Light The Night Walk 2019

Another amazing event in RVA! Thank you to everyone who came out, to those who donated and to The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society for hosting another incredible evening.

Best Fall Events Around RVA

It's officially fall, y'all. What better way to get your fall on than with these awesome autumn events around RVA!

And who know.. maybe you'll see me at one!




1. State Fair of Virginia

Happening now, until October 6th, this Virginia staple is always a hit for us here in RVA. Eat all of the fried food your heart desires and ride above the clouds on the giant Ferris wheel to kick off the fall season: State Fair of Virginia





2. Busch Gardens Howl-O-Scream


After dark, this theme park in Williamsburg gets haunted! Get your spook on at this spook-tacular event: Howl-O-Scream





3. Kings Dominion Halloween Haunt


Like Busch Gardens, Kings Dominion does a similar Halloween themed event. At night the park turns into a scare-tactic event, check it out: Halloween Haunt




4. Apple Picking at Carter's Mountain


Alright it may not be IN Richmond, but it's close enough, and it is a favorite tradition for many Richmonders. Check out their website to learn about events and hours: Carter's Mountain Orchard




6. Movies at The Goochland Drive-In


Whether you are watching a family-friendly film with the whole family, or looking for the latest scary movie, The Goochland Drive-In Theater is a unique and fun spot to visit this fall! Check out more information and the movie line-up, here: The Goochland Drive-In Theater


Whatever you decide to do this fall, make sure one or all of these events is on your list!

It's That Time of Year Again- Light The Night With Me!

Please help me support The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Light The Night Walk by donating towards my fundraising efforts today. You can help bring us closer to living in a world without cancers!

Many people through the years have asked about "my story." So here it goes...

Cancer people always remember the day their entire world changed. Some ask why, I was more like "WTF, are you kidding me?" I had a cough. A cough that was piercing to everyone's ears and it hurt! Kirk said I had TB, some thought I had whooping cough and there was even a kennel cough thrown in there (Thank you, Mitch!). At first, my doctor just thought it was allergies and asthma. After 2 weeks, it wasn't any better--maybe I had bronchitis? He listened to my chest and determined that I was wheezing and my lungs did sound congested. 3 weeks later, my cough was even worse. I was throwing up all the time when I coughed and I couldn't catch my breath--it was terrible! Being at my wits end, I went back to the doctor and he ordered a chest x-ray, maybe I had pneumonia?, but it didn't sound like it. The scan was done right before July 4th weekend, and my doc wouldn't be back in for about week. No big deal, I had dealt with it for this long what's a few more days?!

I will tell you this, no one will ever tell you that you have cancer over the phone. When I was told I needed to come into the office and whenever I got there would be fine, I knew something was definitely wrong. I've never had a shorter wait to get into see my doctor!! And then he dropped the bomb of my life.."You see this?" as he pointed to a mass that was sitting on my bronchial tubes shown on the xray, "This is a problem." He handed me a piece of paper with 2 names on it, one was a thoracic surgeon, the other an oncologist. I kind of stared at him, " Do I have cancer?" He hadn't exactly said it quite yet. "Yes, but you are going to be fine. I promise."

I walked out of his office in a daze, got to my car and called my mom, who was suffering with Stage IV breast cancer. "Mom, I have cancer." Typical of my mom, "No, you don't. Missy, quit screwing with me." --still makes me laugh that I can hear her saying it now:) Side bar: I was strangely obsessed with calling my mom and saying things to get a rise out of her i.e. I was pregnant, had eloped, gotten my nose pierced, gotten a tattoo, etc.

I digress...My oncologist appointment was first and my dear friend Branch went with me. She was my scribe. She knew I would be too wound up to take in everything that was being said--she was 100% correct. My oncologist said I either had lymphoma or something else with an 'oma', but I had a very high rate of success for remission. Next up, thoracic surgeon. He took one look at my xrays and said I had Hodgkin's Disease--he didn't know which one, but that's what I had. Now, I have always been a fly by the seat of my pants kind of person, but this was a lilttle ridiculous. In a one week span, I had been diagnosed with cancer, was supposed to have a major surgery (they were deflating one of my lungs to get to the "oma" which was near my heart, inserting my port and inserting this kick ass pain killer contraption into me) and I had 2nd row tickets to a Yankees-Rays game in Tampa behind the Yanks on-deck-circle!!. After a little haggling, I was cleared to go to my game (yes, my beloved Yanks won!) and would have the surgery the day after I got back. I won't even go into my hospital stay---What a hot mess!!

I didn't tell a lot of people my diagnosis. My tight circle of friends knew and my family. I didn't want anyone to feel sorry for me or say something awkward because truly, what do you say in the situation--sorry you have a sickness where you are going to lose all your hair and energy, feel like shit for awhile and be in a situation for the better part of a year that changes everything in your life? They don't make a Hallmark card for it, I looked:) I had cancer and I wasn't going to die. Just needed some time to get through my issues and deal with myself. For the next 6 months, I went to chemo every two weeks, and then had radiation for 17 sessions. I would take chemo every day to not have radiation--it is the worst!!

October 2012, I was finally put in remission and my chemo port was removed. This little cancer spell was behind me.

I was very lucky, my cancer was caught in the early stages and I had an awesome team of doctors--some are not that lucky, which is why I now raise money for LLS! They help people who are not Missy Bass. Those who don't have insurance and live in the metropolis of Richmond where cancer centers are cutting edge. Those who don't have friends and family who will take them to all their doctors appointment while they are going through treatment. It's these people that I want to help and with you, it's possible:)

This year I’m doing it because I’ve watched, Eleanor Brooks, a TRUE warrior battle her 4th time with cancer, and she’s only 11 years old! If that doesn’t make you want to give, cheer, join the cause-- I don’t know what will!! She is a Champion in my eyes and I can’t wait to share some of the AMAZING things we have in store for her! Seriously, I’m in awe of her, her family and their unwavering determination.



The walk is October 12th-Come join me:

https://pages.lls.org/ltn/va/Richmond19/mbassn

What Is Light The Night and How To Get Involved

If you know me, you know that I participate in The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's event, Light The Night, every year.. and this year is no different. Stay tuned for more information on the event I will be holding and fundraising for, but for now, here are some ways to get involved/ more information on the event itself. 

The Light The Night event is held every year by The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. It is a walk to build awareness of blood cancers and to raise funds for research and support for patients and their families. There are over 200 communities in North America that participate in this fundraising event each year. And you can be a part of one of them!

If you are wondering how you can get involved, there are many ways:

Walk 

Donate 

Choose a team or participant to donate to if you are unable to attend the event!

Sponsor

Volunteer 

Create or Join a Team 

Search for an event in your area and join an existing team or create your own!

Get Your Company Involved 

There are many opportunities:
-Become a sponsor
-Create a retail campaign
-Join or create a national team: this is a great opportunity for companies that have locations across the nation.
-Join the executive challenge to compete with other companies to raise the most money

Random Acts of Light 

Retail Campaigns 

For more information, head to the website to learn more and start the process of getting involved to bring light to the darkness of cancer at https://www.lightthenight.org

Light The Night Kick Off Event

On Tuesday we kicked off the Light The Night Event for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society at the Boathouse at Rockett's Landing. Together we are working to bring light to the darkness of cancer. As a survivor, I join them by forming my own team to fundraise and walk in the event, to "be the light". It is still a while in advance, but please mark your calendars to join me on Saturday, October 12th at Innsbrook North Shore Commons Lawn to walk alongside me and my team! There will be more information to come as the event gets closer but please save the date and stay tuned for more details to come! Thank you to everyone who joined me to kick off this awesome event. 

Ladies Night Happy Hour With 5 O'Clock Belles

You can never go wrong with a Ladies Night Out! This was such a fun time with some of my favorite fellow boss ladies at the 5 O'Clock Belle's Happy Hour event at Quirk and Bar Solita.
Check out the article here: http://bit.ly/2Q4xxJ3 

Something In The Water... 2020?! Round two may be in the works!

Although, I have been in RVA for some time now, did you know that my hometown is Virginia Beach? The Something In The Water festival that happened over the weekend in the 757 was a major success and Pharrell himself has stated that if you missed this year, you may be able to make it to the next one, in 2020! Check out what he said for the Virginian-Pilot regarding the possibility of a second festival that would be scheduled for next year.

https://pilotonline.com/entertainment/festivals/article_d2c1829a-68f5-11e9-a74b-bbfc13db9d8e.html