Hi!

Do Good Things Club is back for the Holiday Season!

This year, we’re making tote bags filled with goodies for the CHHS County Special needs class!

If you’re able to, we’re looking for donations of fuzzy blankets, fuzzy socks, plastic Christmas ornaments, sensory toys, and PG and G rated DVDs for the kids and their classroom. I’m going to personally drop them off by Thursday 12/19, so all donations need to be in by Wednesday 12/18 for me to pack them up!

We’re also accepting handmade holiday cards of encouragement to put into each tote bag! So, all you DIYers— I’m looking at you! There’s no limit on how many cards you can drop off, because anything left over will go to the Pediatric Oncology Ward at Loma Linda Children’s Hospital. Just email me at ambika@gangesgal.com if you have any cards you want to send over!

Thank you,

Ambika// Ganges Gal

Hi there!

In my 2019 goals, I wanted to challenge myself by running my first ever Half Marathon. I didn’t grow up a runner, and only got into it during college because it was the only for me to get tired enough to calm my anxiety down. Over the years, running has turned into a crutch that I lean on to help myself process the hurricanes that come in and out of my personal life.

While training for that Half Marathon, I realized it wouldn’t have meant anything to me if I didn’t use that platform to help those in need. My whole life’s been dedicated to service— so why couldn’t this run be a faction of that too? Thus, the plan for me to run for a cause was born. In 2019, I chose to run for my children like my little sister, Devika, who have fought through pediatric cancer. My fundraising goal was $500, and because of the grace and giving of so many dear friends and strangers, I was able to raise over $1000 for St. Judes. Being able to to double that fundraising goal blew my mind, and I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to do that again— but I’m gonna try.

This year, I’ve decided to take things up a notch. I’ve chosen to run the full LA Marathon, and raise money for a cause that hits closer to home. "Hope, Sweat, Cures” is a fundraiser through City of Hope— a hospital that my little sister sought her oncology treatment in as a child, and a hospital that I’ve seen friends, family members, neighbors, and coworkers come in and out of throughout my lifetime. I really believe in the work they do there, and I want to not only run for their cause, but also fundraise at least $650 for their research studies.

Through my Do Good Things Club, you’re welcome to either train with me as I prep for this race, sign up for the race yourself, or even just contribute to my fundraiser. Any help is appreciated, and I will write your name on my running bib because I know I can’t run this race alone.

Click here for the link to my fundraising page :)

Thank you Thank you,

Ambika // Ganges Gal

Hi all!

So you thought you’d seen the last of my races with that whole ‘5K on my Birthday’ thing?? WELL GUESS WHAT!? I signed up with a few of my awesome coworkers to run this Half Marathon in San Diego this June. It’s my first one, so idk how this is going to go, but I’m 100% interested in it for a few reasons:

1. I’ll be raising money for research at St. Judes Children’s Hospital! Click the below link if you’re down to donate!

   • https://fundraising.stjude.org/site/TR/Heroes/Heroes?px=5587999&pg=personal&fr_id=99605

2. I’l be living out my David Goggins’ “Can’t Hurt Me” DREAM. Have you guys read that book yet? I listened to it on a reccomendation from my older sister, and it was INSANE. This guy runs marathons like it’s a walk in the park. I was so inspired, I legit signed up for this the week after listening to his book.

3. I get to push my body physically further than it’s ever gone. I mean, I’ve done crazy intense hikes before, but nothing as crazy as running this many miles back-to-back. I’m trying to do this in 2 hours, which means I’m going to have to practice some self-discipline with my diet and training routine. I kinda can’t wait. I’ll document the sweaty process on my Instagram @gangesgal

4. NEW FRIENDS!!! I’m excited to see who other folks are running for, and why they like this so much. Events like this are a great networking opportunity to meet people who really care about helping others, in their own way (this way being running lol). But that’s what this who “Do Good Things Club” is about!! Always knowing that no matter where you come from, what you look like, or how much money you have, you’re capable of helping someone else who needs it.

   Anyways, here’s the link to the run website. Mine came out to $170 total I think for the half, which is definitely a lot for me (think of allll the ramen that’s worth!!), but I think it’s worth the investment in myself and in this research.

   If you’re thinking of running, hit me up in the comments! We can swap training schedules.

   https://www.runrocknroll.com/en/events/san-diego

My awesome friend Carmela told me about this one:

This place is an awesome resource center for survivors of domestic abuse and sexual assault. The reason I put it here on “Do Good Things Club” is because they’re offering a free 40-hour training course on how to become an advocate for survivors of domestic abuse and sexual assault. Once this training month is completed, you get to be a certified volunteer for their 24 hour hotline.

Carmela and I are both taking this class throughout the month of February, and I encourage you to join us if you’re in the county and interested in helping with something like this! If you’re not in the county, let me know, and I will do my best to find a similar service program that you can take part in. I know Laura’s House in the OC has a similar program going.

Below is the link to their official website:

http://projectsister.org

AND! If you can’t make it to February’s training, there will be another one in the summer— I’ll post details closer to the date.

Hii :)

So I was planning on being pretty low-key about this, because if you’ve read my earlier posts, you know how weird I’ve always felt about the way I look, color of my skin, etc. (Dysmorphia is real!! So is scarring childhood bullying!!) But anyways, in an effort to learn more about myself and maybe work on my confidence level— I decided to sign up for a beauty pageant.

The reason why I told you all that incredibly sad-but-true stuff, is because there’s a program that the Miss America Pageant always takes part in, that I really stand for— and that’s to help fundraise for the Children’s Miracle Network. They help local Children’s Hospitals— which as you know, is a cause that’s near and dear to my heart because I grew up in and out of them with my little sister Devika. (Who I always talk about— she’s a supercool, superbly cancer survivor, epilepsy warrior, and all around awesome kid).

Anyways, regardless of whether I win or not, which I’m not really concerned with because I’m really only doing this to learn more about myself and have this experience that my childhood self only dreamed of, I wanted to share the link to my fundraising page to see if any of you are willing to participate. I’m not sure if it keeps going after the pageant, but if it doesn’t, I’ll take this down and post a new link that’s also associated with the Children’s Miracle Network. I have to let you know (because I’m not here trying to be fake) that there is a $100 minimum donation I need to meet to qualify for the competition, but have no fear friends, I was planning on contributing that extra paycheck money to the cause anyway. Any and all funds above that are appreciated, because I’m really just trying to help these kids.

Below is a link to my specific fundraising page:

https://missamericaforkids.org/Contestant/AmbikaRajyagor

I'll extend as we get closer to the new year, but I want to express how important it is to read up on what being in this registry might mean for someone’s life. My little sister Devika was diagnosed with Leukemia when she was a year old, and the Doctors didn’t hesitate to tell my parents how slim her chances of finding a Bone Marrow match were. BUT, the universe works in mysterious ways— because both my Older Sister and I turned out to be exact matches for everything for Devika. I wish that were the case for everyone.

Anyways, Meera ended up going through a Bone Marrow Transplant to save our little sister’s life (because I was still too young). I’m obviously still Devika’s match— but hey, if there’s a chance I’m anyone else’s, I’ll take it. I just want to do my part.

Below is a link to the registry website. Once you sign up there, they’ll send you a cheek swab kit in the mail, you follow the directions, and then they’ll add you to the registry. I know people who have waited 9 years for the registry, and people who have waited 2, but the most important thing is that they’re on there, and that they’re awesome enough to be down for saving someone’s life. Check it out!!

https://bethematch.org