Savvy NJ Sarcoma Survivor, DonnaLyn Giegerich, Hits National Speaking Circuit

2009-12-09 05:26:08 (GMT) (WiredPRNews.com - Featured Stories, Health & Fitness, Medical News)

RED BANK, NJ (WiredPRNews.com: Press Release ) – DONNALYN GIEGERICH PACKS A POTENT PITCH TO EMPOWER, INSPIRE, AND ELATE EVERY AUDIENCE — DonnaLyn Giegerich, MBA, CIC, RYT, aka Mrs. Red Bank US, this fall launched her inaugural national speaking tour with a rousing keynote address, “Empower Yourself Now,” at the Women’s Leadership Conference at Albright College, Reading, PA.

Successful business owner and celebrated community service leader, Ms. Giegerich, of Red Bank, NJ, summoned her unique combination of style and substance to address the Albright group on defying adversity and living with passion and purpose.

DonnaLyn’s credibility and charisma stem not just from a lifetime of distinguished professional achievements and community leadership, but from personal experience surviving a rare, no-cure cancer, Leiomyosarcoma (LMS), with which she was diagnosed in 2007. Within weeks after a complex, 10-hour kidney auto-transplantation surgery, DonnaLyn began running, biking, and swimming through chemotherapy, radiation and surgical rehab, completing triathlons along the way. Amazed colleagues and friends familiar with her dynamic speaking style, urged her to share her take on survivorship, motivation, and overcoming adversity, thrusting her into the national speaking arena to empower others.

During that time, she maintained her business interests, served as national Cyberknife radiation advocate, created a foundation to fund LMS research, spoke to numerous groups as an inspirational speaker and delivered the keynote address for the Cancer Institute of NJ on the unmet needs of cancer survivors. The very week of this keynote, her husband was also diagnosed with life threatening cancer. She was determined to pay forward her message to empower others.

Through it all, DonnaLyn’s already unbridled love of life, commitment to her community, and ability to achieve, kicked into even higher gear than before. Today she is cancer free, fueling the growth of her businesses, modeling everything from evening gowns to custom-made shoes in connection with advocacy and fundraising work, and carrying her kick-butt message to audiences throughout the U.S.

Her memoir chronicling her journey of excelling through adversity is due out in 2010. Her web sites are www.donnalyn.org and www.donnalynspeaks.com. DonnaLyn is also featured in the book, The Art of Bouncing Back…101 Inspiring True Stories About Bouncing Back from Personal and Professional Challenges, by resilience guru, Zelda Greenberg, who lost her husband to sarcoma cancer.

DonnaLyn’s many distinctions include: receiving the Platinum Star from the National Association of Woman Business Owners, being named Honorary Rotarian by the Red Bank Rotary, and receiving Team Survivor Tri-State’s Thriver of the Year Award alongside Olympic swimmer Eric Shanteau. She is also a two-time winner – both as an individual and as owner of Heritage Benefits Group – of Eastern Monmouth Area Chamber of Commerce’s Spinnaker Award honoring important contributions in community leadership.

In May, DonnaLyn sported her 18-inch LMS surgical torso scar in her Red Bank red bikini for top honors (first runner up, community service, and peoples choice Internet award) in the 2009 Mrs. New Jersey US Pageant competition for sarcoma awareness. This bold, unprecedented win for a newcomer to pageantry allowed her to highlight how overcoming LMS adversity is possible with intelligence, passion and community service.

Ms. Giegerich has presented at Women’s Wellness and Financial Forums with Dr. Nancy Snyderman, MD, and former Chief Investment Strategist for UBS, Mary C. Farrell, on the importance of fitness and financial stability through illness. She has been written about extensively in the press, appeared on NBC News before the Metroman Triathalon for her Leiomyosarcoma (LMS) Foundation, appeared in a film produced by the Sarcoma Foundation of America entitled “A Cure in Our Time” with Peri Gilpin (Roz on Frasier), been an adjunct college professor of business and finance, mentored high achieving Fortune 500 female business leaders through WOMEN Unlimited Incorporated, been photographed for various media with her triathlon bike while wearing an evening gown, and in fact, was voted among the sexiest women at the Jersey Shore by Gannett’s 40/75 Magazine. Among her many mantras is “passion is always in fashion.”

“I cannot provide an adequate testimonial for DonnaLyn because nothing captures the awesome vitality of the real thing,” said Kathleen Connelly, partner at NY, NJ, and PA law firm, Lindabury, McCormick, Estabrook & Cooper. “She is a perfect prescription for anyone in doubt about their ability to handle life’s curve balls!”

Ms. Giegerich has served on business panels alongside presenters from such companies as IBM, Sony, PSE&G, and Bowne & Co. She has addressed audiences from such organizations as NY Presbyterian/Cornell Hospital, Rider University, American General Life Insurance Company, and Jersey Shore Human Resources Association.

She has spoken on issues ranging from “Networking For Leaders,” and “Resilient Women in Business and Life,” to “A Man is Not a Plan,” and “Social Entrepreneurism - Building Community Service in Business.”

Upcoming speaking engagements include health advocacy conferences, Fortune 500 companies, health spas, professional associations, and businesses. To schedule an appearance by DonnaLyn Giegerich, email dgiegerich@aol.com.

Donnalyn Giegerich is a dynamic motivational speaker celebrating 20 yrs of successful business ownership, fitness enthusiasm and passion for living to empower others to enlarge their lives. She presents a range of topics which encourage others to define, design and develop their personal vision of success. With determination and direction, others can craft a meaningful and rewarding life legacy. Donnalyn encourages others to incorporate business, fitness, family and lifestyle skills to navigate and excel through challenges and setbacks with grace and style. Donnalyn is an award winning business professional, athlete, author and survivor of Leiomyosarcoma.

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Media Contact: Lisa Karasic - marketingmaestro@verizon.net
or
DonnaLyn Giegerich - dgiegerich@aol.com