Bring It! at the Carlsbad ½ Marathon

In honor of our friend Dom, we have a group running in the Carlsbad ½ Marathon and invite you to join Team Bring It! The race is scheduled for January 25, 2009 and there are already over 40 people registered, including Don, Amy and Scoob. The race is fast, flat and scenic, plus the weekend should be fun.

To register for the race, go to www.carlsbadmarathon.com/home, Send me an email (ledermac@mattel.com) so I know you are coming and can send you updates. Space is filling up fast and the race sells out every year so don’t wait too long. Even if you choose not to race, we would love to have you come out and support the participants.

As part of Team Bring It!, we created a tank top design (shown). The tanks are grey, available in unisex sizes (XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL) and are $16 each with proceeds going to the Ambriz Family. Special thanks for the Mattel Design Team for coming up with the Team design. To order your tank, please let me know quantities and sizes by November 14th so we have tanks in time for the race. CHECKS SHOULD BE MADE PAYABLE TO TEAM BRING IT (Sorry, no Paypal set up). - Thanks Cindy

Cindy Ledermann
c/o Mattel Inc
Mailstop M1-0904
333 Continental BlvdEl Segundo, CA 90245

Bring It Girls are 26.2 miles Stronger

My sister, Hope Youngblood, with friends Toni Dougherty & Toni Bouck competed this past weekend in the Nike Woman's Marathon in San Francisco. They were trained by TNT, raised thousands of dollars for cancer research & kicked some major ass. Of course they had the Bring It motto all over them helping them finish their feat. We are all very proud of you ladies.

Auction Tomorrow Night...Online Bidding Now Open!!!

The online portion of Funny Bones Auction in support of Bring It Foundation is now open. The online auction will run from October 20, 2008 to October 31, 2008. The live auction is scheduled on October 25, 2008 in Santa Monica, CA. Proceeds go to Bring It Foundation which supports the Ambriz Family, Cedar Sinani Medical Center and Brain Cancer Research. Auction items range from exotic vacation getaways to other donated items guaranteed to delight and surprise. So, tell your friends, family, and community. Let the bidding begin!

http://www.bringit.cmarket.com/

9 Days...Spread the word

a big thank you to all those planning (Kim, Natalie, Rebecca & Craig)

Funny Bones (Click image to enlarge)

Halloween Art Show Planned

Dominic Ambriz touched the hearts of so many people. His creativity and love for life is an inspiration for all of us. Halloween is creeping up on us and we all know that this was Dom's favorite holiday. To honor him, Team Bring It would like to host a Halloween Charity Art Show.

We would like to invite all those who knew and loved Dom to help us "Bring It" by participating in the show. All mediums are welcome. We will also be casting blank sculpts created by Dom himself for artists to paint / decorate to their liking.

Tentative date for the Art opening is 10/25 in Santa Monica. If you are interested in participating please respond to this email with the following information:


-Name

-Approximate size / medium you would work in: (i.e. Small: < 10" / Medium:
11" - 20" / Large: 20" - 30" / 3-d / other)

-Would you like a blank cast to paint (approx. 3")? Yes / No

All proceeds for this art show will go to the Ambriz family. We will send more information to those who are interested as we get more details. If anyone has any suggestions or would like to help in any way, please let me know. We hope to make this a night Dom would be proud of and we need your help to make that happen! We look forward to hearing from you!

For more information please contact Natalie Repp -- gnattie@gmail.com

**Mattel employees who wish to participate, please note that this is not a Mattel sponsored event and therefore must be your personal artwork executed on your own time**

Get Muddy

I hope everyone is well – I’m not sure about you but I am happy that Summer ’08 is finally over. Jane is putting together a little team-building gift for all those competing in the upcoming Mud Run. She needs a head count though – so if you are participating in the Mud Run or know someone who is, please email Don at dambriz@webcalligraphy.com so she can prepare them.

Also, the Wayne-Tacketts are hosting a Clean Up & Lunch party following the run. If you are interested please use the link below to let them know.

http://www.evite.com/pages/invite/viewInvite.jsp?inviteId=FYWJXGBLPKSAWZUNZCJB&li=iq&src=email&trk=aei3

Everyone who is participating – have a blast & good luck!!!

Mud Run

Looks like the Bakersfield mud run is scheduled for October 11. In honor of our hero and brother Dom, it's only fitting that we rally together and take on the Volkslauf Challenge (www.volkslauf.com). We can compete as a group and run it together at our own pace. It basically consists of a 6-mile course with various obstacles and mud along the way. There is also a shorter abridged version you can do if you like. There is not really a sense of competition and is primarily just for fun. Dom has done this one before and was planning to do this one again. It sounds pretty daunting, but it is a really fun course. I talked to Don and he said that as of right now, he, Amy, (Sergeant) Scoob, and some other Bakersfield
faithfuls will be joining. Registration ends on Sept. 12, or until the max amount of participants is met. Even if you choose not to race, feel free to come out and support the participants. Should be a fun weekend, we can carpool up and back. Please let me know if you have any questions. Take care, Matt

More:

When you sign up, just do so as an individual & its filling up fast, so if you are interested, do so soon.

Bring It. Live It.

SI Got the Message

(good looking out Benji)

Bring It Messages

My name is Tim Johnston. My mother Marilyn is a good friend of Don and Jane Ambriz. I never had the opportunity to meet their wonderful son, or Don and Jane for that matter, but their son's life as well as their own has been an inspiration since my mother first told me he had cancer.

I, like so many have asked why God could take someone so young with so much life to live. I've thought long and hard about it, I've come to this conclusion which I will accept as God's answer. Dominic's purpose in this life was complete, his sacrifice of more time on earth like so many before him has caused us all to focus on the things that really matter.

God, Family and Friends. It's amazing how God works. Dominic's life was an inspiration to someone he never knew and I am forever grateful! To Don and Jane. The world has been looking for an example of God's Love. I think we have all witnessed it in the last 62 days.

I did not directly know him, but I can tell that his character has influenced more people than anyone could imagine. He was surrounded by good people. People like him are a blessing in our lives and will always live in the hearts of those who he touched. Mine and my family's condolences and prayers go out to his family and network of friends.
Javier Monge

This morning when I woke up, Dom was the first person that came tomind and he has remained there since. Yesterday was one of the mostincredible days I have ever experienced. As painful as it was and willcontinue to be, I was reminded how amazing our whole group is and howmuch Dom has changed all of us forever.When I got out of bed, I wentoutside to get the paper and read my dad's beautiful article. AlthoughI had already read it a couple of times yesterday, I took it into theroom where Amy was sleeping and we read it together, lying in bed. Icontinue to be amazed by my sister's strength. We joked about how ifDom saw us being lazy in bed, he would tell us to get up and take a run.

Tacketts- thank you for opening up your home to all of us yesterdayand last night. What a special day.

I love all of you so much. Let's live every day the way Dom would wantus to and continue to bring it. - Katie Benham

My name is Rita Martinez and I was a long time business associate of Earthworm Studios, a soft place to fall. I was deeply saddened when I received the email and article from my son Jonathan Martinez who still lives in Bakersfield 1/2 block from where Don and Jane used to live on B Street. Jonathan lives in my house on the corner of 22nd and B Street. I have since moved to the beach.

I would like to make a donation in the area where Don and Jane need it the most. They must be devastated. I myself have been a regular at Cedars at the Guilda Radner Center for nine years and one thing I know is our children should never leave their parents first. But as a believer, God wants the great ones also. I guess that's why this grumpy woman is still here. My children John and Rebecca absolutely adored Don Ambriz and thought he could draw and accomplish anything. I still have his work hanging at both my houses. Remembrances of the past are most cherished. Every time we pass their old house on B street, we all remember the Ambriz family. Some people you never forget as they have maintained such an impact on your life. Please email so I may forward some money or be of help in some other way. I would have loved to attend the celebration of his life and see Don and Jane, but I just got the news this afternoon.

To Don and Jane and his cherished friends, I'm so sorry,
Rita A. Martinez

Californian Article

Here is a touching article that ran in Sunday's Bakersfield Californian. Thank you to Herb Benham for taking the time and sharing these thoughts with our community.

http://www.bakersfield.com/hourly_news/story/531415.html

Last Call T-Shirts

Dominic designed the shirt; it was a self-portrait caricature of himself after his first surgery. It will be available in white ink on a black cotton t-shirt, in adult sizes of SM, Med, L, XL, XXL.
Only $10 each shirt, which will cover the cost of printing & shipping anywhere you need.

Many of you requested shirts - we are extending the deadline to Wednesday. Email Don, your order now if you are interested.

If you are interested you can order by:

PayPal – www.paypal.com
Enter in Don’s information for payment - dambriz@webcalligraphy.com & make sure in the comments section to include your quantity, sizes & shipping address info.

OR

Snail Mail…first send an email to Don dambriz@webcalligraphy.com to inform him of your quantity, sizes & shipping address info. Then mail a check made out to Don Ambriz to:
2121 Pacific Coast Highway #2, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254

Celebration of Life - Today

Reminder we will be gathering today to Celebrate Dominic. See you there. Thursday, August 21, 2008 @ 2pm PST Sharkeez Manhattan Beach 3801 Highland Ave. Manhattan Beach, CA 90266 **bring quarters for parking

Bring It Video by Craig Palumbo

I can't figure out how to get this awesome video to play in the blog, so go directly to the link below to see a small piece of magic that Craig Palumbo put together in Dom's honor. Great work Craig.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHM9EQmqVdE

Bakersfield Celebration of Life Memorial

661! Dom had such a pride about him being from Bakersfield (Bako) & it is where the family feels his final Celebration of Life should be held. We are fortunate enough to hold the Celebration at Franklin Elementary School – centered in old-West Chester, the neighborhood Dom ran around until he left for Otis (and the many trips back).

Please join us for some words, a couple songs from friends, artwork with tons of hugs & laugher too. There will be food & refreshments provided, all ages welcomed, and casual dress strictly enforced.

Saturday, August 23, 2008 @ 10am

Franklin Elementary School
2400 Truxton Ave
Bakersfield, CA 93301
***look for the marquee that was designed by Don Ambriz

LA Celebration of Life Memorial

It’s time to celebrate Dominic’s life & there is no better place in LA than Dom’s favorite spot – Sharkeez, Manhattan Beach. We spent countless days & nights there watching football, celebrating birthdays, grabbing a burrito or dancing (yes there are plenty of times Dom could be found on the dance floor at Sharkeez).

If you are available, please come and visit some with friends & family in a Celebration of Life – there will be short words from friends, music directly from Dom’s play list (clean versions), some of his art will be on hand & of course, plenty of reminiscing.

Small bites of food will be provided & there will be a no-host bar available. And of course, in true Dom fashion, this is a casual dress event. All ages welcomed.

We will see you there & if you have any questions, please shoot me an email.

Thursday, August 21, 2008 @ 2pm PST

Sharkeez Manhattan Beach
3801 Highland Ave.
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
**bring quarters for parking

The Champ is Gone

I remember the very first call I received from Dom; mid-week, about 2am Central Standard, and Dom was a little timid. He told me about his blackout headaches, trips to the hospital & now, the fact he was going to have a surgery to see if this growth an MRI revealed was cancerous. That call was in January of 2006.

Much has happened since then. The BRING IT lifestyle was born, friendship bonds have been strengthened, a role model for how parents should care for their children happened, and a lot of good laughs were had throughout this fight. I think that is very important to know that our fighter never stopped his life – he went on trips, celebrated birthdays, rang in the New Year & made plenty of stops at Del Taco. Dominic lived ever since that first phone call.

Today at Cedars, day 62, a wonderful group had collected to spend time with our fighter. Kelly & Matt had Del Taco for everyone (even low carb-Amy had one), Scoob & Jane were there, and of course Don was there with his coffee. I was lucky enough to be there too as we joked around, told stories of KFC biscuit runs, Olympic viewing parties & junior high exploits. Matt & Kelly had to leave & it seems they weren’t the only ones who wanted to go.

There we were, a collection of a son, a brother, a boyfriend & a best friend. We all were passing the time in our own ways, when Dominic finally gave up the fight. I am sorry to report that this afternoon at 1:49pm, Dom took his final breath. It wasn’t graphic or painful; he slipped away when we all were looking away. The love in that room was so tangible & wonderful. The 5 of us huddled around our champion & all had our goodbyes.

We kissed him goodbye for all of you. Over these final two months you have all been there & not only the family knows it, but Dom himself was aware of the love that he was at the center of. It is an emotional day, true, yet, some part of me knows that Dominic fought harder & longer than anyone else ever could or would have. Even in his final days he Brought It – something I hope each of you take on.

There will be more on arrangements (one in LA & one in Bakersfield) a little later. Until then, thank you each for being wonderful to Dom, supportive of his fight, and part of the BRING IT community.

Bring It. Live It.

Bring It Wristbands

Before Dom’s second brain surgery, he had wristbands made that were inscribed with what has become his battle cry – BRING IT. I started out wearing mine every day as a show of support for his fight. Over time, the wristband has come to represent so much more to me. It is symbolic of Dominic – simple and unassuming, yet makes a bold statement. Throughout this time that I have shared with Dom and his family and friends at Cedars-Sinai, I have witnessed strength, love and determination that is unparalleled. His battle has taught me the importance of being good to oneself, staying positive, living life to the fullest, and demonstrating courage in the face of adversity – ideas that have become the mantra of the “Bring It Crew”.

You too can show your support for Dominic and his family by wearing a Bring It wristband. Let it be a reminder to you to live a “Bring It Lifestyle” every day, just as Dominic has done and continues to do.

Because Dom’s original wristbands were gone so quickly, an identical batch has been produced. The proceeds from the sale of the wristbands will go directly to the Ambriz family in an effort to help defray the increasing out-of-pocket costs as Dom’s fight continues.

If you would like to become an official member of the “Bring It Crew” and make a donation towards Dom’s cause, whether it be $5 or $5,000, you can do so via the following options:

A. Snail mail

Shannon Bonner
7200 Saddleback Drive
Bakersfield, CA 93309

Please make checks payable to Don & Jane Ambriz

As the school year is about to start, I am back in Bakersfield during the week. I will be doing the shipping from here, but will be delivering all donations to the Ambriz family as I travel to visit Dom every weekend.

or

B. Paypal

If you have a Paypal account, you can deposit your donation directly into the Ambriz account. If you choose this option, please make sure to email me at scoobbonner@gmail.com with your address so I can ship the wristbands out to you as soon as possible.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOUR LOVE & SUPPORT!
LOVE & BRING IT, Scoob

Bring It

Bring It. It’s a lifestyle. A community. A calling that Dominic made almost 32 months ago when he was told about his procedures that were needed to help beat his cancer. He told me one night when we were speaking that “as long as I have my boys, then Bring It.” Hence the mantra of his fight was born.

Many of you have asked about spreading the Bring It mantra on your own. New T-Shirts & Wristbands have been printed up for you to order if you’d like.

Dominic designed the shirt; it was a self-portrait caricature of himself after his first surgery. It will be available in white ink on a black cotton t-shirt, in adult sizes of SM, Med, L, XL, XXL. Only $10 each shirt, which will cover the cost of printing & shipping anywhere you need. We will be taking orders until August 22, 2008 (next Friday).

If you are interested you can order by:

PayPal – www.paypal.com
Enter in Don’s information for payment - dambriz@webcalligraphy.com & make sure in the comments section to include your quantity, sizes & shipping address info.

OR

Snail Mail…first send an email to Don dambriz@webcalligraphy.com to inform him of your quantity, sizes & shipping address info. Then mail a check made out to Don Ambriz to:
2121 Pacific Coast Highway #2, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254

Day 59

Hello everyone – sorry for the length b/w updates but I was on vacation & without a real internet connection. I have been in contact with Don daily though, and wanted to fill everyone in on the latest with Dom.

The wheels have been in motion for him to get back to the apartment but he is still at Cedars currently. There is a lot of “business issues” that still are being hashed out b/w the hospital & the insurance company, but the family has wisely let the patient advocate handle that mess & they are just focused on learning more about how to care for Dominic. Last week all other alternatives were given a last look – Hospice Facilities, nursing facilities, et al, but none of those would work. Some were not up to the standard of care Dom would need & others rejected him for the meds he is on. It’s difficult to find the right match but at this point a move back to Dom’s apartment in Hermosa Beach looks to be the route that will finally happen. I don’t have a timeframe for anyone looking to visit or anything, but I know Jane, Scoob & Amy have prepared the apartment & are looking into getting a little professional nursing help once the move is made. We will see how that goes once the move is completed.

As for his health status – it is close to the same for about 2 ½ weeks now. He is awake, but his days are becoming tougher. Seizures are happening a little more often, food & meds aren’t staying down as much, etc. But everyone is committed to making his time as comfortable as possible be it in the hospital or at home.

I will inform everyone when the move is made & if there are any new developments in his situation. As always, thank you for you continued support. It is draining on all of us, but the fight continues and we all need to have the endurance to continue supporting Dom & each other. – M

Bring It. Live It.