March 24, 2025 • 50 mins
In this inspiring episode of "Covering Your Health with Evelyn Erives," we shine a spotlight on The Survivor Strut Fashion Show, a remarkable event benefitting the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Join us as we sit down with Dianne Callahan, a four-time cancer survivor, author, high-performance coach, and professional speaker. Dianne shares her incredible journey of resilience and triumph, offering her unique perspective on staying positive and finding happiness in all aspects of life, no matter the challenges.
Discover the empowering stories behind The Survivor Strut, set to take place on May 10th at Garner Holt Productions in Redlands. Dianne's insights will leave you motivated and uplifted, as she discusses the importance of maintaining a positive outlook and embracing joy in every moment.
Tune in for an episode filled with hope, inspiration, and the celebration of life. Don't miss this chance to hear from a true survivor and learn how you too can strut through life's adversities with grace and strength.
For more information on this show's topic visit IEHP.org or (800) 440-IEHP.
Learn more about sponsoring and/or attending The Survivor Strut Fashion Show at https://survivorstrutlls.betterworld.org/
Tickets go on sale at midnight on April 2nd, 2025.
Dianne Callahan's book "Lighthearted Life" can be found on Amazon.
Reach out to Evelyn via Instagram @evelynerives or email her at EvelynErives@iHeartMedia.com
Discover the empowering stories behind The Survivor Strut, set to take place on May 10th at Garner Holt Productions in Redlands. Dianne's insights will leave you motivated and uplifted, as she discusses the importance of maintaining a positive outlook and embracing joy in every moment.
Tune in for an episode filled with hope, inspiration, and the celebration of life. Don't miss this chance to hear from a true survivor and learn how you too can strut through life's adversities with grace and strength.
For more information on this show's topic visit IEHP.org or (800) 440-IEHP.
Learn more about sponsoring and/or attending The Survivor Strut Fashion Show at https://survivorstrutlls.betterworld.org/
Tickets go on sale at midnight on April 2nd, 2025.
Dianne Callahan's book "Lighthearted Life" can be found on Amazon.
Reach out to Evelyn via Instagram @evelynerives or email her at EvelynErives@iHeartMedia.com
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hey there, Welcome back gets. Covering Your Health with Eveily
Reva is presented by I EhP. We have got a
fun episode for you today. I'm you know. This is
an episode actually that I have been looking forward to
for a long time. Actually, I wanted to do this
in season one because the person I'm going to introduce
you to today is very special to me, a very
(00:22):
sweet friend of mine, and she's putting together a very
cool event that does very big things in the cancer world.
She actually is a four time cancer survivor and she
is just a ball of energy and light. I am
going to introduce you to my sweet friend Diane Callahan,
(00:46):
who I met years ago and has become one of
those people in my life that I feel I can
always lean on for some positive advice. And I think
you're gonna love her now. Her event that she's putting
on is something that I think everybody could love. It's
about fashion. Yes, it is called the Survivor Strut, and
(01:08):
this is actually the ninth year that she's putting this beautiful,
beautiful fundraising event on that everybody can support even if
you can't make it on the day. Taking place on Saturday,
May tenth at the wonderful Garner Holt Productions in Red
lens excuse me, and all of the money raise is
going to back to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and
(01:31):
fund research for better treatments and better outcomes and cures
for blood cancer. It's another cause that's very near and
entered in my heart. If you know my own backstory.
Diane Callahan is a person that you will know in
the first few minutes of this episode why she is
(01:52):
so special and you will want to listen to the
entire thing I'll tell you right now. I am overjoyed
to bring you, my sweet friend, and welcome Diane Callahan
to the Covering Your Health Podcast.
Speaker 2 (02:09):
Welcome to Covering your Health, a wellness podcast dedicated to
covering all areas of living a healthy and happy lifestyle,
from healthy hearts to understanding health plans and everything in between.
Each episode will provide you with a better understanding of
managing your health, preventative care, and staying on the right
path for your family's wellness journey. The Covering Your Health
(02:30):
Podcast is presented by i EhP. Now your host Evelina Revez.
Speaker 1 (02:37):
Well, here we go. Welcome Diane, how are you so good?
Speaker 3 (02:43):
It's been crazy good Disney wonderful.
Speaker 1 (02:45):
Okay, we're going to start really quickly. Usually I start
with a backstory, but first you're in a casino. I
am loving it right now. So I heard you came
from Vegas too, So you're in wrongo right now?
Speaker 2 (03:03):
Yes?
Speaker 1 (03:03):
Are you just a huge gambler? Or what do we
need to know about you? And do I need to
put you in it? Do we need an intervention? What's happening?
Speaker 4 (03:12):
I may need an intervention, But I don't gamble at all.
Like I don't gamble. I want to see where my
money is, so I I want to know where my
shoes are. That's where my money is.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
Right.
Speaker 4 (03:23):
Yes, I was in Vegas until just late last night
with my best friend pitching a product that she's invented.
So we were at this Inventor's ASD showcase in the
convention center for the whole since last week. And then
we heard that Shark Tank is having open casting today.
(03:45):
So we drove down last night, got a hotel, stood
in the rain. That's the hairdoo, and got a wristband
and so we're going to be pitching to Shark Tank
at noon.
Speaker 3 (03:55):
That's crazy and so cool.
Speaker 1 (03:59):
It is so oh cool, Oh my god. No, h okay, well,
I won't go into detail with that because patent pending,
and uh, I don't want you to spill, but I
hope you guys make the show. How cool?
Speaker 3 (04:13):
Well, why wouldn't we make the show?
Speaker 1 (04:15):
Why wouldn't you with you?
Speaker 3 (04:18):
We're awesome, you guys.
Speaker 1 (04:20):
Yeah, I know your friend too. You guys have great personalities.
Very TV ready. Yeah, Well, let's let everybody know who
who doesn't know about you? Diane Callahan, tell us your backstory.
Let's let's take it way back. What made you become
what you are today? Where did you always know as
a child. I'm going to be an author, I'm going
(04:42):
to inspire a million people. I'm going to be a
woman of the gear. I mean, where did all that
come from?
Speaker 4 (04:48):
Well, okay, way back in the day. Remember all of
the magazines that you could buy at the grocery store, like, uh.
Speaker 3 (04:56):
Women's Day, Ladies, Home Journal, read Book.
Speaker 4 (05:00):
Most of them are out of business now, but back
in the day, they were called the Seven Sisters, and
they were ladies magazines, and they were sold at the
grocery store by the register, marketed to mostly stay at
home moms.
Speaker 3 (05:13):
Okay, So my mom loved those magazines.
Speaker 4 (05:16):
She was like one of the original full time, full
time mom, full time worker, five kids, full time job,
and she loved those magazines. So when I would dust
the living rooms and I would dust the coffee table,
I would fan them out on the coffee table so
you could see all the title And I didn't read
the recipes, God no, But in the back there was
(05:37):
always like a one page story that was an inspirational story,
somebody who had overcome most almost always a woman, because
that was the audience, a woman who had overcome an illness,
a loss, a something right and then went on to
become stronger because of it and then to inspire or
(06:00):
help other people. And I remember thinking, I hope, I
if I have to overcome something, I hope I can
be like that and you know, be positive and help
inspire other people. And I don't know if I read
those articles because there was something I knew that down
the line I was going to need that model for me,
(06:22):
or if I focus so much on having to overcome things.
God gave me plenty of them. But somehow along the way,
I'm not here to where I've gone through a lot
a lot, and I'm just here for it and my
job is to encourage people.
Speaker 1 (06:38):
So I feel like what you did was you spoke
it into existence.
Speaker 3 (06:44):
Ye kind of wish I hadn't, but okay, well, you know.
Speaker 1 (06:47):
I think you spoke in to existence the positive attitude.
I don't think you spoke into existence the things that
you were going to tackle along the way, you know
what I mean. I think that you spoke into existence
that you would be a positive, inspiring person whatever came
your way.
Speaker 3 (07:05):
Whatever it needed to be about. I can it. Yeah,
I think you're right.
Speaker 1 (07:10):
I mean when I think about you, that's what I
think about anyway. Like I always think, I'm my gosh,
she's so positive boy everything all of the time. How
how does she do? I know? No, you're you are well.
Speaker 3 (07:22):
And that's not like drugs or anything.
Speaker 1 (07:26):
I've never seen it, so no, I believe it. Well,
that is so cool, and it's so strange that it
would start with just that simple thing of I would
dust things. I would read the little back of something
and go, gosh, I want to be like that. I
want to have a story like that. Yeah, very very cool.
And how many siblings did you grow up with?
Speaker 3 (07:47):
I'm one of five five, you said, so I've four five.
Speaker 4 (07:51):
And the funny thing is, so the first they call
it the first family. They were real close in age,
like two years, three years, and it was almost nine
years before I showed up. And then my younger sister
was almost five years, like four and a half years.
And my parents said, they moved here from North Dakota, Yeah,
in nineteen sixty and they they I thought they just
(08:14):
got a little frisky because they were in California.
Speaker 3 (08:16):
Yeah, and I was an accident.
Speaker 1 (08:18):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (08:18):
My Dad's like, no, we said, this is what we're
here to do, and we're good at being here, so
let's have some more kids.
Speaker 1 (08:27):
That's that's amazing. I mean I feel I feel like
that would be my husband and my story too, Like,
you know what, we have the means now again and
we love it. Let's have kids again. You know.
Speaker 4 (08:43):
That we kept them young, my younger sister Julie and
I kept them young. Yeah, so I'll take it.
Speaker 1 (08:50):
That's cool. That's so cool. So you got to kind
of be like the oldest child, even though you were
the youngest to your sister.
Speaker 4 (08:58):
Yeah, so I was like the youngest of the oldest,
the middle child and the oldest of the youngest.
Speaker 3 (09:03):
Yeah, so everything you are, you got all of it.
Speaker 1 (09:07):
I don't know if that birthplace or that you know
what they say, like birthplace, there's always like a syndrome.
Oh the middle kids this way and then this is.
I wonder like where you fall in that with all
of with that dynamic, it's so interesting.
Speaker 3 (09:19):
I think I just fall out.
Speaker 1 (09:24):
Could be Okay, So let's talk about your inspiring journey.
Let's let's talk about that. You are a four time
cancer survivor, which freaking blows my mind every time I
tell someone your story and I'm talking about you because
I talk about you all the time. You were first
diagnosed years ago, tell us about that, what happened, What
(09:49):
was that like for you? So, and what was a
diagnosis originally?
Speaker 4 (09:52):
Okay, So in two thousand and five, my seventeen year
marriage ended. Okay, So that was his ending point. And
then the first signs of being six started in two
thousand and six. But they couldn't figure out what was
wrong with me, Like I literally had hair falling out
in big empty circles and immute stuff. Right then in
(10:14):
two thousand and seven, I meet who is now my
real husband. That's what I call him, mister Wonderful. And
three months later I end up in the hospital because
all this pain was happening in all my bones and everywhere.
Speaker 3 (10:32):
We could not figure it out.
Speaker 4 (10:34):
And so next thing you know, we're doing bone marrow
bioxes and every test known to every painful test known
to man, and then we knew that I had stage
four aggressive non Hodgkins lymphoma. And it was in all
in my lymph notes, through my whole body and my
bone marrow. So when they did the bone marrow bioxy,
(10:55):
when it comes out, it's supposed to be juicy, bright red, right,
mine came out milky pink because the cancer sales were
eating all that blood.
Speaker 1 (11:07):
Yeah, and you saw, gosh, so stage four, I mean
you saw some initial symptoms that you just didn't even
think to go and try to figure out why that
was happening. Right, You were in a different heads.
Speaker 4 (11:23):
Too, Yeah, and he was, and we couldn't figure it out.
And then I finally I had a lymph note here
that was in large so we buy it. I buyopsied
that in the hospital and then we got we figured
out how bad it was. Yeah, my apologist later said
later years later, that the day we met, I was
(11:43):
at death's door and he's like, and he told my family.
Speaker 3 (11:46):
He's like, we're going to do the best we can.
Speaker 1 (11:49):
Wow, And he did. Yeah, here I am and here
you are. So is that when you first got involved
with the Leukemian Lymphoma Society. It was after that very
first initial diagnosis.
Speaker 2 (12:01):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (12:02):
So I did about six months of really hardcore aggressive
chemo because we had to kill this thing. And so
I got a remission in January of twenty two thousand
and eight. And so here's what's happening. I was. I
was on the computer looking for because we knew one
of the drugs at the radio, the immunotherapy drug rotusan,
(12:23):
was found by a researcher funded by ls SO Chuck
and I. So, let me just say, the night we
found out I had stage four cancer, I told him
he should run and go meet some other woman who
could help him finish raising his kids. And he said,
when God gives you a gift, you don't give it back.
And then he said, I already know I want to
(12:44):
spend the rest of my life taking care of you.
Speaker 3 (12:47):
So will you marry me? Right there in the Kaiser
resortance spot and I said yes. So we were engaged.
And I'm in remission and I'm on the computer looking
up Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, thinking we.
Speaker 4 (13:02):
Got to do something. We're gonna give back. And so
I first saw a team and training.
Speaker 3 (13:08):
Right, I'm like, this is so cool.
Speaker 4 (13:10):
They helped they teach you how to raise money, and
they help you get ready for a marathon, which you
know all too well.
Speaker 3 (13:16):
And he said, do they have anything else? Literally, any
other thing because we run.
Speaker 4 (13:24):
No, And he said because we met on match dot
com and in his in his profile, he said, you're
looking for someone to go like rock climbing with, I'm
not your guy because he's an it nerd right, And
so he's like, Diana, what else anything but that?
Speaker 3 (13:40):
And so I found the light the night Walk at
Angels Stadium and I'm like, well, how about that. We
could do it.
Speaker 4 (13:47):
We could get our whole family to go, we could
make a team, and so I was like, sign me up.
So that's what happened. So that's how it started.
Speaker 1 (13:56):
So cool. What was the name of your team?
Speaker 3 (13:59):
I love? Okay, Well the name of the team was
Team I Do.
Speaker 4 (14:04):
Because the market, the PR people had asked if they
could sort of pimp out my story to the media.
Speaker 3 (14:14):
Yeah, you know, the national LLS people. I'm like, that's
what I do for a living. So that's great. Fine,
just go ahead call me up. And they're like, do
you like to go.
Speaker 4 (14:21):
Ahead and have your wedding at Angel Stadium at the Walk?
And I said, okay, now we've gone. Oh we going
to bars one step too far.
Speaker 3 (14:32):
I will do almost anything for you, but I don't
think I'll do that. But what we did do is we.
Speaker 4 (14:39):
Combined our wedding with the walk. So we got married
in our backyard on a Friday night, and then I
got a bus donated and on Saturday, everybody from the
wedding jumped on the bus and we went to Angel
Stadium and we walked as team I do, because we
just said I do. But more importantly, I was thinking, well,
who wants to cure cancer?
Speaker 3 (14:58):
We can all say I do. Used to that, Yes
you can, I'll say I do. You don't have to
get married.
Speaker 1 (15:03):
Yep, that's true, that is true. Wow, Oh my gosh,
I know. I remember the first time you told me
your your team name and the reasoning behind it. I thought,
that's so cool. I love that. Let's talk Survivor's strut.
Now did it start then? How early did I know?
I've seen Survivor strut through many iterations. I met you
in two thousand and nine, so it was very long
(15:24):
after Team I Do and all of that. But when
I met you, you were working for LS at that point.
Speaker 4 (15:31):
Yeah, So here's what happened in two thousand. I started
Survivor Strutt in two thousand and eight. It was part
of our fundraising that very first year because and here's
where what I left clothes, as you know, and I
also I know that.
Speaker 3 (15:50):
When you go through cancer, it takes a toll on you.
Speaker 4 (15:53):
On you and you differently about yourself and your looks,
and you lose your hair, you know, and.
Speaker 3 (15:58):
All this stuff.
Speaker 1 (15:59):
Things.
Speaker 4 (16:00):
Thought, let's do something that just celebrates that we're still
here and we're beautiful no matter what stage we're in. Yeah,
if you have hair, you don't have hair, if you
have a fort, which I did, don't have a port,
if you've got scars, which I did. So the very
first Survivor Streut happened in Riverside and we had about
(16:21):
twelve women of all different ages, and we streaded our.
Speaker 3 (16:26):
Stuff and we raised I think three thousand dollars and
I was overjoyed.
Speaker 4 (16:32):
I thought that was some damn good right it is.
And then so that was in the summer, and then
we went did the walk in September and then right
after and I had been back to work at that
time when I worked for the Riverside Unified School District
and there as their public information alficto. And then in
(16:54):
about February of two thousand and nine, I get a
call from the executive director saying, we need to would
you please change your career that you're good at and
come do something that you're probably gonna be good at.
Speaker 3 (17:07):
And so I said yeah, And so I joined then
to run the.
Speaker 4 (17:12):
Walk programs, and then that that just went through the
students program, the Visionaries program, until I became an area
director and we were raising millions of dollars in Evelyn.
Speaker 3 (17:24):
We did it together.
Speaker 1 (17:26):
We did a little bit of that. I helped a little,
You did a lot.
Speaker 3 (17:31):
You held a lot.
Speaker 2 (17:32):
It was so great.
Speaker 3 (17:33):
That's how that happened.
Speaker 1 (17:35):
That's so cool. So it started with you raising three
thousand dollars. You brought a group of women Riverside. You
made it happen. And it's grown. I mean it's really grown.
Speaker 4 (17:48):
It really really has grown. So we had twelve women
the first type. This will be our ninth survivor strutch.
So it's not every year, it's.
Speaker 3 (17:57):
Not even every other year. I like to say, you know,
when the time is right. It kind of figured out
the strut.
Speaker 1 (18:03):
I totally get it. I do understand that. I feel
like there's a magic to not having something forced all
the time, all the time, all the time, all the time.
It's like, you know what, this is a strut year.
Speaker 3 (18:15):
I can feel that, wait a minute, we're going to strut.
Speaker 1 (18:18):
This is a threat year.
Speaker 3 (18:21):
So we've had the strut at the Riverside Plaza three
different times. Twice.
Speaker 4 (18:27):
It was done as part of the Riverside Medical Clinics
team fundraising, right because I was on staff, So I
wasn't able to like really run a private individual event, right.
Speaker 1 (18:39):
Because you were already working with LLLS, So yeah, it
wouldn't make sense.
Speaker 2 (18:44):
And then.
Speaker 3 (18:46):
After so you know, I had two relapses. And here's
the thing.
Speaker 4 (18:51):
Evelyn has done many marathons and half marathons. She's insane
and just half okay. So we were going to be
together in the inaugural tinker Bell Half, the very first
tinker Bell half. Yeah, in Anaheim, and I started. You
started training, all of us, all our friends were doing it.
(19:13):
And I started training, and about four or five weeks in,
I find out I'm relapsing. My cancer is raging back.
And then so I had my first stem cell transplant.
And then I was like, Okay, let me get through that.
And so we're like, let's do it again the next year,
Let's do tinker Bell again.
Speaker 3 (19:33):
So now I keep do it.
Speaker 1 (19:34):
Yeah, second week of.
Speaker 4 (19:36):
Training, raging back, the transplant had failed, and I was
prepping for an unrelated donor transplant.
Speaker 3 (19:45):
And so I've come to the conclusion that running marathons
gives me cancer.
Speaker 1 (19:50):
Remember, yeah, I remember thinking, is this a bad luck
thing for her? I don't think this is actually crazy
or is it? We just know it's the season. It's
it's as soon as she starts exercising she notices symptoms.
I don't know. No, No, it was a weird coincidence,
(20:11):
for sure. I mean there was no way. I think
at the time I was chairing the man what was
called the Man and Woman of the Year competition. I
remember the first time you had relapsed and all of
us just like being floored like that's not allowed. That's
not allowed, an here you are for No, it's just
(20:32):
not allowed. And we all did rally behind you and
through all of that, and.
Speaker 4 (20:37):
You know, can I just jump in and say two
of my prize possessions are the medals from the first
and second chick and fell Piper, who was our executive
director and who's are one of our very very good friends.
She I'm not gonna cry on your show.
Speaker 3 (20:56):
She ran you all ran in my honor, you ow it.
And she gave me her metals and they hang in
my in my closet, which is a whole bedroom, so
they have a place of honor with all my clothes.
Speaker 1 (21:08):
Yep, yep, she did. I remember that, and I remember
us really pushing hard, like we got to finish this.
It was it was all of our very first one.
So that was it was Tinkerbelt was my very first
initiation into do I even like doing these half marathons?
And apparently I did, because I did, like yes, tone
others later but later, but yes, So I I remember that,
(21:32):
and I remember her going, this is going to Diane,
We're doing this, We're doing this, and we all we
all wore stuff, you know, like with other people's names
on it, and you were aspiring for us all to
like get back there.
Speaker 3 (21:41):
And that's what's so cool REDOK magazine.
Speaker 1 (21:44):
You know there it is, You're already there without the
back article. Yet at that point, why do you as
a as a cancer survivor. I feel like I already
know this answer. But as a cancer survivor, why do
you feel like it is so important to amplify the
voices of people who have stories similar to yours.
Speaker 3 (22:06):
There's one word. There's only one word for this. The
word is hope. Hope. I will tell you.
Speaker 4 (22:15):
Sitting in waiting room, sitting in the chemost suite waiting room,
sitting in the clinic waiting room, bal this can be
after my transplants.
Speaker 3 (22:25):
Wait, you know, going to doctor's appointments.
Speaker 4 (22:28):
Whenever I met someone who was further down the line
than I was, whether it be two months or two years,
I literally wanted to touch them and kind of like
get some of that juju so that I could believe,
so I could believe that I too will be two
months or two years or almost.
Speaker 3 (22:50):
Now eighteen years. Yes, yes, that's all I'd say it.
Speaker 4 (22:56):
I probably say I'm a four time cancer survivor probably
every day in some iteration to someone I know, someone
I don't know, because it's important to people that they
know that there is hope.
Speaker 3 (23:10):
No matter what you're going through, you can do it.
Speaker 1 (23:13):
You are the queen of conversation with someone you've never met.
And I swear every single time I have watched you
do this, and it's been a lot of times, you'll
just come. She loves complimenting people. She'll walk up to
somebody and tell, oh my god, this outfit, this is
this is so cute, you look great, You say all
(23:34):
the things, and then you spark up. First off, you
make their whole day. I've seen it. I've seen it,
and I've tried to be like that because I watch
you do it and I go that, just look at
that person walking away so much happier than they were
when they before they met you. And when you tell
your story, I feel like everybody gets something from it.
(23:56):
Something If it isn't hope, it's just inspired. How can
I volunteer right? How can I give back to an
organization like the Leukemia and Phoma Society or be the
match or any of the others that you've worked with.
You've worked with many many So volunteering is where I
(24:18):
know I have to tell you change my life. Volunteering
changed my life. That's what I tell people all the time.
I don't know if it's for everybody, but for me,
it is what happened to my life after I started volunteering.
That blossomed into wonderful things. Helped my career, help my
raising children, helped all of the helped my marriage. I mean,
(24:40):
my husband and I wanted to work together because we
were so dedicated to doing.
Speaker 2 (24:45):
You know what I mean.
Speaker 1 (24:45):
Because yeah, because it just morks into all these different
facets of life. Somebody maybe who has never volunteered before
and maybe wants to, and maybe is inspired by your
story and wants to help with the survivors. But can
they can they join you?
Speaker 3 (25:03):
Oh my gosh, yes, Let me first sake.
Speaker 4 (25:08):
Every There's every kind of way like to make the
world better, whatever little seed of love and interest in
your heart, whether it be the environment, whether it be animals,
whether it be children, whether it be homeless people, whether
it be cancer research.
Speaker 3 (25:25):
We all have a place to serve and to make
the world better. And as you said, and then we.
Speaker 4 (25:32):
Get the benefit because it makes our lives better because
what you put out.
Speaker 3 (25:36):
Okay, now I'm gonna get all crunchy granola, but this
is what I believe.
Speaker 4 (25:40):
What you project and put out in the world and
how you show up in the world is what magnetizes
what comes into your world.
Speaker 3 (25:48):
And so if you're if you're at that high.
Speaker 4 (25:51):
Level of frequency, the most amazing things happen and the
most blessings happen. So I would say there's a place
for every single one of us, more than one place, probably,
So don't get me started. If you're feeling the cancer
research side of things, if you're feeling supporting the Leukemia
(26:12):
and Lymphoma Society as we do, you can always go
to LLS dot org because you can find out where
all the different regions and chapters are.
Speaker 3 (26:21):
But if you're specifically.
Speaker 4 (26:23):
Feeling like coming on board with me and getting involved
in our local region, which is San Diego, Orange County,
Inland Empire, the Desert, if all we're it's everywhere.
Speaker 1 (26:35):
Yeah, but I E.
Speaker 3 (26:36):
We're I E.
Speaker 4 (26:37):
Centric you and I SO we're ie people. There's lots
of rules to play within our chapter and lots of
fun things you can do. I would suggest life and
Night Block. You can do that as a family or
as a work group, and businesses sign up to support that.
And finally, if you thought to be part of the
Survivors Fashion show, I would love to find an I
(27:03):
e HP member, someone who's been served by I e
HP who is a cancer survivor of any kind to
be one of my mom's man, woman, child, child would
be great.
Speaker 3 (27:16):
Any kind, you can get a hold of me and
we will put you in the show.
Speaker 4 (27:20):
And then if you're not a cancer survivor, because you
can't walk the show unless you are in the club.
Speaker 3 (27:28):
But there's a lot of volunteer needs.
Speaker 4 (27:29):
I have lots of volunteer needs, and so I'm ready
to talk to anybody who would like to talk.
Speaker 1 (27:35):
Well, that's okay. That leads perfectly into what I was
going to say if somebody wanted to be a part
of this year's show and stretch. So are you still
currently looking for models or I know I call them models,
the cancer survivor models.
Speaker 4 (27:50):
Uh huh, right, strutters? That makes them sound like strippers though,
so no, I'm not doing that.
Speaker 1 (27:59):
That's a family for think.
Speaker 3 (28:02):
Right now, You're not gonna believe this. I have twenty
six models nailsh But here's what's great.
Speaker 4 (28:08):
There are four segments to Survivor Threat, and not every
model is in every segment. Yes, and that doesn't mean
there's gonna be a ten hour show because it's a
poppin' we get them in.
Speaker 1 (28:18):
So seen you do this on Zoom before and been
you know, like when you did the whole show on
Zoom and I was like, how did she make this happen?
You do miracles?
Speaker 4 (28:28):
I will say that, Well, we got to videotape at
the Day Classic Car Museum. It's private, and so all
of our strutters are models, strutted down and stood next
to these amazing cars, so it was visually wonderful. But
I'm always open to models. Right right now, I would
I need more kids. Usually I'm overrun with kids, but
(28:51):
I'm looking for like four to six kids who want
to be part of our Survivor's thread. And we have
the segments are taking care business, so that's like what
you would wear to schol or what you would wear
to work. And then there's girls' night out.
Speaker 3 (29:06):
So it's like go have fun with friends. I have
State night, so it's like what you would wear, you know,
on a date.
Speaker 4 (29:13):
Yeah, and then our our last segment is called the
Perfect Disney Day. And the reason for that is the
Survivor strutt is actually being held at Garner Holds Productions
and Redlands. Garner Holds is an amazing man and he
has done animatronics for every Disney park in the world,
(29:35):
and he is opening his door to us, just us
to do our event there.
Speaker 1 (29:42):
And what's so cool about that, as I e natives,
is it's in the Inland Empire.
Speaker 4 (29:48):
He grew up in San Bernardino went he was high school,
which I don't hold against him because I went to
her own high school, right right. Funny story. So I
met my my beloved on match dot com. But I
also met Garner on match dot com.
Speaker 1 (30:08):
Hold on all right, Tea, I did not know about that. Really.
Speaker 3 (30:17):
Yeah, Match matched us up.
Speaker 4 (30:20):
We emailed like our you know, tixted a couple of times,
and but we didn't go out, you know, because Leanne is.
Speaker 3 (30:27):
His woman and she was meant for him, and Chuck
is my man and he was meant for me. But
Garner and I have met through other nonprofit organizations.
Speaker 4 (30:38):
I've worked with education foundations and things and and and
with bobker the one of Walt Disney's original imagineers.
Speaker 3 (30:48):
So that's how we've met. We've known each other for
a very long time.
Speaker 1 (30:53):
Match made it happen, Yeah, in another way, brought to
you by that so many advertisers. We had no idea.
That actually cracks me up, Like what a funny what
it just like a coincidence. But also so did you
did you originally meet him on Match or did you
know him from before?
Speaker 3 (31:14):
I it's all curious right about the same time.
Speaker 4 (31:17):
I did not know him from San Bernardino, from growing
up in San Bernardino, but when I was on Match
after my first marriage ended, you know, in the two
thousand and five to two thousand and seven range, ish,
I was also serving on the board for the Riverside
Educational Enrichment Foundation, as Foker's sister was a teacher in
(31:40):
our district and he had he created an endowment for
the education Foundation specifically to support teachers who are teaching
about new technologies and magic right to magic being different.
Speaker 3 (32:00):
So I knew Bob, and so Bob introduced me to
Garner in person. Other than the other thing.
Speaker 1 (32:09):
That's a cool story though, that is a fun little
like did you know by the way? Fun fact? Okay,
so let's talk about let's talk about the Survivor Streat.
Let's get all the details out there so everybody can come,
can support.
Speaker 3 (32:25):
The date.
Speaker 1 (32:26):
What's the date? Where can they buy tickets?
Speaker 4 (32:28):
All the things, all the things. Survivor Streat this year
is on May tenth five. It's at Garner Hold Productions.
And when you go there, it's so cool because you
see all kinds of animatronic things, half made, fully made,
whatever and he they have the Garner Hole.
Speaker 3 (32:46):
They have a foundation too, so it's very important to
support their work to bring imagination and engineering opportunities to kids.
So it's really important work. It'll be It starts at
five o'clock on Saturday the ten. The tickets, there are
two ticket levels. The VIP ticket is one hundred dollars
(33:09):
and all of the to your dinner is being provided
by BJ's Brewery in the Peach Place. Yes, desserts are
being provided by nothing but cakes. And so the VIP
ticket is one hundred dollars.
Speaker 4 (33:26):
You get VIP cding, you get VIP swag bags, all
the things, and then the general mission ticket is fifty
dollars and you get all the beautiful dinner and everything
like that. They you can find out more. We're just
about to go live with our website, which is Survivor
strut l LS. That sounds for Leukemia La Phoma Society
(33:51):
Survivor strut ls dot Better world dot org. Okay, and
on there you can buy tickets, you can meet all
the models.
Speaker 3 (34:02):
And here's the deal.
Speaker 4 (34:03):
All of our models have their own fundraisingly so you
have the opportunity to support your model. And when I
say model, I'm saying model. Okay, yeah we're not, but
it's so fun to do. So you can support your
model by making a donation online and you can buy
your tickets online, and you can see all of our
sponsors too, because right now, Sir Babister is brought to
(34:25):
you is presented by Tommy's Angelists, which is a beautiful nonprofit.
You and I both know about Tommy's Angels, and we
have so many other sponsors and we're getting more every day.
We cannot sell tickets until midnight on April seconds. Okay,
got it, that's when ticket sales open.
Speaker 1 (34:46):
Well that's very so this episode, just for a little backstory,
it launches the twenty fourth of March, so you only
have to wait really like a week, so it's not
too far. Okay, midnight April second. Now, I know that
there's a specific reason behind that, and we can probably
give them a little backstory. But you're doing this as
part of a greater fundraiser for the Visionaries campaign that
(35:10):
the Leukemia Foma Society puts together, right, Yes.
Speaker 3 (35:15):
And actually we're supporting.
Speaker 4 (35:18):
Our very good friend Chris Lee, who's been on the
board for LLLS for many years. He was diagnosed with
the exact type of non hotchkins On phoma as I
was one year before me. He has three kids who
are miracles because they would not be here without the
Leukemia and Lymphonas Society. So we are raising money in
support of his bid to be the national Man of
(35:41):
the Year.
Speaker 1 (35:43):
Which I totally think he's gonna do. I know that man,
and he is determined and with everybody like you in
his corner. Oh that's so cool. And now we all
say we kind of joke, we're like, yeah, you know, yeah,
we want to be Man or Woman of the Year.
But really it's just because if you you know, you
raised the most money possible, which is the coolest feeling ever.
Speaker 3 (36:07):
Because they don't even give you like a crown or anything.
It's not like that.
Speaker 1 (36:12):
I complained. I complained, I know, right, I need a
sat or something.
Speaker 3 (36:17):
It's just knowing that you.
Speaker 4 (36:21):
Set goals and you worked hard and you invited people
to join you with their money to raise some money.
Because the whole idea, particularly behind Survivor Strutt is to
celebrate survival, but more importantly to raise funds to ensure
more survival. So if you're unlucky enough to get diagnosed
(36:41):
with a cancer, I want you to be blessed enough
to survive it and not to survive at the thrive
and go on to live your life.
Speaker 1 (36:49):
Yeah yeah, And what's so cool about that particular campaign
as well. I know he's going to try to be
the national Man of the Year, but on the local
level and me, it really is pared down. You could
run right here in our region as a Visionary of
the Year and just raise any amount of money possible
(37:10):
during that competition time and that and you can. You
don't have to be a cancer survivor to run. In fact,
I wasn't and I did it in twenty ten. I
did it in honor of somebody actually my friend's father,
my friend Cindy at the time, her father who had
passed away. And you know, there's so many cool things
(37:33):
about that because not to get all two in the weeds,
but you know, you can raise money to hit a
portfolio amount where you can you know, sponsor a specific
portfolio for a one researcher to continue to work on
the progress that there. Because it takes money. It takes
money to find these cures. And it's so cool to
(37:53):
know that, Wow, you I raise enough money for this
one doctor to just keep going, you know, just to
right and maybe maybe he or she is gonna cure cancer,
like find something that moves moves us forward.
Speaker 4 (38:07):
I always say I'm not smart like that, you know,
I'm scientists, I'm not a doctor, so.
Speaker 3 (38:14):
I cannot do that work. But what I can do
is I can talk to people. I can tell them
about the mission.
Speaker 4 (38:22):
I can invite them to be part of this fund
raising opportunity and be able to say, I help save
people's lives so that we can lock those guys and
those the.
Speaker 3 (38:35):
Women in their labs. Yeah, because we have the money
to fund it. You do you I'll get the money there.
Speaker 1 (38:42):
It is you do you and I will help you
get that money. It's beautiful really, Before I let you go,
so Survivors trut May tenth tickets will be available on
April second, at midnight. I will put all of this.
I'll put all of this in the show notes so
that way everybody can get their tickets as soon as
(39:03):
they're available, and I'll share and share and share. Before
I let you go, though, well, and before I get
to my final final question, you have some books that
are out and I want you to be able to
tell everybody because I think it's so important for people
to know more about your story and know about your
positivity and and how you get through life every day
(39:25):
because there is someone out there who could use you.
I know that.
Speaker 3 (39:30):
I'm trying to actually grab a copy of one of
my books casually. So this was my very first book.
Speaker 4 (39:43):
It's called Lighthearted Life, which is what I'm living because
of LLS and other organizations. And it's called Simple Strategies
to Live a Joyful life even in stormy times. And
so I wrote that book and it has all kinds
of scientific research about the things that we can do,
(40:05):
how we can think, how we can behave, how we
can deal with our heart times and still find the
joy because two things can be true at the same time.
We can be going through health and the sun can
still shine right. So and then my second book is
coming out September first, to coincide with Blood Cancer Awareness Month,
(40:30):
and it's called Journey through Illness, The Ultimate Guidebook for
a trip you never thought you'd take. And the purpose
of that book it's dedicated to Sandra Poland, who was
my who is my unrelated stem cell donor. She lives
in Germany. So I say, feelin feeling dunk right, many
(40:52):
many things, and it's really to encourage you because statistically,
most of us will be on a journey through illness
sometime in our life, whether it's we have an illness
or our beloved ones have an illness and we're journeying
with them.
Speaker 3 (41:12):
So I want people to to one be prepared, two
to get through that journey well do you know what
I mean?
Speaker 4 (41:27):
And three to also wait to be excited about how
it might change you, because stormy times are here to
change you and you have to.
Speaker 3 (41:36):
Allow that to happen. So we're in the book, we're
going to talk about what to pack like faith and
hope and oh my god, your sense of.
Speaker 4 (41:43):
Humor and who you might meet on the journey, and
what it's like for the caregiver and what you can
bring back like maybe it's a new purpose or a
renewed purpose, or maybe it's deepest gratitude that you never
really thought about before.
Speaker 3 (41:58):
Maybe it's a reconnection with the career eater.
Speaker 4 (42:00):
Himself or herself. And then I I will also include
have to live urgently. That is my motto, live urgently.
I love it because urgently also has the word gently
in it. So when I say live urgently, I mean
(42:25):
don't don't waste time, don't miss it, don't miss the joy,
say the things that need to be said. But also
it's not like I'm not saying live like a grind.
I'm saying, be gentle on yourself and on others, because
(42:46):
we're here for one another. We're here to connect with people,
So be gentle to yourself, be gentle to other people.
We never know what they're going through, but live urgently
because you know, I'm not.
Speaker 3 (42:57):
Here to be here and doom. But we don't know,
we don't know what's going to happen. We don't know,
and we're here now.
Speaker 1 (43:06):
So give it up. That's right, that's what. I love that,
and I love how I love live urgently so much.
And I love how you highlight gently because I think
that it's so important for people to because we hear
the word and you think, okay, yeah, I got to
get all the things done. I gotta make sure I
say this and get this. You stress it out. But really,
(43:26):
the word isn't a stressful word. It isn't. It's it's
live in that moment, say all the things, get it done,
but be gentle with yourself and be gentle with others.
And I love that. That's so cool, very very good. Okay,
final question, Okay, this is just really for those who
are here till the end. What are the three key
(43:48):
takeaways that you want everybody to live with after hearing
this episode.
Speaker 3 (43:57):
Okay, I would say number one. Two.
Speaker 4 (44:02):
I'm really big on I always say this, be careful
what you commit to. And I'm not talking about your calendar.
I'm talking about in your brain.
Speaker 3 (44:11):
What do you commit to.
Speaker 4 (44:12):
So, for instance, I have had cancer four times, I
don't go around saying I have cancer because the word,
the two words I am or I have are the
most powerful in our vocabulary. So don't define yourself by
whatever your storm is. Be careful what you commit to
(44:34):
because and remember two things can be truth the same
to our more than truth too. But you can be
in a dark moment, you can be in a painful place.
And also a flower can blue. There is joy to
be found, a puppy will run up to you, a
maybe we'll be born.
Speaker 3 (44:55):
So hold the truth.
Speaker 4 (44:57):
Hold that truth because otherwise it's you think it very despairing,
and I don't want that for you. I would say
for those of us who are facing or have faced
any kind of a journey through illness, pack your sense
of humor. Pat your sense of humor, because an illness
is not fun, but it can be pretty funny.
Speaker 3 (45:18):
Can I tell one quick story?
Speaker 1 (45:19):
Yeah, go ahead.
Speaker 3 (45:20):
When I was recovering from my first stem cell transplant,
I was at home.
Speaker 4 (45:25):
I was still working, but you know I was working
from home before that was a thing, right, Okay, So
I wore masks before they were a thing too, right.
So I get a telephone call from someone with a magazine.
It was Sunset magazine.
Speaker 3 (45:43):
Okay, and this is this is good. I love Sunset magazine.
But I had let my subscription lapse because I was
just trying to minimize the overwhelm of my life.
Speaker 2 (45:53):
Right.
Speaker 4 (45:53):
Yes, So this young gal, young woman had said, oh,
missus Callahan, we see that you're subscription has last and
we want you to come back, and we have a
two for one, two years for the price of one,
and so can we get you back as a subscriber.
I said, well, you know, I let my subscription last
laps because I'm going through treatment for cancer and so
(46:14):
I just wanted to make things easy. And she said,
well we have six month subscriptions.
Speaker 1 (46:20):
Oh my god, what is wrong?
Speaker 3 (46:25):
Because I mean I laughed. I thought it was the
best thing that ever happened that day. And she was
so earnest right that you're either gonna You're either going
to become the publisher.
Speaker 1 (46:38):
That's what I was gonna say.
Speaker 3 (46:39):
So awesome.
Speaker 1 (46:41):
You're a sales person through and through, I know.
Speaker 4 (46:45):
So, I mean, you gotta find the funny in life.
And you, I mean, you have a podcast that this
is funner.
Speaker 3 (46:53):
I mean, so you get it. I'm treating the fire,
but you gotta find the funny in life.
Speaker 2 (46:56):
You do.
Speaker 1 (46:57):
You have to.
Speaker 4 (46:59):
For a third point, I would say this for those
of us who are dealing with any kind of an illness.
There are many There are many medicines besides drugs, right,
And I would say a positive outlet, even when it's hard,
just to work on a positive outlook is a kind
of medicine. And in the forward for my first book,
(47:21):
my oncologist wrote that that is true, scientifically true, that
when we can have our mental strength to try to
stay positive, not toxic, not falls, but just stay open
to the hope, we do better, we survive better, we
live better.
Speaker 3 (47:41):
We do so we do. That's what I would tell you.
Speaker 1 (47:46):
Yeah, you know, I feel like I could do seven
hundred shows with you because I know that there's this
is like we talked for a long time, but this
is the tip of the iceberg when it comes to
you and what you have to share with the world
and all the beautiful things that you are doing and
all of the seeds you are sewing, and you know
I'm in all of you always. I'm glad that I
(48:07):
can call you my friend, Dane and really like true
story Dane and I you know, while we met through
the Lukie Milmphoma Society, we have created this small army
of women who have not only been amazing fundraisers for
this cause, but have become very close personal friends and
(48:29):
personal cheerleaders for one another. And I mean literally, it's
a group text that is just the most amazing people.
And I'm so grateful. I'm so grateful.
Speaker 4 (48:40):
And this you know International Women's Month, right, we just
said Women's Day. Women need to support one another. And
when we talk about this group, we're talking about powerhouses. Yeah,
we are talking about CEOs, senior vice presidents, people who
have started their own nonprofits, authors, business owners. Our friend
(49:02):
just had her one year anniversary of her business. Yeah,
nonprofit executives.
Speaker 2 (49:09):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (49:09):
If we put us all, when we put us.
Speaker 4 (49:11):
All together, and if we were to look at all
the people of the web, of all the people we
know that we could.
Speaker 3 (49:18):
Just kind of call up it's something. It's something, right,
we are something you. Yeah, this group of women, and
I want everybody to have that.
Speaker 1 (49:27):
Yeah, I agree. And that's why I try to encourage.
I encourage people all the time, find your group, find
your people, because you are who you surround yourself with.
And if I tell my kids that all of the time,
you are who you surround yourself with, you have that
key group of people that you know are good and
are doing good and you're golden and you are golden. Yeah, well,
(49:49):
thank you. And I can't believe we made it through
an entire show with you and a casino with this
and nobody won behind you. I was really waiting. I
thought some he was going to hit the jackpot.
Speaker 4 (50:02):
But look at I mean, we promoted wrap a candell
and I've got, you know, thirty four minutes before i
go help her pitch.
Speaker 1 (50:11):
Yeah sure, let me. Let me let you go so
you guys could go get prepared on all of that stuff.
All of the survivors strut information will be in the
show notes until I have you back, maybe to push
your book closer to September. Yes, we've got to talk
about it because is a wellness book and this is
a wellness show. We got to make that happen.
Speaker 3 (50:32):
So there's a lot more to talk about. There is.
Speaker 1 (50:34):
There definitely is. Thank you, Diane, love you so much
and thank you for so much.
Speaker 2 (50:39):
Thank you.
Speaker 3 (50:40):
Okay, see you said bye.
Hey there, Welcome back gets. Covering Your Health with Eveily
Reva is presented by I EhP. We have got a
fun episode for you today. I'm you know. This is
an episode actually that I have been looking forward to
for a long time. Actually, I wanted to do this
in season one because the person I'm going to introduce
you to today is very special to me, a very
(00:22):
sweet friend of mine, and she's putting together a very
cool event that does very big things in the cancer world.
She actually is a four time cancer survivor and she
is just a ball of energy and light. I am
going to introduce you to my sweet friend Diane Callahan,
(00:46):
who I met years ago and has become one of
those people in my life that I feel I can
always lean on for some positive advice. And I think
you're gonna love her now. Her event that she's putting
on is something that I think everybody could love. It's
about fashion. Yes, it is called the Survivor Strut, and
(01:08):
this is actually the ninth year that she's putting this beautiful,
beautiful fundraising event on that everybody can support even if
you can't make it on the day. Taking place on Saturday,
May tenth at the wonderful Garner Holt Productions in Red
lens excuse me, and all of the money raise is
going to back to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and
(01:31):
fund research for better treatments and better outcomes and cures
for blood cancer. It's another cause that's very near and
entered in my heart. If you know my own backstory.
Diane Callahan is a person that you will know in
the first few minutes of this episode why she is
(01:52):
so special and you will want to listen to the
entire thing I'll tell you right now. I am overjoyed
to bring you, my sweet friend, and welcome Diane Callahan
to the Covering Your Health Podcast.
Speaker 2 (02:09):
Welcome to Covering your Health, a wellness podcast dedicated to
covering all areas of living a healthy and happy lifestyle,
from healthy hearts to understanding health plans and everything in between.
Each episode will provide you with a better understanding of
managing your health, preventative care, and staying on the right
path for your family's wellness journey. The Covering Your Health
(02:30):
Podcast is presented by i EhP. Now your host Evelina Revez.
Speaker 1 (02:37):
Well, here we go. Welcome Diane, how are you so good?
Speaker 3 (02:43):
It's been crazy good Disney wonderful.
Speaker 1 (02:45):
Okay, we're going to start really quickly. Usually I start
with a backstory, but first you're in a casino. I
am loving it right now. So I heard you came
from Vegas too, So you're in wrongo right now?
Speaker 2 (03:03):
Yes?
Speaker 1 (03:03):
Are you just a huge gambler? Or what do we
need to know about you? And do I need to
put you in it? Do we need an intervention? What's happening?
Speaker 4 (03:12):
I may need an intervention, But I don't gamble at all.
Like I don't gamble. I want to see where my
money is, so I I want to know where my
shoes are. That's where my money is.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
Right.
Speaker 4 (03:23):
Yes, I was in Vegas until just late last night
with my best friend pitching a product that she's invented.
So we were at this Inventor's ASD showcase in the
convention center for the whole since last week. And then
we heard that Shark Tank is having open casting today.
(03:45):
So we drove down last night, got a hotel, stood
in the rain. That's the hairdoo, and got a wristband
and so we're going to be pitching to Shark Tank
at noon.
Speaker 3 (03:55):
That's crazy and so cool.
Speaker 1 (03:59):
It is so oh cool, Oh my god. No, h okay, well,
I won't go into detail with that because patent pending,
and uh, I don't want you to spill, but I
hope you guys make the show. How cool?
Speaker 3 (04:13):
Well, why wouldn't we make the show?
Speaker 1 (04:15):
Why wouldn't you with you?
Speaker 3 (04:18):
We're awesome, you guys.
Speaker 1 (04:20):
Yeah, I know your friend too. You guys have great personalities.
Very TV ready. Yeah, Well, let's let everybody know who
who doesn't know about you? Diane Callahan, tell us your backstory.
Let's let's take it way back. What made you become
what you are today? Where did you always know as
a child. I'm going to be an author, I'm going
(04:42):
to inspire a million people. I'm going to be a
woman of the gear. I mean, where did all that
come from?
Speaker 4 (04:48):
Well, okay, way back in the day. Remember all of
the magazines that you could buy at the grocery store, like, uh.
Speaker 3 (04:56):
Women's Day, Ladies, Home Journal, read Book.
Speaker 4 (05:00):
Most of them are out of business now, but back
in the day, they were called the Seven Sisters, and
they were ladies magazines, and they were sold at the
grocery store by the register, marketed to mostly stay at
home moms.
Speaker 3 (05:13):
Okay, So my mom loved those magazines.
Speaker 4 (05:16):
She was like one of the original full time, full
time mom, full time worker, five kids, full time job,
and she loved those magazines. So when I would dust
the living rooms and I would dust the coffee table,
I would fan them out on the coffee table so
you could see all the title And I didn't read
the recipes, God no, But in the back there was
(05:37):
always like a one page story that was an inspirational story,
somebody who had overcome most almost always a woman, because
that was the audience, a woman who had overcome an illness,
a loss, a something right and then went on to
become stronger because of it and then to inspire or
(06:00):
help other people. And I remember thinking, I hope, I
if I have to overcome something, I hope I can
be like that and you know, be positive and help
inspire other people. And I don't know if I read
those articles because there was something I knew that down
the line I was going to need that model for me,
(06:22):
or if I focus so much on having to overcome things.
God gave me plenty of them. But somehow along the way,
I'm not here to where I've gone through a lot
a lot, and I'm just here for it and my
job is to encourage people.
Speaker 1 (06:38):
So I feel like what you did was you spoke
it into existence.
Speaker 3 (06:44):
Ye kind of wish I hadn't, but okay, well, you know.
Speaker 1 (06:47):
I think you spoke in to existence the positive attitude.
I don't think you spoke into existence the things that
you were going to tackle along the way, you know
what I mean. I think that you spoke into existence
that you would be a positive, inspiring person whatever came
your way.
Speaker 3 (07:05):
Whatever it needed to be about. I can it. Yeah,
I think you're right.
Speaker 1 (07:10):
I mean when I think about you, that's what I
think about anyway. Like I always think, I'm my gosh,
she's so positive boy everything all of the time. How
how does she do? I know? No, you're you are well.
Speaker 3 (07:22):
And that's not like drugs or anything.
Speaker 1 (07:26):
I've never seen it, so no, I believe it. Well,
that is so cool, and it's so strange that it
would start with just that simple thing of I would
dust things. I would read the little back of something
and go, gosh, I want to be like that. I
want to have a story like that. Yeah, very very cool.
And how many siblings did you grow up with?
Speaker 3 (07:47):
I'm one of five five, you said, so I've four five.
Speaker 4 (07:51):
And the funny thing is, so the first they call
it the first family. They were real close in age,
like two years, three years, and it was almost nine
years before I showed up. And then my younger sister
was almost five years, like four and a half years.
And my parents said, they moved here from North Dakota, Yeah,
in nineteen sixty and they they I thought they just
(08:14):
got a little frisky because they were in California.
Speaker 3 (08:16):
Yeah, and I was an accident.
Speaker 1 (08:18):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (08:18):
My Dad's like, no, we said, this is what we're
here to do, and we're good at being here, so
let's have some more kids.
Speaker 1 (08:27):
That's that's amazing. I mean I feel I feel like
that would be my husband and my story too, Like,
you know what, we have the means now again and
we love it. Let's have kids again. You know.
Speaker 4 (08:43):
That we kept them young, my younger sister Julie and
I kept them young. Yeah, so I'll take it.
Speaker 1 (08:50):
That's cool. That's so cool. So you got to kind
of be like the oldest child, even though you were
the youngest to your sister.
Speaker 4 (08:58):
Yeah, so I was like the youngest of the oldest,
the middle child and the oldest of the youngest.
Speaker 3 (09:03):
Yeah, so everything you are, you got all of it.
Speaker 1 (09:07):
I don't know if that birthplace or that you know
what they say, like birthplace, there's always like a syndrome.
Oh the middle kids this way and then this is.
I wonder like where you fall in that with all
of with that dynamic, it's so interesting.
Speaker 3 (09:19):
I think I just fall out.
Speaker 1 (09:24):
Could be Okay, So let's talk about your inspiring journey.
Let's let's talk about that. You are a four time
cancer survivor, which freaking blows my mind every time I
tell someone your story and I'm talking about you because
I talk about you all the time. You were first
diagnosed years ago, tell us about that, what happened, What
(09:49):
was that like for you? So, and what was a
diagnosis originally?
Speaker 4 (09:52):
Okay, So in two thousand and five, my seventeen year
marriage ended. Okay, So that was his ending point. And
then the first signs of being six started in two
thousand and six. But they couldn't figure out what was
wrong with me, Like I literally had hair falling out
in big empty circles and immute stuff. Right then in
(10:14):
two thousand and seven, I meet who is now my
real husband. That's what I call him, mister Wonderful. And
three months later I end up in the hospital because
all this pain was happening in all my bones and everywhere.
Speaker 3 (10:32):
We could not figure it out.
Speaker 4 (10:34):
And so next thing you know, we're doing bone marrow
bioxes and every test known to every painful test known
to man, and then we knew that I had stage
four aggressive non Hodgkins lymphoma. And it was in all
in my lymph notes, through my whole body and my
bone marrow. So when they did the bone marrow bioxy,
(10:55):
when it comes out, it's supposed to be juicy, bright red, right,
mine came out milky pink because the cancer sales were
eating all that blood.
Speaker 1 (11:07):
Yeah, and you saw, gosh, so stage four, I mean
you saw some initial symptoms that you just didn't even
think to go and try to figure out why that
was happening. Right, You were in a different heads.
Speaker 4 (11:23):
Too, Yeah, and he was, and we couldn't figure it out.
And then I finally I had a lymph note here
that was in large so we buy it. I buyopsied
that in the hospital and then we got we figured
out how bad it was. Yeah, my apologist later said
later years later, that the day we met, I was
(11:43):
at death's door and he's like, and he told my family.
Speaker 3 (11:46):
He's like, we're going to do the best we can.
Speaker 1 (11:49):
Wow, And he did. Yeah, here I am and here
you are. So is that when you first got involved
with the Leukemian Lymphoma Society. It was after that very
first initial diagnosis.
Speaker 2 (12:01):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (12:02):
So I did about six months of really hardcore aggressive
chemo because we had to kill this thing. And so
I got a remission in January of twenty two thousand
and eight. And so here's what's happening. I was. I
was on the computer looking for because we knew one
of the drugs at the radio, the immunotherapy drug rotusan,
(12:23):
was found by a researcher funded by ls SO Chuck
and I. So, let me just say, the night we
found out I had stage four cancer, I told him
he should run and go meet some other woman who
could help him finish raising his kids. And he said,
when God gives you a gift, you don't give it back.
And then he said, I already know I want to
(12:44):
spend the rest of my life taking care of you.
Speaker 3 (12:47):
So will you marry me? Right there in the Kaiser
resortance spot and I said yes. So we were engaged.
And I'm in remission and I'm on the computer looking
up Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, thinking we.
Speaker 4 (13:02):
Got to do something. We're gonna give back. And so
I first saw a team and training.
Speaker 3 (13:08):
Right, I'm like, this is so cool.
Speaker 4 (13:10):
They helped they teach you how to raise money, and
they help you get ready for a marathon, which you
know all too well.
Speaker 3 (13:16):
And he said, do they have anything else? Literally, any
other thing because we run.
Speaker 4 (13:24):
No, And he said because we met on match dot
com and in his in his profile, he said, you're
looking for someone to go like rock climbing with, I'm
not your guy because he's an it nerd right, And
so he's like, Diana, what else anything but that?
Speaker 3 (13:40):
And so I found the light the night Walk at
Angels Stadium and I'm like, well, how about that. We
could do it.
Speaker 4 (13:47):
We could get our whole family to go, we could
make a team, and so I was like, sign me up.
So that's what happened. So that's how it started.
Speaker 1 (13:56):
So cool. What was the name of your team?
Speaker 3 (13:59):
I love? Okay, Well the name of the team was
Team I Do.
Speaker 4 (14:04):
Because the market, the PR people had asked if they
could sort of pimp out my story to the media.
Speaker 3 (14:14):
Yeah, you know, the national LLS people. I'm like, that's
what I do for a living. So that's great. Fine,
just go ahead call me up. And they're like, do
you like to go.
Speaker 4 (14:21):
Ahead and have your wedding at Angel Stadium at the Walk?
And I said, okay, now we've gone. Oh we going
to bars one step too far.
Speaker 3 (14:32):
I will do almost anything for you, but I don't
think I'll do that. But what we did do is we.
Speaker 4 (14:39):
Combined our wedding with the walk. So we got married
in our backyard on a Friday night, and then I
got a bus donated and on Saturday, everybody from the
wedding jumped on the bus and we went to Angel
Stadium and we walked as team I do, because we
just said I do. But more importantly, I was thinking, well,
who wants to cure cancer?
Speaker 3 (14:58):
We can all say I do. Used to that, Yes
you can, I'll say I do. You don't have to
get married.
Speaker 1 (15:03):
Yep, that's true, that is true. Wow, Oh my gosh,
I know. I remember the first time you told me
your your team name and the reasoning behind it. I thought,
that's so cool. I love that. Let's talk Survivor's strut.
Now did it start then? How early did I know?
I've seen Survivor strut through many iterations. I met you
in two thousand and nine, so it was very long
(15:24):
after Team I Do and all of that. But when
I met you, you were working for LS at that point.
Speaker 4 (15:31):
Yeah, So here's what happened in two thousand. I started
Survivor Strutt in two thousand and eight. It was part
of our fundraising that very first year because and here's
where what I left clothes, as you know, and I
also I know that.
Speaker 3 (15:50):
When you go through cancer, it takes a toll on you.
Speaker 4 (15:53):
On you and you differently about yourself and your looks,
and you lose your hair, you know, and.
Speaker 3 (15:58):
All this stuff.
Speaker 1 (15:59):
Things.
Speaker 4 (16:00):
Thought, let's do something that just celebrates that we're still
here and we're beautiful no matter what stage we're in. Yeah,
if you have hair, you don't have hair, if you
have a fort, which I did, don't have a port,
if you've got scars, which I did. So the very
first Survivor Streut happened in Riverside and we had about
(16:21):
twelve women of all different ages, and we streaded our.
Speaker 3 (16:26):
Stuff and we raised I think three thousand dollars and
I was overjoyed.
Speaker 4 (16:32):
I thought that was some damn good right it is.
And then so that was in the summer, and then
we went did the walk in September and then right
after and I had been back to work at that
time when I worked for the Riverside Unified School District
and there as their public information alficto. And then in
(16:54):
about February of two thousand and nine, I get a
call from the executive director saying, we need to would
you please change your career that you're good at and
come do something that you're probably gonna be good at.
Speaker 3 (17:07):
And so I said yeah, And so I joined then
to run the.
Speaker 4 (17:12):
Walk programs, and then that that just went through the
students program, the Visionaries program, until I became an area
director and we were raising millions of dollars in Evelyn.
Speaker 3 (17:24):
We did it together.
Speaker 1 (17:26):
We did a little bit of that. I helped a little,
You did a lot.
Speaker 3 (17:31):
You held a lot.
Speaker 2 (17:32):
It was so great.
Speaker 3 (17:33):
That's how that happened.
Speaker 1 (17:35):
That's so cool. So it started with you raising three
thousand dollars. You brought a group of women Riverside. You
made it happen. And it's grown. I mean it's really grown.
Speaker 4 (17:48):
It really really has grown. So we had twelve women
the first type. This will be our ninth survivor strutch.
So it's not every year, it's.
Speaker 3 (17:57):
Not even every other year. I like to say, you know,
when the time is right. It kind of figured out
the strut.
Speaker 1 (18:03):
I totally get it. I do understand that. I feel
like there's a magic to not having something forced all
the time, all the time, all the time, all the time.
It's like, you know what, this is a strut year.
Speaker 3 (18:15):
I can feel that, wait a minute, we're going to strut.
Speaker 1 (18:18):
This is a threat year.
Speaker 3 (18:21):
So we've had the strut at the Riverside Plaza three
different times. Twice.
Speaker 4 (18:27):
It was done as part of the Riverside Medical Clinics
team fundraising, right because I was on staff, So I
wasn't able to like really run a private individual event, right.
Speaker 1 (18:39):
Because you were already working with LLLS, So yeah, it
wouldn't make sense.
Speaker 2 (18:44):
And then.
Speaker 3 (18:46):
After so you know, I had two relapses. And here's
the thing.
Speaker 4 (18:51):
Evelyn has done many marathons and half marathons. She's insane
and just half okay. So we were going to be
together in the inaugural tinker Bell Half, the very first
tinker Bell half. Yeah, in Anaheim, and I started. You
started training, all of us, all our friends were doing it.
(19:13):
And I started training, and about four or five weeks in,
I find out I'm relapsing. My cancer is raging back.
And then so I had my first stem cell transplant.
And then I was like, Okay, let me get through that.
And so we're like, let's do it again the next year,
Let's do tinker Bell again.
Speaker 3 (19:33):
So now I keep do it.
Speaker 1 (19:34):
Yeah, second week of.
Speaker 4 (19:36):
Training, raging back, the transplant had failed, and I was
prepping for an unrelated donor transplant.
Speaker 3 (19:45):
And so I've come to the conclusion that running marathons
gives me cancer.
Speaker 1 (19:50):
Remember, yeah, I remember thinking, is this a bad luck
thing for her? I don't think this is actually crazy
or is it? We just know it's the season. It's
it's as soon as she starts exercising she notices symptoms.
I don't know. No, No, it was a weird coincidence,
(20:11):
for sure. I mean there was no way. I think
at the time I was chairing the man what was
called the Man and Woman of the Year competition. I
remember the first time you had relapsed and all of
us just like being floored like that's not allowed. That's
not allowed, an here you are for No, it's just
(20:32):
not allowed. And we all did rally behind you and
through all of that, and.
Speaker 4 (20:37):
You know, can I just jump in and say two
of my prize possessions are the medals from the first
and second chick and fell Piper, who was our executive
director and who's are one of our very very good friends.
She I'm not gonna cry on your show.
Speaker 3 (20:56):
She ran you all ran in my honor, you ow it.
And she gave me her metals and they hang in
my in my closet, which is a whole bedroom, so
they have a place of honor with all my clothes.
Speaker 1 (21:08):
Yep, yep, she did. I remember that, and I remember
us really pushing hard, like we got to finish this.
It was it was all of our very first one.
So that was it was Tinkerbelt was my very first
initiation into do I even like doing these half marathons?
And apparently I did, because I did, like yes, tone
others later but later, but yes, So I I remember that,
(21:32):
and I remember her going, this is going to Diane,
We're doing this, We're doing this, and we all we
all wore stuff, you know, like with other people's names
on it, and you were aspiring for us all to
like get back there.
Speaker 3 (21:41):
And that's what's so cool REDOK magazine.
Speaker 1 (21:44):
You know there it is, You're already there without the
back article. Yet at that point, why do you as
a as a cancer survivor. I feel like I already
know this answer. But as a cancer survivor, why do
you feel like it is so important to amplify the
voices of people who have stories similar to yours.
Speaker 3 (22:06):
There's one word. There's only one word for this. The
word is hope. Hope. I will tell you.
Speaker 4 (22:15):
Sitting in waiting room, sitting in the chemost suite waiting room,
sitting in the clinic waiting room, bal this can be
after my transplants.
Speaker 3 (22:25):
Wait, you know, going to doctor's appointments.
Speaker 4 (22:28):
Whenever I met someone who was further down the line
than I was, whether it be two months or two years,
I literally wanted to touch them and kind of like
get some of that juju so that I could believe,
so I could believe that I too will be two
months or two years or almost.
Speaker 3 (22:50):
Now eighteen years. Yes, yes, that's all I'd say it.
Speaker 4 (22:56):
I probably say I'm a four time cancer survivor probably
every day in some iteration to someone I know, someone
I don't know, because it's important to people that they
know that there is hope.
Speaker 3 (23:10):
No matter what you're going through, you can do it.
Speaker 1 (23:13):
You are the queen of conversation with someone you've never met.
And I swear every single time I have watched you
do this, and it's been a lot of times, you'll
just come. She loves complimenting people. She'll walk up to
somebody and tell, oh my god, this outfit, this is
this is so cute, you look great, You say all
(23:34):
the things, and then you spark up. First off, you
make their whole day. I've seen it. I've seen it,
and I've tried to be like that because I watch
you do it and I go that, just look at
that person walking away so much happier than they were
when they before they met you. And when you tell
your story, I feel like everybody gets something from it.
(23:56):
Something If it isn't hope, it's just inspired. How can
I volunteer right? How can I give back to an
organization like the Leukemia and Phoma Society or be the
match or any of the others that you've worked with.
You've worked with many many So volunteering is where I
(24:18):
know I have to tell you change my life. Volunteering
changed my life. That's what I tell people all the time.
I don't know if it's for everybody, but for me,
it is what happened to my life after I started volunteering.
That blossomed into wonderful things. Helped my career, help my
raising children, helped all of the helped my marriage. I mean,
(24:40):
my husband and I wanted to work together because we
were so dedicated to doing.
Speaker 2 (24:45):
You know what I mean.
Speaker 1 (24:45):
Because yeah, because it just morks into all these different
facets of life. Somebody maybe who has never volunteered before
and maybe wants to, and maybe is inspired by your
story and wants to help with the survivors. But can
they can they join you?
Speaker 3 (25:03):
Oh my gosh, yes, Let me first sake.
Speaker 4 (25:08):
Every There's every kind of way like to make the
world better, whatever little seed of love and interest in
your heart, whether it be the environment, whether it be animals,
whether it be children, whether it be homeless people, whether
it be cancer research.
Speaker 3 (25:25):
We all have a place to serve and to make
the world better. And as you said, and then we.
Speaker 4 (25:32):
Get the benefit because it makes our lives better because
what you put out.
Speaker 3 (25:36):
Okay, now I'm gonna get all crunchy granola, but this
is what I believe.
Speaker 4 (25:40):
What you project and put out in the world and
how you show up in the world is what magnetizes
what comes into your world.
Speaker 3 (25:48):
And so if you're if you're at that high.
Speaker 4 (25:51):
Level of frequency, the most amazing things happen and the
most blessings happen. So I would say there's a place
for every single one of us, more than one place, probably,
So don't get me started. If you're feeling the cancer
research side of things, if you're feeling supporting the Leukemia
(26:12):
and Lymphoma Society as we do, you can always go
to LLS dot org because you can find out where
all the different regions and chapters are.
Speaker 3 (26:21):
But if you're specifically.
Speaker 4 (26:23):
Feeling like coming on board with me and getting involved
in our local region, which is San Diego, Orange County,
Inland Empire, the Desert, if all we're it's everywhere.
Speaker 1 (26:35):
Yeah, but I E.
Speaker 3 (26:36):
We're I E.
Speaker 4 (26:37):
Centric you and I SO we're ie people. There's lots
of rules to play within our chapter and lots of
fun things you can do. I would suggest life and
Night Block. You can do that as a family or
as a work group, and businesses sign up to support that.
And finally, if you thought to be part of the
Survivors Fashion show, I would love to find an I
(27:03):
e HP member, someone who's been served by I e
HP who is a cancer survivor of any kind to
be one of my mom's man, woman, child, child would
be great.
Speaker 3 (27:16):
Any kind, you can get a hold of me and
we will put you in the show.
Speaker 4 (27:20):
And then if you're not a cancer survivor, because you
can't walk the show unless you are in the club.
Speaker 3 (27:28):
But there's a lot of volunteer needs.
Speaker 4 (27:29):
I have lots of volunteer needs, and so I'm ready
to talk to anybody who would like to talk.
Speaker 1 (27:35):
Well, that's okay. That leads perfectly into what I was
going to say if somebody wanted to be a part
of this year's show and stretch. So are you still
currently looking for models or I know I call them models,
the cancer survivor models.
Speaker 4 (27:50):
Uh huh, right, strutters? That makes them sound like strippers though,
so no, I'm not doing that.
Speaker 1 (27:59):
That's a family for think.
Speaker 3 (28:02):
Right now, You're not gonna believe this. I have twenty
six models nailsh But here's what's great.
Speaker 4 (28:08):
There are four segments to Survivor Threat, and not every
model is in every segment. Yes, and that doesn't mean
there's gonna be a ten hour show because it's a
poppin' we get them in.
Speaker 1 (28:18):
So seen you do this on Zoom before and been
you know, like when you did the whole show on
Zoom and I was like, how did she make this happen?
You do miracles?
Speaker 4 (28:28):
I will say that, Well, we got to videotape at
the Day Classic Car Museum. It's private, and so all
of our strutters are models, strutted down and stood next
to these amazing cars, so it was visually wonderful. But
I'm always open to models. Right right now, I would
I need more kids. Usually I'm overrun with kids, but
(28:51):
I'm looking for like four to six kids who want
to be part of our Survivor's thread. And we have
the segments are taking care business, so that's like what
you would wear to schol or what you would wear
to work. And then there's girls' night out.
Speaker 3 (29:06):
So it's like go have fun with friends. I have
State night, so it's like what you would wear, you know,
on a date.
Speaker 4 (29:13):
Yeah, and then our our last segment is called the
Perfect Disney Day. And the reason for that is the
Survivor strutt is actually being held at Garner Holds Productions
and Redlands. Garner Holds is an amazing man and he
has done animatronics for every Disney park in the world,
(29:35):
and he is opening his door to us, just us
to do our event there.
Speaker 1 (29:42):
And what's so cool about that, as I e natives,
is it's in the Inland Empire.
Speaker 4 (29:48):
He grew up in San Bernardino went he was high school,
which I don't hold against him because I went to
her own high school, right right. Funny story. So I
met my my beloved on match dot com. But I
also met Garner on match dot com.
Speaker 1 (30:08):
Hold on all right, Tea, I did not know about that. Really.
Speaker 3 (30:17):
Yeah, Match matched us up.
Speaker 4 (30:20):
We emailed like our you know, tixted a couple of times,
and but we didn't go out, you know, because Leanne is.
Speaker 3 (30:27):
His woman and she was meant for him, and Chuck
is my man and he was meant for me. But
Garner and I have met through other nonprofit organizations.
Speaker 4 (30:38):
I've worked with education foundations and things and and and
with bobker the one of Walt Disney's original imagineers.
Speaker 3 (30:48):
So that's how we've met. We've known each other for
a very long time.
Speaker 1 (30:53):
Match made it happen, Yeah, in another way, brought to
you by that so many advertisers. We had no idea.
That actually cracks me up, Like what a funny what
it just like a coincidence. But also so did you
did you originally meet him on Match or did you
know him from before?
Speaker 3 (31:14):
I it's all curious right about the same time.
Speaker 4 (31:17):
I did not know him from San Bernardino, from growing
up in San Bernardino, but when I was on Match
after my first marriage ended, you know, in the two
thousand and five to two thousand and seven range, ish,
I was also serving on the board for the Riverside
Educational Enrichment Foundation, as Foker's sister was a teacher in
(31:40):
our district and he had he created an endowment for
the education Foundation specifically to support teachers who are teaching
about new technologies and magic right to magic being different.
Speaker 3 (32:00):
So I knew Bob, and so Bob introduced me to
Garner in person. Other than the other thing.
Speaker 1 (32:09):
That's a cool story though, that is a fun little
like did you know by the way? Fun fact? Okay,
so let's talk about let's talk about the Survivor Streat.
Let's get all the details out there so everybody can come,
can support.
Speaker 3 (32:25):
The date.
Speaker 1 (32:26):
What's the date? Where can they buy tickets?
Speaker 4 (32:28):
All the things, all the things. Survivor Streat this year
is on May tenth five. It's at Garner Hold Productions.
And when you go there, it's so cool because you
see all kinds of animatronic things, half made, fully made,
whatever and he they have the Garner Hole.
Speaker 3 (32:46):
They have a foundation too, so it's very important to
support their work to bring imagination and engineering opportunities to kids.
So it's really important work. It'll be It starts at
five o'clock on Saturday the ten. The tickets, there are
two ticket levels. The VIP ticket is one hundred dollars
(33:09):
and all of the to your dinner is being provided
by BJ's Brewery in the Peach Place. Yes, desserts are
being provided by nothing but cakes. And so the VIP
ticket is one hundred dollars.
Speaker 4 (33:26):
You get VIP cding, you get VIP swag bags, all
the things, and then the general mission ticket is fifty
dollars and you get all the beautiful dinner and everything
like that. They you can find out more. We're just
about to go live with our website, which is Survivor
strut l LS. That sounds for Leukemia La Phoma Society
(33:51):
Survivor strut ls dot Better world dot org. Okay, and
on there you can buy tickets, you can meet all
the models.
Speaker 3 (34:02):
And here's the deal.
Speaker 4 (34:03):
All of our models have their own fundraisingly so you
have the opportunity to support your model. And when I
say model, I'm saying model. Okay, yeah we're not, but
it's so fun to do. So you can support your
model by making a donation online and you can buy
your tickets online, and you can see all of our
sponsors too, because right now, Sir Babister is brought to
(34:25):
you is presented by Tommy's Angelists, which is a beautiful nonprofit.
You and I both know about Tommy's Angels, and we
have so many other sponsors and we're getting more every day.
We cannot sell tickets until midnight on April seconds. Okay,
got it, that's when ticket sales open.
Speaker 1 (34:46):
Well that's very so this episode, just for a little backstory,
it launches the twenty fourth of March, so you only
have to wait really like a week, so it's not
too far. Okay, midnight April second. Now, I know that
there's a specific reason behind that, and we can probably
give them a little backstory. But you're doing this as
part of a greater fundraiser for the Visionaries campaign that
(35:10):
the Leukemia Foma Society puts together, right, Yes.
Speaker 3 (35:15):
And actually we're supporting.
Speaker 4 (35:18):
Our very good friend Chris Lee, who's been on the
board for LLLS for many years. He was diagnosed with
the exact type of non hotchkins On phoma as I
was one year before me. He has three kids who
are miracles because they would not be here without the
Leukemia and Lymphonas Society. So we are raising money in
support of his bid to be the national Man of
(35:41):
the Year.
Speaker 1 (35:43):
Which I totally think he's gonna do. I know that man,
and he is determined and with everybody like you in
his corner. Oh that's so cool. And now we all
say we kind of joke, we're like, yeah, you know, yeah,
we want to be Man or Woman of the Year.
But really it's just because if you you know, you
raised the most money possible, which is the coolest feeling ever.
Speaker 3 (36:07):
Because they don't even give you like a crown or anything.
It's not like that.
Speaker 1 (36:12):
I complained. I complained, I know, right, I need a
sat or something.
Speaker 3 (36:17):
It's just knowing that you.
Speaker 4 (36:21):
Set goals and you worked hard and you invited people
to join you with their money to raise some money.
Because the whole idea, particularly behind Survivor Strutt is to
celebrate survival, but more importantly to raise funds to ensure
more survival. So if you're unlucky enough to get diagnosed
(36:41):
with a cancer, I want you to be blessed enough
to survive it and not to survive at the thrive
and go on to live your life.
Speaker 1 (36:49):
Yeah yeah, And what's so cool about that particular campaign
as well. I know he's going to try to be
the national Man of the Year, but on the local
level and me, it really is pared down. You could
run right here in our region as a Visionary of
the Year and just raise any amount of money possible
(37:10):
during that competition time and that and you can. You
don't have to be a cancer survivor to run. In fact,
I wasn't and I did it in twenty ten. I
did it in honor of somebody actually my friend's father,
my friend Cindy at the time, her father who had
passed away. And you know, there's so many cool things
(37:33):
about that because not to get all two in the weeds,
but you know, you can raise money to hit a
portfolio amount where you can you know, sponsor a specific
portfolio for a one researcher to continue to work on
the progress that there. Because it takes money. It takes
money to find these cures. And it's so cool to
(37:53):
know that, Wow, you I raise enough money for this
one doctor to just keep going, you know, just to
right and maybe maybe he or she is gonna cure cancer,
like find something that moves moves us forward.
Speaker 4 (38:07):
I always say I'm not smart like that, you know,
I'm scientists, I'm not a doctor, so.
Speaker 3 (38:14):
I cannot do that work. But what I can do
is I can talk to people. I can tell them
about the mission.
Speaker 4 (38:22):
I can invite them to be part of this fund
raising opportunity and be able to say, I help save
people's lives so that we can lock those guys and
those the.
Speaker 3 (38:35):
Women in their labs. Yeah, because we have the money
to fund it. You do you I'll get the money there.
Speaker 1 (38:42):
It is you do you and I will help you
get that money. It's beautiful really, Before I let you go,
so Survivors trut May tenth tickets will be available on
April second, at midnight. I will put all of this.
I'll put all of this in the show notes so
that way everybody can get their tickets as soon as
(39:03):
they're available, and I'll share and share and share. Before
I let you go, though, well, and before I get
to my final final question, you have some books that
are out and I want you to be able to
tell everybody because I think it's so important for people
to know more about your story and know about your
positivity and and how you get through life every day
(39:25):
because there is someone out there who could use you.
I know that.
Speaker 3 (39:30):
I'm trying to actually grab a copy of one of
my books casually. So this was my very first book.
Speaker 4 (39:43):
It's called Lighthearted Life, which is what I'm living because
of LLS and other organizations. And it's called Simple Strategies
to Live a Joyful life even in stormy times. And
so I wrote that book and it has all kinds
of scientific research about the things that we can do,
(40:05):
how we can think, how we can behave, how we
can deal with our heart times and still find the
joy because two things can be true at the same time.
We can be going through health and the sun can
still shine right. So and then my second book is
coming out September first, to coincide with Blood Cancer Awareness Month,
(40:30):
and it's called Journey through Illness, The Ultimate Guidebook for
a trip you never thought you'd take. And the purpose
of that book it's dedicated to Sandra Poland, who was
my who is my unrelated stem cell donor. She lives
in Germany. So I say, feelin feeling dunk right, many
(40:52):
many things, and it's really to encourage you because statistically,
most of us will be on a journey through illness
sometime in our life, whether it's we have an illness
or our beloved ones have an illness and we're journeying
with them.
Speaker 3 (41:12):
So I want people to to one be prepared, two
to get through that journey well do you know what
I mean?
Speaker 4 (41:27):
And three to also wait to be excited about how
it might change you, because stormy times are here to
change you and you have to.
Speaker 3 (41:36):
Allow that to happen. So we're in the book, we're
going to talk about what to pack like faith and
hope and oh my god, your sense of.
Speaker 4 (41:43):
Humor and who you might meet on the journey, and
what it's like for the caregiver and what you can
bring back like maybe it's a new purpose or a
renewed purpose, or maybe it's deepest gratitude that you never
really thought about before.
Speaker 3 (41:58):
Maybe it's a reconnection with the career eater.
Speaker 4 (42:00):
Himself or herself. And then I I will also include
have to live urgently. That is my motto, live urgently.
I love it because urgently also has the word gently
in it. So when I say live urgently, I mean
(42:25):
don't don't waste time, don't miss it, don't miss the joy,
say the things that need to be said. But also
it's not like I'm not saying live like a grind.
I'm saying, be gentle on yourself and on others, because
(42:46):
we're here for one another. We're here to connect with people,
So be gentle to yourself, be gentle to other people.
We never know what they're going through, but live urgently
because you know, I'm not.
Speaker 3 (42:57):
Here to be here and doom. But we don't know,
we don't know what's going to happen. We don't know,
and we're here now.
Speaker 1 (43:06):
So give it up. That's right, that's what. I love that,
and I love how I love live urgently so much.
And I love how you highlight gently because I think
that it's so important for people to because we hear
the word and you think, okay, yeah, I got to
get all the things done. I gotta make sure I
say this and get this. You stress it out. But really,
(43:26):
the word isn't a stressful word. It isn't. It's it's
live in that moment, say all the things, get it done,
but be gentle with yourself and be gentle with others.
And I love that. That's so cool, very very good. Okay,
final question, Okay, this is just really for those who
are here till the end. What are the three key
(43:48):
takeaways that you want everybody to live with after hearing
this episode.
Speaker 3 (43:57):
Okay, I would say number one. Two.
Speaker 4 (44:02):
I'm really big on I always say this, be careful
what you commit to. And I'm not talking about your calendar.
I'm talking about in your brain.
Speaker 3 (44:11):
What do you commit to.
Speaker 4 (44:12):
So, for instance, I have had cancer four times, I
don't go around saying I have cancer because the word,
the two words I am or I have are the
most powerful in our vocabulary. So don't define yourself by
whatever your storm is. Be careful what you commit to
(44:34):
because and remember two things can be truth the same
to our more than truth too. But you can be
in a dark moment, you can be in a painful place.
And also a flower can blue. There is joy to
be found, a puppy will run up to you, a
maybe we'll be born.
Speaker 3 (44:55):
So hold the truth.
Speaker 4 (44:57):
Hold that truth because otherwise it's you think it very despairing,
and I don't want that for you. I would say
for those of us who are facing or have faced
any kind of a journey through illness, pack your sense
of humor. Pat your sense of humor, because an illness
is not fun, but it can be pretty funny.
Speaker 3 (45:18):
Can I tell one quick story?
Speaker 1 (45:19):
Yeah, go ahead.
Speaker 3 (45:20):
When I was recovering from my first stem cell transplant,
I was at home.
Speaker 4 (45:25):
I was still working, but you know I was working
from home before that was a thing, right, Okay, So
I wore masks before they were a thing too, right.
So I get a telephone call from someone with a magazine.
It was Sunset magazine.
Speaker 3 (45:43):
Okay, and this is this is good. I love Sunset magazine.
But I had let my subscription lapse because I was
just trying to minimize the overwhelm of my life.
Speaker 2 (45:53):
Right.
Speaker 4 (45:53):
Yes, So this young gal, young woman had said, oh,
missus Callahan, we see that you're subscription has last and
we want you to come back, and we have a
two for one, two years for the price of one,
and so can we get you back as a subscriber.
I said, well, you know, I let my subscription last
laps because I'm going through treatment for cancer and so
(46:14):
I just wanted to make things easy. And she said,
well we have six month subscriptions.
Speaker 1 (46:20):
Oh my god, what is wrong?
Speaker 3 (46:25):
Because I mean I laughed. I thought it was the
best thing that ever happened that day. And she was
so earnest right that you're either gonna You're either going
to become the publisher.
Speaker 1 (46:38):
That's what I was gonna say.
Speaker 3 (46:39):
So awesome.
Speaker 1 (46:41):
You're a sales person through and through, I know.
Speaker 4 (46:45):
So, I mean, you gotta find the funny in life.
And you, I mean, you have a podcast that this
is funner.
Speaker 3 (46:53):
I mean, so you get it. I'm treating the fire,
but you gotta find the funny in life.
Speaker 2 (46:56):
You do.
Speaker 1 (46:57):
You have to.
Speaker 4 (46:59):
For a third point, I would say this for those
of us who are dealing with any kind of an illness.
There are many There are many medicines besides drugs, right,
And I would say a positive outlet, even when it's hard,
just to work on a positive outlook is a kind
of medicine. And in the forward for my first book,
(47:21):
my oncologist wrote that that is true, scientifically true, that
when we can have our mental strength to try to
stay positive, not toxic, not falls, but just stay open
to the hope, we do better, we survive better, we
live better.
Speaker 3 (47:41):
We do so we do. That's what I would tell you.
Speaker 1 (47:46):
Yeah, you know, I feel like I could do seven
hundred shows with you because I know that there's this
is like we talked for a long time, but this
is the tip of the iceberg when it comes to
you and what you have to share with the world
and all the beautiful things that you are doing and
all of the seeds you are sewing, and you know
I'm in all of you always. I'm glad that I
(48:07):
can call you my friend, Dane and really like true
story Dane and I you know, while we met through
the Lukie Milmphoma Society, we have created this small army
of women who have not only been amazing fundraisers for
this cause, but have become very close personal friends and
(48:29):
personal cheerleaders for one another. And I mean literally, it's
a group text that is just the most amazing people.
And I'm so grateful. I'm so grateful.
Speaker 4 (48:40):
And this you know International Women's Month, right, we just
said Women's Day. Women need to support one another. And
when we talk about this group, we're talking about powerhouses. Yeah,
we are talking about CEOs, senior vice presidents, people who
have started their own nonprofits, authors, business owners. Our friend
(49:02):
just had her one year anniversary of her business. Yeah,
nonprofit executives.
Speaker 2 (49:09):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (49:09):
If we put us all, when we put us.
Speaker 4 (49:11):
All together, and if we were to look at all
the people of the web, of all the people we
know that we could.
Speaker 3 (49:18):
Just kind of call up it's something. It's something, right,
we are something you. Yeah, this group of women, and
I want everybody to have that.
Speaker 1 (49:27):
Yeah, I agree. And that's why I try to encourage.
I encourage people all the time, find your group, find
your people, because you are who you surround yourself with.
And if I tell my kids that all of the time,
you are who you surround yourself with, you have that
key group of people that you know are good and
are doing good and you're golden and you are golden. Yeah, well,
(49:49):
thank you. And I can't believe we made it through
an entire show with you and a casino with this
and nobody won behind you. I was really waiting. I
thought some he was going to hit the jackpot.
Speaker 4 (50:02):
But look at I mean, we promoted wrap a candell
and I've got, you know, thirty four minutes before i
go help her pitch.
Speaker 1 (50:11):
Yeah sure, let me. Let me let you go so
you guys could go get prepared on all of that stuff.
All of the survivors strut information will be in the
show notes until I have you back, maybe to push
your book closer to September. Yes, we've got to talk
about it because is a wellness book and this is
a wellness show. We got to make that happen.
Speaker 3 (50:32):
So there's a lot more to talk about. There is.
Speaker 1 (50:34):
There definitely is. Thank you, Diane, love you so much
and thank you for so much.
Speaker 2 (50:39):
Thank you.
Speaker 3 (50:40):
Okay, see you said bye.
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