The only guilt-free spending during a recession is spending for a cause!

Join Aaron and I at our inaugural charity auction, benefiting The Fun 4 Kidz Fast Track Program.

Bid on exclusive sports memorabilia and collectibles, including items from Aaron Ross, myself, Sanya Richards, Tony Parker, Vince Young, Selvin Young, Mack Brown, Derrick Johnson, Michael Huff, Marshevet Hooker, Michael Johnson, Cedric Benson, Michael Griffin, Cedric Griffin and many more!

This silent auction will take place on Saturday, April 4^th, 2009 at Russell Korman Jewelry & Fine Watches

3806 N Lamar Blvd Austin, TX 78756 — Doors open at 5pm

Proceeds go to the Fun 4 Kidz Fast Track Program; striving to enhance literacy as well as readiness for standardized tests; promote an active and healthy lifestyle; enhance social skills with regards to professionalism and employability .

Come out and support a great cause,  Aaron, Sanya, and lots of our celebrity friends hope to see you there!!!

Its March 22nd and I’m going through one of my worst bouts with this disease and it’s so dis-heartening! I had been so lucky for so long to feel like once again I was living a normal life but this week has reminded me that I am no longer 100% healthy and if I don’t stick to my doctors orders I will feel the harsh symptoms of this disease. I hadn’t had a bad flare up in months and I decided I was going to stop taking my medicine. In my mind I felt like everything in my life was just better before I started taking medication and I wanted to be like that again! I wanted to train without it!

Everything was good, training was fantastic and I was feeling healthy. Almost six weeks without my medication and still nothing! My family, coaches, and fiance didn’t agree with me not taking my medicine but I was doing this for me! I wanted to be my old self again…… Well this had to be one of the toughest weeks of my life. Although I was still able to train most of the week, I had some of the most painful ulcers in my mouth and over 30 lesions on my skin. Now I wished I never stopped taking my medication. The doctors are always optimistic that the disease will go in remission the longer you stay away from a flare up. I was at a year and counting, now I’ll have to start all over again!

For anyone that has Behctes or any other disease always follow your doctors orders. Although sometimes we feel like we know what’s best for us, our doctors have seen a lot more than we have, and of course hindsight’s always 20/20. I can’t complain; I have seen so many others with this disease that are much worse off than me and I count my blessings everyday that this illness hasn’t stopped me from doing what I love to do, but if I can share anything with my fellow sufferers………ALWAYS TAKE YOUR MEDS!!! 

San

It’s always been such a distinct pleasure to be sponsored by Nike. They’re such an amazing company and they really do a great job to support and promote running! However why I really love the company is because they  take the time to focus on WOMEN! Whether professional or not, Nike does a phenomenal job including everyone. Since I’ve been with the company I have been a part of countless events, in on meetings where they actually want to hear my input, and I’ve also benefitted tremendously by having a great team around that caters to my needs.  Recently Nike has launched a program on NIkeWomen.com that allows women of all ages to log on and pledge to train their best. They included eight women athletes: Kristen Kjellman, Maria Sharapova, Gretchen Bleiler, Jessica Mendoza, Diana Taurasi, Hope Solo, and myself. The program is intended to be up for about three months and allow  young women to make a commitment and stick to it. Then Nike will select winners to receive a limited edition Sister One with a piece of our ACTUAL Olympic uniform stitched in the shoe! 

I love that Nike is always thinking creatively and progressing, but what’s most important is that we always find a way to get ladies of all ages healthy. I have been very lucky to be involved in sports all my life and to have been able to make a living doing it. However if that didn’t happen, I would have forever been a better woman because I took part in sports. I learned discipline, I learned how to be a team player, I learned how to set goals and understand that you will always have to make sacrifices to achieve them. I learned how to push myself and never limit my expectations!

I encourage all young ladies to get involved in some organized team sport! Not only will you stay healthy, make tons of new friends, build your self esteem as you accomplish things you may have otherwise not thought possible, you’ll have lots of FUN!!!

Go to Nike.com and go to the Women section and pledge to train harder today!!!

-Sanya