Remembering Erica

This past Tuesday, October 21 would have been Erica's 34th birthday. Those who are reading this blog, we hope you take a few minutes to look at the pictures from her last birthday, where many of you joined Erica to celebrate her life, faith, and courage. We hope you remember her faith, courage and especially her gorgeous smile!

The Lipman/Lopez Gang

Team Erica to Run Baltimore Relay

In Memory of Erica...

Baltimore Relay Marathon
Saturday, October 11, 2008, 8:00 AM
http://www.thebaltimoremarathon.com/

Team Erica relay runners: Christian, Chandra, Jason, Kelly, Jim, Liz, Tony, Mary, Jason, Jenny, Jaime, Omar, and Star are training together Sunday mornings.

What can you do?

-Support the team members with lots of encouragement
-Make a pledge to a runner or the whole team (donations will be sent to the Melanoma International Foundation)
-Go to Baltimore on October 11 to cheer the team on.

Watch the blog for more information to come!!

Safe in the Sun: Janna's Melanoma Presentation

Hello Erica's Armchair,
It has been a while since we have written anything. As the Spring ended and we move into Summer, the Lipman/Lopez gang will be working to celebrate Erica's life in other ways down the road. The first is a presentation about melanoma and skin cancer at our church, Bethel UCC in Arlington, where Erica's memorial service was held. I presented this information in May, during Melanoma/Skin Cancer Prevention and Detection month, at my company. Please feel free to attend if you are able, the more the merrier!

Janna and the Lipman/Lopez gang

Here is the blurb the church is sending out:

Safe in the Sun: Prevention and Early Detection of Skin Cancer
Presented by Janna Lipman

Melanoma is the most deadly form of skin cancer. It is estimated that almost 60,000 cases of melanoma will be diagnosed this year. Of that number, about 40,000 will be men and 20,000 will be women.

On Sunday, July 13 at 11:30 am., a program titled “Safe in the Sun: Prevention and Early Detection of Skin Cancer” is being offered free of charge at Bethel United Church of Christ, 4347 Arlington Blvd. in Arlington, VA.

Presenter Janna Lipman will share information related to the screening, prevention, and treatment of melanoma and share her personal story about her sister’s battle with this often deadly form of cancer. In a desire to educate others and save lives, Ms. Lipman first presented this program to her colleagues at a management consulting firm following the untimely death of her 33-year-old sister this April.

Ms. Lipman’s presentation will launch a new monthly seminar series being offered free to the public by Bethel Church.

All are welcome to attend. Free parking is available next to Bethel Church in the Red Cross parking lot. Refreshments and discussion will follow the presentation.

For further information, call 703-528-0937.

Remembering Erica - Another Thank You

The Lipman/Lopez families would like to extend a great big thank you to all who supported Erica’s fight against melanoma through your responses to the blog, your emails and cards, your visits to her home, hospital rooms and Hospice, and the attendance of about 400 people at the Memorial Service celebrating her life. We are gratified to know what a huge impact Erica had on all of you.

We hope that you will continue to check her blog, read her inspiring messages, and look at her beautiful smile. As mentioned before, we plan to hold additional celebrations of her life down the road and will post information on the blog. There are many wonderful ideas including soccer tournaments, walks/runs, and more which we know Erica would enjoy.

Again, thank you for your thoughts, prayers, love and support during this past year and especially now as we grieve and celebrate Erica's life.

The Lipman/Lopez Gang

Memorial Service Part 2 - Parking and Bright Colors

Erica mentioned at our grandmother's memorial service that she did not understand why people wore black to these things: it is a celebration of life. Please feel free to wear fun colors to celebrate Erica's life on Sunday (as many of you know, blue was her favorite color!).

***Please join our families for a reception following the service at the church.

***Child care services will be available during the service and reception at the church.

Parking:
***If possible, please carpool!

***Handicap parking is available on either side of the church.

Otherwise, please park in one of the following lots available:

Arlington Chapter of the Red Cross
The Red Cross is right next to the church, off of N. Trenton St.
4333 Arlington Boulevard
Arlington, VA 22203

Arlington Masonic Temple
The Masonic Temple is across Arlington Boulevard from the church on George Mason Drive
1 S. George Mason Drive
Arlington, VA 22204

Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington
The Uniterian Church is across from the Masonic Temple on George Mason and Arlington Boulevard
4444 Arlington Boulevard
Arlington, VA 22204

The Lipman/Lopez Gang

Memorial Service - Sunday, April 13, 2008

A Memorial Service will be held Sunday, April 13, 2008 for Erica, please see details below. We are also planning a Celebration of Life for Erica down the road, so please keep an eye out for information if you are unable to attend the Memorial Service. If you are unable to attend the service, but would like to send a message to be read during the service, please send it to Erica's email and mark in the subject line "To be read at Memorial Service".

What: Memorial Service for Erica Joyce Lopez
When: Sunday, April 13, 2008
Time: 1:30 PM
Where: Bethel United Church of Christ
4347 Arlington Blvd
Arlington, VA 22203

Parking is available at the Red Cross next to Bethel or at the Masonic Temple on George Mason Drive. We will post additional information on parking later this week.

In lieu of flowers, Erica and her family request donations be sent to any of the following charities in her memory:

Melanoma International Foundation
250 Mapleflower Road
Glenmoore, PA 19343
Checks payable to Melanoma International Foundation (MIF)
Non-profit certificate #29498
Or you can make an online donation at www.melanomainternational.org.

Melanoma Research Foundation
170 Township Line Road, Building B
Hillsborough, NJ 08844
Checks payable to the Melanoma Research Foundation (MRF).
EIN # 76-0514428
You can also go online to make a donation at www.melanoma.org.

Capital Hospice
Attn: Development Office
6565 Arlington Blvd, Suite 500
Falls Church, VA 22042
Checks payable to Capital Hospice
Please go online for additional information at www.capitalhospice.org.

The Final Lap and some Thank Yous

This afternoon, Erica ran her final marathon lap while surrounded by family and friends. We would like to share some thank yous.

First, thank you Erica. Thank you for your tremendous goodness. Thank you for your sweetness, your gentleness, and your passion. Thank you for your willpower, endurance, and that great competitive fire. Thank you for flashing that bright beautiful smile and your simple, honest approach to life. Thank you most for your commitment to your family, your friends, and above all, Christian.

Second, thank you to this tremendous community who loved, cheered, laughed, cried, prayed, held, hugged, cared, supported, called, visited, took care of the garden, wrote cards, mailed letters and care packages, stopped by with meals and groceries, and otherwise transformed Erica's fight with melanoma into this community's fight with melanoma. Thank you fighting with us.

Please check back here for information about a Memorial Service and Celebration of Life.

Erica, Christian and the rest of the Lipman/Lopez Gang