45 markets in 20 states across the US have aired The Not-Dying Girl documentary, so far!  We have been aired from New York to Los Angeles; Savannah, Georgia to Fairbanks, Alaska; Minneapolis to El Paso; and everywhere in between.  We can’t help but think about how proud Lauren would be to know that her message for awareness of childhood cancer is reaching people across the country.

KVIE in Sacramento will be airing the film in September in observance of National Child Cancer Awareness Month.  It will air:

• 9/4/19 at 7:00pm
• 9/6/19 at 4:00pm
• 9/7/19 at 7:30am
• 9/8/19 at 6:30pm

Please spread the word to your friends and neighbors about Lauren’s message and the impact of this beautiful film.  If your local PBS station did not air the film, it is still available to be downloaded and shown.

Together we can make a difference and bring attention to the need for research funding for childhood cancer.  Children are being diagnosed every day and through awareness and advocacy for funding we can ensure a future for every one of them.

Lauren’s documentary “The Not-Dying Girl” is nominated for two regional Emmy awards!!! The region is Hawaii, Guam, Northern and Central California, and Northern Nevada. The nomination categories are “Documentary – Topical” and “Editor – Program.” The awards ceremony will be held June 8th in San Francisco. The documentary just won “Most Inspirational Documentary” at the Sacramento International Film Festival last weekend.
Also, the film will be available for all PBS stations in the U.S. on May 30th. The stations can get it from The National Educational Television Association (netaonline.org). The documentary was originally shown on KVIE, the Sacramento, CA PBS station. The documentary is uplifting at times, heartfelt at times, difficult at times, and discusses the need for more funding for childhood cancer research.
If you have not already seen the film, please watch it. I have included the link to it on KVIE. If it touches you, request that your PBS station stream the film from netaonline.org on May 30th and show it in your market. The more stations that show it, the more people will be aware of the underfunding of childhood cancer research.

https://vids.kvie.org/video/the-not-dying-girl-g191sb/
Breast Cancer Awareness has been very successful in gaining funding for research, better outcomes and raising awareness of the importance of screenings. Lauren wanted the same for Childhood Cancer Awareness. Together, we can help to continue her message.  We all know to “Go pink” in October.  Let’s help everyone to know we need to “Go Gold” in September!

Beth Ruyak’s documentary on Lauren “The Not-Dying girl” has been invited to show at the Sacramento International Film Festival.  Lauren’s documentary will show during the Nor-Cal All Stars segment #3.  It will be from 4:00pm to 6:00 pm on Saturday, May 4, 2019.  The Not-Dying Girl will show, as well as two other short films, during the time spot.  We’re so excited to be invited to this festival so more people can experience our film!

See the link for details and tickets:

http://californiafilm.net/events/norcal-all-stars-pt3

The film will be shown at the Delta King in Old Sacramento.  The ship’s theater seats 110, so if you’re interested in attending, don’t wait to purchase your tickets.  Tickets for our segment are $12.00 each.  We hope to see you there!

What an incredible night it was on January 31, 2019!  There was so much love in the theater, love for Lauren and her message of increasing awareness of childhood cancer.  One of her doctors, Dr. Kent Jolly, along with more than 10 of her nurses and Kaiser caregivers were there.  Her friends, family, and people who didn’t know her, but read her blog, were there to experience the film that Beth Ruyak produced, along with DosEckes Productions.  It is a film that keeps you thinking about it long after you watch it.

Beth spoke about Lauren being a light and her light continuing to shine in us.  This film brings to light the randomness of childhood cancer and how Lauren chose to live her life, with positivity and appreciation for the support of everyone around her.  I hope everyone will take the opportunity to watch the film and understand what cancer steals from all of us.  There needs to be more research, but the public needs to push for the research since there are so few people diagnosed with childhood cancers each year.

The documentary will air on KVIE on the following dates/times in February:

• February 6, 2019 at 7:00pm
• February 8, 2019 at 4:00pm
• February 9, 2019 at 7:30am
• February 10, 2019 at 6:30pm

The show will be available to view online at KVIE.org after the first air date.

There were production costs in order to bring Lauren’s message to the screen.  If you are moved by the film, please consider a donation to the Kickstarter campaign to help defray the expenses.  Go to Kickstarter.com and enter “Not Dying Girl” in the search field.  The goal is to raise $8,000 to cover the remaining production costs.  If you pledge $25, you will receive an 8GB key-chain flash drive with the film loaded onto it.  You will be able to view the film on demand and share it with others.

The family wishes to thank everyone involved in making the film (Ruyak Media, KVIE, Capital Public Radio, DosEckes Productions, Kaiser Permanente, and the camera and sound people) and all those who were able to attend the screening.  It is a night we will never forget and one that Lauren would have been thrilled, but humbled, to experience.  We all could feel her presence that night.  We hope you feel the love and message about childhood cancer awareness when you view the film.

Since around September of 2017, we have been working on a labor of love to continue Lauren’s cause of raising awareness for childhood cancer.  Lauren had been on the Capital Public Radio show “Insight” with Beth Ruyak for two shows before she passed away.  Mom was interviewed for the show by Beth after Lauren passed away.  At that time, Beth asked if we would agree to a documentary about Lauren and her cause.  Of course, we agreed!  It was exactly what Lauren would have wanted.  The time wasn’t right to start the project until just over a year ago.

It’s been very difficult to go through the details of Lauren’s initial cancer diagnosis and her struggles throughout her treatments, but those were mixed with heartwarming details of how Lauren touched others and how others touched her.  It also brought to the forefront the depth of our loss, missing Lauren every day that passes.  However, this was a project that would have made Lauren so proud!  She wanted to raise awareness of childhood cancer, not for her own benefit, but for the children who were yet to be diagnosed.  We’re hoping this will help in some way to raise awareness, which can lead to increased funding for research to find better treatments and cures for children across the US and the world.

The documentary, titled “The Not-Dying Girl”, will be premiered on Thursday, January 31, 2019, at the Crest Theater in Sacramento.  The doors open at 5:00pm and the show will start at 6:00pm.  The event is free, but you need to reserve your tickets through Eventbrite.  Below is the link:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-not-dying-girl-premiere-screening-tickets-53449489863?utm-medium=discovery&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-source=strongmail&utm-term=listing

There is a trailer preview of the documentary on Beth’s website:

https://www.ruyakmedia.com/

When you click the link you’ll see Lauren’s smiling face.  Scroll below to “Featured Project” and click on “About the film” and it will take you to where you can watch the trailer, link to this blog, and also see behind the scenes photos from filming the show.  The show also airs on KVIE 6 on February 6 (7pm), February 8 (4:30pm) and February 10 (6:30pm).

We’re all so thankful that Beth Ruyak felt a special connection to Lauren and wanted to spread her message to others.  She took the utmost care in writing the outline and editing to tell her story the way I believe Lauren would have wanted it.  The documentary is by Ruyak Media with Dos Eckes Productions and was co-written and co-produced by Beth Ruyak, Jim Eckes, and Suzanne Eckes-Wahl.

Beth interviewed Dr. Wayne Jolly, Lauren’s oncologist, who took such amazing care of her through both of her battles.  She also interviewed Mom Deanne, Dad John, and Brother Mark.  Of course, Egor, Lauren’s “husband”, and DeAngela, Lauren’s bestie, were also interviewed.  The story centers around Lauren’s fight, but also on her amazing bucket list wedding.  DeAngela is the person who asked Egor to marry Lauren, and away we went, planning a wedding in just three weeks!

We know Lauren would be proud of this project.  The final interviews were done in Hawaii, where Egor was stationed with the Navy.  The interviews took place on July 6, 2018, exactly five years after the dream bucket list wedding.  Lauren gave us a sign of her approval by creating a rainbow in the sky the minute the last interview was complete.  It was truly beautiful.

We hope people are able to come to the Crest Theater to share in the experience.  There are also the three air dates on KVIE for those who can’t attend, or those who just want to watch it again.  We thank everyone who made this happen and all those who read her blog and kept her motivated to keep writing.  Lauren lives on through her blog and all of us.

Lauren was honored by her college, Diablo Valley College in Pleasant Hill, CA, by being inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame on February 18, 2016.  The MC of the event was Steve Ward, head coach of the Men’s Baseball Team.  Many of Lauren’s family, co-op family, and friends were in attendance to show support for Lauren.  Beth Ruyak, who gave Lauren an opportunity to get her message out during two of her Insight radio broadcasts at Capital Public Radio, was in attendance also.  She was at the Sochi Winter Olympics when Lauren’s Celebration of Life was held, so she felt compelled to be at the ceremony to show her support of Lauren.  You could feel the love in the room.

Steve introduced Lauren with the following speech:

“I am not sure that our HOF has any members as inspirational, courageous, gracious and humble as Lauren. She attended the very first DVC Hall of Fame induction in 2006 as an 8^th grader with her dad, John, who was an All-American swimmer on the 1973 State Champion swim team.  Attending high school in Elk Grove, she earned varsity letters in four different sports. Then… just after she graduated she was diagnosed with an extremely rare cancer, Ewing Sarcoma, in one of her quadriceps. After nine months of non-stop chemo she was told her cancer was in remission. She enrolled at DVC in the Fall of 2012 and in the Spring 2013 term joined the DVC swim team. She finished 2^nd in the 50 Back and 3^rd in the 100 Back at the Big 8 Conference Championships. Her times were good enough to qualify in three events at the State Championship Meet the following week in L.A. On the first day she swam the 50 Free, but complained after the race that her side hurt and that she could hardly breathe. She was in the emergency room the next day and had fluid on her lungs, which kept her out the remainder of the State meet. Soon after, Lauren learned her cancer had returned. She still attended the end of the season swimming awards dinner and found out her 50 Back time had earned All-American status.

In her last nine months she started a blog called, “Thenotdyinggirl” and her story was covered extensively by Sacramento area media. She gave anti-bullying rallies, got married, tirelessly spread the word about pediatric cancers, and was the honorary captain of the DVC Lacrosse team, who in November of 2013 held an American Cancer Benefit in her honor…In life, according to her father, she exhibited strength, humility, and a positive attitude right up until she died February 2, 2014 at the age of 21.

DVC now has the privilege to induct her for eternity into the DVC Athletic Hall of Fame…Lauren McCullough.”

Lauren’s mom then spoke about her achievements in high school swim, her positive outlook during her cancer treatment, and how her spot on the DVC swim team remaining open for her until she was able to join the team kept her motivated during her year of chemo and many hospitalizations.  The coaches of the swim team treated her like she was a competitor, and not an “honorary” member of the team.  That pushed Lauren to achieve so much during that season.  She came incredibly close to achieving her pre-cancer personal best swim times.  Like every girl, Lauren looked up to her dad.  Lauren became an All-American swimmer, just like dad; swam at the State Championship Swim Meet, just like dad; and was now in the DVC Athletic Hall of Fame, just like dad.

Lauren’s dad then spoke about how DVC has been so supportive of Lauren, both during her recurrence of cancer and after she has passed away.  He thanked the school for supporting her and continuing to keep her message of childhood cancer awareness out in the public.  The DVC Lacrosse team continues to hold American Cancer Society benefit games every November to raise money for cancer research and honor Lauren.  He spoke of how he entrusted his two most precious things in life, his two children, to the swim team and Coach Rick Millington, and thanked Coach Millington for being there for both Lauren and Mark.

This was an unforgettable event for all in attendance.  In addition to hearing Lauren’s story, it was inspirational to hear the stories of the other eight inductees into the DVC Athletic Hall of Fame.  She is in great company.

DVC Article: http://dvcvikings.com/General/2015-16/Spring16/Hall_of_Fame_2016

Wednesday, January 7, 2015, I was surprised to see my beautiful daughter’s smiling face on the front page of the Elk Grove Citizen.  They were honoring Elk Grove’s Leaders, Trailblazers, and other inspirations.  They were profiling those who passed away in 2014.  Lauren’s beautiful modeling picture graced the story’s main page.  What a surprise and honor to see that the Elk Grove Citizen felt she was an inspirational person the city lost.  She was also the youngest, with the next youngest being in his 50’s.  Attached is the link to the article: http://www.egcitizen.com/articles/2015/01/09/news/doc54ac75dc32022617398935.txt

Upcoming event alert!  Diablo Valley College continues to support cancer awareness and keep Lauren in their hearts.  On Friday, January 30th the men’s and women’s basketball teams with be having a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society and will be holding the event in honor of Lauren.  The swim team will also be in attendance to show their continued support of Lauren and how much they meant to each other.  The event is Coaches vs. Cancer, which is a nationwide collaboration between the American Cancer Society and the National Association of Basketball Coaches.

There will be a pregame ball presentation with the swim team and coaches prior to the women’s game.  Lauren’s dad and I will be saying a few words prior to each game.  We continue to be amazed at the ongoing love and support from Diablo Valley College Athletics.

The women’s game starts at 5:30 pm. and the men’s game starts at 7:30 pm. at DVC in Pleasant Hill.  Please come out to Diablo Valley College in Pleasant Hill and support this wonderful event.  All proceeds will go to the American Cancer Society.

The Diablo Valley College Lacrosse game that benefited the American Cancer Society was a tremendous event.  The team is inspirational and won in sudden death overtime.  The game winning score came just after the team shouted, “LaurenStrong!”  I’ve attached links to the DVC article and a video of the retirement of Lauren’s #1 jersey video that Lauren’s uncle, Alan Kingsley, recorded at the event.  http://vimeo.com/112349447

http://dvc.stage.lacrosseshift.com/news/vikings-win-thriller

Hell’s Kitchen was an excellent show on the night Lauren was in attendance.  To watch the show and see clips of Lauren enjoying her night was awesome!  The clips come quickly, so watch for when we enter the dining room at the beginning of dinner service.  Lauren enters first, followed closely by mom, then dad and the Dream Foundation representative, Dawn Reid.

The next clips are of the four of us at the table being served our dinner entrees, with Lauren front and center.  Then a quick clip of Lauren’s first bite of her beef wellington.  If you run the clip in slo-mo, you can see Lauren roll her eyes upward as she savors the bite.  Truly Lauren at her finest foodie moment.  At the last minutes, Hell’s Kitchen added a tribute to Lauren and included  the photo of Lauren with Gordon Ramsay.  It’s the last shot of the episode, after the previews to the next week’s episode.  The video link is attached to the Hell’s Kitchen episode. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yJlabj_2MY

The Diablo Valley College Lacrosse Team will be hosting their second annual American Cancer Society benefit game on Saturday, November 15, 2014. The game begins at 7:00 pm at the Diablo Valley College stadium in Pleasant Hill, CA.  They will be honoring Lauren McCullough and retiring the #1 jersey that they presented her last year.  Lauren’s parents will be there to speak and accept the jersey for Lauren. Please come to support this team and their continuing efforts in raising awareness of childhood cancer, Lauren’s #1 mission.  Click on the link for more information.

http://dvc.stage.lacrosseshift.com/event/american-cancer-society-benefi

Lauren was personally invited by Chef Gordon Ramsay to attend the filming of a Hell’s Kitchen episode last September 2013. That episode is due to air on Wednesday, November 19, 2014 on Fox.  We don’t know if Lauren will make it on air, but look for her, her dad, mom, and a Dream Foundation representative, Dawn Reid, on the red team side of the restaurant, near the front.  The food was fabulous!  This was an incredible dream for Lauren, since Gordon Ramsay is her most favorite chef of all. He treated her like a celebrity and was so nice to her (Nothing like how he treats his competing chefs on the show!).  Please check your local Fox station for the time in your area.  The attached pictures are from the filming last year.

Lauren’s celebration of life was held February 22, 2014 at Laguna Creek High School, her alma mater.  The school celebrated her life with the choir singing songs, the swim team helping to greet guests, the color guard presenting the flag, ASB setting up the gym and multi-purpose room, and the activities director and principal organizing and attending the entire event.  Lauren would have been so honored.  The attached video was made by the Laguna Creek High School Video Club.  Special thanks to Nicole Skinner, Class of 2014, who made the film possible.

For those who were unable to attend Lauren’s service, please click on the link to hear the beautiful things that were said about Lauren’s life and fighting spirit.  We thank all who sent caring messages of support for the family.