Valentines Day 2010 - Orlando Gathering of PCa Folks and their Loved Ones

As many of you who have read my posts know, I actively participate in and refer folks to the healingwell.com prostate cancer forum. This is a very large, active, extremely knowledgeable and supportive group. Recently they held a impromptu gathering of forum members in upstate New York. The event was titled and described as GFMPH -Good For Men's Prostate Health. There were many members who could not attend for various reasons. Some suggested that holding an event in other parts of the country would allow more folks to attend.

To this end, yesterday the following forum thread was started. The idea is to hold such an event in Orlando, Florida, in the winter (for the escape of the folks up north), and over the Valentines Day weekend. This weekend was selected as a way to also honor the supporters in our lives that are affected by PCa to as great an extent as we are. We could not make this journey with out them.

I am pasting a copy of this thread here to invite all of you to the event. Please give it some thought. It is still in it's infancy, but already about 15 members have committed to attend. We also have plans to include the local chapters of the PCa support groups US TOO and Man to Man.

Here is the posted thread:

Are you interested in coming to Orlando for an extended weekend February 12-15, 2010? This would be a GFMPH gathering and Valentines Day celebration to include the loved ones that are so important to our lives and recovery.

There seems to be interest in getting together in the warmer climate of Orlando during the winter months. There were many of us who could not attend the recent gathering in New York for various reasons. The NY gathering seems to have gone over very well and those in attendance had nothing but good things to say about it.

I am volunteering to organize such an event in the Orlando area during the winter. Holding it over the Valentines Day weekend seems like the perfect time to do it. We need to celebrate our loved ones that give so much of their time and energy to help us through the whole PCa battle and long term recovery. There is no doubt that their lives are as greatly affected by PCa as is our own. Obviously this will not fit into everyone's schedule, but trips like this seldom do.

Based on your responses I will go out into the medical and business communities and try to get us the most assistance I can for such a worthwhile cause.

I will contract the MD Anderson Cancer Center here in Orlando for the possibility of guest speakers on a range of topics, as well as informative materials and videos. I will also make contact with the local PCa support groups for inclusion into our gathering. I know that for one we have a local chapter of USTOO and Man to Man.

Given the condition of the economy and the daily news of the lagging tourism dollars coming into the Orlando area, we may very well be able to negotiate some attractive lodging discounts.

I am looking for ideas and input as to what you would like to have included in such a gathering. One thing that I feel must be included would be a great dinner, music and dancing gala the night of February 13th.

And it goes without saying that this is not a one man job. So anyone and everyone is invited to jump on board by volunteering to be a part of this organizing committee.


But first things first; Let's see a show of hands for how many of you would seriously consider attending such an event.

I know that it's about 5 months away, but organizing something like this will take a little time and effort.

Let me know what you think,

Sonny