Cabarrus County Relay 2011

Relay for Life in Cabarrus County was May 14-15 at J.M. Robinson High School. This year Focused on a Cure decided to partner with our friends at Logan’s Roadhouse to help raise money for relay. We had three tents and were surrounded by our survivor exhibit.

All of the Logan’s and FOC crew were excited to be apart of Relay. Logan’s sold cheeseburgers, hamburgers, chicken sandwiches and drinks. FOC had our T-shirts, purses, jewelry and Piggin Out for Pink tickets for sale. We were also selling raffle tickets for a $250 IP gift card and FOC basket of goodies.

This year's theme was Celebrate Another Birthday. Everyone's tents were decorated with birthday streamers, cakes, cupcakes, and party decor. We were all thankful to be celebrating another year of life for our cancer survivors.

Despite the morning rain, everyone was wet but enjoying raising money for Relay.

We had the opportunity to see some of our survivors in our FOC exhibit from years past. We love them all and always enjoy seeing them. Jennifer Powell, who works at Logan’s, was the keynote speaker for Relay this year. It was nice to see Jenn and celebrate her survivorship.

Relay also gave us the chance to meet other survivors and even recruit a few to be a part of our 2010 and future exhibits!

This year’s relay was cut short due to the bad storms in the area. We had a great time at Relay and really appreciated the efforts of our friends at Logan’s for helping us with our tent. We cannot wait to announce the total amount raised at Relay. To see all of the candids from this year’s relay please visit http://www.facebook.com/#%21/focusedonacure.

Focused on a Cure: Hope Lodge

It’s the time of year when we reflect on all the things we are thankful for. At the American Cancer Society, we’re thankful for Relay For Life participants like you who help us save lives and fight back against cancer!




Did you know your Relay efforts help cancer patients get well? Hope Lodge is one of many free American Cancer Society programs. Located near treatment centers, they provide a home away from home for patients and families going through cancer treatment.



Air Force veteran Bill Gregory was diagnosed with cancer in 2006, and discovered he needed Hope Lodge. “Doctors told me I could stay at the Hope Lodge for free while I was being treated, which was just miraculous since I had no money to pay for a hotel room,” Bill said. “I was kind of waffling on my desire to live through it when I found out about Hope Lodge. It removed a big excuse I had for giving up.” Bill is cancer-free today, but he still makes regular visits to Hope Lodge to help and encourage guests.



Hope Lodges supported by your Relay For Life provided more than 34,000 free lodging nights to people like Bill last year.



Thank you for saving lives and keep fighting back!



SOURCE: American Cancer Society

Focused on a Cure: Breast Cancer Myths and Truths

National Breast Cancer Awareness Month:

Do you know the truth about breast cancer?

Myths and Truths about Breast Cancer and Mammograms

MYTH: No one in my family has ever had breast cancer, so I don’t really need to be concerned.

TRUTH: Your risk is greater if a close relative has had breast cancer – but as many as 80 percent of breast cancers are diagnosed in women who do not have a family history of the disease.


MYTH: If I’m going to get breast cancer, there’s nothing I can do about it.

TRUTH: Yes, there are things you can do. While we still don’t how to prevent breast cancer, we do know that early detection can improve a woman’s chances of beating this disease. A mammogram can find a tumor much earlier than you or your doctor can feel it. When breast cancer is found early, while it is small and before it has spread, the chance of successful treatment is highest. Early detection also means that a woman’s chances for saving her breast are better because doctors may be able to remove the tumor and only a small area of nearby tissue. You can also take steps to reduce your risk of the disease, including maintaining a healthy weight, eating well, getting plenty of exercise, and limiting alcohol intake.


MYTH: These tests cost a lot, and I can’t afford a mammogram.

TRUTH: Medicare, Medicaid, and almost all insurance companies cover mammograms. Some low-cost mammogram programs are also available. These are often promoted during National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, every October. Some doctors, hospitals, or clinics may also lower their fees for women who cannot afford the usual charge. Also, the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program provides free or low-cost screening and follow-up treatment for low-income, uninsured, and underinsured women, with a high priority on reaching racial and ethnic minority women. Contact the American Cancer Society at 1-800-227-2345 to learn more about special low-cost programs in your community.



MYTH: Since mammograms are x-rays, the radiation could be dangerous.

TRUTH: In the past 20 years, both the equipment and how mammograms are done have greatly improved. Today, the level of radiation is very low and does not significantly raise a woman's risk of breast cancer.



MYTH: I heard mammograms hurt and can be embarrassing.

TRUTH: When you get a mammogram, you stand beside the machine and a specially trained technologist helps place your breast on a metal plate. A second plate made of plastic is placed on top, and for a few seconds, the top plate is pushed down and flattens the breast to get a good, clear picture. The technologist usually takes two pictures of each breast. Many women may feel some discomfort, but it is for a very short time. To reduce discomfort, try to avoid scheduling your mammogram during the week before or during your period, when your breasts are most tender. Tell the technologist if you have any pain.


MYTH: If I get a mammogram, I’m going to find breast cancer.

TRUTH: Only two to four mammograms out of every 1,000 will lead to a cancer diagnosis. Only about 10 percent of women need more tests. If a suspicious area is found, your doctor will order more tests. Another mammogram may be done, focusing more pictures on the area of concern. The doctor may also use a thin needle to remove fluid or a small amount of tissue from the suspicious area. This test is called a biopsy and it is the only way to know for sure whether or not the changes are caused by cancer. A specialist called a pathologist looks at the sample under a microscope. But even if you are told you need a biopsy, remember that more than 80 percent of lumps or suspicious areas will not be cancer.


MYTH: I’ve lived this long without getting breast cancer. Why should I bother with a mammogram?

TRUTH: Your risk of developing breast cancer increases as you get older. More than two out of every three breast cancers diagnosed each year occur in women older than 55. Even if you've been through menopause, you still need a mammogram.


SOURCE: American Cancer Society     www.Cancer.org  

For more information on how you can help create a world with less breast cancer and more birthdays, please call the American Cancer Society at 1-800-227-2345 or visit cancer.org.You can also join your local Relay For Life at www.RelayForLife.org/Cabarrus .


Focused on a Cure will be participating in the 2011 Cabarrus County Relay for Life.

Focused on a Cure: National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

National Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Join the Fight to Save Lives and Create More Birthdays

A simple fact: When breast cancer is found early, the five-year survival rate is 98 percent. Isn’t this something that all women need to know?

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and a perfect time for you to join the movement to help fight breast cancer, save lives, and create a world with more birthdays.

Every day, the American Cancer Society saves lives by helping people stay well and get well, by finding cures, and by fighting back. Two-time breast cancer survivor Mary Martinez of Houston, Texas, is one of thousands of women who are champions of the Society’s efforts to help people stay well by taking steps to reduce their risk of breast cancer and getting appropriate screening tests to find it early, when it is most treatable.

“Early detection and prevention have been the lifesaving grace for me,” Mary says. “I recommend them to every single woman who crosses my path. There is no one who escapes my question: ‘When was your last mammogram?’”

Stay Well: This year, an estimated 192,370 women in the United States will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer. Excluding cancers of the skin, breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in women. The best way we have today to find it early is for women to get a mammogram every year starting at age 40 and continuing for as long as you are in good health. In addition, there are steps you can take to help you stay well and reduce your risk of breast cancer, such as maintaining a healthy weight, staying active, and limiting the amount of alcohol you drink to no more than one drink per day (no more than two drinks per day for men).

Get Well: If you or a loved one is facing breast cancer, the American Cancer Society is in your corner to help guide you through every step of the cancer experience, so you can focus on getting well. The Society offers access to free services to overcome daily challenges like transportation and lodging when treatment is far from home, and can provide one-on-one support from breast cancer survivors who have been there.

Find Cures: Breast cancer is one of the major research focus areas for the American Cancer Society. In fact, the Society spends more on breast cancer research than on any other type of cancer, and has been a part of nearly every major breast cancer research breakthrough in recent history.

Fight Back: It’s easy to fight back against breast cancer. Consider participating in one of the American Cancer Society Making Strides Against Breast Cancer® events nationwide, speaking out to increase funding for programs that allow all women to have access to mammograms and treatment, or simply reminding the women in your life to get regular mammograms.

October is a month to celebrate the strides we’ve made in the fight against breast cancer and to continue to work toward a world with less breast cancer and more birthdays. Countless Americans who have never had breast cancer and more than 2 million who are surviving the disease will celebrate a birthday this year, thanks to the American Cancer Society and its many supporters.

You can help create a world with less breast cancer and more birthdays. For more information, call your American Cancer Society at 1-800-227-2345 or visit cancer.org/breastcancer. You can also join your local Relay For Life at www.RelayForLife.org/Cabarrus .

Source: American Cancer Society 1-800-227-2345

Focused on a Cure: Relay for Life Wrap Up Celebration

Last Thursday, Renda attended Cabarrus County's Relay for Life Wrap Up Celebration. Any teams that received an award at the closing ceremony were given their certificates and we're proud to share our two with you!

We won Best Decorated Campsite.... thanks to the creative talent of Renda! Remember she doesn't do anything without doing it 110% and it was fabulous!

And... we won Best Decorated Luminaria... thanks to Lauren Parsons! Remember Jackson, IP's Cutest Kid; this is his mommy. The luminaria was in honor of Jack's grandmother - Brenda Parsons! Thanks for being a part of our team, Lauren and Jack!

We're looking forward to next year's Relay already!

Focused on a Cure: American Cancer Society Caregiver Workshops

We learned of different resources that the American Cancer Society has to offer during one of the 2010 Relay for Life meetings. Caregiver workshops was one that stood out in my mind. We received this email recently and wanted to share it with those of you that may not receive ACS info.

Caregiver Telephone Workshops

The South Atlantic Division will continue its series of Caregiver Telephone Workshops in 2010-2011. The sessions are facilitated by Sean Powell, MSW, LCSW, OSW-C, Patient Advocate Program Manager and will feature several of our Patient Advocates as lead presenters for the various topics.

The workshops are designed to be informative and interactive, covering many topics to help caregivers cope with tasks and issues that come up at various points in the caregiving experience. No phone charges apply; and the workshops are offered at no charge to anyone caring for a loved one with cancer.

Dates & Registrations

A Caregiver Telephone Workshop will be offered each month. Upcoming workshop dates coming soon. There is no charge to participate in the call, but registration is required. People can register for the telephone workshops by calling 1-800-966-3586 or by visiting cancer.org/sacaregiverworkshops.

Schedule of Calls for 2010-2011

August 25, 2010 , 2:00 -3:30 PM: When Treatment Goals Turn From Cure Into Supportive Care - Facilitator: Julia Bucher, RN, PhD

September 2010: Maintaining Intimacy & Sexual Relations While Caregiving for a Spouse with Cancer - Facilitator: Melanie Moore, BSW

October 2010 : What You Need to Know About Social Security Benefits - Facilitator: Melissa Holmes, LMSW

November 2010: Childhood Lost: Supporting the Tween Caregiver to a Parent with Cancer - Facilitator: Jocelyn Curtis, PhD, LCSW, OSW-C

For more information on later sessions, feel free to call 1-800-ACS-2345.

Focused on a Cure: Relay for Life Cabarrus County 2010

Relay for Life in Cabarrus County was May 15th -16th. Cabarrus County was rawled up and raising money! Focused on a Cure had a huge tent that was donated by Tripp Reed of Thermafuse. It was decorated to a tee (of course!) by the one and only Renda Ayscue! We were surrounded in stories and portraits of breast cancer survivors by the renowned Karen Goforth of Irresistible Portraits! It was perfect!

We won "Best Decorated Campsite" as well as "Best Decorated Luminary!"

We had the opportunity to spend quality time with some of the survivors featured in Focused on a Cure's exhibit. They are dear to our heart and we're so glad they could be a part of Relay this year!

Relay also gave us the chance to meet other survivors and even recruit a few to be a part of our 2010 and future exhibits!

Our on-site fundraiser was $5 facebook profile pics by Irresistible Portraits! Here's a few of our favorites...

We had a blast and couldn't have asked for a better turnout! We sold tons of t-shirts, magnetic pink ribbon jewelry (by Melissa Mattox), purses, and facebook profile pics! To see all the candids AND facebook profile pics from our 2010 Relay for Life, go to our facebook fan page at www.facebook.com/focusedonacure!

We're looking forward to the wrap up celebration where they will announce how much Cabarrus County's final amount raised was! We'll keep you posted...

Focused on a Cure: Relay for Life Update

Relay is only 10 days away!! We are so ready for it! We've got our ideas for decorating our campsite. We've designed new t-shirts to sell. We're planning our on-site fundraising for the 24 hour event. We're ready!

We attended the last Relay meeting last Thursday at the Concord Library. Here's an update on the progress...

The goal for 2010 is $150,000. So far Relay has raised $58,000+.
The goal for the number of teams was 80 this year and there's 72 registered teams now!
So far there's about 800 registered participants.
The goal for the number of survivors walking in the survivor lap is 1500. So far there are 150 survivors registered. (THIS NEED SOME HELP! There are survivors everywhere in Cabarrus County. Why are only 150 registered?? You can attend just to walk the survivor lap if you'd like. No excuses, survivors!)

I wasn't able to catch all the sponsors' names but here's a few...
Cabarrus Arena and Events Center
CMC-NorthEast
Wal-Mart (Concord and Kannapolis)
Wayside Family Restaurant
Young Ford
Paragon
Bubbles by Brooke
Piedmont Shag Society
Southern Charm
WalGreens
Logans
Audio Ethics
Pender Realty
Sundrop
Cabarrus Hospice
Clearly Carolina
... and many more! Thanks to all those companies for making Relay such an awesome event every year!

Focused on a Cure's campsite will be located to the left when you enter the track. We're in "Turn 4" as Renda calls it! :) We'll be selling t-shirts, water, and other items. AND we'll be photographing facebook profile pics! Be sure to stop by our campsite... then again... YOU WON'T MISS US! You'll see what I mean...

Anyways... here's an overview of all the activities during the 24 hour relay. If you can't make it for the whole event, then you can choose when the best time to come will be. In our opinion, the whole thing is worth staying for!!

Schedule of Events

10:00 – 11:00 am Survivor Registration
Basket Raffle & Silent Auction Open

11:00 am Opening Ceremony
Welcome ~ Heather & Kim
Opening Prayer ~ John Kee
“National Anthem” ~ Trenton & Chloe Durham **They're on our TEAM!**

11:15 am Survivor Speaker / Caregiver ~ Gloria Howard

11:30 am SURVIVOR CEREMONY & LAP ***You'll never forget this after you see it!***
Led by Concord Pipe & Drum
Balloon Launch

11:40 – 12:20 pm Bethpage Choir

12 – 1 pm Survivor Lunch

1 – 4 pm Bubble Man ~ Kiddie Area

1:30 – 2 pm Concord K-9 Demonstration ~ Stage

2 – 4 pm Piedmont Shag Association ~ Padded area

2 – 3 pm Jr. & Mr. Relay Contest **SO MUCH FUN!!**

(2:00-Contestants to the Stage, 2:15-3:15-Flirting for Funds, 3:15 Judging, 4:00 Jr. & Mr. Relay Crowned)

4 – 6 pm Soundbarrier

5:30 – 6 pm Locks Of Love ~ Stage

6 – 8 pm Wii Tournament ~ Best Buy Campsite

6:15 – 7:15 pm Mother Mable & Mighty Mystics

6:30 – 7:30 pm Survivor Birthday Celebration

7:45 pm SURVIVOR LAP
Balloon Launch

9 – 9:30 pm LUMINARIA CEREMONY
Lighting of Luminarias

9:40 – 10 pm Maurice Brines

10:15 – 11:15 pm Mother Mable & Mighty Mystics

12am Basket Raffle & Silent Auction Bids Close

12 am Buffalo Wild Wing’s Wing Eating Contest ~ Stage

12 – 1:30am Karaoke **UT OH! RENDA will be on stage!!**

1 – 2 am Wii Tournament Finals ~ Best Buy Campsite

1:30 – 3 am Movie

3 – 6 am Quiet Time **YEAH RIGHT!**

6 am Breakfast ~ Gold Hall

6:30 am Tooty-Ta – Anne Scott

8 am Basket Raffle & Silent Auction Results **CROSS YOUR FINGERS!!**

9:30 - 10 Non-Denominational Church Service

11:00 FIGHT BACK CEREMONY

Please Please Please join our team if you haven't registered for one yet!! We'd love to have you!!!!

Everyone knows at least one survivor. Invite them to Relay with you! There's GREAT basket raffles, plenty of stuff to see, and it's such an inspiring event to be a part of. You won't regret it!

Relay for Life Meeting [03.04.10]

Renda and I attended the Relay for Life meeting last Thursday evening at CMC-Northeast. March is the month of colon cancer awareness. The ribbon color for colon cancer is blue, so everyone who attended the meeting who BLUE!

Here's a recap of fundraising to date:
Cabarrus County Relay for Life goal: $150,000
To date: $14,710.61
Team goal: 80 teams
To date: 51 teams
Survivor goals: 1,500 survivors
To date: 56 survivors

Slowly but surely, Cabarrus County is making progress!

There will be a station by the stage at Relay Cabarrus this year for Locks of Love donations. Anyone who wants to donate 6+ inches of hair can go there between 5:30 and 6pm. There will be stylists there to cut and style your hair!

There will be Car Cruise in downtown Kannapolis (Cannon Village)  on Saturday, March 13th at 4:30pm. Bring your old car or stop by to see all the cars. Southern Charm is a sponsor this year for Relay and they are allowing Relay teams to set up tables near their store to sell items and raise donations!!!

There are many other fundraisers approaching for Relay. You can keep an eye on them by visiting the Cabarrus Relay for Life website.

Pep Rally: Relay for Life Cabarrus 2010

Last Thursday, Renda and I attended the Spring Pep Rally for the Cabarrus Relay for Life 2010. The Big Game - Relay for Life vs. Cancer - will be held Saturday, May 15th, 11am to Sunday, May 16th, 11am at the Cabarrus Arena and Events Center. This year's theme is Relay University - "Go! Fight! Win! in 2010!"

In 2009, Cabarrus County raised $133,000 for the American Cancer Society. The goal for 2010 is $150,000! Another goal for 2010's Relay is to have 1,500 cancer survivors walk the Survivor lap (the first lap of the relay). Can you imagine 1,500 survivors in purple survivor shirts walking that special lap together? (goosebumps)

At the Pep rally, Kim Beecham, the co-chair for the 2010 Cabarrus Relay for Life, told her story of being a 3 year cancer survivor and having her mom as her caregiver. Renda and I were touched by her story and we wanted to share it with you. On August 31, 2006, Kim was diagnosed with lymphoma at the age of 25. She said her faith, family, and friends are what got her through the battle.

She mentioned her aunt that called her everyday from the day of diagnosis until the day she was "cancer-free." Even if her aunt only spoke to a nurse, she'd take note of the tests, diagnoses, and how Kim felt each day. She kept a diary of her day-to-day struggles and progresses. Kim has this diary of her battle with cancer, which is something that she can refer back to and see how strong she was. Kim said during her story, "Every day was a victory."

Kim pepped up the room full of team captains and members by her words. "Walk so that we can celebrate more birthdays." Her mother also spoke of participating in three years of UNCC Relays for Life. She said, "I thank God everytime I see her walk that survivor lap." (goosebumps and tears)

We want to thank Kim and her mother for sharing details of their battle with cancer. It's awesome to meet people who are as passionate as we are about fundraising to help research.

Rita from the Charlotte office of the American Cancer Society also joined us at the Pep Rally. She asked who in the room had referred cancer patients and their families to the American Cancer Society before. Only a few people in the room agreed that they had referred anyone to ACS in the past.

Rita proceeded to inform us of the numerous services and support that ACS can offer cancer patients, such as caregivers, survivor network, patient health insurance assistance, road to recovery, and many more! (I personally had no idea about all this! I just thought ACS was based around cancer research. Little did I know?!)

Road to Recovery is a transportation system where volunteers can help patients get to and from treatments and doctors' appointments. Many patients don't have family and friends locally for support, therefore, no transportation. ACS needs more Road to Recovery drivers. If you know of any church groups, retirees, etc. that might be interested, contact Rita at 1-800-ACS-2345. They also offer caregiver workshops for anyone who is interested as well.

I have to say after the pep rally, we're pumped. We've got some great ideas for fundraisers. We have high hopes for our campsite at Relay this year. We can't wait!

If you're interested in joining our Relay team, go to http://main.acsevents.org/goto/focusedonacure and click Join our Team! The more the merrier!

-Jessica

Relay for Life Wrap Up Celebration

Renda attended the 2009 Relay for Life Wrap up Celebration on behalf of our Focused on a Cure team - Digital Divas. The event summarized all the money that was raised by Cabarrus County and honored the teams involved.

The yummy thank you cake...

Relay was promoting other events that are coming up in the near future - Bark for Life, Making Strides, etc. You can find info about all those events at www.relayforlife.org.

Some teams won different awards, such as Best Rookie Team, Best Decorated Campsite (... which will be OURS next year...), Best On-Site Fundraiser, Last Tent Standing, Best Decorated Luminaria, etc.

"Thank you for helping us TAKE OUT cancer!!".... such a cute idea!

Cabarrus County's Relay for Life was such a success! We're looking forward to next year!

Relay For Life 2009

IP participated in the Relay for Life in Cabarrus County a couple weeks ago. As of March 8th, the day of the Relay, Cabarrus County had raised about $88,000. The goal for the event was $100,000. Throughout the night, they hosted different fundraising events, such as raffling gift baskets, a Mr. Relay pageant (where the guys collect as many donations as they can and the winner wins the title of Mr. Relay), and each team could host their own fundraiser at their tents. On the evening of the Relay, Cabarrus County collect $35,000 to add to the original donations... in one night!

IP had a tent at the Relay, where we showcased our 2008 Focused on a Cure survivor exhibit. We were able to talk to alot of other survivors and even recruit a few for our 2009 exhibit. Although all these survivors are fighting the same disease, every story has a unique trait that we want to share.

We're so excited about our 2009 exhibit and we have HUGE plans for this year's campaign. At this point, we can tell you to mark your calendar for Friday, August 28th! Other details will come soon!

Here's some candids from our Relay experience. Enjoy!