10 Mountains 10 Years Movie Trailer !

Ciao!

It's been a long time coming, but finally the 10 mountains 10 Years movie trailer is out and on the Internet!

The production crew really knocked it out of the park! It was a testament to what a small group of Regular people can do to change the world around them.

I also want to say thank u, thank u, thank u to Leeza Gibbons, Anne Hathaway, "The BOSS" and all the great musicians who wrote music for the film.

As well I'd like to thank my friend Craig Gordon for the poster graphics he created, and don't let me forget the Miracle Sisters & Saint Jen the Boxer for making it all happen and finding the right heart strings to pull!

Check out the link to the video on Youtube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=veagq7nhNBQ

World up,

Enzo

The Light of a Distant Sun

We all have two things in common. In the beginning we were all born to a mother, and we are all sons or daughters to a father. What we do in this life beyond birth is a journey in which we can lead, follow, or somehow get lost along the way.

Our parents held us up as our little feet stepped and fumbled, and we learned to walk. Now, our feet have taken us from the homes of our parents to the continents of the world.

Our little hands once held the fingers of our parents as we lay in their arms. Now, our hands have become the spring from which we will write the words to inspire the world around us.

Our little voice once knew nothing of languages, and could do nothing but to laugh or cry. Now our voices are strong and clear enough to be understood. Together with those around us they will flow like an anthem to resonate and enlighten others in this world.

Our little eyes were once innocent, and saw the world purely for what it could be. Now, sad as it may seem, many of us have lost our vision and lost our way. This is not to say that we cannot see, only that we have lost our vision.

How many of us feel powerless to change what needs to change?

How many of us are determined to do good, but only if it is beneficial to ourselves?

How many of us claim that there is not enough time to work altruistically on behalf of the many because our own interests dominate the day?

How many of us feel we have nothing to give when time and effort still count for something?

How many excuses can I possibly think of to do nothing for everyone, while still doing everything for me?

Children have the kind of eyes that see possibility in all things, and if we’re lucky we never grow out of that. While it is human to loose our vision and sometimes loose our way, it is absolutely divine to know when again we have found it. Renaissance is rebirth. It is like looking up into the same sky which has dawned upon the world a hundred million times, and seeing the light of a distant sun for the first time. It was there all along, day and night it hovered above us beckoning the world to true North.

Like the “X” on a pirate map under which riches are found, it is the point in life at which you consciously become aware that everything has changed. There was life before this point, and now everything else after it.

Birth. Renaissance. Birth. Renaissance.

Does birth happen once? Can it happen twice in one lifetime? I say it can.

“When?” people might ask.

I can tell them only that this is a bit of a mystery.

You can walk a thousand miles and not find it.

You can’t hold it in your hands, and the words cannot be read in the pages of a book.

It will not be whispered or spoken out loud, and even the widest eyes can’t see it coming.

But when it comes only those who have relearned to see the world with the most innocent and unpretentious eyes will know.

Those who have figured out what our purpose in life has become, those who have decided to act upon it, and those who have left our old lives behind. We have experienced Renaissance.

I can stand from this new precipice, and clearly look back through time to say with complete confidence that I know what I was born to do. I was born to be a part of the answer. I was born to help shine a light. I was born to move mountains. I was born to hold that hand. And, I was born to be a voice that will be listened to. But in a world still riddled with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Disease, being born was not enough.

I was born to end this.

What were you born to do?

World up,

Enzo

FUND RAISING for the Army of Change Project

To the troops in "The Army of Change", today we’ll go over Fund Raising.

Regardless of whatever anyone says, when it comes to finding the cures for both Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Disease, FUND RAISING is the most important way to do this. Fund raising also assists in other critical areas such as care giver programs, and political advocacy. Fund Raising is the life blood of research and without it nothing will ever be cured.

Oh I know, the terror of it all. You’re thinking "Does he want me to ask people for donations?"

Ab-so-lute-leeey!!!

This is so important, we’ve all got to take this seriously. But, that’s not to say it shouldn’t be fun at the same time. Some of you are old pro’s at it, and other’s are total beginners, but it doesn’t matter. Be fearless, be determined and you’re going to do great.

The secret to good fund raising is in the stretch. You need to stretch & challenge yourself to set a fund raising goal which is slightly above your reach, and then go on to reach it. You just might amaze yourself. If you reach it...(actually let me revise that) "when" you reach it, you should challenge yourself all over again to completely eclipse your original goal by pushing past it. If your goal is to raise $1000 try your best to make it happen. If you reach it shoot for $2000. If your goal is $5000 it’s time to break out your top shelf charm and work your magic. If you reach your goal of $5000 it’s time to really show yourself what you’re made of and shoot for 6,000 or 7,000 - You go! Keep climbing...8,000 - 9,000, $10,000. The higher you can go, the greater our chances become to conquer Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Disease once and for all.

Remember, Fund Raising is the life blood of research and without it nothing will ever be cured.

If you recall I mentioned in the last blog, you should push hard and try your hardest to do your absolute best in fund raising, but for what ever reason if you fall short do not feel bad. If you gave it your best, then "The Army of Change" is proud of you.

You might be asking, "How do I fund raise?"

Well the absolute first thing to do is to visit www.TheArmyOfChange.com and visit the "Choose Your Cause" page.

Select the charity you want to support and click the associated link or follow the instructions given for that particular charity. http://www.thearmyofchange.com/aoc_004.htm After establishing your cause, then you are only limited by your own creativity.

Any honest effort is a good one. Some of you have already told me that you’re planning to fund raise with an event you’re going to host "BEFORE" the Army of Change event. Our new Soldier in the Army of Change "Miriam Pizarro", just held a Garage Sale for Team Fox - which is her charity in "The Army of Change" project. You go Miriam!

Also for example Eileen, one of my team mates in "the Regulars", held a social event last year at a local restaurant to raise funds. Her event was complex, but really well done. There was a DJ for music, and Loretta Hagen’s band played as well. There was food, drinking, dancing, and prizes. She’s hoping to begin organizing her second annual version of the event for this year. I know Eileen’s style event is a really big to do, and if you’re up to the challenge don’t let anything stand in your way. I know you can make it happen.

But, I would recommend that you go for the most simple and least expensive fund raising route possible, at least if it’s your first time trying it. This is the real down home, grass roots, in the trenches with your fellow fund raising soldiers kind of stuff. I recommend this because it’s really simple and you can focus every ounce of your efforts on reaching out to the people around you by word of mouth, email, blog, MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, using the US Postal Service, etc.
People are usually most apprehensive about taking that first step. Don’t procrastinate, just do it. It’s not as scary as you might think. You’re going to be great at it. I believe in you.

So this is what you can do right now.

Type up a note which you’ll use in your fund raising notice to your family and friends. It doesn’t have to be long at all, maybe just a few paragraphs. Just something simple and heart felt. You’ll probably want to type, then read it over a few times to make sure it’s a message you’re proud of and will be happy to send. Feel free to re-type it as many times as you like. Don’t worry about it being perfect. I usually re-type my notes 3 times or more until I like them. Even after that, they’re still not perfect, but when I hear from people who get them they can usually tell I’m committed to the cause and I mean what I say with every ounce of my heart.

The things you’ll want in your note:
A quick greeting.
A quick explanation of what "The Army of Change" is.
Why you’re going to take part in "The Army of Change" project on Mount Washington.
Tell them which charity foundation you will be supporting. For example, the Alzheimer’s Association, Leeza Gibbons Memory Foundation, Focus on a Cure for Parkinson’s, or Team Fox.
Tell them why raising awareness and funds for a cure and or care giver programs is important to you.
Tell them why you’d like them to make a donation to the charity you support.
Include the links to your online donation pages, or an address for them to send their donations to. If they are sending in checks make sure they are made out to the foundation which you are supporting and to put "Army of Change + your name" in the memo line.

! ! ! Please, never accept cash donations or checks in your own name. If you do this the donor will not get a tax credit for his donation from the 501c3 charity which you are supporting ! ! !

It’s really that simple. As time goes on, if you come back for round two as a veteran with "The Army of Change - Mount Washington" you’ll be able to use the experience you gained this year to raise your own bar to new heights in fund raising.
You can do it, I believe in you.

There's a world full of people struggling with Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Disease and they're depending on you.

Repeat after me...
"In the conquest of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Disease, I was born to end this."

World up,
Enzo

Ciao everyone,

This is a new project from Karen Skelton. She works at the Alzheimer's Association Hudson Valley Chapter... my home team.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hF_oeI9Qb64


World up,
Enzo

We Salute You.

So you’ve just enlisted in "The Army of Change", and you’re setting your sights on climbing Mount Washington with us on July 31, 2010.

The Regulars salute you!

This is going to be an amazing event. Looking ahead into the future to the actual day I see you all coming from places all over the United States and some from other countries. There on Mount Washington, for the first time anywhere you will see advocates of both Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Disease come together in the most sincere act of genuine solidarity for each other’s hopes and struggles with these diseases. While we will each come to the battle field armed with passion, determination and drive to raise awareness and funds for the issue which impacts us directly, we also know that it is important to encourage our old and new found friends in "The Army of Change" to try their hardest to succeed as well.

Why is it important to support and encourage those advocates of Alzheimer’s Disease if you are impacted by Parkinson’s Disease? Why is it equally as important to support and encourage those advocates of Parkinson’s Disease if you are impacted by Alzheimer’s Disease? Because in the collective battle to conquer these neurodegenerative diseases we believe that when one is cured the others could very well fall behind it like dominoes.

Here in "The Army of Change" we believe in each other.
We believe that "Together Is ONE".
We believe that in the conquest of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Disease, we were born to end this.

There are many challenges which lie before us in our push to succeed as an advocate in "The Army of Change". Some are apparent and other’s are not so apparent. Some people will find that they are good at accomplishing some of the tasks presented to them and struggle with other tasks. Our differences are what makes us whole. It is in our collective strengths that we will learn from the others who stand shoulder to shoulder with us in the battles to conquer these diseases.

Mistakes will be made. Forgive yourself and forgive the others on your teams.

Personal victories will be experienced as well. Be proud of your accomplishments and congratulate those on your teams who also do well.

There will be times when you are presented with a task, and you simply do not know what to do next. You will find a way to make it happen. Do not stand still struck by fear or apprehension. Think hard and be creative. There is no right or wrong way to do any of this, so trust your instincts and move ahead. After consulting your conscious, if you still feel that you are not quite sure about what the next best move may be...ask for help. There are plenty of other advocates around you on Facebook or MySpace or even among your friends and relatives at home, who have more than likely taken part in an awareness / fund raising event in the past. They have experience and just may be able to help you. Keep in mind, just by deciding to enlist in "The Army of Change" Mount Washington project you have already demonstrated initiative and leadership qualities. Put them to good use, exercise them, and sharpen your skills by first trying your hand at problem solving before consulting with others around you. I believe you can do anything, make us proud!

You should be willing to use any means possible to help raise awareness. Don’t be shy about reaching out to family, friends and strangers alike to support your cause with donations to your charity. Believe it or not it is not unusual to ask "the same" people two or three times over the course of the weeks or months before your event. The reason this is done is because someone may not have the extra funds to make a donations this week or this month, but things may be better for them next week or next month. Ask again, it won’t hurt. Determination and persistence just may get you the donation you’ve been trying so hard to capture from them. Go ahead challenge yourself. With this being said...it is best for you to create your fund raising pages very soon and begin fund raising right away, so to give yourselves the most time to do your absolute best. Here is the link to choose your charity: http://www.thearmyofchange.com/aoc_004.htm

You will experience a roller coaster of emotions between this very moment where you now find yourself sitting in front of your computer screen and the moment in time when you climb Mount Washington. You’ll feel happiness, sadness, excitement, confusion, anxiety, peacefulness, pride, frustration, love, despair, accomplishment and more. Be encouraged by the fact that what you are doing for the cause is a good thing. Keep in mind that good things do not always come easily. You may have to work hard. Set fund raising goals for yourself which are slightly more than you feel you could easily reach, and then push yourself to the limits in order to reach that goal. You may find that you’ll shatter it and raise far more than you expected. If you and your team fall short, don’t let it bother you. If you’ve honestly tried your hardest to succeed then you’ve done enough to make us all proud of you.

Never give up.
Finding a cure for Alzheimer’s & Parkinson’s Disease is far too important to ever give up.

Over the next few months I will try to guide you along the path to success as an advocate. Check back to this blog site weekly for updates. Together we will conquer Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Disease. After all, we were born to end this.

World up,
Enzo

For those of you who have not yet enlisted, please go to our website choose a cause and sign up! Here is the link for you to visit our site.
http://www.thearmyofchange.com/

Also for a little background on the Regulars and the 10 Mountains 10 Years (A Quest for the Cure) project from which "The Army of Change" was developed, visit our main website.
http://www.theregulars.org/

Riddle of the Snow

You're heart is beating out of your chest, and you scan the horizon for a sign. Inside your black hood the heat bellows from the crease in your shirt and turns to steam as it hits the cold air. If anyone where there to watch, you'd look like a man of fire. Your face is red and streaked with the skid marks of crystalline snow which hums and cuts as it streams past your frosted and squinting eyes into the ravine below. The sun is burning at the fringe of the horizon, but your world is still shrouded in the darkness of night. Or maybe the sun has already risen and you're too blind to know.

Why am I here?

What brought me here?

Where was I going before all of this?

What am I looking for?

The snow says nothing. The wind says nothing. The stone says nothing, and still I have traveled half the world to ask the questions and listen for the answers. It might be said that the edge is a fine line between what is genius and what is crazy. I've been cut by it many times, but I have never fallen.

Maybe the sign is not on the horizon, rising with the light of a new day.

Maybe it's on the inside, and the blind could see it all along.-

- VRS

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Q6nKP10j4s

Consider this your Declaration of Independence

Consider this your Declaration of Independence from Alzheimer's Disease and Parkinson's Disease.

The Army of Change is a movement of the people, by the people, and for the people. It is a belief held with in the mind, and heart of those willing to be progressive. It is demonstrated by the actions of an Advocate.

It is the belief that in the war against Alzheimer's Disease and Parkinson's Disease each person's efforts are neither greater or less important than those of others, but rather equally important. We believe that when a cure is found and one disease falls, the others will soon fall afterward.

It is the belief that together as a unified force we can show the world - with our numbers - that finding a cure for these diseases is not only important for the present population, but for the protection and preservation of future generations.

It is the belief that while Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Diseases impacts each of our lives in our own ways, it does not make us islands unto ourselves, isolated and alone in our struggles and experiences. These diseases have no ethnic, religious or political boundaries and no one is above their impact.

I am not the American Advocate.

You are not the German Man with Parkinson's Disease.

She is not the Spanish Woman with Alzheimer's Disease, and so on.

Nationality, ethnicity, religion and political parties all fall by the wayside and above each are simply...People.

We are continents of People willing to work hard, and willing to work unselfishly together in order to fight to conquer Alzheimer's & Parkinson's Disease.

Most importantly we believe that action speaks louder than words, and in the battle to conquer these diseases no one can stand idly by doing absolutely nothing and hoping that another person is fighting for them. In "The Army of Change", you are "the Army of Change" and you will personally become an advocate fighting to save yourself. By doing so you protect your fellow family & friends in this great effort to find the cures.

We believe that through our efforts we will drive the world to find the cures with in our lifetime.Yes, time is on our side!

Science & Technology are on our side.

Networking & the internet are on our side.

Our own personal energy is on our side.

Our commitment to the cause is on our side.

There has never been a better time than now to have all the pieces fall together to find these cures. But, the most important element in the whole formula for our success ... is you.

We need you're honest, hard working, altruistic, efforts as a soldier in the war against Alzheimer's & Parkinson's Disease, because when we all do a little, much can be done.

If you believe you can make a difference and are willing to work hard for the good of all mankind to Raise Awareness and Funds for Research and Caregiver programs then repeat after me:

"In the conquest of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Disease,I am the Army of Change. I was born to end this."

World up,

Enzo

Becoming an Advocate - Shell Shocked.

Well, I really have to say that over the last few months I feel as though I’ve been standing in place, motionless, and in shell shock of what has transpired over the last few years, and I’ve been in this battle for more than 5 years. At the same time I feel paralyzed and find myself procrastinating over what I need to do over the next few. But, who am I to feel any differently from other people, don't we all get this way sometimes? I’ll push myself through it, I always do.

There are a thousand ways and a thousand reasons for people to feel shell shocked, but let me talk about the shell shocked advocate.

Remember the times when everything was perfect? No one you cared for had Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s Disease. They were innocently fantastic times. Who knew any of this was coming? As long as you and your family weren’t caught up in the complicated life then who really had a care in the world.

Maybe it was all a blind sided surprise you never saw coming. To your knowledge, it’s possible no one in your family had ever been struck. Or, maybe instead of being blind sided you closed your own eyes and chose to ignore the possibility that this could land at your feet. Right now the how’s and why’s about how you got here don’t matter..

BAM!
You, your friend or your family just got hit! Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s just dropped in on your life like a bomb, and you’re shell shocked.

What you choose to do next just may save you, save your friends, save your family, and save us all. Choice is a powerful thing.

You could stand still shell shocked feeling hopeless, not caring, not knowing, not doing anything to help yourself, your family or the cause. There are a million reasons and excuses to come up with about why you can’t do anything about it. You might not be rich enough to make a difference. You might not be well known enough to make a difference. You might not have the time to make a difference. You might not this, you might not that. You might not be a doctor, or a politician, or a researcher, or a movie star, or a singer.

You might just be one person living in a little town in the middle of nowhere no one knows, or maybe you’re just one person in a sea of millions living in a great city in the middle of somewhere everyone knows. You might have a thousand directions to take for your first move but you’re not going anywhere. Why? You’re shell shocked, shy and intimidated by a disease you don’t know much about other than it’s just impacted your life.

That’s your welcome to Alzheimer’s Disease and Parkinson’s Disease.

In this world you can be your own greatest Allie or worst Enemy. Will you build a bridge over the ocean to a world where the rising sun glows like hope on the far side. Or will you burn the bridge, sink the ships and stand on the shore facing West to watch the last rays of the setting sun run away with your dreams. It’s a big world, and while you might feel alone and isolated as if you and yours are the only family experiencing the impact of Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s, let me tell you that you are not alone.

Let me show you what an Army of Change can look like.

The Average American Family has 3.14 people in it. In a family with Alzheimer’s or Parkinson's that would be one person with the disease as well as the primary caregiver and a son / daughter who also acts as a caregiver. The family is impacted as a unit, is it not?

The average number of people in the world who have Parkinson’s Disease is 6 Million.

The average number of people in the world who have Alzheimer’s Disease is 24 million.

That’s 30 Million people who actually have Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. That’s a big number.

So now let’s be very conservative and use the American Family size as a multiplier, keeping in mind that no one is above getting Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s and in many third world countries these diseases also exist but the average family size is much higher than 3.14. So here we go...

3.14 x 30 million people = ...Ok sit down for this one... 94.2 million people.

That’s 94.2 million people who have been impacted just like you. That’s 94.2 million people with a choice just like you. Parents, sisters, brothers, husbands, wives, children all in the family. Will they remain alone, isolated and do nothing to fight these diseases? Or will they stand up for themselves, the ones they love and the cause, and say I’m going to fight back.

What will you do?

Imagine what 94.2 million people could do if they worked together. Now, that’s one hell of an Army if you ask me! Even in comparison the US Military only has 2,932,400 (2.93 million) people in it which includes both active and reserve personnel. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_armed_forces
We’ve got 32 times more impacted people to fight for us, than the US Military has. We need to harness this energy, stand up for ourselves and fight for a cure in the Army of Change.

But never mind all those numbers for a minute and let’s get back to you and your struggle with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Disease.

I know it’s not fair, we didn’t ask for any of this to happen. No one wants Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s in their family. It’s definitely ok to cry and get upset about it. You can even be afraid of it or get mad about it here, we’re all an extended family. Sometimes the emotions run close to the surface, and sometimes you can hide them down deep. But, to sink to the bottom chained to your sadness and to wallow there, or worse to give up forever is a big, big, big, mistake in my book. I want you to be fueled and inspired by any emotion that will drive you to make a difference in this battle against these diseases, but never be held down by them. Let them move you into the arena armed with a passion to conquer, and when you step into it come out swinging.

So, you decide that enough is enough. While this disease came to you and your family, you don’t need to take it lying down. You want to fight back. You want to become an advocate. You want to become a part of this nebulous force we call “The Army of Change”. The next step is to become an Advocate. How?

Ah don’t we all wish there were an instruction guide on how to be the perfect advocate. I know I’ve fallen on my face so many times while trying to learn how, that it hurts just to think of it. The guide doesn't exist, but the good examples are all around us.

Over the next few months I am going to meet with, talk to, and collect ideas, tips, and advice from the best of the best advocates I can find. I’m going to learn what makes them tick, what got them into this, and what they think is important. And finally, I’m going to condense it all for you to learn exactly what makes them so good at being an Advocate in the conquest of Alzheimer’s Disease and Parkinson’s Disease.

After all, we only live once. We need to cure these diseases now, there are no do over’s in life.

I can’t make you become an advocate. I can only tell you this is your chance to re-write your own destiny. This is your chance to help find the cures yourself. I can only hope to learn the way in time to show you the way. The Army of Change is moving out. The choice is always yours. Doing nothing should not even be on your list of options. Join us. Make a difference like I believe you can.

What will you do? The choice is yours.
The world is depending on you.

World up,
Enzo