Over the weekend I had the opportunity to attend the taping of Fashion Rocks, which will be shown tonight on CBS. I usually feel out of place at most social gatherings, and this was no different. There were beautiful people up to the rafters and the performances we're ridiculous. Since some of you'll read this before the actual broadcast, I won't give up much except: Don't miss Rihanna's performance that opened the show, and Justin Timberlake's take on a Marvin Gaye classic. (Is that enough of a teaser?)

For those of you who watched "Stand Up 2 Cancer" last Friday on all 3 major networks, you saw the first ever live performance of the single "Just Stand Up!" which took place at Fashion Rocks. If you thought it sounded good on television, you should have felt the energy inside Radio City Music Hall. I'm not able to reproduce that in words, so just imagine ;-)

Fashion Rocks currently has some really great auctions up that benefit Stand Up 2 Cancer, you can find them here I encourage you to STAY AWAY from the Duffy experience, because I want to win that one, so don't bid. Aside from that, bid 'til your heart's content.

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TAGS: Fashion Rocks, Stand Up 2 Cancer, New York City

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While usually nothing short of loquacious, I don't have a lot of say on this subject. I can't make it funny. I can't make a happy ending. But I can stand up to it.

Cancer, I'm so over you.

For me, cancer 'ain't nothin but a family thing'. We've seen the cruel spectrum. The Marquess of Queensberry rules got tossed out the window, and cancer gave us a gloves-off one-two punch followed by an elbow to the face, just for kicks.

I'm not a fan.

While there are others, I'm Standing Up for my grandparents:

My mother's mother, Eleanor (Lee) Jakobek, who died in 1992 from lung cancer at the age of 63.

My father's mother, Elaine (Gordon) McQuade, who died in 1994 from ovarian cancer at the age of 62.

My mother's father, Adolph Jakobek, who died in 1996 from gall bladder and liver cancers at the age of 71.

Cancer, your days are numbered.

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TAGS: stand up 2 cancer

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In recent years death has been a prominent force in my life. If I am not losing someone, someone close to me is. My first cancer related death, was—silly enough—the death of my childhood dog. I took her to the vet one day and she had lumps in her breasts. They told me she didn't have very much time and she literally deteriorated in a week. I will never forgot the pain I felt when I lost her.

I am taking a stand for my friend's mother Midori and my uncle's good friend Bernice (who both lost their battles to breast cancer), as well as a close family friend named Mark (who is battling a very rare and cancerous blood disease). I've never been very good with death, whether it hit near or far, and I want nothing but the best for their loved ones. Bernice started her battle young and lost it in her mid-thirties and Midori battled it for about ten years. Cancer is something that leaves me feeling helpless and speechless in a time when I wish I could provide something comforting. The best I can do is hold their loved ones hand and provide a shoulder to cry on. I've learned that the simple act of being there is more than enough for anyone experiencing grief or who is in mourning. The relationship between Midori and her daughter (and my friend, Asuka) inspired to write a prose poem I am very proud of. I tried to make it pretty and presentable when I gave it to their family, which is pictured above.

So let's kick cancer's a$$! By now you should know what to do, so start selling, making donations or contributing in any way you can to help us STAND UP 2 CANCER!

TAGS: stand up 2 cancer

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I've never been good with death. I have been fortunate in recent years that death was not part of my life. That all changed a few weeks ago when my friend, colleague and "always at my party" attendee, Lisa, passed away from her battle with colon cancer.

When I moved from Salt Lake to the Bay Area last year, I lost track of Lisa. It was hard for me to talk to her and preferred to get updates of her condition through our mutual friends. I was scared of what was happening. Now I have a heavy heart not remembering the last thing I ever said to her. I used to think cancer sucked, but now I can honestly say that I F@$#$@#$ HATE CANCER.

It's seems almost appropriate that I am part of a team here at eBay that is helping with our participation in the Stand Up 2 Cancer event. Over the course of the next few weeks, the eBay community will be helping kick cancer's ass. You can also contribute in this "ass kicking" by donating, buying, or listing an item that benefits this movement.

I will be posting more information next week about how we're participating, and specifically how YOU can do so as well.

I am listing a Stand Up 2 Cancer T-shirt signed by Jennifer Aniston, Terrance Howard and Sidney Poitier. This goes live on Monday morning, 8am PST.

I am doing this as I "Stand Up" in memory of Lisa.

To learn more about how you can STAND UP, please visit the Stand Up 2 Cancer website.

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TAGS: Stand Up 2 Cancer, Friends, eBay Giving Works

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