Protect the needs of cancer patients through health care reform

At the request of my friends at http://www.komenpolicy.org, I urge you to send the following to your U.S. Senators and Representative:

 

As your constituent and a strong advocate against cancer, I want you to ensure the needs of cancer patients and survivors are included as part of a final health care package as you debate health care reform this summer. 

 

Cancer patients and survivors have some of the most difficult experiences with our health care system, at a time in their lives when they are most vulnerable.

 

Federal and state programs that provide support to underserved people with cancer are dramatically underfunded, leading to huge gaps in access to treatment.  Even cancer patients with health insurance find that because of high cost sharing, annual and lifetime maximums, and other limitations, they may be exposed to extremely high out-of-pocket costs.  If a cancer patient has to cut back on hours or leave their job to undergo treatment, they often face the prospect of losing their health insurance.  And, cancer survivors face some of the largest hurdles for reentering the workforce or seeking private insurance, because they have a so-called preexisting condition.

 

To address these concerns, I am calling on you to support the following key priorities as part of health care legislation:

 

- Increase the investment in federal and state programs that provide cancer screening, treatment and patient navigation services for underserved populations.

 

- Protect cancer patients who have health insurance from excessive out-of-pocket costs that may lead to severe financial hardship and even bankruptcy.

 

- Ensure access to affordable, high-quality health insurance for all, including people with "pre-existing" conditions like cancer - so everyone can continue to have health insurance, even if they lose or change jobs.

 

- Enhance the quality and value of health care by focusing on prevention, wellness and chronic disease management.

 

- Address the chronic shortage of cancer care specialists, particularly in underserved areas.

 

Cancer costs the U.S. $228 billion each year in medical costs and lost productivity. It claims more than 565,000 lives each year and inflicts incalculable physical pain and emotional distress on cancer patients and their families.

 

We must take this opportunity to address the needs of cancer patients by making a strong investment in the fight against cancer.  This investment will provide a short-term stimulus the economy needs today, while building a foundation for a healthier, more productive workforce in the future.

Support HB 5 TX Smoke Free Legislation

Texas HB 5, supported by Komen Advocacy, is up for public debate next Tuesday, April 28. For a direct link to the introduced version of the bill, go here.

You can also get more information and sign a petition at http://www.smokefreetexas.org/.

Please support this legislation.  If you can't attend the hearing, contact the members of the State Affairs Committee and urge their support.  Below is the list:
Chair Burt Solomons (R) – Carrollton – http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/dist65/solomons.php


Vice Chair Jose Menendez (D) – San Antonio – http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/dist124/menendez.php

Representative Byron Cook (R) – Corsicana – http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/dist8/cook.php

Representative Tom Craddick (R) – Midland – http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/dist82/craddick.php

Representative Ray Farabee (D) – Wichita Falls – http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/dist82/craddick.php

Representative Pete Gallego (D) – Alpine – http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/dist74/gallego.php

Representative Pete Geren (R) – Fort Worth – http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/dist99/geren.php

Representative Patricia Harless (R) – Spring – http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/dist126/harless.php

Representative Harvey Hilderbran (R) – Kerrville – http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/dist53/hilderbran.php

Representative Delwin Jones (R) – Lubbock – http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/dist83/jones.php

Representative Eddie Lucio, III (D) – Brownsville – http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/dist38/lucio.php

Representative Diana Maldonado (D) – Round Rock – http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/dist52/maldonado.php

Representative Rene Oliveira (D) – Brownsville – http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/dist37/oliveira.php

Representative David Swinford (R) – Dumas – http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/dist87/swinford.php

Representative Sylvester Turner (D) – Houston – http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/dist139/turner.php

ALERT cancer bill

Have you heard of the 21st Century Cancer ALERT (Access to Lifesaving, Early Detection, Research and Treatment) Act (S.717)? This landmark cancer bill was introduced in the Senate last week and, if passed, will strengthen cancer research, emphasize early detection, and improve cancer care for underserved populations.

Members of Congress are heading home for recess this weekend, which means the real fight has just begun. Over the next two weeks our senators will lay out their legislative priorities for the year in their own states and we have a small window to make sure passing the ALERT Act is at the top of their lists.

Forty percent of Americans will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lives. 1.4 million new cases will be diagnosed this year alone. Cancer claimed more than 565,000 American lives in 2008 – that's 1,500 people a day!

Given these staggering numbers, we must renew our national commitment to ending suffering and death from cancer. That's why it's so important we seize this opportunity to turn our government's attention back to fighting this terrible disease.

I just signed the Komen Advocacy Alliance petition urging my senators to support this important bill. Will you join me?

It's easy to do, just click here and add your voice to the call: http://komenpolicy.org/campaign/cancer_alert_act

Thanks for your support!

Ask Congress to support the "Early" Act

My wife’s breast cancer was detected when she was 39.  I’m all about detecting breast cancer early.  There’s a bill pending before the U.S. Congress that will make a difference for those who have been diagnosed at an earlier age and increase the likelihood of early detection.  Please contact your Congressman about this bill.

 

Here is the email I just sent about this with the support of the Komen Advocacy Alliance:

 

“As your constituent and a strong advocate against breast cancer, I urge you to support the Breast Cancer Education and Awareness Requires Learning Young (EARLY) Act, which has just been introduced in the U.S. House by Representatives Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Sue Myrick. If you have already signed on as a co-sponsor, thank you! If not, please sign on as a co-sponsor.

 

Young women with breast cancer struggle with many issues that women who get breast cancer later in life may not face, including the onset of early menopause and infertility after diagnosis and treatment. And because diagnosing breast cancer in young women can be more difficult, these women often don't learn about their disease until it is in advanced stages and more life threatening.

 

The EARLY Act will address these unique concerns in three key ways:

* Public education. The bill will provide funding for an aggressive public education and media campaign targeting young women, with an emphasis on women under age 40 who are at higher risk due to their race, ethnicity or genetic heritage.

* Resources for health professionals. Through additional training, health care professionals will be more aware of the risk factors, the opportunities for genetic counseling and testing, and the unique challenges that face young women diagnosed with breast cancer.

* Support services. Younger women face additional strains including an increased impact on their dating lives, careers, and ability to have children.

 

 This bill will address these concerns by providing grants for support services for young women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. When breast cancer occurs in women under age 40, it is often detected at later stages, is more aggressive, and less responsive to hormone therapies. Despite these facts, there is a lack of awareness about the risks of breast cancer for young women and the unique challenges facing young women with breast cancer. When breast cancer is detected early, the five-year survival rate is 98 percent. But because many younger women are diagnosed at later stages with more aggressive breast cancer, their survival rate is lower. With increased awareness for genetic counseling and testing, early detection, and treatment, we can improve the odds. That is why I urge you strongly to co-sponsor this critical piece of legislation.”

 

Engage now in our fierce urgency to end this disease.

Thank you.

 

 

Using Twitter.com

You aren’t seeing a lot of posts here these days because I am exploring new uses for Twitter.com.

For someone like myself, Twittering is nothing more than “micro-blogging”, or blogging in short bursts.  The free service limits my posts to 140 characters, which is typically about 2 sentences.  Given all that I have going on, I’ve learned that 2 sentences is about my limit.

Some folks use Twitter to post what they are doing at that moment, even if it is mundane or just plain ordinary.  I see its uses differently, particularly for nonprofits like ours.  The “real world” for Komen Austin is that somewhere in our affiliate and community there are ALWAYS people working to end this disease.  That 24/7/365 awareness of our efforts is something our supporters should know about.  Together, we are all working and volunteering around the clock to end this disease, and a service like Twitter used to communicate what we are doing to that end serves a worthwhile purpose.  We are exceptionally determined.  That should give you some confidence about our ultimate success over this disease.

I confess that I do use Twitter to communicate personal events in my life, but it is with the hopes that our community and my friends and family get to know me a little better.  I also love to write (and an extrovert no doubt), and the service is satisfying that passion.

If you would like to “follow” (or just subscribe to my posts), you can find me on Twitter at this page.  You’ll see some of my personal life, but you’ll also see some concise links to some very important information about breast cancer.

Please join me!

New blog about chemobrain

Check out the blog Chemobrain by Ellen Clegg at the Boston Globe. To learn more about Ms. Clegg and her blog, click on the two “about” links on the left of the page. Also, check out the her entry with links to the latest research on chemobrain.

 

The light bulb turned on for me in 07 when a front page NYT article made a comparison of chemobrain to stage 1 Alzheimer’s.   The chemo we are using to fight this disease is doing awful things to the brain, and we absolutely must increase the research dollars to find alternative treatments.  That is where you come in.

 

 

Behind the scenes: Board of Directors

The Board meeting last evening was so important that I want to mention what we accomplished here. The Board passed: the Affiliate’s first strategic plan; the slate of grantees for 2009-2010; the annual budget for 2009-2010; a measure which will enhance the philanthropic culture of the Race; and, finally, a progressive leave policy for our staff that ensures that Komen Austin will continue to be one of the best employers in our community.  Of the now 4 years that I have been on the Board, no other meeting has so significantly impacted every person involved in ending this disease in our 5 county region.

 

I don’t have time this morning to set out in detail everything that was accomplished. (I am twittering more to get out our message, and my brain is starting to think in 140 character lengths! Join me on Twitter @noelke)  But, know that behind the scenes this Board  and staff are good stewards of your money and are highly motivated to end breast cancer.  We are constantly improving  and making our efforts at ending this disease more efficient and disciplined, and in that light I am so very honored to serve you with this group of Board and staff members.

 

We feel the fierce urgency of now to conquer this disease, and we will.

 

Komen Texas Lobby Day

Today our affiliate, along with our National office and all the Texas affiliates, are at the Texas Capitol being recognized by both the Texas House and Senate.  The resolution on the House side is HR 248, and  I will update this post when the Senate resolution has been filed.

 

Special thanks today go to Rep. Patrick Rose and Senator Jane Nelson for their support today.

 

We will have trained volunteers visiting elected officials and their staff throughout the day advocating for breast health issues.  This is “public policy” in action and is an extremely important part of what we at Komen do.

 

Breast Cancer Litigation

The husband of the late Genevieve Lupp won a $1.2 million medical malpractice malpractice suit last October.  Here is a press release (Villari, Brandes & Kline) on the case, a podcast in which one of the lawyers was interviewed and a Google search on Genevieve Lupp.
I don't practice this type of litigation, though I can caution anyone thinking about this sort of remedy that this outcome is indeed rare.  In addition, the case was in PA, and jurors and awards vary by geographical location. In any event, there are too many women who are misdiagnosed through no fault of there own, and seeking relief through the legal system is one tool available to their surviving families.

2009 brings Ride for Breast Cancer

Happy New Year to everyone!

 

I have great hopes for this year.  Among other great things (like the Race on November 1), we will be co-hosting a Bike Ride for Breast Cancer in October.  That seems so far away, but it really isn’t.

 

I was reminded about the bike ride this morning when I read Andrea Ball’s blog entry about her commitment to do the Hill Country Bike Ride for Aids for the first time.  In addition to encouraging you to make resolutions to read Andrea’s blog regularly and  participate in the Bike Ride for Aids, please add our October bike ride to the list.  David Smith is the Director for both rides. Make this a great year for fitness and plan ahead for October.

 

More on the bike ride in coming posts.  I am looking forward to it!

 

Cheers to a wonderful 2009!

 

 

 

Transitional housing now available

Austin's Susan G. Komen for the Cure and the American Housing Foundation team to provide free housing for low income patients during treatment

AUSTIN — Susan G. Komen for the Cure Austin Affiliate, the local non-profit of the international Susan G. Komen for the Cure organization, today announced a partnership with the American Housing Foundation (AHF) to find residential housing solutions for low income women while they are undergoing breast cancer treatment. The initiative, named the Transitional Housing Program, is the first of its kind.

In her role as Education and Outreach Director for the Komen Austin Affiliate, Mary Moore Cavanagh became acutely aware of housing issues encountered by breast cancer patients because of their inability to work while receiving medical care.  She noted that high medical co-payments or the loss of insurance sometimes forced low-income patients to choose between housing and medical treatment. 

Cavanagh enlisted Dawn Parsons, clinical manager of Shivers Cancer Programs/Seton Cancer Center, to screen families according to their living situation. Parsons identified families in critical need of homes during treatment.  Suzanne Wendt, regional director and Steve Sterquell, president of American Housing Foundation learned about the fledgling program and eagerly joined the effort, supplying 25 units from various Austin residential complexes. Patients will begin moving into their transitional homes over the next few weeks.  

"Cancer is physically and emotionally draining, and we hope the Transitional Housing Program will help to alleviate a portion of the burden by offering a solution to the patient's financial hardships," said Cavanagh. "After hours of chemotherapy and radiation, the last thing a woman should have to worry about is keeping a roof over her family's head."

"The American Housing Foundation is both honored and excited to lend a helping hand to these families as they undergo treatment in Austin," said Wendt. "The families have already been through a great deal of hardship and we can't wait for them to move in and enjoy a little extra comfort."

Austin is the first city to launch the Transitional Housing Program, and Komen Austin Affiliate plans to extend the program to other AHF and Komen affiliates in 2009. The program is one of many efforts the Komen Austin Affiliate is taking to impact the Central Texas community.

About Susan G. Komen for the Cure Austin Affiliate
Susan G. Komen for the Cure Austin Affiliate, founded in 1999, is a volunteer driven organization dedicated to fulfilling the Promise: To save lives and end breast cancer forever by empowering people, ensuring quality of care for all and energizing science to find the cures.  The Austin Affiliate credits its success to the many outstanding volunteers who share their energy, ideas, talents and enthusiasm in the fight against breast cancer.  For more information, visit www.komenaustin.org.

About American Housing Foundation
American Housing Foundation (AHF) was founded in 1989, as a Texas 501 (c) (3) non-profit corporation. AHF is one of the premiere organizations providing real and substantive solutions in workforce housing. Today, AHF owns and operates over 13,000 residential units, making them one of the nation's largest entities primarily dedicated to the workforce housing market. For more information, visit www.americanhousing.org.

Three days left to contribute to 2008 Race for the Cure

There are 3 days left - through Sunday Nov. 30 - in which you can still seek contributions for the 2008 Komen Austin Race for the Cure.  Please visit http://www.komenaustin.org/ or go to The Cure Happens Today to make a contribution to my team.
For my message to my team and the latest updates on our affiliate leadership performance, please visit our Google Sites wiki page.

Research on psychosocial factors

Here is a worthwhile article about research addressing the connection between the disparities in psychosocial factors that might cause breast cancer and biological consequences:  Cancer disparities:  A biological and psychosocial perspective.

 

From the article:

"The connection between psychosocial factors and biological consequences makes enormous intuitive sense, despite the fact that it turns the reigning biology-centric paradigm on its head," said Dr. Gehlert. "But when you get to know the women and the stress-generating neighborhoods they live in, it's hard to maintain the belief that a biomedical approach alone is going to provide a meaningful solution to the problem of understanding health disparities."

 

Thanks to our board member Juanita Salinas for sending me the link.  Juanita says that it may take years before we can benefit from this research on a local level, but at least there is good news that the issue is being studied.  I agree. And, the sooner we get the data from this kind of research the better.

 

 

Press on Facebook Fundraising

Boundless FUNDRAISING(TM) Helps Komen Race for the Cure Raise More Than $1 Million to Fight Breast Cancer

Charity Dynamics' Social Networking Application Helps Komen Austin Race for the Cure Reach Their $1 Million Goal

 

Last update: 11:45 a.m. EST Nov. 17, 2008

AUSTIN, Texas, Nov 17, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- In its first implementation, Charity Dynamics' Boundless Fundraising(TM) exceeded all expectations, helping Susan G. Komen for the Cure Austin Affiliate towards the $1 million fundraising goal set for the 2008 Komen Race for the Cure. Launched by the organization a mere 16 days prior to the event, the Boundless Fundraising social networking application was adopted by over 650 participants.

Susan G. Komen for the Cure Austin Affiliate ( www.komenaustin.org) implemented Boundless Fundraising(TM) as part of an integrated online strategy to support the 2008 Komen Austin Race for the Cure, a 5K race benefitting the fight against breast cancer. While the participants comprising the 1,000-plus teams involved in the event weren't required to raise funds, many of them did. Of this year's 21,000 participants, 21% were active fundraisers while, interestingly enough, 22% maintained an active Facebook account at the time.

Eager to tap into these social networking communities, Susan G. Komen for the Cure Austin Affiliate partnered with Charity Dynamics, a leading provider of online solutions for nonprofit organizations, to harness the power of Boundless Fundraising. The results were impressive. In just 16 days, 676 participants added the application. At 12%, team captains showed the highest adoption rate (in fact, statistics showed that the more participants trained, the more likely they were to add the app). What's more, Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure Austin Affiliate received more than 2,700 referrals from Facebook as a result of the Boundless Fundraising application.

Boundless Fundraising did more than spread through participants' networks, attract new constituents and help raise funds: It substantially improved the fundraising performance of its adopters. Participants who added Boundless Fundraising to their pages outperformed non-adopters by a whopping 595%, garnering more than three times as many donations, sending nearly 10 times as many emails, and achieving more of their goals by a 2:1 margin. While participants without Boundless Fundraising who updated their personal pages fared better than those who did not, both groups' performances fell short in comparison to those of Boundless Fundraising adopters.

For the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Austin Affiliate, the decision to implement Boundless Fundraising had a huge impact. "We couldn't be happier," said Executive Director Ramona Magid. "Our participants raised more, had more donors, and were more successful in reaching their goals. In fact, we've already covered the cost of having Boundless Fundraising for the entire year--in just two weeks! It's exciting to think about the potential for next year, when we launch Boundless Fundraising and the 2009 Komen Race for the Cure together." Komen Austin already plans to use boundless Fundraising for several upcoming fundraising initiatives for year end giving and Mother's Day.

The Susan G. Komen for the Cure Austin Affiliate isn't the only organization excited about Boundless Fundraising. "People are really buzzing about Boundless Fundraising," said Donna Wilkins, President of Charity Dynamics. "And for good reason. It leverages the fundamental framework of social networks, jumpstarting participation and helping strong supporters become even more successful. And it can be launched in a single day. With a fundraising tool this powerful, the sky really is the limit."

Boundless Fundraising(TM) ( www.boundlessfundraising.com) is a simple, effective application that empowers nonprofits to mobilize social networking communities in support of their causes. Leveraging the open APIs and technologies of Convio and Kintera, as well as popular social networking platforms such as Facebook and MySpace, Boundless Fundraising enables participants to seamlessly fold proven, easy-to-use online tools into their profile pages. As a result, they can encourage the people they know to donate and register while providing them with relevant, up-to-the-minute news feeds about initiatives--all without lifting a finger.

About Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure Austin Affiliate

Susan G. Komen for the Cure Austin Affiliate provides breast health services to women and men in Bastrop, Caldwell, Hays, Travis, and Williamson Counties. For more information, visit them on the Web at www.komenaustin.org or call 512-473-0900. Komen for the Cure is the world's largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists fighting to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all and energize science to find the cures.

About Charity Dynamics

Charity Dynamics provides comprehensive online solutions for nonprofit organizations. From strategy to implementation and beyond, Charity Dynamics partners with clients of all sizes to deliver the services, software, and support they need to meet their objectives. Clients include The ALS Association, American Cancer Society, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Operation Smile, and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

SOURCE: Charity Dynamics

Charity Dynamics 

Christine Anderson, 512-241-0561 

Marketing and Administrative Manager 

or 

Kathy Kempff, 512-241-0561, ext. 25 

 www.charitydynamics.com

 

Thank you Seton!

The Seton Family of Hospitals pulled out the stops this race season and put together a phenomenal group of 20 teams.  These teams have raised a combined $20,664 with a total of 350 participants and 675 gifts. This eclipsed their previous years' efforts.

On behalf of everyone at Komen Austin, I would like to extend our thanks to all the team captains, team members and donors to the Seton teams.  I would especially like to thank Ashton Cumberbatch, Vice Presidency of Advocacy and Community Relations, for his assistance in this year's Seton teams.

To learn more about Seton's positive impact in our community as a grantee, visit this page and scroll down to Seton Family of Hospitals.

Starting line

This was the scene as taken by our photographer Laurie Weaver on Sunday. We had almost 21,000 participants and, thanks to over 2,000 volunteers, have raised $1.3+ million!

Cancer genome decoded for first time

With all the post election and post race activity going on this week, it is important to not miss this piece of significant news:  an cancer patient’s entire genome has been decoded for the first time.

 

You can Google “cancer genome decoded” for more, or here is a link to a Reuters article.

 

The hope, of course, is that this will lead to a more individualized treatment.  One day we will look back on chemotherapy as barbarism, and it will be genome work like this that will lay the foundation for a more precise and less harmful way to obtain a cure.

 

========

 

Contribute now to our Race for the Cure team, The Cure Happens Today. I am taking donations through November 30. We aren't finished yet!

 

At the starting line this morning

Here was the scene this morning at the start of the timed race on the Ann Richards bridge. That's Governor Perry in the white shirt, Drill Sergeant Devora Curley to his left and board member Becky Kapes Osmon in front of the Govenor wearing the red shirt and cap.

I would like to thank the Governor for his support this morning. Mrs. Perry has also been supportive, as she is a regular speaker each October at our ceremony at the Capitol.

More on Drill Sargeant Curley and Becky in later posts.

Post race report

This picture says it all. This is the scene here at the Komen Austin headquarters. It was a very successful race. Final numbers won't be known for a while, but our indicators tell us to be optimistic.

Thank you to all our participants, donors, sponsors and volunteers. Thousands of women will benefit from our good work and deeds today.

Why I Race

Hi there! My name is Becky Kapes Osmon - I joined "The Cure Happens Today" team as a brand new Board member and I could not be more thrilled to support this fantastic organization! I'd like to share a little bit about why this race is so special to me...

First, I love this race because it's what got me hooked on running. I first ran the Race in 2001 with a friend who wanted a buddy to train for a 5k. I started training with her and was hooked. Since then, I've run 3 marathons and I'm training for my 4th in January. I'm running a 15 mile training run on Saturday November 1st this year, so if you're looking for me at this year's race you'll probably find me hobbling along towards the back.

Since I've started volunteering with Komen, I've had the opportunity to meet so many AMAZING people. This year I'm also running for them. I learned a neat trick while running next to a woman in the New York marathon a few years ago - she wore a large wrist band where she'd written the name of someone special next to each mile. Mile 1 for her Mom, mile 2 for her husband, and so on... I immediately fell in love with the idea and have been using it in my own races ever since.

This year, I'm running my miles for a just a few of the women I've met who continue to impress the heck out of me on a daily basis:


Mile 1 - I'm running for Nicki
Nicki's an incredible 24 year old woman who fought to get her diagnosis and is now fighting her way through treatment. She's started chemo but is still running or swimming almost every day (this idea certainly helps kick my sometimes lazy butt into gear!) and her blog where she's been sharing her experience is completely fantastic.

Mile 2 - I'm running for Ashley
Ashley's a fellow Board member who moved up her last chemo treatment so that she can be there on Race day. I don't know Ashley very well yet, but I can say that her emails about treatment have really been eye opening and I can't wait to watch (and help) her wage a war against this disease. If I were a pharmaceutical company right now, I'd be quaking in my boots.







Mile 3 - I'm running for Michelle
I don't know Michelle personally, but I attended a Michelle's Angel's Benefit at Stubb's earlier this year and was in tears after about 2 seconds of hearing her story. Michelle was mis-diagnosed for 2 years and has now been battling for 3 years since. Her group has raised over $50,000 towards the fight against breast cancer!

There's still time to sign up if you'd like to join the race. Hope to see you on November 2nd!

Eight years a survivor

I happened to be at the right place at the right time yesterday at Registration/Packet Pickup when Peg Neuhauser placed her 8th ribbon on her cap for her 8th year as a survivor. If you don't know Peg, stop off to meet her. She is a volunteer and serves as the Chair of the Teams Committee. She makes a whole lot of stuff go this time of year and is absolutely invaluable to the affiliate.

Registration and Packet Pickup are going smoothly. Come on down now and avoid the Saturday rush!

Behind the scenes: Judey Dozeto

One of the unsung heroes in our operation is Judey Dozeto. Judey volunteers by doing ALL of the graphics for our sponsorship brochures, race entry form, race poster, race T-Shirt, multiple advertisements, billboards, Power of Ten forms, race form for the web, race bibs, multiple banners and certificates. Whew! She does phenomenal work and is someone whose attitude is always, "Well, let me know what you need next."

When Judey went off on vacation earlier this month our whole operation nearly stopped.

Judey is a Marketing Director with Cap Metro here in town. She also has her own graphics company. Here she is on linkedin.com.

I can't say enough good things about Judey.

Here we are earlier this week at team packet pick up.

Thanks, Judey!

Teams to Watch: Michelle's Angels # 1

Our number 1 top fundraising team is our dear Michelle Bynum of Michelle's Angels. We can't say enough about Michelle.

Here is what she wrote last evening with the photo on the left:

As I sit here looking at the clock, knowing I should be asleep for tomorrow's "date with a drip"....I couldn't be more proud of my family and friends who have rallied behind me and "Michelle's Angels". The dedication to finding a cure to breast cancer is so heart warming. I'll be taking those thoughts to bed with me tonight. Thank you so much for fighting this fight along side of me and ensuring that my cancer is not wasted. I have attached a picture of Tiffany and me at Austin Komen's "packet head quarters". Take a look at this poster!!!!!!!

Much love,

Michelle

Mammogram...had one lately?

Laurie Weaver, one of our ace photographers, took this photo at the Bras over the Bridge event on Sunday.  The sign reads, "Mammogram...had one lately?"
Her shirt reads, "In Loving Memory of Ana Lisa 1969 - 2008".

Whether protesting this disease on Congress Avenue or participating in a team or making a donation, those of us involved have a story to tell. I don't know the story here, but I do know that Ana Lisa left us too young.

Teams to watch: Annette and Pat's Posse

This year our Honorary Race Chair is  Annette Clayton  from Dell.  She is the team leader of Annette and Pat’s Posse.  Annette  serves as vice president, Global Supply Chain and Fulfillment at Dell, our presenting sponsor.  In this role she is responsible for architecting and implementing the next evolution of Dell’s global supply chain and fulfillment model aimed at providing the lowest cost and best value of products for customers.  She has been a terrific supporter of Komen Austin, and we are delighted this year to honor her as our honorary chair.

 

Together Annette and Pat have put together a great crew of fundraisers.  They are already $260.00 away from reaching their goal of $7,750.00.  I’m sure they will surpass their goal.

 

I will have the pleasure Race morning around 7:00 a.m. to be introducing Annette and thanking her and Dell for their wonderful support.  Watch for us at the main stage.

 

 

A call to action: we need donations

This week our 6 year old daughter learned two important skills in life: how to ride a bike and how to raise money for her cause. She learned how to do both in about 30 minutes. Seriously.

Within minutes on her bike she had learned to steer and brake. She hasn't had a crash yet! Why was it so easy? Well, she wanted to ride very badly.

Yesterday I gave her a few tips about raising money for the Race before I took her door to door in our neighborhood asking for donations. Our agreement was that she would ask for donations and I would coach her by whispering in her ear if she needed help. In about 30 minutes she had raised $120! (Her goal was $100.) Why was it so easy? Well, she already understands her own story: that she was in her mother's womb when her mother was diagnosed with Stage III. She already knows that she went through chemo while she was still inside her mother. She already wants to end breast cancer very badly.

Raising money for Komen Austin is a lot like learning to ride a bike: if you want it, you really want it, you'll push your feet down on those pedals and you'll make the ask: "Would you like to make a donation to the Susan G. Komen Austin Affiliate Race for the Cure?"

And, once you have asked, you are steering and moving forward, all at once. You have learned, and you'll never forget how to do it. It's easy.

We need all of our volunteers and race participants to ride their bikes this week. Ask for donations. Ask your friends by using the Convio tools on your Race Center, send your friends an email or ask your friends in person. Remind yourself that you really, really want to end this disease.

The Cure happens today - for Ashley, Nicki and so many others - if you'll ride your bike. Today. Right now. This second.

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Participant Count

Our stats this morning on the Komen Austin web site show that we already have 10,970 participants and have $396,507.59 in donations.  That’s looking good to surpass last year’s figures.

 

Keep up the good work, everyone.  I’ve had a good sense about this year since last year’s race.  This one just feels like one where we are going to break some records.  Help me out and prove my hunch correct.

 

If you haven’t joined a team yet, join our Affiliate Leadership Team called  The Cure Happens Today.  Please do it today.  Right now.

 

Nicki's Blog

I would like to introduce you to Nicki, a Komen Austin supporter who starts chemo this week.  At age 24 and a grad student studying neuroscience at UCSD, she's got a lot to say and can teach us a lot.  And, like so many of the women who face and survive this disease, she is determined to get through it.

Here is a link to Nicki's Blog and another link to her Race for the Cure page.  And, here is what one of our board members, Becky Kapes Osmon, had to say recently after meeting with Nicki.

Nicki, like Ashley, Michelle and so many more, need a Cure for this disease today.  Yesterday we tried hard but didn't do it, and tomorrow is too far in the future.  Today is the day.

With Nicki in mind, join her in her Race for the Cure and help her find the Cure today.

Sponsor of the day: Austin's Pizza

I want to thank Austin's Pizza for donating 10 delicious pizzas to our hungry volunteers yesterday. I spoke with Dennis, the Manager at the 12th street store, and he was so supportive of our cause.

In order to put on such a huge event each year, we rely on countless restaurants to help feed our volunteers. Having delicious food like pizza from Austin's Pizza is a real morale boost and keeps everyone working and in a good mood.

Thank you Austin's Pizza for your support!

Raise money on Facebook

One of the strategic goals of our affiliate is to incorporate fundraising with our web 2.0 presence.  I am very please to announce that we are doing just that.  Now you can raise money for us on your Facebook page.

Thanks to Ramona’s efforts with Convio, Komen Austin is the test pilot for this exciting new way to fundraise.  The way you can learn about this is to access your Race Center by logging in to your account at http://www.komenaustin.org/.  You’ll see a link to the Facebook application when you login that will help you install.  What it does is place your Race thermometer on your Facebook profile page and immediately notify all of your friends that you are fundraising for Komen Austin.

I found installation to be very simple.

Please join us as we travel this new frontier.  We are out in front and would like you to help us raise money on the web.

Teams to Watch: Ambassadors for the Cure

Amelia Floyd is the team leader of Ambassadors for the Cure.  She’s got quite the team going.  As of noon today her team has raised $4,965.00.  She sent me the following message the other day in response to my posting about Valley View Elementary:

 

“Ambassadors for a Cure is a team comprised of family and friends from Bluebonnet Montessori School of Lakeway. As our school is small, only 52 families, I am proud of our 50 member+ team and that we are #3 in team fundraising.

About Bluebonnet Montessori School of Lakeway:
Located off Debba Drive in Lakeway, Bluebonnet Montessori enrolls students from Pre-K to 3rd Grade. The Bluebonnet community is dedicated to the creation of a nurturing environment that will ultimately provide children with an education for life, a joy of discovery, a love of learning, universal values and independence. “

 

As both of my children are Montessori taught (though at a different school), it is my pleasure to feature this great team.  Please support them and thank them for the dedication to our Promise of ending this disease.

 

Team Fundraisers

If you are having a team fundraiser and would like me to speak at your event, please let me know.  If I can’t make it, I will see if I can find someone else in our fine organization who will.

 

To notify me, just leave a comment by clicking on the envelope below.  All comments are prescreened, so your comment will not be published.  You can also call me on my cell at 512-468-1980.

 

Thank you.

 

George Noelke

 

 

 

Contribute now to our team, The Cure Happens Today, or register as a team member and join me in the Komen Austin Race for the Cure on Nov. 2.  We also have a team wiki. Visit komenaustin.org to learn more.

 

Teams to Watch: Valley View Elementary

I think it is so important that our public schools show support of our Promise to end this disease, and this year I am especially proud of the wonderful people at Eanes I.S.D. One of the teams to watch this year is Valley View, an elementary school in Eanes I.S.D.

The support of public education is critical because this setting is often the first place where our children learn about breast cancer. Most of our teachers are women, so it makes sense that schools as institutions would be sensitive to this issue. Unfortunately, too many of us with school aged children know of a teacher who is undergoing treatment or perhaps who hasn’t survived. And, there’s just no way around it – when a teacher becomes ill the impact upon their students is significant.

The fine folks at Eanes I.S.D. are terrific examples of public school support. From the teachers all the way up to the school board, this school district is behind this cause. My special thanks go to Renee Biermann, teacher at Valley View, Jennifer Dusek, Principal at Valley View, Nola Wellman, Eanes ISD Superintendent and Gail King, Vice President, Eanes I.S.D. School Board, for their terrific support  and leadership this year.  And, of course, my thanks go out to the many teachers and families who have joined the Valley View team.

And, if you have a school team please let me know. I would like to recognize you as well.