



The Hamilton Manor

30 Route 156
Trenton, NJ 08691

Loretta Hagen

http://www.strausnews.com/west_milford_messenger/

Above is a link to the West Milford Messenger, hometown of Loretta Hagen. Her song "Sundown till Dawn" will be featured in our documentary "10 mountains 10 years". Check it out. She has a beautiful, powerful voice.

Eileen

Summing it Up

What is it to advocate? It is a lot of dedication, time, belief in yourself, and an effort on your part to get the word out. Is it like a job? In some respect it is but without pay. However, we do reap benefits. The lives we touch, the respect we earn, the feeling we have inside when we know we are making a difference. It humbles you when you are in this position. You begin to look at a lot of things differently. For one, the future of my children, my grandsons, my nephews and nieces, weigh the heaviest as my reasons to be a part of what I am doing. But I advocate for everyone that I have had the pleasure of being in contact with because they are the ones that need the answers now, the cures now. Sometimes when we are asked to step out of our comfort zone we either become frightened or we make excuses. Our excuses may be valid and then again they may not be. But if there is just one thing I find to be important amongst the over all scheme of things is to help others and to get others to help.

I have come across skepticism, ridicule, harshness, cruelty, non-acceptance of what I am doing. I have cried over this, become stagnant over this, stopped my training over this, all because I have doubted myself. I have never doubted why. I have had to bite my tongue to allow for an outer shell to grow so I can block it all out and remain on task. Why am I telling you this? Because support from others is second to what I do. A kind word, a recognition of what I am doing, and even a hand in helping me. But I know not everyone wants to become involved. But I believe the important thing is to accept the person trying. To support there efforts to make a difference in the lives of others. The old saying goes “If you have nothing nice to say then don’t say anything at all”. Do I want others to turn a blind eye? No. I want others to educate themselves, to look inside of themselves and see that if more of us would step up to the plate then more money would be raised, more awareness would be drawn to these diseases. Our motto: “Together is One” holds truth with everyone’s project, everyone’s foundation, everyone’s advocacy work.

Altruism: a concern or regard for the needs of others, entirely without ulterior motive.
We are a group of altruistic individuals committed to a plan to help rid Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Disease from existence. We train, we fundraise, we climb. But mostly, we believe in the power of people and that with combined efforts from everyone we can make this a reality. If you haven’t already stopped by our website please do so at this time. Get to know what our captain, Enzo Simone, has dedicated his life to. What he believes when he says “Regular” people can make the difference. Click on the links. Get to know the team, read there stories, become part of our fundraising efforts, or just donate. We do this for all of you.

http://www.theRegulars.org

Also on Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=71441937789&ref=mf

World Up!
Strong Feather Eileen