Whatever your skillset, we need you. Whether you’re an organizational whiz kid, a team-cheering superstar, or just really good at lifting heavy stuff, we want to appreciate your talents! If you’re interested in volunteering, register here or contact Sophie at therush@bc.lung.ca for more info! And don’t forget to spread the word!

For this year’s video contest, we’ve challenged all of you to RUSH-ify your favourite song. To help inspire you, our very own Marissa RUSHed up LMFAO’s hit song, Sexy and I Know It. (And if you feel inspired to make your own version, we’d love to see it!)

Here’s the original:

And here’s Marissa’s RUSH-ified version!

I’M RUSHIN’ AND I KNOW IT

Yeah, yeah
When I run on by, I be looking for free Wi-Fi
I search for the tweet, walking on the street for the things I seek, yeah
This is how I roll, transit schedule, maps outta control,
It’s a clue with the bus depot
And like Sherlock Holmes I got the know

Ah… Girl look at that road map
Ah… work it out
Ah… Girl look at that road map
Ah… work it out

When I walk to the spot (yeah), this is what I see (ok)
Rushers in a line and they staring at me
I got a Gold Rush Pass in my hand and I ain’t afraid to show it, show it, show it, show it

I’m RUSHin’ and I know it

Yeah
When I’m at the wall, making sure I don’t fall off
And when I’m in downtown, I’m in a bar trying to hone my techniques (what)
This is how I roll, come on Rushers it’s time to go
We headed to the park, baby don’t be nervous
No phone, no map, and it’ll do us disservice (watch)

Ah… Girl look at that road map
Ah… work it out
Ah… Girl look at that road map
Work it out

When I walk to the spot (yeah), this is what I see (ok)
Rushers in a line and they staring at me
I got a Gold Rush Pass in my hand and I ain’t afraid to show it, show it, show it, show it

I’m RUSHin’ and I know it

I’m RUSHin’ and I know it…

Check it out
Google, Google, Google, Google, Google yeah
Google, Google, Google, Google, Google yeah, yeah
Just Google it man
I just Googled it man!
Yeah
I’m RUSHin’ and I know it

Ah… Girl look at that road map
Ah… work it out
Ah… Girl look at that road map
Work it out

Yeah I’m RUSHin’ and I know it!

FOTOHUNT FRIDAY #3 – MAY 11, 2012

We challenge you to spot 6 differences between the original shot (above) and our slightly altered shot (below) – cropping to the top and bottom of the picture don’t count. Share your answers in the comment section below! (Don’t worry, we’ll give you the answers next week.)

Couldn’t spot all the differences in Fotohunt Friday #2? Here you go!

Meet RUSH 2012 sponsor Olivia Lovenmark,  one of Vancouver’s top fashion bloggers ( www.stylestruck.ca). 

What’s the best thing about being one of Vancouver’s top fashionistas?

The opportunities it brings to meet fashion industry people I’ve looked up to for years. For example, I recently met fashion personalities like Jeanne Beker and Derek Blasberg.

Where’s your favourite place to shop in Vancouver?

I don’t have just one favourite – the trick is to mix and match. I like Zara, H&M, Holt Renfrew, The Bay, Aritzia and Zara – amongst others! And I’m a big advocate of mixing high- and low-end designers for a personal look.

Got any favourite spaces and places in Vancouver?

Stanley Park for running and biking around; the Vancouver Rowing Club’s deck for a beer after my boyfriend’s rugby game; the Bel Cafe for a decadent coffee; the Fairmont Pacific Rim’s Lobby Lounge for a cosmopolitan; and the Bay downtown Vancouver for some of the city’s best fashion parties.

What can participants expect from you when they see you at RUSH?

Fabulousness of course! Just kidding  I don’t want to give anything away. In terms of my role in the event, how about if we say fashion savvy  RUSHers will have an advantage!

The RUSH grand prize is a ‘Trip for 2 Around the World” — As a fashionista with jetsetter instincts – what would your travel destinations be if you won?

Greece, hands down. I’ve been wanting to visit the islands of Greece for some time now, they look so peaceful and romantic. From Greece we’d travel to France and work our way up from the south, stopping in Cannes, Provence and Cassis, to Paris, my favorite city — and fashion capitol. I’d also love to see New Zealand, Brazil, Turkey and Egypt. That’s a lot of globe hopping!

Thanks to Olivia for sharing your fashion lifestyle-savvy with us!

For this year’s video contest, we want you to strut your stuff in front of a camera to show (and tell us with your witty lyric re-writes) us what you’ve got! The winning team will walk away with free registration for BOTH team members, but even more importantly, they’ll get a Gold RUSH Pass which will let them skip to the front of the line at any one checkpoint on race day!

So put on those dancing shoes – the contest deadline is June 8th! Here are the details:

FOTOHUNT FRIDAY #2 – MAY 4, 2012

We challenge you to spot 6 differences between the original shot (above) and our slightly altered shot (below).  Share your answers in the comment section below! (Don’t worry, we’ll give you the answers next week.)

Couldn’t spot all the differences in Fotohunt Friday #1? Here you go!

One lucky (and talented) team will win free registration – AND a Gold RUSH Pass! For those of you new to the RUSH, a Gold RUSH Pass lets your team skip to the head of the lineup at any one checkpoint on event day. Yep, you heard us right! What could be better than that?!!

Stay tuned for all the details next week, but in the meantime, here’s a hint:

So what’s our #1 tip to prepare for the RUSH, starting now? Get used to taking the bus (and train, and seabus) – because you never know which part of town you’ll need to get to – and get to FAST!

The better you know Metro Vancouver’s transit system, the easier it will be for you to get around. You might be thinking, “I don’t need to  prepare for this, that’s what the Translink website and phone system are for. They’ll tell me how to get there.” And in theory, you’re correct.

But as any habitual transit-rider will know, it’s not as simple as finding the easiest or most obvious route from point A to point B. You need to know things like:

• Which buses tend to run late or get stuck in traffic
• Peak transit times in certain areas and when it’s better to take an alternate (though seemingly longer) route to avoid congestion
• When you’re better off taking a shorter bus ride and walking/running part of the way instead of waiting for multiple connections.

This stuff you’ve got to learn on your own, folks!

And don’t forget the second part of the transport equation – your legs! The better shape you’re in, the faster you’ll cover ground between buses and checkpoints, so start training now!

Ready… Set…. BUS!!!

If you’re a fan of the Hunger Games, you’ve probably wondered how you’d do if you found yourself  in a battle to the death against 23 of your peers. What would your strengths be? Would you be able to fight someone to the death? Would you form an alliance? And if so, what would you look for in an ally?

If you haven’t participated in the RUSH before, you might even be expecting it to be Hunger Games-esque, with challenges that test your survival skills and pit you against your peers. At least at the RUSH, you get a teammate right from the start – and who could be better than someone who has survived the Hunger Games?

We asked the Special Events team which character they would choose to team up with, and why. Here are their answers:

Marissa

Peeta – Two words: dream boat. Also, he might have cake!

Cecilia

Haymitch – Although he’s drunk most of the time, at the end of the day you know he still cares about you and has your back.

Sophie

Prim (in the 3^rd book) – With her knowledge of medicine she would be able to treat any injuries along the way, and she would be able to keep me calm like she does for Katniss.

Emily

Cinna – Because I want to look stylish when I die. And who doesn’t think Lenny Kravitz is cute?!

Chris

Seneca – He probably designed the course, and if he dies, I could choose anyone I wanted to take on a trip around the world!

Jessica

Finnick – He is loyal and trustworthy, and he could give me mouth-to-mouth any day!

Now it’s your turn! In the comments below, tell us which Hunger Games character (it can be any of them) you’d pick to be your RUSH teammate and why!

Thrill the World

Teams had to learn – and perform – 30 seconds of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” dance moves! Bonus points if you made a convincing zombie!

And in case you haven’t seen the dance before: