$10,000 Donation to NorthEast Foundation

Monday was the big day! We met at the entrance to the Breast Imaging Center at CMC-Copperfield to give the $10,000 check to the directors of the program. We had alot of support from some of our survivors and sponsors who attended and wore their FOC shirts!


Adam Cook, the director of the NE Foundation, started with a thank you and a brief update of the NE Foundation's success with their breast health program. He told us some very interesting facts and statistics about healthcare in our community - which has improved since the founding of the NE Foundation!

Here we are with our oversized check! $10,000 to the order of NorthEast Foundation!

Then we moved inside for a tour of the Breast Imaging Center. Paula Galvin showed us around and shared with us about the smallest details of the program. She mentioned that a lot of thought was put into the decor and feel of the lobby. They wanted women to feel like they were waiting in a spa atmosphere to reduce the stress and nerves while waiting. She shared about the "Be a Champion" campaign, where they train and inform mostly men about breast cancer and coping with it. Men can be such a huge part of their wife's battle against breast cancer.

Paula showed us around the facility and explained the process of being examined and consulting with your doctor, etc. She showed off their dressing rooms, where women wait to be taken in for their mammograms. Each dressing room has one of our survivors' prints in it with a successful story of breast cancer. There are journals in each room for women to write their thoughts and feelings, which is inspiring for the next woman to look through.

One thing that really stood out in our minds was a wall of information in the lobby. In the center is an image that the NE Foundation has used as their representation on all their breast cancer pieces. Notice the image is three young women of different races. Paula expressed how that image was strategically chosen because of the word they're trying to spread. You don't have to be older. You don't have to be unhealthy. Breast cancer affects everyone!

We appreciate Paula for taking the time to show us around. We really enjoyed the tour! Thank you to Meredith, Adam, and Paula for attending our event and supporting us along the way! We appreciate all of our sponsors and everyone who attended the event. This year was a success and we hope next year will be even bigger! What do you think we should set our goal at for next year - $15,000? $20,000? Thoughts?

Focused on a Cure isn't idle until then. We've got the Avon Walk fastly approaching in October. Relay for Life in May of 2010. And I'm sure find a few more in between!

Thanks for all your support!

Thank You

Dear Karen and IP Staff,

Thank you for your overwhelming support of women who have been touched by breast cancer! The Piggin' Out for Pink event was a wonderful tribute to breast cancer survivors. You made us each feel so special.

I am honored and humbled to be recognized this year as one of the survivors for your Focused on a Cure project. Please accept my heartfelt thanks for the compassion the staff demonstrated during the photo session. Participating in the project has been a truly heartwarming experience.

I wish IP much success as you continue to bring hope to the women of Cabarrus County through Focused on a Cure.

Fondly,
Jackie Linker

Carolina Plumbing Repair

A dear friend of Karen and Buddy's, Daryl Thomas, owns Carolina Plumbing Repair. His wife, Brooke, has been battling breast cancer recently. She has been through treatment and multiple reconstructive surgeries.

We had an anonymous $100 donation for Piggin Out for Pink and we decided to use it towards tickets for Daryl and Brooke. They attended the event and said they were very impressed with what we've accomplished.

Daryl approached Buddy last week to say that he feels very passionate about our cause because of Brooke's experience and he wants to help. Daryl has offered to donate 5% of Carolina Plumbing Repair's totals. They do residential plumbing repair. So next time you need a plumber, call Daryl at 704.933.6861. He has a huge heart and wants to help!

A Nice Surprise

Leigh stopped by yesterday to pick up portraits from her last family session and, while she was here, she gave us a nice surprise. She had written the sweetest message in a card, accompanied by some homemade cupcakes.

The handwritten message in the card read:

Karen, Renda, and the Irresistible Portraits Gang,

Focused on a Cure's Piggin' Out for Pink was such an awesome event. You have touched so many lives and really made a difference in our community. You have not only raised money for the Breast Health Program and increased community awareness, but you've offered the tremendous hope and encouragement by allowing breast cancer survivors to share their stories.

My family and I were so touched by how much thought and energy went into making the evening so special for everyone. My mom, sister, and I were so happy to be a part of the effort by sharing our stories in words and pictures. We were blown away by our special gift bags which included a copy of the image used in the show - so beautifully framed too. We will wear our t-shirts proudly, as well as our jewelry pins.

Thank you for our wonderful gifts and such royal treatment. Thank you for creating such a memorable evening. I will remember it fondly for a long time to come, as will my family and friends.

May God bless you richly,
Leigh Williams

Thank you for such kind words and the delicious treats! We appreciate you being a part of Focused on a Cure and sharing your story with others.

More Feedback...

We received a beautiful, colorful card with "Brilliant!" across the front. We opened it to a message of "Congratulations on a stellar achievement." Along with this message was a heartfelt note that read:

For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. -Ephesians 2:10


Buddy & Karen,

What an awesome event for breast health! It shows you that one person can truly make a difference. Kudos to all of your staff and volunteers. Their passion was palatable. I appreciated everyone's words and testimonies and loved what you said, Karen, about God telling you to share your blessings and truly that happened. How cool to give birth to such a benevolent event that could easily become an annual event that would be bigger and better each year! Thank for all the hard work. You have much to be proud of!

Love,
Renea



Hey Buddy & Karen,

Just wanted to let you know I though you did a great job Friday night. I was impressed and it's hard to impress me. I'd be glad to help next time!

Mark

Piggin' Out for Pink Feedback

We've gotten lots of great personal thank yous and notes from people who attended our first annual event. We wanted to share the feedback with you!

To all the "Pink Gang" at Focused on a Cure,

What an amazing evening you put together! It was professional and yet the heart you carry for the pain and loss these girls experience is amazing. Can't wait til next year!

Blessings,
Vicki Farina



Dear Karen and IP Staff,

We are still talking about the wonderful evening we had with you last Friday night! And, Renda is quite the gifted party-thrower. It was so thoughtful and generous of you to name the CMC-NorthEast Breast Health Program Campaign as the beneficiary to your dinner and fundraiser. Dinner was absolutely delicious and we so enjoyed the Survivor's stories and video presentation. We're very excited about this partnership!

Thank you again for your hospitality.

Warm Regards,
Adam Cook & Meredith Valentine
NorthEast Foundation
Carolinas Medical Center - NorthEast

"A Proud Mother"

Everytime I look through the images from our Piggin' Out for Pink event, I see something new that touches my heart. I see great people that came to support the cause. I see incredibly brave breast cancer survivors (women and one man) that were there to give back. It seems like, if you're a breast cancer survivor, you automatically bond with other survivors - knowing what each has gone through.

When we started this as a team, we decided if we were going to do this at all, we had to do it right! I think we did it right! Not too shabby for the first try!

I was blown away by the staff of IP. I knew they were good, but they went above and beyond for this cause. They are so caring and passionate about what they want to achieve. They cared as much as anyone could possibly ask for. I am so proud of them! Do I sound like a proud mother?