June, 9. The triathlon photos are here. Thanks Jonny and Janet. Your photos are great!!

Everyone has been winding down from the tri and getting back to work. We'd love to take the momentum that we have and share it with other NET families across the States and Canada. If we keep working together the incurable will be curable. Visit http://cfcfresearch.blogspot.com/ to read about the research and the progress you're helping to make possible through Caring For Carcinoid.

June, 1. The triathlon was a terrific success!! We had many top place finishers in addition to having a hundred percent finishers. Kerrie Kelly and Anna Blackwood finished first and second in their age group and third and sixth overall; Nate and Davey finished fifth and sixth in their age group; Ben and Jesse finished eleventh and twelfth in the open division; Naomi had the fastest run in her age group; and Chase Williams and Joseph finished first and third in the swim. All high school students sacrificed precious study time, and tens of thousands of miles were crossed by friends to participate. For everyone the triathlon was a tremendous success.

The barbeque following the tri offered refreshments of all kinds for all ages. It was a pleasure to host our friends, to rest, to play frisbee, to swim, and to make new friends. Thank you everyone for your hard work and generous support! Stay tuned for photos.

May, 31. On the final day before the triathlon Robert finished the epic task of acquiring bikes for all the Blackwoods. And we, our extended family, and our friends from near, far, and often unexpected places arrived in person or in spirit with notes and prayers of support. Over and over we are amazed by the readiness of friendship and the beauty, love, and sacrifice it offers. Nancy O'Hagan the President of Caring For Carcinoid writes this:

"Thank you to the Blackwood family for leading a charge toward a cure for carcinoid! I’m grateful to the Blackwoods for creating such an inspirational triathlon. The Blackwood family’s enthusiasm, activism and support gives me and other patients the hope and strength to continue our fight against carcinoid and other neuroendocrine cancers. Thank you to all participants in the first annual Blackwood triathlon! Congratulations!"
Nancy L. O’Hagan

May, 24. A wonderful time was had by all chez Chris, Heather, and Holly. The afternoon kicked off with a kilometer swim across the lake and a quick couple mile run around it. But exercise comprised only a small part of the afternoon that carried on with a barbeque, many new friends, basketball, and roasting marsh-mellows around the fire pit. The spirit of the event was articulated best by Chris, 'the way I see it, everything I have in my life has been a gift and I want to be able to share it all with everyone'. A great and many thanks to the Pierce family for their generosity.

May, 16. Only 16 days until the triathlon!! And only 8 days till our training session/triathlon get-together at the home of Chris and Heather Pierce. Don't miss this event; invite your friends and family (for a flyer click here or for more information go to our fundraising page).

We're also in the process of ordering shirts for everyone participating. We'd like to have these ready for the training party at the Pierce's. So don't miss it!

We're working hard to ensure that everyone participates who would like if you haven't signed up, it's not too late but it will soon be. We've also created a brochure to help our fundraisers explain why we're competing in a triathlon for cancer. Click here to view it.

So far this year we've raised 7,607 and a total of 15,257. Great job everyone and thank you.

Katie Rook also has another winner that you can read here: article 4 Keep up the great work Katie!

April, 28. Katie Rook has published yet another excellent article articulating the need for awareness and support for NETs. Article 3.

Katie seems to be picking up the slack where the Blackwoods are found to be incapable of keeping up their blogs. Be patient with them, they're not always easy to write.

Last Sunday the at home Blackwoods held a sign-up party for Anna's friends at Norfolk Academy. Many of them have now signed up and have discovered their hidden gifts for frisbee.

April, 15. Chris Pierce has decided to hold a fundraising party on Saturday the 24th of May. This makes Chris and Heather, Blackwood heroes.

Jesse has finally figured out how to build a flash photo gallery. To check out a photo album with a few Blackwood Best of Pics click here. To view this album you may need a flash player. A simplified photo album is forthcoming.

April, 8. Katie Rook has finished her first two articles for the National Post. Read them here:
Article 1.
Article 2.
Great Work Katie!

Jon Romash, friend, comedian, and future physician; and Scott Keenan, father, friend, and Kettle-bell king have both started their own fundraising pages. Great Work!

March, 17. We have been working steadily to prepare for the Triathlon. Tim still believes he can begin his training around the middle of May and remain competitive (some of us are not so sure). We have printed business cards and are now working on a brochure as a means of spreading awareness. Each of the Blackwoods has also agreed to catalog their stories in more consistent blogs. For some of them that will be quite a jump from less than one per year. It sometimes takes the Blackwoods longer to get moving than other families but once we do get moving it's almost as hard to stop.

February, 27. We are looking for ways in the media to overcome this 'silent cancer'. Stephen is working to establish a relationship with Livestrong, Naomi is writing a letter to Oprah, Katie Rook is planning a series of journals for the National Post, and Jesse is hoping to complete a similar series of articles with the Virginia Pilot.

We have also spoken with Dr. Vinik about the possibility of a NET (NeuroEndocrine Tumor) center at EVMS. Dr. Vinik is a foremost researcher in diabetes and neuroendocrine tumors. In these discussions the NET center is a potentiality but is nevertheless exactly what we need. To a great extent neuroendocrine cancer is as deadly as it is because of a lack of cohesion in the neuroendocrine community and a lack of education among physicians. Perhaps this center will be the cohesive stimulus that is needed to bring patients, researchers, and fundraisers together.

February 14. Nolfolk Academy Student Council helped to raise awareness and funds for carcinoid by selling carnations. It is this kind of grassroots inertia that the carcinoid community needs. Great Job!