NOVEMBER 2016 |
|
|
|
|
Dear Friends,
In reflecting on the last few weeks, I have come to a heartening realization: a Komen October makes me feel a little more alive.
In joining our partners across the country to observe National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we – the volunteers and staff at Komen Central Virginia – traveled across our service area of 60 cities and counties meeting and connecting with many of you. We breathed in our beautiful state in autumn and joined together in groups big and small to celebrate the power of community in saving lives – lives like yours and mine – from breast cancer.
This past month, we honored our survivors, co-survivors, and the memories of those lost to the disease. We celebrated with you as we dined out for the cure, provided educators and resources to Worship in Pink, and cheered from the stands at high school and middle school Pink Outs. We danced at galas, served cupcakes and lemonade in Pinktober showrooms, and rallied our Komen family to support local organizations raising funds toward our mission.
And, there’s nothing that makes us feel more alive than making a difference.
Despite advances by the medical community and declining breast cancer death rates, a stubborn truth remains - more than 40,000 women and men are still dying of breast cancer every year in America. This is a number we have never been willing to accept, and one we hope to change with our new BOLD GOAL: to reduce the current number of breast cancer deaths in the U.S. by 50% in the next 10 years.
We believe we can do this – together. On behalf of Komen Central Virginia, we thank each organization and individual who joined us this October in support of our Bold Goal and mission to save lives by meeting the most critical needs in our community and investing in breakthrough research to prevent and cure breast cancer. You are heroes in this fight and ambassadors for our cause.
You are More Than Pink.
With gratitude,
|
Apple Blossom Mall Belk Charlottesville Belk Spotsylvania Mall Boar's Head Provisions Central VA American Poolplayers Association Chick-fil-A at Westchester Commons Chipotle Mexican Grill Colonial Webb County Of Caroline Social Services Staff Cyrus Kirkpatrick Pharmacy Deep Run High School Diamond Springs Dillard's Short Pump Town Center Dillard's Stony Point Fashion Park Dixie Gas & Oil Corporation Douglass Freeman High School GFWC Virginia Global Safety Textiles Goochland Professional Firefighters Hanover County Club Holman Middle School Home Team Grill Hughenot High School Women's Volleyball Justice for a Cure Inc. Kentuck Missionary Baptist Church
|
Lawson-Marriott Elementary School Lemaire at The Jefferson Hotel Linda Pace - Stella & Dot Manchester Moose Lodge McGeorge Toyota Melwood Horticultural Training Center, Inc. Miso Sweet NBC12 Om On Yoga Panera Priority Nissan Priority Toyota Priority Volkswagen Rachael Carson Middle School River City Charities Seredni Tire and Auto Center Shenandoah Valley Firefighters Shirley A. Leonard Foundation Staunton News Leader Summit Media Texas Roadhouse - Midlothian The Learning Experience University of Richmond Women's Soccer VSU Sista 2 Sista Inc. Wild Ginger |
|
|
|
|
New Targeted Therapies to Treat Metastatic Breast Cancer
During its most recent session earlier this year, Virginia’s General Assembly designated November as Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Month. In honor of this exciting new commitment to improving our understanding of advanced stage breast cancer across the state, we wanted to share more about Komen's efforts to save lives from metastatic breast cancer.
Metastatic breast cancer (also called stage IV or advanced breast cancer) is breast cancer that has spread beyond the breast to other organs in the body – most ofthen the bones, lungs, liver, or brain. There is currently no cure for metastatic breast cancer. More research is needed to understand how metastasis occurs in order to improve survival.
With the help of a grant from Susan G. Komen, Dr. Jessie Nedrow of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine is developing a new radiation-based targeted therapy that targets cancer cells and avoids normal cells and tissues. Dr. Nedrow believes focusing on a targeted radiation-based therapy will be more successful at treating primary and metastatic breast cancer cells.
This study is part of Susan G. Komen’s newly announced $33 million 2016 research grants portfolio, supporting Komen’s Bold Goal to cut the current number of breast cancer deaths in the U.S. by 50% in the next decade. Dr. Nedrow’s research is one of 38 grants funded through the 2016 Komen research portfolio that are focused on expanding our knowledge of how metastatic breast cancer spreads and how to prevent or cure it.
To learn more about metastatic breast cancer or emerging areas in metastatic breast cancer treatment, click here.
|
|
Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign is Underway
Calling all state employees who are friends of Komen Central Virginia! The Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign (CVC) is a voluntary state employee charitable giving program that raises funds for various nonprofits in Virginia - including Komen Central Virginia. The campaign runs from early October through December each year. Employees may designate their gift to a specific charity or multiple charities within the program, by giving a one-time donation or through payroll deduction. Click here for all the details. Please share with your state employee friends and family, and thank you for your continued support of Komen Central Virginia!
|
|
The Heart of Virginia Free Clinic “Breast Health Program” provides screening, education, and navigation for referral, treatment, and follow-up breast care for uninsured, low-income women ages 40-64 in the Piedmont Health District. Komen Central Virginia grant funding ensures that patients residing in the counties of Amelia, Buckingham, Charlotte, Cumberland, Lunenburg, Nottoway, and Prince Edward can receive a clinical breast exam at the clinic and referrals for necessary mammograms, further diagnostics, and treatment. In partnership with other local organizations, the clinic also presents breast health educational programs in the community.
For more information about the grant program, contact Pat Payne at 434-315-5701 or heartofvirginiafreeclinic@yahoo.com. For more information about the Heart of Virginia Free Clinic, click here.
To read about all of the community organizations that are currently providing breast health services or education with Komen Central Virginia funding, visit komencentralva.org/grants/current-grant-recipients/.
|
|
Get Involved
Make sure to check the list below for information about upcoming Komen activities and third party events and promotions. Click here for additional information about any of the events or promotions listed below. Click here to learn more about fundraising for Komen.
ONGOING LOCAL PARTNERSHIPS
|
Capital Clothing Recyclers - Clothing for the Cure: Capitol Clothing Recyclers will donate $.05 per pound of the gross receipts of donated clothing, shoes, textiles, blankets, sheets, and household items with a minimum donation of $10,000 per calendar year. To date, Capital Clothing Recyclers has donated over $31,000 to Komen Central Virginia.
|
|
Dixie Gas & Oil Corporation - Delivering for a Cure: For every gallon of propane dispensed from the specially painted tank trucks, Dixie Gas will donate one cent to Komen Central Virginia. Since 2010, Dixie Gas & Oil has donated more than $34,000 to Komen Central Virginia. |
|
Melwood Charity Car Donation Center: Donate your used car, van, truck, boat with a trailer, or recreational vehicle to the Central Virginia Affiliate of Susan G. Komen, seven days a week, 24 hours a day. It’s as easy as filling out our online donation form. Vehicles accepted in any condition! To date, Melwood Charity Car Donation Center has donated almost $25,000 to Komen Central Virginia.
|
|
AmazonSmile: Are you are an avid Amazon shopper? AmazonSmile is a simple and automatic way for you to support Komen Central Virginia every time you shop with Amazon, at no cost to you. The AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the purchase price from your eligible AmazonSmile purchases. All you have to do is shop Amazon from this link http://bit.ly/CentralVASmile.
|
ONGOING NATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS
|
Bank of America Pink Ribbon Banking: Bank of America serves as the National Presenting Sponsor of the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure® Series in the United States. Bank of America also supports Komen through its Pink Ribbon Banking Affinity products, which have raised over $7 million to date. Employees of Bank of America also support Komen across the country by volunteering in their local markets. Bank of America has been a Komen partner since 2009. Click here for more information on the Pink Ribbon Banking program.
|
|
Rally for the Cure®: Rally for the Cure® is a grassroots program that works to educate women about breast cancer and to remind them to get their annual screening through volunteer organized golf, tennis, and social activities. Since 1996, Rally events have generated over $77 million for Susan G. Komen®. Click here for a full list of local Rally events.
|
|
Wacoal Fit for the Cure®: Each year, Wacoal holds more than 1,000 Fit for the Cure® events across the United States. At these events, Wacoal offers complimentary bra fittings, and for each woman who participates, Wacoal donates $2 to Susan G. Komen®. Wacoal also donates $2 for every Wacoal or b.tempt’d bra or shapewear piece purchased at a Fit for the Cure® event. As part of this Fit for the Cure program, Wacoal has guaranteed a minimum donation of $250,000 to Komen in connection with Fit for the Cure and other events in 2016. Since 1999, Wacoal has donated more than $4 million to Komen. Click here for complete information on local Fit for the Cure events.
|
|
MORE THAN PINK ™ PARTNERS
The MORE THAN PINK™ movement, which kicked off in October 2016, is a series of initiatives that celebrate the heroes who have made a significant impact in the fight to end breast cancer.
The movement is supported by American Airlines, Bank of America, Condé Nast, Simon Property Group, and WWE, who together have raised more than $100 million on behalf of Komen since 1982.
Go to komencentralva.org |