Board of Directors

President:Gina Kravitz Vice President:Susan G. Hoover, M.D. Treasurer:Thomas Whiteman, CPAGrant Chair:Cassandra MontesStrategic Planning/Fund DevelopmentChair/South Counties:Harriet MaltzEducation Chair:Mary OstienPublic Relations & Marketing Chair:Jan LuongoPublic Policy Chair:Julia HarrisRace Chair:Susan MaxwellNewsletter Chair:Brenda LittleMembers At Large:Sherry BrewerElisabeth L. Dupont, MD Ilene Fox Frances Lambert Pat Meehan

3

2007-2008 GRANT RECIPIENTSHillsborough CountyThe Witness ProjectH. Lee Mo� tt Cancer Center/ Community Education & Outreach

Lifetime Cancer Screening & Prevention Mobile Mammography & Education

Project REACHSt. Joseph’s Women’s Hospital

Promoting Breast Health Among Haitian Women, H. Lee Mo� tt Cancer Center & Research Institute

Pinellas CountyMammography Voucher Program

Breast Cancer Navigator, Morton Plant Mease

Breast Cancer Advocate Project, St. Petersburg Prostate Cancer Awareness Group

Breast Health Navigator Project, Suncoast Health Council

Minority Breast Health and Cancer Education, Willa Carson Health Resource Center

Treatment Support Project, Suncoast Health Council

Pasco CountyHealthy Women Today Screening ProgramPasco County Health Department

Farmworker Women’s Breast Cancer Education and Early Detection InitiativeFarmworker’s Self Help Organization

Good Samaritan Health Clinic of Pasco, Inc.

Manatee CountyMammography Voucher Program, Manatee County Health Department

Breast Health and Wellness in Manatee, Wellness Community of Southwest Florida, Inc.

Sarasota CountyScreening Underserved Minority Women, Sarasota Memorial Healthcare System

Newtown Breast Cancer Awareness Project, Gulf Coast South Area Health Clinic Center

Be Smart Mammogram, South County Community Clinic of Sarasota County Health Department

Breast Cancer Education and Screening Project, Sr. Friendship Center

2007-2008 GRANT RECIPIENTS KNOWLEDGE IS EMPOWERMENT

Grantee Spotlightby Danielle and Sherre Kozloff

The Farmworker Women’s Breast Cancer Education and Early Detection Initiative began seven years ago and is a part of the Farmworker’s Self Help organization. The organization was incorporated in 1982 in Dade City, Florida, but grew out of community work on the north side of Tampa. English teacher Margarita Romo was part of this movement towards changing opinions in the treatment of Hispanic farm workers. Romo says they are a “community coming together and making decisions for themselves. Even today there are very few Hispanics who are vocal.” In addition to educating women to care for themselves, the organization offers immigration processing, school tutoring and summer camp for children, food, clothing, transitional housing, health care, transportation, and translation services for those in need.

The organization’s health clinic was founded in 1994, offering everything from diabetes testing and care to the screening and prevention of hypertension, pesticide poisoning and breast cancer. Through their partnership with the Komen organization, the Farmworker Breast Cancer Initiative offers screening and diagnostic mammograms at East Pasco Hospital for women aged 40 to 50. The Moffi tt Cancer Center’s mammogram bus checks women over the age of 50, while women under the age of 40

are referred to the health department by the clinic’s volunteer doctor, Dr. Reed. To date, only seventeen women have had to undergo a second mammogram because of something suspicious appearing on the fi rst one. None have needed to have biopsies, and no one has been diagnosed with breast cancer. One of those who had a second test was Amelia Cardenas, who works with women through the Initiative.

Along with providing mammograms, the Initiative educates women on the importance of breast cancer screening. According to Cardenas, Mexican women are taught not to touch themselves, so they need to be taught to check for lumps. Classes teach the women how to palpate the breast and what to do if they fi nd a lump. This education is so important because, as Romo says “we are programmed to work until we die. We need to be educated to be empowered.” This organization has made a huge impact on the Hispanic population in Dade City by teaching, informing, and empowering.

Amelia

Cardenas -

Farmworker’s

Self Help

Organization

In March, hundreds of people in our community who attended the Florida Suncoast Affi liate’s Build for the Cure® in Sarasotacompleted petitions asking congress to formally reauthorize NBCCEDP, an important program providing for early detection that has screened over 2.6 million women nationwide. By the end of March, congress passed this important legislation with a potential funding level of $225 million, and President Bush signed it into law in April. Now that the law allows continuation of the program, funding must be approved as part of the budget.

Champions work with other policymakers

at the state level and are currently identifying issues that may need attention and potential assistance from the Florida Legislature. If you are aware of breast cancer issues that may need the attention of policymakers at the national or state level, you are encouraged to contact the Suncoast Affi liate. To become a Komen Champion or to learn about the issues, visit www.komen.org and select Public Policy.

To volunteer to help with Champions locally or to learn more, contact the toll-free help line: 1-877-506-6927

Komen Championscontinued from page 2

Non-profi tOrganizationU.S. Postage

PAIDSt. Petersburg, FL

Permit No. 547

Florida Suncoast A� liate of the

Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Fnd

P. O. Box 12848

St. Petersburg, FL 33733-2848

Staff

Executive Director:Lynn RasysCommunity Outreach Coordinator:Lauren Groves

Newsletter Staff

Copy Editor:Diane KornickDesigner:Deena KempWriters:Katie ChristianRob EschenfelderDanielle KozloffSherre KozloffTammi Peterson

Send Editorial Comments to:Lynn Rasys, Executive Director PO Box 12848St. Petersburg, FL 33733info@komensuncoast.com

SUNC AST PROMISET H E

Chris, Carolyn and Kevin Coward

2007 Susan G. Komen Florida Suncoast Race for the Cure® Updates

FALL 2007 VOLUME 2/ISSUE 3

Inside This Issue...Komen Champions 2 Survivor Spotlight 4

Calling All Volunteers 2 Volunteer Spotlight 4

Grantee Spotlight 3 Komen Events 6

Grant Recipients 3

By: Rob Eschenfelder

FALL 2007 VOLUME 2/ISSUE 3

SUNC AST PROMISET H E

It seems only a short time ago that the Florida Suncoast Affi liate held its fi rst Komen Race for the Cure.

Yet here we are only months away from our 9th Annual Race, which will again run along beautiful downtown St. Petersburg’s waterfront! Over the years, the Race, like the Affi liate, has grown in size, with last year’s attendance hitting 12,000. For 2007, the Affi liate’s volunteer Race Committee has set a goal of 14,000 registrants and $1 million raised. While those of you who have participated in the Race in the past will fi nd many familiar features, we want to let you know about several new and exciting aspects of the Race.

First and foremost, for those of you who haven’t yet heard, Komen has changed its look and message, while remaining steadfast in its promise to battle breast

cancer. To go along with this change, the logo of the Race, which for many years has been the familiar “running girl,” has been retired. The new Race logo will tie more closely to the Komen Organization’s stylized ribbon logo seen

in these pages, though presented on the t-shirts in a manner which clearly distinguishes our Race event. We have already had tremendous registration response from our long-time supporters wanting to be among the fi rst to get a fi rst-

continued on page 5

Carolyn Coward’s endurance

and love throughout her battle

with breast cancer remain an

inspiration. On March 1, 2007,

Carolyn died of complications

from breast cancer. She was 36.

“While Carolyn wanted

nothing more than to survive,

she did not make the act of

surviving her life,” says Kevin

Coward, Carolyn’s husband.

Carolyn was fi rst diagnosed

with breast cancer in 1999 when

she and Kevin were dating. On

May 13, 2000, Carolyn and Kevin

were married. A few days later,

while honeymooning in Italy,

they received the Sposi Novelli,

the newlyweds’ blessing, from

Pope John Paul II. When they

met the Pope, Carolyn had hair

extensions due to her cancer

treatment and had to keep

gluing them back on because of

the heat.continued on page 5

By: Katie Christian

2007 Honorary Race Chair - An Inspiration to Others

komensuncoast.org • 877-506-6927 • PO Box 12848 St. Petersburg, FL 33733komensuncoast.org • 877-506-6927 • PO Box 12848 St. Petersburg, FL 33733komensuncoast.org • 877-506-6927 • PO Box 12848 St. Petersburg, FL 33733

vision: A world without breast cancer.

promise: The Susan G. Komen for the Cure Promise: To save lives and end breast cancer forever by empowering people, ensuring quality of care for all and energizing science to fi nd the cures.

events

Save the Date!

March 20, 2008

Komen Lunch for the Cure®

Sarasota Ritz-Carlton

Keynote Speaker: Rene Syler

Author of Good Enough Mother

September 15 Sirens of the Golden Sabre Think Pink benefi t dinner, dance and silent auction at TECO Plaza, 7-11 p.m. 100% of net proceeds will benefi t the Florida Suncoast A� liate. For tickets or more information go to www.sirenskrewe.org October 5

First Friday Gallery Walk, Palm Avenue, Sarasota October 6

9th Annual Komen FL Suncoast Race for the Cure®, Vinoy Park, St. Petersburg

October 14 Coldwater Creek Fashion Show 4-6

(Lakeside Village, Lakeland; Brandon Town Center; International Plaza, Tampa) October 19-21

Tampa Bay 3-Day Breast Cancer Walk October 20

Cut-a-thon, Che Bella Aveda Lifestyle Salon and Spa, Lakewood Ranch October 23

USF Bulls vs University of North FL Volleyball, “Dig for the Cure”, 7pm, USF Sun Dome October Fit for the Cure®

(go to www.komensuncoast.org News and Events for listing of dates and locations)

NEW!! Tinkled Pink Sponsorship for $100.00. Decorate one of 50 port-a-potties at the Race for the Cure® and advertise your organization or company.

Decorating times: October 5th from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., judging to follow. Go to www.komensuncoast.org to download the Tinkled Pink registration form.

Komen Champions for the Cure® is a grassroots advocacy program that educates Congress, the administration, state legislators and other decision makers about breast cancer through community involvement. One of the top priorities for Komen Champions in 2007 is to address the issue of disparities that currently plague the health care system in the United States. Komen Champions are working to “close the gaps” to ensure that everyone facing a breast cancer diagnosis has access to the best possible care, regardless of race, age or socioeconomic status.

As part of this program, local Champions Lynn Rasys, Komen Florida SuncoastExecutive Director, and Julia Harris, Komen Florida Suncoast Public Policy Chair, represented the Florida Suncoast Affi liate. They joined 132 other Komen activists from across the country who traveled to Washington, D.C., in April to spotlight breast cancer issues in our country. While in D.C., Champions visited more than 400 congressional offi ces to further educate decision makers and request assistance to help close the gaps in access to breast cancer screening, treatment and research by taking action to ensure:

Equal access to Medicaid-funded treatment for low-income, uninsured, and underinsured women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer, regardless of where a woman was screened for breast cancer.Funding at the authorized level of $225 million for FY08 through the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP), providing for continued breast cancer screening.Funding of $5.8 billion for FY08 for the National Cancer Institute. At a minimum, we request that Congress appropriate $5.1 billion for the NCI, a 6.7% increase over last year.

2

CLOSING THE GAP

Funding of $15 million for the Patient Navigator program in FY08, as authorized by the Patient Navigator Outreach and Chronic Disease Prevention Act of 2005. This program has yet to receive funding and would help patients receive the treatment their doctors recommend.

Our local Champions visited with the following members of Congress or their staff: Senator Bill Nelson, Congressman Bill Young, Congresswoman Ginny Brown-Waite, Congresswoman Kathy Castor, Congressman Gus Bilirakis, and Congressman Vern Buchanan. Efforts to educate decision makers on the issues were welcomed and well received, but our work does not end in Washington; it continues throughout the year in our community. Local Champions are needed to convey to congress and other policymakers that breast cancer is a national priority, with research, education, screening and treatment needs locally.

Congress is considering legislation on several issues which, if passed, could help breast cancer patients. Komen Champions are notifi ed of updates on breast cancer issues and receive action alerts when they are needed to contact congress or other policymakers about important breast cancer issues.

Throughout the year, Komen Champions will conduct petition drives at events, asking for your support on timely issues like extending the Breast Cancer Research Stamp, a successful program which has raised over $53 million for research. As of June, Senator Mel Martinez and Congresswoman Kathy Castor have co-sponsored legislation to extend the stamp, but additional support is needed. Unless congress acts by year-end, the stamp will no longer be available to raise money for breast cancer research.

Komen Champions work to ensure quality care for everyone by Julia Harris

Offi ce Volunteers - Multiple part-time volunteers needed to help in the new Florida Suncoast Affi liate offi ce. A variety of skills needed including data entry, correspondence, answering phones, fi ling and more. Location: 1099 5th Avenue N., St.Petersburg (next door to St. Anthony’s hospital)

Komen Ambassadors - one lead ambassador in the following counties: Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas and Polk - to coordinate volunteers at county events such as health fairs or fundraisers.

Lead Positions in Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas and Polk Counties:Rally for the Cure® (golf)BMW Ultimate Drive®

Fundraising eventsEducation/ health fairsNewsletterChampions for the Cure™

Race Volunteers – Multiple volunteers needed for a multitude of tasks the day of the Race for the Cure, October 6, 2007. Please sign up at www.komensuncoast.org

Calling All Volunteers

continued on page 3

Support the Komen CauseThe simple act of writing a check could quite literally save someone’s life. Any contribution helps us continue our quest in the fi ght against breast cancer.

To make a donation, visit www.komensuncoast.org

HEART OF A CHAMPION

her experiences, she said she enjoyed meeting many wonderful people with the same goal who became lifetime friends.

Chris Swanson is an extraordinary woman who is extremely self-motivated, optimistic, compassionate, and incredibly hardworking. The Susan G. Komen for the Cure Affi liate in Durham, North Carolina will be gaining a true champion.

Chris Swanson is an extraordinary woman with a deep ambition: to fi ght breast cancer.

Five years ago, Chris’s life changed forever when two of her friends/coworkers around her age were diagnosed with breast cancer. Feelings of helplessness quickly turned into determination to fi ght breast cancer, and Chris decided to walk the Komen Florida Suncoast Race for the Cure® in honor of her friends and her mother, who’s also a breast cancer survivor. The following winter Chris began her journey with Susan G. Komen for the Cure as a valuable team member and dedicated volunteer.

In the past fi ve years, Chris has held several positions with the Affi liate, including race distribution chair and team chair, and she has worked extensively in special events. Her numerous tasks have included recruiting participants, distributing registration packets

to fi ve counties, assisting with computer registration, coordinating race day events, and helping with special events, including the VIP celebration. Chris has served as a noteworthy mentor to new chair members, offering guidance and assisting in the development of new ideas and goals. After her fi rst walk, Chris created a team of her own for the Race, and ever since then she has served as team captain. Last year the team had almost 35 members, and this year Chris is hoping to have a team of 50 participants.

Chris is extremely humble about her accomplishments, but she is a true champion for taking on an enormous amount of responsibility while also dedicating time to her family, work, and coaching the Tampa Bay Swim Team. Sadly for the Suncoast Affi liate, Chris will be relocating to North Carolina within the year. When asked what she has enjoyed most about

Volunteer Spotlight

BREAST FRIENDS

4

by Tammi Peterson

Survivor Spotlight by Danielle and Sherre Kozloff

Mona Greenbaum, a seven-and-one-half-year survivor of ductile carcinoma in situ (DCIS), has always been proactive about having annual mammograms because her mother had breast cancer. Shortly after treatment (mastectomy and reconstruction), Mona joined the North Tampa Breast Cancer Support Group. It was during those monthly meetings that she “made bonding friendships,” she said. From these friendships has grown a group that meets each year for the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure® and includes three women from Fort Myers – Joyce Carden, Lynne Reinas, and Sandy Jepson. The survivors, frequently accompanied by family members, make the Race a weekend event, beginning with dinner on Friday and ending with brunch on Sunday. The women also participate in the Making Strides and Relay for Life races.

Each year’s Komen Race for the Cure brings a memorable event for the group. Last year, Sandy Jepson placed in her age group (60+). Another year, the group formed a team

and won “most spirited” for wearing pink boas, pink socks, and oversized sunglasses while carrying pink banners. At another race, one of the “sisters,” Linda Palmer, won a plaque for raising the most money for a team. The group even appeared in the Komen calendar for the month of November one year. Daughters frequently join, and Mona has been accompanied in years past by her daughters Stephanie, 24, and Lauren, 28. Mona says there is a “tremendous bond between us,” and the women have a good time supporting a good cause.

In addition to her Komen Race buddies, Mona has fi ve breast cancer survivor friends who call themselves “Breast Friends.” The Breast Friends meet every Sunday, rain or shine, hot or cold, and walk

approximately four miles in West Chase. The Breast Friends group is one of the really good things that Mona says has come out

of her breast cancer diagnosis. The group includes Mona, Ann Boyntin, Liz Price, and Dawn Juliano. On Sunday morning walks, “we always laugh that if it weren’t for breast cancer, we wouldn’t be friends.”

Long time

Komen FL

Suncoast

a) liate

volunteer,

Chris

Swanson.

Mona Greenbaum and fellow survivor teammates

at the 2006 Komen Race for the Cure

your family and friends now and come join yet another record crowd on October 6 as we again run the Komen Race for the Cure!

your family and friends now and come join yet another record crowd on October 6 as we again run the Komen Race for the Cure!

5

year example of the newly styled Race shirt.Our Race Committee wants you to know

that it has made getting that shirt even easier for those who register for the Race before the September early-bird cut off date. As Race veterans know, we have had a “packet pick up” event, usually at area malls, where those who had pre-registered would go to pick up their Race packets. Packets could be mailed, but only at a signifi cant extra charge. We are happy to announce that this year, for the fi rst time, every registrant, either individual or team member, who registers early will have their entire Race packet mailed to them FREE OF CHARGE! As a result of this change, we will no longer be doing mall-based packet pick up, though we will still have mall-based registration at Westshore and Tyrone malls on the weekend before the Race. We hope this change is welcomed by our runners and other guests who often have busy schedules and who have, over the years, asked us to make this move. For more details on the Race’s registration and packet pick up process, please visit our web site – www.komensuncoast.org.

This year’s registrants will also see some new individual donation opportunities. We have retired our VIP level of registration, as our guests have indicated they wanted to know more specifi cally where their extra generous contributions would go. This year, we have launched two exciting new registration donation categories: Gardens for the Cure®

and BAM! In partnership with the City of St. Petersburg, the Affi liate will, over the years, transform a portion of Northshore Park along the City’s waterfront into a tribute Garden to Komen’s mission and to those women and men who have worked so hard to achieve it. Every donation to the Gardens fund will result in the provision of a pink-themed landscape plan which will be built out over several years. Thanks to the generosity of landscapers and other donors, a majority of these donations will be put toward the Affi liate’s annual grant awards.

The other new donation program this year is called BAM!, short for Buy a Mammogram. We have set the donation level of this program at a level which realistically refl ects the cost associated with a mammogram that our Affi liate will be able to fund for a woman in need in our community. It is clear that the mammogram remains

among the best, most accessible and effective screening tools women can use to detect breast cancer before it’s too late. And there can be no more direct way your extra donation can help our Affi liate...YOUR Affi liate...perform its local mission than by your generous participation in BAM! Your extra donation to this program may be the act that saves the life of a woman right here in our Affi liate service area.

These are just a few of the exciting changes to our Race you can expect this year. Whether you have never registered for a Race before or have been to every Race since the beginning, we encourage you to register yourself and all

2007 Komen Race for the Cure Updates continued from cover

Honorary Race Chaircontinued from cover

over $3,000.

“I was shocked and overwhelmed.

I’ll never forget the students’ generosity

and kindness,” says Kevin.

Friends and family remember

Carolyn’s big smile, her enthusiasm,

outgoing personality, her parties,

and her wonderful home cooking.

Even when she was too ill to work,

Carolyn showered others with love and

aA ection. With only a few weeks to

live, Carolyn baked cupcakes for her

son, Chris, to take to school the day he

turned four. The last words she ever

spoke to Chris and Kevin were, “My

boys, I will always love my boys.”

Carolyn had been asked to serve

as the Honorary Chair for this year’s

Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure

in October. Kevin has accepted the

invitation to serve as the Honorary

Chair in Carolyn’s place.

“From the summer of 2005 to her

death in March, Carolyn rarely had a

day where she felt good. She suA ered

horribly from the side eA ects of the

multiple chemos and the clinical trial.

Though she suA ered terribly, she chose

to work at what made her happy. She

chose to live, educate, love and be

loved. I hope to communicate that fact

in October,” said Kevin.

“She never let cancer get in the way

of any of our hopes and dreams,” says

Kevin.

Carolyn taught students with

disabilities at Lecanto High School,

earning the love and respect of students

and coworkers alike. After being re-

diagnosed with cancer in the summer

of 2005, Carolyn was voted Teacher of

the Year. In January 2005, Carolyn was

promoted to ESE curriculum specialist

at the district o� ce. In the midst of

her battle with cancer, she thought of

her students:

“I hope the kids, especially

those with disabilities, see me as an

inspiration. I have cancer and I’m still

here everyday giving it my best, and

I’m currently going through chemo

treatments,” said Carolyn.

Her students were inspired. In

December 2006, students at Lecanto

High held a fundraiser in honor of

Carolyn. For $1, students could wear

a hat during the day. The students

raised over $1,148. They held another

fundraiser and raised over a thousand

dollars. Kevin, who is a music teacher at

Alexander Elementary, taught students

who had been equally touched. They

also raised money by oA ering a chance

to wear hats to school. They raised

Reasearch must also address the means for new treatments to reach patients.

komensuncoast.org • 877-506-6927 • PO Box 12848 St. Petersburg, FL 33733 komensuncoast.org • 877-506-6927 • PO Box 12848 St. Petersburg, FL 33733 komensuncoast.org • 877-506-6927 • PO Box 12848 St. Petersburg, FL 33733

®

* * * * *

* * * * *

* * * * *

Board of Directors

President:Gina Kravitz Vice President:Susan G. Hoover, M.D. Treasurer:Thomas Whiteman, CPAGrant Chair:Cassandra MontesStrategic Planning/Fund DevelopmentChair/South Counties:Harriet MaltzEducation Chair:Mary OstienPublic Relations & Marketing Chair:Jan LuongoPublic Policy Chair:Julia HarrisRace Chair:Susan MaxwellNewsletter Chair:Brenda LittleMembers At Large:Sherry BrewerElisabeth L. Dupont, MD Ilene Fox Frances Lambert Pat Meehan

3

2007-2008 GRANT RECIPIENTSHillsborough CountyThe Witness ProjectH. Lee Mo� tt Cancer Center/ Community Education & Outreach

Lifetime Cancer Screening & Prevention Mobile Mammography & Education

Project REACHSt. Joseph’s Women’s Hospital

Promoting Breast Health Among Haitian Women, H. Lee Mo� tt Cancer Center & Research Institute

Pinellas CountyMammography Voucher Program

Breast Cancer Navigator, Morton Plant Mease

Breast Cancer Advocate Project, St. Petersburg Prostate Cancer Awareness Group

Breast Health Navigator Project, Suncoast Health Council

Minority Breast Health and Cancer Education, Willa Carson Health Resource Center

Treatment Support Project, Suncoast Health Council

Pasco CountyHealthy Women Today Screening ProgramPasco County Health Department

Farmworker Women’s Breast Cancer Education and Early Detection InitiativeFarmworker’s Self Help Organization

Good Samaritan Health Clinic of Pasco, Inc.

Manatee CountyMammography Voucher Program, Manatee County Health Department

Breast Health and Wellness in Manatee, Wellness Community of Southwest Florida, Inc.

Sarasota CountyScreening Underserved Minority Women, Sarasota Memorial Healthcare System

Newtown Breast Cancer Awareness Project, Gulf Coast South Area Health Clinic Center

Be Smart Mammogram, South County Community Clinic of Sarasota County Health Department

Breast Cancer Education and Screening Project, Sr. Friendship Center

2007-2008 GRANT RECIPIENTS KNOWLEDGE IS EMPOWERMENT

Grantee Spotlightby Danielle and Sherre Kozloff

The Farmworker Women’s Breast Cancer Education and Early Detection Initiative began seven years ago and is a part of the Farmworker’s Self Help organization. The organization was incorporated in 1982 in Dade City, Florida, but grew out of community work on the north side of Tampa. English teacher Margarita Romo was part of this movement towards changing opinions in the treatment of Hispanic farm workers. Romo says they are a “community coming together and making decisions for themselves. Even today there are very few Hispanics who are vocal.” In addition to educating women to care for themselves, the organization offers immigration processing, school tutoring and summer camp for children, food, clothing, transitional housing, health care, transportation, and translation services for those in need.

The organization’s health clinic was founded in 1994, offering everything from diabetes testing and care to the screening and prevention of hypertension, pesticide poisoning and breast cancer. Through their partnership with the Komen organization, the Farmworker Breast Cancer Initiative offers screening and diagnostic mammograms at East Pasco Hospital for women aged 40 to 50. The Moffi tt Cancer Center’s mammogram bus checks women over the age of 50, while women under the age of 40

are referred to the health department by the clinic’s volunteer doctor, Dr. Reed. To date, only seventeen women have had to undergo a second mammogram because of something suspicious appearing on the fi rst one. None have needed to have biopsies, and no one has been diagnosed with breast cancer. One of those who had a second test was Amelia Cardenas, who works with women through the Initiative.

Along with providing mammograms, the Initiative educates women on the importance of breast cancer screening. According to Cardenas, Mexican women are taught not to touch themselves, so they need to be taught to check for lumps. Classes teach the women how to palpate the breast and what to do if they fi nd a lump. This education is so important because, as Romo says “we are programmed to work until we die. We need to be educated to be empowered.” This organization has made a huge impact on the Hispanic population in Dade City by teaching, informing, and empowering.

Amelia

Cardenas -

Farmworker’s

Self Help

Organization

In March, hundreds of people in our community who attended the Florida Suncoast Affi liate’s Build for the Cure® in Sarasotacompleted petitions asking congress to formally reauthorize NBCCEDP, an important program providing for early detection that has screened over 2.6 million women nationwide. By the end of March, congress passed this important legislation with a potential funding level of $225 million, and President Bush signed it into law in April. Now that the law allows continuation of the program, funding must be approved as part of the budget.

Champions work with other policymakers

at the state level and are currently identifying issues that may need attention and potential assistance from the Florida Legislature. If you are aware of breast cancer issues that may need the attention of policymakers at the national or state level, you are encouraged to contact the Suncoast Affi liate. To become a Komen Champion or to learn about the issues, visit www.komen.org and select Public Policy.

To volunteer to help with Champions locally or to learn more, contact the toll-free help line: 1-877-506-6927

Komen Championscontinued from page 2

Non-profi tOrganizationU.S. Postage

PAIDSt. Petersburg, FL

Permit No. 547

Florida Suncoast A� liate of the

Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Fnd

P. O. Box 12848

St. Petersburg, FL 33733-2848

Staff

Executive Director:Lynn RasysCommunity Outreach Coordinator:Lauren Groves

Newsletter Staff

Copy Editor:Diane KornickDesigner:Deena KempWriters:Katie ChristianRob EschenfelderDanielle KozloffSherre KozloffTammi Peterson

Send Editorial Comments to:Lynn Rasys, Executive Director PO Box 12848St. Petersburg, FL 33733info@komensuncoast.com

SUNC AST PROMISET H E

Chris, Carolyn and Kevin Coward

2007 Susan G. Komen Florida Suncoast Race for the Cure® Updates

FALL 2007 VOLUME 2/ISSUE 3

Inside This Issue...Komen Champions 2 Survivor Spotlight 4

Calling All Volunteers 2 Volunteer Spotlight 4

Grantee Spotlight 3 Komen Events 6

Grant Recipients 3

By: Rob Eschenfelder

FALL 2007 VOLUME 2/ISSUE 3

SUNC AST PROMISET H E

It seems only a short time ago that the Florida Suncoast Affi liate held its fi rst Komen Race for the Cure.

Yet here we are only months away from our 9th Annual Race, which will again run along beautiful downtown St. Petersburg’s waterfront! Over the years, the Race, like the Affi liate, has grown in size, with last year’s attendance hitting 12,000. For 2007, the Affi liate’s volunteer Race Committee has set a goal of 14,000 registrants and $1 million raised. While those of you who have participated in the Race in the past will fi nd many familiar features, we want to let you know about several new and exciting aspects of the Race.

First and foremost, for those of you who haven’t yet heard, Komen has changed its look and message, while remaining steadfast in its promise to battle breast

cancer. To go along with this change, the logo of the Race, which for many years has been the familiar “running girl,” has been retired. The new Race logo will tie more closely to the Komen Organization’s stylized ribbon logo seen

in these pages, though presented on the t-shirts in a manner which clearly distinguishes our Race event. We have already had tremendous registration response from our long-time supporters wanting to be among the fi rst to get a fi rst-

continued on page 5

Carolyn Coward’s endurance

and love throughout her battle

with breast cancer remain an

inspiration. On March 1, 2007,

Carolyn died of complications

from breast cancer. She was 36.

“While Carolyn wanted

nothing more than to survive,

she did not make the act of

surviving her life,” says Kevin

Coward, Carolyn’s husband.

Carolyn was fi rst diagnosed

with breast cancer in 1999 when

she and Kevin were dating. On

May 13, 2000, Carolyn and Kevin

were married. A few days later,

while honeymooning in Italy,

they received the Sposi Novelli,

the newlyweds’ blessing, from

Pope John Paul II. When they

met the Pope, Carolyn had hair

extensions due to her cancer

treatment and had to keep

gluing them back on because of

the heat.continued on page 5

By: Katie Christian

2007 Honorary Race Chair - An Inspiration to Others

komensuncoast.org • 877-506-6927 • PO Box 12848 St. Petersburg, FL 33733komensuncoast.org • 877-506-6927 • PO Box 12848 St. Petersburg, FL 33733komensuncoast.org • 877-506-6927 • PO Box 12848 St. Petersburg, FL 33733

vision: A world without breast cancer.

promise: The Susan G. Komen for the Cure Promise: To save lives and end breast cancer forever by empowering people, ensuring quality of care for all and energizing science to fi nd the cures.

events

Save the Date!

March 20, 2008

Komen Lunch for the Cure®

Sarasota Ritz-Carlton

Keynote Speaker: Rene Syler

Author of Good Enough Mother

September 15 Sirens of the Golden Sabre Think Pink benefi t dinner, dance and silent auction at TECO Plaza, 7-11 p.m. 100% of net proceeds will benefi t the Florida Suncoast A� liate. For tickets or more information go to www.sirenskrewe.org October 5

First Friday Gallery Walk, Palm Avenue, Sarasota October 6

9th Annual Komen FL Suncoast Race for the Cure®, Vinoy Park, St. Petersburg

October 14 Coldwater Creek Fashion Show 4-6

(Lakeside Village, Lakeland; Brandon Town Center; International Plaza, Tampa) October 19-21

Tampa Bay 3-Day Breast Cancer Walk October 20

Cut-a-thon, Che Bella Aveda Lifestyle Salon and Spa, Lakewood Ranch October 23

USF Bulls vs University of North FL Volleyball, “Dig for the Cure”, 7pm, USF Sun Dome October Fit for the Cure®

(go to www.komensuncoast.org News and Events for listing of dates and locations)

NEW!! Tinkled Pink Sponsorship for $100.00. Decorate one of 50 port-a-potties at the Race for the Cure® and advertise your organization or company.

Decorating times: October 5th from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., judging to follow. Go to www.komensuncoast.org to download the Tinkled Pink registration form.

Komen Champions for the Cure® is a grassroots advocacy program that educates Congress, the administration, state legislators and other decision makers about breast cancer through community involvement. One of the top priorities for Komen Champions in 2007 is to address the issue of disparities that currently plague the health care system in the United States. Komen Champions are working to “close the gaps” to ensure that everyone facing a breast cancer diagnosis has access to the best possible care, regardless of race, age or socioeconomic status.

As part of this program, local Champions Lynn Rasys, Komen Florida SuncoastExecutive Director, and Julia Harris, Komen Florida Suncoast Public Policy Chair, represented the Florida Suncoast Affi liate. They joined 132 other Komen activists from across the country who traveled to Washington, D.C., in April to spotlight breast cancer issues in our country. While in D.C., Champions visited more than 400 congressional offi ces to further educate decision makers and request assistance to help close the gaps in access to breast cancer screening, treatment and research by taking action to ensure:

Equal access to Medicaid-funded treatment for low-income, uninsured, and underinsured women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer, regardless of where a woman was screened for breast cancer.Funding at the authorized level of $225 million for FY08 through the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP), providing for continued breast cancer screening.Funding of $5.8 billion for FY08 for the National Cancer Institute. At a minimum, we request that Congress appropriate $5.1 billion for the NCI, a 6.7% increase over last year.

2

CLOSING THE GAP

Funding of $15 million for the Patient Navigator program in FY08, as authorized by the Patient Navigator Outreach and Chronic Disease Prevention Act of 2005. This program has yet to receive funding and would help patients receive the treatment their doctors recommend.

Our local Champions visited with the following members of Congress or their staff: Senator Bill Nelson, Congressman Bill Young, Congresswoman Ginny Brown-Waite, Congresswoman Kathy Castor, Congressman Gus Bilirakis, and Congressman Vern Buchanan. Efforts to educate decision makers on the issues were welcomed and well received, but our work does not end in Washington; it continues throughout the year in our community. Local Champions are needed to convey to congress and other policymakers that breast cancer is a national priority, with research, education, screening and treatment needs locally.

Congress is considering legislation on several issues which, if passed, could help breast cancer patients. Komen Champions are notifi ed of updates on breast cancer issues and receive action alerts when they are needed to contact congress or other policymakers about important breast cancer issues.

Throughout the year, Komen Champions will conduct petition drives at events, asking for your support on timely issues like extending the Breast Cancer Research Stamp, a successful program which has raised over $53 million for research. As of June, Senator Mel Martinez and Congresswoman Kathy Castor have co-sponsored legislation to extend the stamp, but additional support is needed. Unless congress acts by year-end, the stamp will no longer be available to raise money for breast cancer research.

Komen Champions work to ensure quality care for everyone by Julia Harris

Offi ce Volunteers - Multiple part-time volunteers needed to help in the new Florida Suncoast Affi liate offi ce. A variety of skills needed including data entry, correspondence, answering phones, fi ling and more. Location: 1099 5th Avenue N., St.Petersburg (next door to St. Anthony’s hospital)

Komen Ambassadors - one lead ambassador in the following counties: Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas and Polk - to coordinate volunteers at county events such as health fairs or fundraisers.

Lead Positions in Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas and Polk Counties:Rally for the Cure® (golf)BMW Ultimate Drive®

Fundraising eventsEducation/ health fairsNewsletterChampions for the Cure™

Race Volunteers – Multiple volunteers needed for a multitude of tasks the day of the Race for the Cure, October 6, 2007. Please sign up at www.komensuncoast.org

Calling All Volunteers

continued on page 3

Support the Komen CauseThe simple act of writing a check could quite literally save someone’s life. Any contribution helps us continue our quest in the fi ght against breast cancer.

To make a donation, visit www.komensuncoast.org

HEART OF A CHAMPION

her experiences, she said she enjoyed meeting many wonderful people with the same goal who became lifetime friends.

Chris Swanson is an extraordinary woman who is extremely self-motivated, optimistic, compassionate, and incredibly hardworking. The Susan G. Komen for the Cure Affi liate in Durham, North Carolina will be gaining a true champion.

Chris Swanson is an extraordinary woman with a deep ambition: to fi ght breast cancer.

Five years ago, Chris’s life changed forever when two of her friends/coworkers around her age were diagnosed with breast cancer. Feelings of helplessness quickly turned into determination to fi ght breast cancer, and Chris decided to walk the Komen Florida Suncoast Race for the Cure® in honor of her friends and her mother, who’s also a breast cancer survivor. The following winter Chris began her journey with Susan G. Komen for the Cure as a valuable team member and dedicated volunteer.

In the past fi ve years, Chris has held several positions with the Affi liate, including race distribution chair and team chair, and she has worked extensively in special events. Her numerous tasks have included recruiting participants, distributing registration packets

to fi ve counties, assisting with computer registration, coordinating race day events, and helping with special events, including the VIP celebration. Chris has served as a noteworthy mentor to new chair members, offering guidance and assisting in the development of new ideas and goals. After her fi rst walk, Chris created a team of her own for the Race, and ever since then she has served as team captain. Last year the team had almost 35 members, and this year Chris is hoping to have a team of 50 participants.

Chris is extremely humble about her accomplishments, but she is a true champion for taking on an enormous amount of responsibility while also dedicating time to her family, work, and coaching the Tampa Bay Swim Team. Sadly for the Suncoast Affi liate, Chris will be relocating to North Carolina within the year. When asked what she has enjoyed most about

Volunteer Spotlight

BREAST FRIENDS

4

by Tammi Peterson

Survivor Spotlight by Danielle and Sherre Kozloff

Mona Greenbaum, a seven-and-one-half-year survivor of ductile carcinoma in situ (DCIS), has always been proactive about having annual mammograms because her mother had breast cancer. Shortly after treatment (mastectomy and reconstruction), Mona joined the North Tampa Breast Cancer Support Group. It was during those monthly meetings that she “made bonding friendships,” she said. From these friendships has grown a group that meets each year for the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure® and includes three women from Fort Myers – Joyce Carden, Lynne Reinas, and Sandy Jepson. The survivors, frequently accompanied by family members, make the Race a weekend event, beginning with dinner on Friday and ending with brunch on Sunday. The women also participate in the Making Strides and Relay for Life races.

Each year’s Komen Race for the Cure brings a memorable event for the group. Last year, Sandy Jepson placed in her age group (60+). Another year, the group formed a team

and won “most spirited” for wearing pink boas, pink socks, and oversized sunglasses while carrying pink banners. At another race, one of the “sisters,” Linda Palmer, won a plaque for raising the most money for a team. The group even appeared in the Komen calendar for the month of November one year. Daughters frequently join, and Mona has been accompanied in years past by her daughters Stephanie, 24, and Lauren, 28. Mona says there is a “tremendous bond between us,” and the women have a good time supporting a good cause.

In addition to her Komen Race buddies, Mona has fi ve breast cancer survivor friends who call themselves “Breast Friends.” The Breast Friends meet every Sunday, rain or shine, hot or cold, and walk

approximately four miles in West Chase. The Breast Friends group is one of the really good things that Mona says has come out

of her breast cancer diagnosis. The group includes Mona, Ann Boyntin, Liz Price, and Dawn Juliano. On Sunday morning walks, “we always laugh that if it weren’t for breast cancer, we wouldn’t be friends.”

Long time

Komen FL

Suncoast

a) liate

volunteer,

Chris

Swanson.

Mona Greenbaum and fellow survivor teammates

at the 2006 Komen Race for the Cure

your family and friends now and come join yet another record crowd on October 6 as we again run the Komen Race for the Cure!

your family and friends now and come join yet another record crowd on October 6 as we again run the Komen Race for the Cure!

5

year example of the newly styled Race shirt.Our Race Committee wants you to know

that it has made getting that shirt even easier for those who register for the Race before the September early-bird cut off date. As Race veterans know, we have had a “packet pick up” event, usually at area malls, where those who had pre-registered would go to pick up their Race packets. Packets could be mailed, but only at a signifi cant extra charge. We are happy to announce that this year, for the fi rst time, every registrant, either individual or team member, who registers early will have their entire Race packet mailed to them FREE OF CHARGE! As a result of this change, we will no longer be doing mall-based packet pick up, though we will still have mall-based registration at Westshore and Tyrone malls on the weekend before the Race. We hope this change is welcomed by our runners and other guests who often have busy schedules and who have, over the years, asked us to make this move. For more details on the Race’s registration and packet pick up process, please visit our web site – www.komensuncoast.org.

This year’s registrants will also see some new individual donation opportunities. We have retired our VIP level of registration, as our guests have indicated they wanted to know more specifi cally where their extra generous contributions would go. This year, we have launched two exciting new registration donation categories: Gardens for the Cure®

and BAM! In partnership with the City of St. Petersburg, the Affi liate will, over the years, transform a portion of Northshore Park along the City’s waterfront into a tribute Garden to Komen’s mission and to those women and men who have worked so hard to achieve it. Every donation to the Gardens fund will result in the provision of a pink-themed landscape plan which will be built out over several years. Thanks to the generosity of landscapers and other donors, a majority of these donations will be put toward the Affi liate’s annual grant awards.

The other new donation program this year is called BAM!, short for Buy a Mammogram. We have set the donation level of this program at a level which realistically refl ects the cost associated with a mammogram that our Affi liate will be able to fund for a woman in need in our community. It is clear that the mammogram remains

among the best, most accessible and effective screening tools women can use to detect breast cancer before it’s too late. And there can be no more direct way your extra donation can help our Affi liate...YOUR Affi liate...perform its local mission than by your generous participation in BAM! Your extra donation to this program may be the act that saves the life of a woman right here in our Affi liate service area.

These are just a few of the exciting changes to our Race you can expect this year. Whether you have never registered for a Race before or have been to every Race since the beginning, we encourage you to register yourself and all

2007 Komen Race for the Cure Updates continued from cover

Honorary Race Chaircontinued from cover

over $3,000.

“I was shocked and overwhelmed.

I’ll never forget the students’ generosity

and kindness,” says Kevin.

Friends and family remember

Carolyn’s big smile, her enthusiasm,

outgoing personality, her parties,

and her wonderful home cooking.

Even when she was too ill to work,

Carolyn showered others with love and

aA ection. With only a few weeks to

live, Carolyn baked cupcakes for her

son, Chris, to take to school the day he

turned four. The last words she ever

spoke to Chris and Kevin were, “My

boys, I will always love my boys.”

Carolyn had been asked to serve

as the Honorary Chair for this year’s

Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure

in October. Kevin has accepted the

invitation to serve as the Honorary

Chair in Carolyn’s place.

“From the summer of 2005 to her

death in March, Carolyn rarely had a

day where she felt good. She suA ered

horribly from the side eA ects of the

multiple chemos and the clinical trial.

Though she suA ered terribly, she chose

to work at what made her happy. She

chose to live, educate, love and be

loved. I hope to communicate that fact

in October,” said Kevin.

“She never let cancer get in the way

of any of our hopes and dreams,” says

Kevin.

Carolyn taught students with

disabilities at Lecanto High School,

earning the love and respect of students

and coworkers alike. After being re-

diagnosed with cancer in the summer

of 2005, Carolyn was voted Teacher of

the Year. In January 2005, Carolyn was

promoted to ESE curriculum specialist

at the district o� ce. In the midst of

her battle with cancer, she thought of

her students:

“I hope the kids, especially

those with disabilities, see me as an

inspiration. I have cancer and I’m still

here everyday giving it my best, and

I’m currently going through chemo

treatments,” said Carolyn.

Her students were inspired. In

December 2006, students at Lecanto

High held a fundraiser in honor of

Carolyn. For $1, students could wear

a hat during the day. The students

raised over $1,148. They held another

fundraiser and raised over a thousand

dollars. Kevin, who is a music teacher at

Alexander Elementary, taught students

who had been equally touched. They

also raised money by oA ering a chance

to wear hats to school. They raised

Reasearch must also address the means for new treatments to reach patients.

komensuncoast.org • 877-506-6927 • PO Box 12848 St. Petersburg, FL 33733 komensuncoast.org • 877-506-6927 • PO Box 12848 St. Petersburg, FL 33733 komensuncoast.org • 877-506-6927 • PO Box 12848 St. Petersburg, FL 33733

®

* * * * *

* * * * *

* * * * *

Komen Champions for the Cure® is a grassroots advocacy program that educates Congress, the administration, state legislators and other decision makers about breast cancer through community involvement. One of the top priorities for Komen Champions in 2007 is to address the issue of disparities that currently plague the health care system in the United States. Komen Champions are working to “close the gaps” to ensure that everyone facing a breast cancer diagnosis has access to the best possible care, regardless of race, age or socioeconomic status.

As part of this program, local Champions Lynn Rasys, Komen Florida SuncoastExecutive Director, and Julia Harris, Komen Florida Suncoast Public Policy Chair, represented the Florida Suncoast Affi liate. They joined 132 other Komen activists from across the country who traveled to Washington, D.C., in April to spotlight breast cancer issues in our country. While in D.C., Champions visited more than 400 congressional offi ces to further educate decision makers and request assistance to help close the gaps in access to breast cancer screening, treatment and research by taking action to ensure:

Equal access to Medicaid-funded treatment for low-income, uninsured, and underinsured women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer, regardless of where a woman was screened for breast cancer.Funding at the authorized level of $225 million for FY08 through the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP), providing for continued breast cancer screening.Funding of $5.8 billion for FY08 for the National Cancer Institute. At a minimum, we request that Congress appropriate $5.1 billion for the NCI, a 6.7% increase over last year.

2

CLOSING THE GAP

Funding of $15 million for the Patient Navigator program in FY08, as authorized by the Patient Navigator Outreach and Chronic Disease Prevention Act of 2005. This program has yet to receive funding and would help patients receive the treatment their doctors recommend.

Our local Champions visited with the following members of Congress or their staff: Senator Bill Nelson, Congressman Bill Young, Congresswoman Ginny Brown-Waite, Congresswoman Kathy Castor, Congressman Gus Bilirakis, and Congressman Vern Buchanan. Efforts to educate decision makers on the issues were welcomed and well received, but our work does not end in Washington; it continues throughout the year in our community. Local Champions are needed to convey to congress and other policymakers that breast cancer is a national priority, with research, education, screening and treatment needs locally.

Congress is considering legislation on several issues which, if passed, could help breast cancer patients. Komen Champions are notifi ed of updates on breast cancer issues and receive action alerts when they are needed to contact congress or other policymakers about important breast cancer issues.

Throughout the year, Komen Champions will conduct petition drives at events, asking for your support on timely issues like extending the Breast Cancer Research Stamp, a successful program which has raised over $53 million for research. As of June, Senator Mel Martinez and Congresswoman Kathy Castor have co-sponsored legislation to extend the stamp, but additional support is needed. Unless congress acts by year-end, the stamp will no longer be available to raise money for breast cancer research.

Komen Champions work to ensure quality care for everyone by Julia Harris

Offi ce Volunteers - Multiple part-time volunteers needed to help in the new Florida Suncoast Affi liate offi ce. A variety of skills needed including data entry, correspondence, answering phones, fi ling and more. Location: 1099 5th Avenue N., St.Petersburg (next door to St. Anthony’s hospital)

Komen Ambassadors - one lead ambassador in the following counties: Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas and Polk - to coordinate volunteers at county events such as health fairs or fundraisers.

Lead Positions in Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas and Polk Counties:Rally for the Cure® (golf)BMW Ultimate Drive®

Fundraising eventsEducation/ health fairsNewsletterChampions for the Cure™

Race Volunteers – Multiple volunteers needed for a multitude of tasks the day of the Race for the Cure, October 6, 2007. Please sign up at www.komensuncoast.org

Calling All Volunteers

continued on page 3

Support the Komen CauseThe simple act of writing a check could quite literally save someone’s life. Any contribution helps us continue our quest in the fi ght against breast cancer.

To make a donation, visit www.komensuncoast.org

HEART OF A CHAMPION

her experiences, she said she enjoyed meeting many wonderful people with the same goal who became lifetime friends.

Chris Swanson is an extraordinary woman who is extremely self-motivated, optimistic, compassionate, and incredibly hardworking. The Susan G. Komen for the Cure Affi liate in Durham, North Carolina will be gaining a true champion.

Chris Swanson is an extraordinary woman with a deep ambition: to fi ght breast cancer.

Five years ago, Chris’s life changed forever when two of her friends/coworkers around her age were diagnosed with breast cancer. Feelings of helplessness quickly turned into determination to fi ght breast cancer, and Chris decided to walk the Komen Florida Suncoast Race for the Cure® in honor of her friends and her mother, who’s also a breast cancer survivor. The following winter Chris began her journey with Susan G. Komen for the Cure as a valuable team member and dedicated volunteer.

In the past fi ve years, Chris has held several positions with the Affi liate, including race distribution chair and team chair, and she has worked extensively in special events. Her numerous tasks have included recruiting participants, distributing registration packets

to fi ve counties, assisting with computer registration, coordinating race day events, and helping with special events, including the VIP celebration. Chris has served as a noteworthy mentor to new chair members, offering guidance and assisting in the development of new ideas and goals. After her fi rst walk, Chris created a team of her own for the Race, and ever since then she has served as team captain. Last year the team had almost 35 members, and this year Chris is hoping to have a team of 50 participants.

Chris is extremely humble about her accomplishments, but she is a true champion for taking on an enormous amount of responsibility while also dedicating time to her family, work, and coaching the Tampa Bay Swim Team. Sadly for the Suncoast Affi liate, Chris will be relocating to North Carolina within the year. When asked what she has enjoyed most about

Volunteer Spotlight

BREAST FRIENDS

4

by Tammi Peterson

Survivor Spotlight by Danielle and Sherre Kozloff

Mona Greenbaum, a seven-and-one-half-year survivor of ductile carcinoma in situ (DCIS), has always been proactive about having annual mammograms because her mother had breast cancer. Shortly after treatment (mastectomy and reconstruction), Mona joined the North Tampa Breast Cancer Support Group. It was during those monthly meetings that she “made bonding friendships,” she said. From these friendships has grown a group that meets each year for the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure® and includes three women from Fort Myers – Joyce Carden, Lynne Reinas, and Sandy Jepson. The survivors, frequently accompanied by family members, make the Race a weekend event, beginning with dinner on Friday and ending with brunch on Sunday. The women also participate in the Making Strides and Relay for Life races.

Each year’s Komen Race for the Cure brings a memorable event for the group. Last year, Sandy Jepson placed in her age group (60+). Another year, the group formed a team

and won “most spirited” for wearing pink boas, pink socks, and oversized sunglasses while carrying pink banners. At another race, one of the “sisters,” Linda Palmer, won a plaque for raising the most money for a team. The group even appeared in the Komen calendar for the month of November one year. Daughters frequently join, and Mona has been accompanied in years past by her daughters Stephanie, 24, and Lauren, 28. Mona says there is a “tremendous bond between us,” and the women have a good time supporting a good cause.

In addition to her Komen Race buddies, Mona has fi ve breast cancer survivor friends who call themselves “Breast Friends.” The Breast Friends meet every Sunday, rain or shine, hot or cold, and walk

approximately four miles in West Chase. The Breast Friends group is one of the really good things that Mona says has come out

of her breast cancer diagnosis. The group includes Mona, Ann Boyntin, Liz Price, and Dawn Juliano. On Sunday morning walks, “we always laugh that if it weren’t for breast cancer, we wouldn’t be friends.”

Long time

Komen FL

Suncoast

a) liate

volunteer,

Chris

Swanson.

Mona Greenbaum and fellow survivor teammates

at the 2006 Komen Race for the Cure

your family and friends now and come join yet another record crowd on October 6 as we again run the Komen Race for the Cure!

your family and friends now and come join yet another record crowd on October 6 as we again run the Komen Race for the Cure!

5

year example of the newly styled Race shirt.Our Race Committee wants you to know

that it has made getting that shirt even easier for those who register for the Race before the September early-bird cut off date. As Race veterans know, we have had a “packet pick up” event, usually at area malls, where those who had pre-registered would go to pick up their Race packets. Packets could be mailed, but only at a signifi cant extra charge. We are happy to announce that this year, for the fi rst time, every registrant, either individual or team member, who registers early will have their entire Race packet mailed to them FREE OF CHARGE! As a result of this change, we will no longer be doing mall-based packet pick up, though we will still have mall-based registration at Westshore and Tyrone malls on the weekend before the Race. We hope this change is welcomed by our runners and other guests who often have busy schedules and who have, over the years, asked us to make this move. For more details on the Race’s registration and packet pick up process, please visit our web site – www.komensuncoast.org.

This year’s registrants will also see some new individual donation opportunities. We have retired our VIP level of registration, as our guests have indicated they wanted to know more specifi cally where their extra generous contributions would go. This year, we have launched two exciting new registration donation categories: Gardens for the Cure®

and BAM! In partnership with the City of St. Petersburg, the Affi liate will, over the years, transform a portion of Northshore Park along the City’s waterfront into a tribute Garden to Komen’s mission and to those women and men who have worked so hard to achieve it. Every donation to the Gardens fund will result in the provision of a pink-themed landscape plan which will be built out over several years. Thanks to the generosity of landscapers and other donors, a majority of these donations will be put toward the Affi liate’s annual grant awards.

The other new donation program this year is called BAM!, short for Buy a Mammogram. We have set the donation level of this program at a level which realistically refl ects the cost associated with a mammogram that our Affi liate will be able to fund for a woman in need in our community. It is clear that the mammogram remains

among the best, most accessible and effective screening tools women can use to detect breast cancer before it’s too late. And there can be no more direct way your extra donation can help our Affi liate...YOUR Affi liate...perform its local mission than by your generous participation in BAM! Your extra donation to this program may be the act that saves the life of a woman right here in our Affi liate service area.

These are just a few of the exciting changes to our Race you can expect this year. Whether you have never registered for a Race before or have been to every Race since the beginning, we encourage you to register yourself and all

2007 Komen Race for the Cure Updates continued from cover

Honorary Race Chaircontinued from cover

over $3,000.

“I was shocked and overwhelmed.

I’ll never forget the students’ generosity

and kindness,” says Kevin.

Friends and family remember

Carolyn’s big smile, her enthusiasm,

outgoing personality, her parties,

and her wonderful home cooking.

Even when she was too ill to work,

Carolyn showered others with love and

aA ection. With only a few weeks to

live, Carolyn baked cupcakes for her

son, Chris, to take to school the day he

turned four. The last words she ever

spoke to Chris and Kevin were, “My

boys, I will always love my boys.”

Carolyn had been asked to serve

as the Honorary Chair for this year’s

Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure

in October. Kevin has accepted the

invitation to serve as the Honorary

Chair in Carolyn’s place.

“From the summer of 2005 to her

death in March, Carolyn rarely had a

day where she felt good. She suA ered

horribly from the side eA ects of the

multiple chemos and the clinical trial.

Though she suA ered terribly, she chose

to work at what made her happy. She

chose to live, educate, love and be

loved. I hope to communicate that fact

in October,” said Kevin.

“She never let cancer get in the way

of any of our hopes and dreams,” says

Kevin.

Carolyn taught students with

disabilities at Lecanto High School,

earning the love and respect of students

and coworkers alike. After being re-

diagnosed with cancer in the summer

of 2005, Carolyn was voted Teacher of

the Year. In January 2005, Carolyn was

promoted to ESE curriculum specialist

at the district o� ce. In the midst of

her battle with cancer, she thought of

her students:

“I hope the kids, especially

those with disabilities, see me as an

inspiration. I have cancer and I’m still

here everyday giving it my best, and

I’m currently going through chemo

treatments,” said Carolyn.

Her students were inspired. In

December 2006, students at Lecanto

High held a fundraiser in honor of

Carolyn. For $1, students could wear

a hat during the day. The students

raised over $1,148. They held another

fundraiser and raised over a thousand

dollars. Kevin, who is a music teacher at

Alexander Elementary, taught students

who had been equally touched. They

also raised money by oA ering a chance

to wear hats to school. They raised

Reasearch must also address the means for new treatments to reach patients.

komensuncoast.org • 877-506-6927 • PO Box 12848 St. Petersburg, FL 33733 komensuncoast.org • 877-506-6927 • PO Box 12848 St. Petersburg, FL 33733 komensuncoast.org • 877-506-6927 • PO Box 12848 St. Petersburg, FL 33733

®

* * * * *

* * * * *

* * * * *

Board of Directors

President:Gina Kravitz Vice President:Susan G. Hoover, M.D. Treasurer:Thomas Whiteman, CPAGrant Chair:Cassandra MontesStrategic Planning/Fund DevelopmentChair/South Counties:Harriet MaltzEducation Chair:Mary OstienPublic Relations & Marketing Chair:Jan LuongoPublic Policy Chair:Julia HarrisRace Chair:Susan MaxwellNewsletter Chair:Brenda LittleMembers At Large:Sherry BrewerElisabeth L. Dupont, MD Ilene Fox Frances Lambert Pat Meehan

3

2007-2008 GRANT RECIPIENTSHillsborough CountyThe Witness ProjectH. Lee Mo� tt Cancer Center/ Community Education & Outreach

Lifetime Cancer Screening & Prevention Mobile Mammography & Education

Project REACHSt. Joseph’s Women’s Hospital

Promoting Breast Health Among Haitian Women, H. Lee Mo� tt Cancer Center & Research Institute

Pinellas CountyMammography Voucher Program

Breast Cancer Navigator, Morton Plant Mease

Breast Cancer Advocate Project, St. Petersburg Prostate Cancer Awareness Group

Breast Health Navigator Project, Suncoast Health Council

Minority Breast Health and Cancer Education, Willa Carson Health Resource Center

Treatment Support Project, Suncoast Health Council

Pasco CountyHealthy Women Today Screening ProgramPasco County Health Department

Farmworker Women’s Breast Cancer Education and Early Detection InitiativeFarmworker’s Self Help Organization

Good Samaritan Health Clinic of Pasco, Inc.

Manatee CountyMammography Voucher Program, Manatee County Health Department

Breast Health and Wellness in Manatee, Wellness Community of Southwest Florida, Inc.

Sarasota CountyScreening Underserved Minority Women, Sarasota Memorial Healthcare System

Newtown Breast Cancer Awareness Project, Gulf Coast South Area Health Clinic Center

Be Smart Mammogram, South County Community Clinic of Sarasota County Health Department

Breast Cancer Education and Screening Project, Sr. Friendship Center

2007-2008 GRANT RECIPIENTS KNOWLEDGE IS EMPOWERMENT

Grantee Spotlightby Danielle and Sherre Kozloff

The Farmworker Women’s Breast Cancer Education and Early Detection Initiative began seven years ago and is a part of the Farmworker’s Self Help organization. The organization was incorporated in 1982 in Dade City, Florida, but grew out of community work on the north side of Tampa. English teacher Margarita Romo was part of this movement towards changing opinions in the treatment of Hispanic farm workers. Romo says they are a “community coming together and making decisions for themselves. Even today there are very few Hispanics who are vocal.” In addition to educating women to care for themselves, the organization offers immigration processing, school tutoring and summer camp for children, food, clothing, transitional housing, health care, transportation, and translation services for those in need.

The organization’s health clinic was founded in 1994, offering everything from diabetes testing and care to the screening and prevention of hypertension, pesticide poisoning and breast cancer. Through their partnership with the Komen organization, the Farmworker Breast Cancer Initiative offers screening and diagnostic mammograms at East Pasco Hospital for women aged 40 to 50. The Moffi tt Cancer Center’s mammogram bus checks women over the age of 50, while women under the age of 40

are referred to the health department by the clinic’s volunteer doctor, Dr. Reed. To date, only seventeen women have had to undergo a second mammogram because of something suspicious appearing on the fi rst one. None have needed to have biopsies, and no one has been diagnosed with breast cancer. One of those who had a second test was Amelia Cardenas, who works with women through the Initiative.

Along with providing mammograms, the Initiative educates women on the importance of breast cancer screening. According to Cardenas, Mexican women are taught not to touch themselves, so they need to be taught to check for lumps. Classes teach the women how to palpate the breast and what to do if they fi nd a lump. This education is so important because, as Romo says “we are programmed to work until we die. We need to be educated to be empowered.” This organization has made a huge impact on the Hispanic population in Dade City by teaching, informing, and empowering.

Amelia

Cardenas -

Farmworker’s

Self Help

Organization

In March, hundreds of people in our community who attended the Florida Suncoast Affi liate’s Build for the Cure® in Sarasotacompleted petitions asking congress to formally reauthorize NBCCEDP, an important program providing for early detection that has screened over 2.6 million women nationwide. By the end of March, congress passed this important legislation with a potential funding level of $225 million, and President Bush signed it into law in April. Now that the law allows continuation of the program, funding must be approved as part of the budget.

Champions work with other policymakers

at the state level and are currently identifying issues that may need attention and potential assistance from the Florida Legislature. If you are aware of breast cancer issues that may need the attention of policymakers at the national or state level, you are encouraged to contact the Suncoast Affi liate. To become a Komen Champion or to learn about the issues, visit www.komen.org and select Public Policy.

To volunteer to help with Champions locally or to learn more, contact the toll-free help line: 1-877-506-6927

Komen Championscontinued from page 2

Non-profi tOrganizationU.S. Postage

PAIDSt. Petersburg, FL

Permit No. 547

Florida Suncoast A� liate of the

Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Fnd

P. O. Box 12848

St. Petersburg, FL 33733-2848

Staff

Executive Director:Lynn RasysCommunity Outreach Coordinator:Lauren Groves

Newsletter Staff

Copy Editor:Diane KornickDesigner:Deena KempWriters:Katie ChristianRob EschenfelderDanielle KozloffSherre KozloffTammi Peterson

Send Editorial Comments to:Lynn Rasys, Executive Director PO Box 12848St. Petersburg, FL 33733info@komensuncoast.com

SUNC AST PROMISET H E

Chris, Carolyn and Kevin Coward

2007 Susan G. Komen Florida Suncoast Race for the Cure® Updates

FALL 2007 VOLUME 2/ISSUE 3

Inside This Issue...Komen Champions 2 Survivor Spotlight 4

Calling All Volunteers 2 Volunteer Spotlight 4

Grantee Spotlight 3 Komen Events 6

Grant Recipients 3

By: Rob Eschenfelder

FALL 2007 VOLUME 2/ISSUE 3

SUNC AST PROMISET H E

It seems only a short time ago that the Florida Suncoast Affi liate held its fi rst Komen Race for the Cure.

Yet here we are only months away from our 9th Annual Race, which will again run along beautiful downtown St. Petersburg’s waterfront! Over the years, the Race, like the Affi liate, has grown in size, with last year’s attendance hitting 12,000. For 2007, the Affi liate’s volunteer Race Committee has set a goal of 14,000 registrants and $1 million raised. While those of you who have participated in the Race in the past will fi nd many familiar features, we want to let you know about several new and exciting aspects of the Race.

First and foremost, for those of you who haven’t yet heard, Komen has changed its look and message, while remaining steadfast in its promise to battle breast

cancer. To go along with this change, the logo of the Race, which for many years has been the familiar “running girl,” has been retired. The new Race logo will tie more closely to the Komen Organization’s stylized ribbon logo seen

in these pages, though presented on the t-shirts in a manner which clearly distinguishes our Race event. We have already had tremendous registration response from our long-time supporters wanting to be among the fi rst to get a fi rst-

continued on page 5

Carolyn Coward’s endurance

and love throughout her battle

with breast cancer remain an

inspiration. On March 1, 2007,

Carolyn died of complications

from breast cancer. She was 36.

“While Carolyn wanted

nothing more than to survive,

she did not make the act of

surviving her life,” says Kevin

Coward, Carolyn’s husband.

Carolyn was fi rst diagnosed

with breast cancer in 1999 when

she and Kevin were dating. On

May 13, 2000, Carolyn and Kevin

were married. A few days later,

while honeymooning in Italy,

they received the Sposi Novelli,

the newlyweds’ blessing, from

Pope John Paul II. When they

met the Pope, Carolyn had hair

extensions due to her cancer

treatment and had to keep

gluing them back on because of

the heat.continued on page 5

By: Katie Christian

2007 Honorary Race Chair - An Inspiration to Others

komensuncoast.org • 877-506-6927 • PO Box 12848 St. Petersburg, FL 33733komensuncoast.org • 877-506-6927 • PO Box 12848 St. Petersburg, FL 33733komensuncoast.org • 877-506-6927 • PO Box 12848 St. Petersburg, FL 33733

vision: A world without breast cancer.

promise: The Susan G. Komen for the Cure Promise: To save lives and end breast cancer forever by empowering people, ensuring quality of care for all and energizing science to fi nd the cures.

events

Save the Date!

March 20, 2008

Komen Lunch for the Cure®

Sarasota Ritz-Carlton

Keynote Speaker: Rene Syler

Author of Good Enough Mother

September 15 Sirens of the Golden Sabre Think Pink benefi t dinner, dance and silent auction at TECO Plaza, 7-11 p.m. 100% of net proceeds will benefi t the Florida Suncoast A� liate. For tickets or more information go to www.sirenskrewe.org October 5

First Friday Gallery Walk, Palm Avenue, Sarasota October 6

9th Annual Komen FL Suncoast Race for the Cure®, Vinoy Park, St. Petersburg

October 14 Coldwater Creek Fashion Show 4-6

(Lakeside Village, Lakeland; Brandon Town Center; International Plaza, Tampa) October 19-21

Tampa Bay 3-Day Breast Cancer Walk October 20

Cut-a-thon, Che Bella Aveda Lifestyle Salon and Spa, Lakewood Ranch October 23

USF Bulls vs University of North FL Volleyball, “Dig for the Cure”, 7pm, USF Sun Dome October Fit for the Cure®

(go to www.komensuncoast.org News and Events for listing of dates and locations)

NEW!! Tinkled Pink Sponsorship for $100.00. Decorate one of 50 port-a-potties at the Race for the Cure® and advertise your organization or company.

Decorating times: October 5th from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., judging to follow. Go to www.komensuncoast.org to download the Tinkled Pink registration form.