May I confess that I found the first day of the MORE Project Expedition just a little depressing? As the leaders gathered from all around the world to come help the MORE Project, it became perfectly clear to me that they have not come on vacation, but rather on a mission. I didn’t come emotionally prepared. I came to work, not to serve. I faced the stark reality today that my heart was not in the right place as I was surrounded by people who live to serve.

I was amazed at their grace under pressure. Several missed a flight today due to slow baggage handling, and you’d think that they’d won an extra few hours in Disney World, not an airport. All smiles. All happy. I am convinced that this is the product of having your heart in the right place. If you are here to serve, a missed connection doesn’t matter.

The MonaVie field leaders are absolutely first rate human beings. They are role models for all of us. I will be posting more in the coming days about what we see and learn, but tonight, I’m putting my heart in the right place and I’m ready to join the MonaVie team in serving the people of Brazil this week.

Below are some photos of these outstanding leaders!

Devin Thorpe

Chief Financial Officer, MonaVie

Lily Anderson was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer in September 2009. On Wednesday, February 10, one day after spending time with Dallin and Karree at the Atlanta Georgia Tasting Meeting she and her mother, Jennifer, received news that her bone marrow test results are cancer free, news that Dallin and Karree shared with much excitement in their last post here on BlogMV.

At Dallin’s request, I contacted Jennifer last night to find out more details and put this little gals journey into the proper context. Here are some of the details shared:

Upon being diagnosed last September, 90 percent of Lily’s bone marrow was cancerous. That’s nine out of 10 cells. Jennifer said that since then Lily has undergone six rounds of chemo, which is the most they typically do for individuals with cancer for fear of damaging vital organs. Lily had already lost one kidney due to the multiple rounds of chemo and the risks were high. Furthermore, after round five, her bone marrow was still 25 percent cancerous and doctors told Jennifer and Lily that a sixth round would most likely NOT destroy all the cancerous cells and that they would look at other methods of treatment.

Which makes the most recent news all that more exciting...and amazing. Lily’s bone marrow is cancer free…words Jennifer has been repeating over and over again these last couple days.

The process is not over yet. Lily must now travel to St. Judes hospital and have a bone marrow transplant, then radiation and antibody treatments. Still, these next steps could not have happened before receiving word her bone marrow was cancer free.

This week is a week of celebration for Lily, Jennifer, family and friends. They are so touched by the MonaVie community that has rallied around them, which isn’t hard considering Lily’s fiery and infectious personality. They feel a renewed hope for 2010 and can’t wait to spend time at more MonaVie events, as well as, visit The MORE Project in Brazil, a trip they were planning to take before Lily was diagnosed last year.

Jennifer told me that Lily has a Facebook Fan page, located here and a Care Pages, located at *www.care.com/lilyanderson where they post updates and photos of her progress.

*You must create an account to view this page.

The latest post to her Facebook page reads, “Dear Stupid Cancer .....I just got my bone marrow test results.. NEGATIVE like in zero, ziltch, zip, nada, no mo, your out of here! So with that said please just give up already. Your not going to win this”

Lily and Jennifer, thank you for sharing a bit of your story. We love you! And you are proof that 2010 is indeed a year of miracles. Shine on!

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Shante

MonaVie Chief Blogger

Update (February 26, 2010): Lily is now at St. Judes hospital in Memphis, TN. She is schedule to have a stem cell/bone marrow transplant and after will remain at St. Judes until the end of March and then return home first part of April. Due to demand, her mother, Jennifer, will place another order for the yellow Lily bracelets worn by Dallin and Karree. We'll share details when and where they are available. If you wish to send Lily cards or gifts she can recieve them at the following address:

Lily Anderson

535 Alabama Ave.

Memphis, TN 38105

It's been a whirlwind of a trip to the United States for Yone this last week and in that time she's realized one of her dreams. After wowing us all with her incredible voice at the Anaheim Regional, one audience member, Blue Diamond John De Vries, was so touched by her spirit and talent that he decided that he wanted to do something more...and much more was in his power. As a music producer he had contact with some of the best of the best in the music industry and within a day it was all set - Yone was going to fly to Los Angeles to record her first CD!

2010 certainly is the year of miracles in MonaVie.

Listen to John De Vries share more insights:

And just yesterday I had the pleasure of talking to Yone, and in retrospect I should have got an autograph! Here's a message from our superstar before she flies back to Brazil, with Katy Holt-Larsen and Marshall Snarr:

What's your miracle for 2010?

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Shante

MonaVie Chief Blogger

Due to the overwhelming feedback and requests we’ve received primarily via Twitter, Facebook and here on BlogMV, I am beyond thrilled to report that the powers that be have decided to make the 2010 Global Kickoff Webcast available in DVD format! Whoohoo! Hollar!

The DVD versions will be available in the VO within the next two weeks for a minimal cost and all proceeds will go to the MORE Project. Shout out to Dave Male (from Facebook) for sending in that suggestion!

All, I’m so proud and deeply impressed (apparently I love my adjectives today) with the community we are building through our social media platforms. The webcast was a success because of you! It was a crazy success and at times total chaos but I can only think of how positive the vibes were and how you supported each other and helped each other troubleshoot. At one point my viewer went into buffer mode and for the next five minutes you helped me stay informed by tweeting me play-by-plays of the webcast. Loved it!

Hopefully you’ll feel the goodness or at least understand that your voices are heard! The DVD version of the webcast is proof positive.

I’ll share more details as I get them regarding price, exact date of availability – you know, all the good stuff. Until next time…

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Shante

MonaVie Chief Blogger

Hi Everyone,

Happy New Year. Hope you’ve all watched the webcast. Sorry about the delay but you all crashed the system! We had to triple the number of servers allocated to meet the demand. Those are good problems to have.

2009 is over. 2010, 2011 and 2012 will be huge years for MonaVie. The second wave of momentum is coming. Make sure you and all your group are aware of (M)mūn™ as well as the Bronze through Emerald promotion. Let’s get more money into the pockets of your MonaVie family in 2010.

Wasn’t Sergio great!

Due to popular demand we are considering leaving the webcast on MonaVie TV for an extended period of time. I believe that if people will take the time to watch the webcast, they’ll get involved in MonaVie. Let us know your thoughts by leaving a comment here on BlogMV.

Okay, gotta run. Heading to Orlando to help support R3 Global TPC function this weekend. Rumor has it that there will be around 10,000 in attendance. 2010, it’s going to be big!!!

Love you guys,

Dallin A. Larsen

First off, let me just say I’m updating Blog MV from 37,000 feet in the sky! Which totally reminds me of this funny YouTube clip of Comedian Louis C.K. Technology, what will you think of next?

I’m off to NYC for the Web 2.0 conference, where I will be learning all about social media – I’ll check in with all the goodness as soon as I get a chance. In the meantime, check out two other very important blogs in the MonaVie family.

The first is the Cannondale blog, located at http://monavie-cannondale.com/, where you’ll get the latest racing schedule, vlogs, race day updates and philanthropic ventures.

Then hop over to the MORE Project site and visit Katy’s Blog. The most recent blog post is from Andrea and Mindy who are currently in Brazil on the latest expedition. Go here: http://www.themoreproject.org/more-project-usa/Recent%20Posts/

Finally, there is one more stop on this fun filled adventure. We’ll be spotlighting some awesome coverage of MonaVie Founder and CEO Dallin Larsen, recent winner of the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year award in the Emerging Company category. Check out the live Twitter feeds from Saturday’s real time updates during the awards show. We’ll post more here, On the Move, as well as, on Twitter and Facebook as soon as we have those stories from the press.

Today's social media etiquette tip coming right up!

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Shante

MonaVie Chief Blogger