Who's this Mike Guy?

My name is Mike Cullen and I am a first time participant in the Underwear Affair. I have taken part in various cancer related runs for the last ten years or so, but felt that this year I needed a change of pace. When a friend suggested the Underwear Affair, it seemed like just the crazy type of event that I should take part in. I set up an ambitious fundraising goal of $1,000 and vowed to family, friends and colleagues that if I raised that amount, I would run the full 10km course in my underwear. As of July 2010 I have raised over $1,100, have the special undies picked out and I’m anxiously waiting for the day of the run.

I’m not just doing it for the change of pace though. I’m also taking part in the Underwear Affair for personal reasons. I’m passionate about cancer research and the dream of one day finding a cure for a disease that touches virtually every life. Whether you’ve experienced cancer for yourself or have seen a friend, family member or coworker go through this battle, it is almost impossible to find someone who hasn’t gone through it; and there’s no reason for it with our medical advances.

My participation in the Underwear Affair is for other reasons as well. As someone who lives with an autoimmune deficiency disease, I am at an increased risk for colon, prostate and small bowel cancers. I don’t live with a dark cloud over my head, but realistically having Crohn’s Disease increases the chance that I may face one of those three cancers in my lifetime.

I’m also taking part to get into better shape. I used to be one of those people who religiously went to the gym three to four times a week. I started slacking off about a year ago, and I noticed the changes; not only the weight gain but the feeling rundown all the time, susceptibility to illness and general bad lifestyle choices. I took this opportunity to get back into shape. This will be my first 10km run, and I plan on running it all. I now run three times a week and try to do yoga at least once a week. As a result, I’ve dropped about twenty five pounds since April, improved my lifestyle and in general feel a lot better about myself both physically and mentally.

Lastly, I’m doing this for a friend who recently lost her father to a battle with Colon cancer. He fought until the very end, and his courageous face on approach to his illness inspires me to not only cross that finish line, but to keep running until cancer has been beaten for good. Big D Palvetzian, this one’s for you!