Many of us living in Denver don’t think we’ll ever be stranded in our cars during a snowstorm. We’re in the big city, it’s not like were on some deserted country road. Even if we do get stuck we wouldn’t have far to walk for shelter, right? I’ve got my cell phone and On-Star, I won’t be stuck long.

Having lived most of my life in Colorado, I’ve hit a patch of ice and lost control of my car and slid off the road a time or two. Fortunately, a Good Samaritan helped me out and my time stuck out in the blizzard was minimal. But what if my timing isn’t so good the next time? What if I’m on my way back from the mountains and I get stuck – as we all know, cell phone coverage in the mountains can be unreliable.

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Lakewood High School’s Mock Trial Team: Taylor Kelson (attorney), Connor Trafton (attorney), Aharon Fleury (witness), Anton Nguyen-Vu (witness), and Jackson Emanuel (witness)

Day 1 (Friday, November 6th): Today was the first day of competition for the Providence Cup. After a brief scare involving lost case materials, we got everyone through security and into the courthouse. We had never competed in this tournament before, so we didn’t know exactly what to expect. After a brief introduction, we were dispatched to our first round.

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This weekend our neighborhoods will be overrun by ghouls, goblins and ghosts and no, it’s not the latest horror flick come to life. This year Halloween falls on a Saturday, which is great for the kids who go out for “Trick or Treat.” It also makes conditions more hazardous for “Trick or Treating”, combining a dangerous mix of large numbers of children on the streets after dark and adults driving to their kids around town for Trick or Treat or Halloween parties.

Statistically, 5 to 12 year old children are four times more likely to be injured on Halloween night due to falls and car crashes.

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In 2008, a group of bereaved parents came together to ensure that the vision set forth by the original founders of A Walk to Remember would live on. We were brought together by grief and a determination to ensure that not only a Remembrance Walk would happen to remember our children, but also that bereaved parents in Colorado would have the resources needed to get through such a difficult time.

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Thursday, October 1, 2009 the Bachus & Schanker clan gathered together for a good cause, Light the Night. The evening started out at partner, Darin Schanker’s house for the second annual BBQ. Even though it was a bit colder than last year there was still a great turn out.

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Light The Night Walk is the nation’s night to pay tribute and bring hope to people battling cancer. Walks take place in communities throughout the United States and Canada, typically in the fall. On these special nights, thousands of participants carry illuminated balloons and raise funds for vital, lifesaving research and patient services.

I must tell you that seeing all the lit balloons is quite amazing. To see the supporters, the survivors and the people walking in memory is breathtaking. I walk for more personal reasons, I had a dear friend of mine who was diagnosed at the age of 14 with Leukemia. I was working at Children’s Hospital at the time, and when I walked out from my office my dear friend was sitting in the surgery waiting room. She had tubes in her and just look stripped from all of her energy. She looked up at me and said “I have been diagnosed with Leukemia.” I remember a lump in my throat, and the feeling in my stomach.

I spent the next two months by her side watching the effects of chemotherapy as she fought for her life. It was a long road for a teenage girl. She suffered the loss of her hair, gaining and losing weight because of the chemotherapy. I remember the days that she couldn’t bear the pain of the sickness she felt. The doctors weren’t sure if she would overcome this illness. She was put on a special medicine, I don’t remember the name of it, but it was new.

On January 9, 2009, my wedding day, her status moved from being in remission to being cured. She was cured thanks to the supporters of the research to cure blood cancers. My wedding day, I celebrated so much more than being married, I celebrated a the miracle of life and the willingness for people to invest in something so important.

Light the Night is more then the balloons and festivities, it is a night to bring awareness of blood cancers and what we can do as a nation to help find a cure so maybe one day our friends, family and co-workers won’t be touched by this disease. I encourage each and everyone of you that are reading this blog to go to www.lightthenight.org and make a small donation and be a part of the team that is trying to find a cure. I thank you and everyone who has been touched by a blood cancer will thank you.

Courtney Clark aka Charity Chick

On a hot sunny Friday, nine of us from the law firm of Bachus & Schanker put aside our normal work dress attire for work jeans, hard hats and our signature lime green t-shirts to volunteer at a Habitat for Humanity build in Denver, Colorado.

We all have busy schedules and more than one of was stressed out about being out of the office for entire day with deadlines looming and who knows what’s happening to our in-boxes. But knowing that our hard work was helping a deserving family step closer to owning their own home made every hot, sweaty moment worthwhile.

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It’s back to school time for Colorado kids. Bachus & Schanker, LLC would like to ensure that you and your kids practice the following back to school health and safety tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics to keep our children safe as they return to their classrooms.

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Fortunately for the state of Colorado, Governor Ritter decided to scrap his recent plan to stop funding for drunk driving crackdowns. As part of his original budget cutting plan, Ritter proposed to take more than 1.3 million dollars away from the program that funds the overtime pay for police officers that man the Driving Under the Influence (DUI) patrols such as “The Heat is On”.

On the chopping block was the Law Enforcement Assistant Fund (LEAF) which is funded by the fees paid by those arrested for alcohol-related offences. Of the ninety dollar fee, about one-third goes to the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) to fund grants for DUI enforcement. In 2009 about 1.4 millions dollars was on hand for 56 different police and sheriff departments throughout Colorado.

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It took a while but I finally made it up Fremont pass elevation 11,318 ft (highest pass of the ride). It was killer. My thighs hurt so bad after that and every little hill afterword seemed much harder, longer and steeper than it really was. The downhill parts were definitely nice. It gave me time to relax a little bit.

Today was the first day I finished the ride. It definitely boosted my self confidence a bunch. The last five miles I could not wipe the smile off my face. I was so thrilled to finish the last 33 miles.

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Today I started out strong. Well it was downhill, the easy part. We left at 7:00 a.m. and got to lunch at 9:45 a.m. We made good time. It was however all downhill with little to no peddling involved.

It was 36 miles to lunch and I made it the whole way. The last 18 I could not do because my butt is so bruised it hurts to sit on the bike seat. I was in tears riding into lunch because I was in so much pain. I am still extremely proud of the amount of riding I have been able to do.

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