Fight the Fusion 2021

That time of year is coming up NEXT WEEK!! 

On Tuesday, April 27th, the 8 day Fight the Fusion week starts. 

Fight the Fusion is all about bringing awareness to arthritic conditions, including Ankylosing Spondylitis, Psoriatic Arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Juvenile Arthritis, Osteoarthritis, and any other arthritis related conditions. 

I will be making a donation to Arthritis Research Canada at the end of that week, but the goal of this fundraiser is awareness and engagement. 

We have raffle prizes again this year, which will be unveiled during the FTF week. 

Here's how you can win:

1. Post a photo of yourself doing something ACTIVE. It doesn't matter what activity, just anything to get your joints and your spine moving, up to one entry per day. Use the hashtag #fightthefusion on social media and tag me on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter. If you post each day, that's 8 entries in the raffle prizes. (Only one prize per winner - even if one name is drawn multiple times). 

2. For 5 extra entries, follow me and the sponsors of Fight the Fusion on Instagram.  

3. For 10 extra entries, make a donation of $15 or more to Arthritis Research Canada. There is a donation link available on my Facebook, as well as on this blog (web version). Don't forget to leave your name and email address if you want to be entered into the raffle. 

4. Draw will happen live-stream via Twitch. 

**Prizes are only available to be won in Canada this year. This fundraiser is not affiliated with Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Blogger, Twitch, or any other social media platform. 

Let's get moving! 

The Lighter Side of: Seized Muscles

My back seized today.
I was not doing anything particularly physical, I simply sat down on our ottoman and went to pick up a ball from the floor to play fetch with the pups.
My back - on the left side - seized. Abruptly. Painfully.
I immediately dropped the ball, tried to stand, and proceeded to stretch until the pain began to subside. It left me breathless when it hit, and tears welled up instantly, but it DID subside.

The Lighter Side of Seized Muscles is that it forces you to take a few moments to stretch it out.
I have been incredibly sore, so I have had to rest quite a bit. Unfortunately, too much rest is just as bad for me as too much activity. Having a back-seizing wake-up call forced me to do a little bit of stretching. Not just until my back relaxed, but until I felt a little more 'warm' within my muscles.

So stretch it out!!

FtF Prize Pack #8

Our last (but certainly not least) prize pack comes to you from Nifty Gifts and Apparel.
This local company has donated a set of two stemless wine glasses with some of her signature design work.

The lovely individual who donated these gifts also deals with severe back pain. She has her own difficult struggles and pushes through everything to continue doing what she loves.
Creating these designs and making unique gifts for wedding parties is her focus and something that she does to help Fight the Fusion. To stay active. To keep moving, keep motivated, and her products are in high demand!
Just like all of our sponsors, the face behind Nifty Gifts and Apparel is more than just a kind and generous person. She is an inspiration.

If you want to enter to win this gorgeous prize pack (with glasses and bookmarks and some artwork), make sure to SHARE YOUR PHOTOS and use the hashtag #FightTheFusion. Then head on over to Arthritis Research Canada, make a small donation, and comment when you are done. You'll be entered into a draw to win one of these 8 prize packs!

Mountain Equipment Co-Op

Today I took my dad to MEC for a daddy-daughter day.
I love this place, but it was always so out of the way. Now there is a new location much closer to where I live, so it is just a hop, skip, and a jump to get there.
I hadn't been there in a long time, so I was really excited to go.
The only issue is that I cannot walk that large of a store just with my cane. I would need my wheelchair.

You would think having to be in a wheelchair in a store like that would be a little unnerving. At first I felt a little odd, even knowing that I am no paralyzed. But as I started rolling around the store, I realized how much I still belong in a place like that. Sure there are many sections that I have no reason to look in, like the skiing section, mountain climbing, or running sections.
However, there are several sections in which I continue to belong. The kayaking section, the cycling section (even though I have a simple one-speed and can only bike about a block), the yoga section, and especially the camping section.
I may not be able to get around as well, but I am still as active as I can possibly be. Being able to go camping, practice yoga, go biking every once in a while, and go kayaking is such a blessing. Over the years I want to INCREASE the amount of time I spend in these activities. I want to kayak a lot more, continue practicing yoga, camp more again, take the dogs out for little trail walks, and spend lots of time outdoors.
I can't WAIT for Spring so that the dogs can go swimming and I can start taking more drives out to the mountains.

It's gonna be a good year!
Being in MEC today just sparked my active instincts.