2016 Survivorship Conference

 

Komen Ozark was proud to present the first Survivorship Conference at the Center for Seniors – Washington Regional Medical Center. The conference was attended by about 50 participants who heard from Komen Scholar, Dr. Danny Welch on advances in metastatic breast cancer research and Peggy Johnson, Komen Advocate in Science about how research is managed by Susan G. Komen and the role of patient advocates in the process. Dr. Thaddeus Beck – Highlands Oncology Group – presented on the latest in breast cancer vaccine trials. Dr. Danna Grear – The Breast Center – gave insights on screenings required following a cancer diagnosis. Dr. Stephan Rosenfeld – Highlands Oncology Group – discussed recommended after care follow completion of breast cancer treatment. Miki Biggers – Hope Cancer Resources – presented on the emotional aspects of breast cancer. A question and answer forum ended the session. It was a information packed event. Thanks to Rick’s Bakery for providing breakfast and Washington Regional for use of the meeting room and for providing coffee. Komen Ozark will be announcing future topics in the survivorship series.

 

 

Hope Cancer Resources – Wellness Program…a small grant in action

Small grants can be powerful and make a big difference! Continue reading and learn how Hope Cancer Resources is piloting an innovative Komen Ozark capacity building small grant.

Their concept… a wellness program for survivors. Breast cancer survivorship is one of 4 funding priorities for the Affiliate.

Hope Cancer Resources will kick off the New Year with a new wellness program to enhance quality of life for breast cancer survivors, their caregivers and family members. Their goal is to offer access to education and a variety of health-oriented activities including:

• Personal Training
• Yoga
• Nutrition Education
• Stress Reduction
• Tobacco Cessation

Meet the wellness team:

Sandy Prince has a master’s degree in community health from the University of Arkansas. She has recently completed the 500-hour registered Yoga Teacher Training Program at the Arkansas Yoga Center in Fayetteville.

Abbie Sudduth will graduate with a master’s degree in community health from the University of Arkansas this spring and is planning to complete the Tobacco Treatment Specialist Training at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. in early June.

Casey Shelor has a master’s degree in community health from the University of Arkansas. She holds the Tobacco Treatment Specialist and Wellness Coach Certifications from Mayo Clinic. Casey is also currently pursuing her Personal Training Certification from the American Council on Exercise.

This is a great opportunity for 1:1 wellness coaching and participation in many activities to lift the mind, body and spirit.

For more information about the wellness program and services provided, please contact anyone of the wellness team members.

Casey – casey.shelor@hopecancerresources.org

Abbie – abbie.sudduth@hopecancerresources.org

Sandy – sandy.prince@hopecancerresources.org

All services will be offered free of charge at Hope Cancer Resources in Springdale. The program is open to all types of cancer survivors.

Survivorship Conference – December 10, 2017

Survivorship Conference
December 10, 2016
Registration 9:00 am
Conference 9:30 – 12:00 pm
Washington Regional Medical Center Campus
Pat Walker Center for Seniors [located at the corner of Appleby and North Hills Blvd] Fayetteville, AR

Survivorship Conference December 10, 2016

Komen Ozark is pleased to announce a Survivorship Conference to be held on Saturday, December 1o, 2016. Our speakers will include Dr. Danny Welch, Cancer Biologist and Komen Scholar. Peggy Johnson, Komen Advocate in Science and a panel of local physicians and a social worker to discuss medical and psycho-social aspects of breast cancer survivorship. Learn more about Danny Welch, Peggy Johnson and the details of the conference below.

Dr. Danny Welch, PhD

As Director of the National Foundation for Cancer Research Center for Metastasis Research at the University of Kansas, Dr. Welch’s research is in the area of Metastasis Suppressor Genes and the biology of metastasis. He is best known for his discovery of 4 of the 24 known metastasis suppressor genes. By definition, these genes suppress metastasis without suppressing growth of the primary tumor. He is also well known for his work in defining the characteristics of cancer metastasis and the author of his book “Cancer Metastasis — Related Genes”

 Peggy Johnson

In 2012, Peggy Johnson was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer. Peggy helped develop the first free mammography program funded by a Komen Affiliate. After joining the National Board of Directors of Susan G. Komen, Peggy testified before Congressional committees on subjects such as breast cancer research and access to quality healthcare. Other national committee work includes the President’s Action Plan on Breast Cancer, the Intercultural Cancer Council and co-chair of Poland’s first national breast cancer conference in 1996.

Conference Information and Registration

Registration 9:00 am – Conference 9:30 – 12:00 pm

Washington Regional Medical Center at the Pat Walker Center for Seniors

 12 East Appleby Road (Located at the corner of Appleby and North Hills Blvd) Fayetteville

Reservations at komenozark.org or call 479-750-7465.

 Registration is free and limited the first 125 participants who register

 

2016 Susan G. Komen Advocacy Priorities

Each year, Komen works to identify, through a transparent and broad-based, intensive vetting and selection process, the policy issues that have the greatest potential impact on Komen’s mission. This process includes the collection of feedback from Komen Headquarters leadership, policy staff, and subject matter experts; Komen Affiliates from across the country; advisory groups including the Komen Advocacy Advisory Taskforce (KAAT), Advocates in Science (AIS), and Komen Scholars; and other stakeholders with a vested interest in breast cancer-related issues.  The selected issues are the basis for Komen’s state and federal advocacy work in the coming year.

• Support for expanded federal funding for biomedical research, especially breast cancer research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Department of Defense (DOD);
• Support state and federal funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP);
• Advocate for policies to improve insurance coverage for breast cancer treatments and screening, specifically pertaining to increased access to drug therapies and limiting out-of-pocket costs for diagnostic mammography; and
• Evaluate state and federal policies to increase awareness, education and access to clinical trials for all patient populations.

A message from BigWig Ben Blakeman

Living in Northwest Arkansas, there are so many passionate people who support causes that can change lives. But, when you think about cancer, and specifically breast cancer, that I think nearly all of us can say it’s something we’ve been personally affected by. Whether it’s an amazing story of survival or by an untimely passing of a loved one, breast cancer has made an impact on who we are. And that is why supporting the Komen Foundation is so important.

Personally, I’ve had friends and family members who have battled different forms of cancer, but as I think about the Ozark Affiliate, a statistic that I can’t get over is that breast cancer occurs in 1 in 8 women. That’s not something we can sit around and wait to change. It’s something we need to work as a community to change, together.

Pink isn’t my color. And wearing a wig takes some courage. What’s important about the Pink Wig Campaign is that it is such a fun way to drive awareness, elicit support and rally a community to get behind something that truly matters. Hosting events and asking our friends in the community to take part and donate to the campaign is just one way the “wigs” can ladder up to such a big goal – to save lives and end breast cancer forever by empowering people, ensuring quality care for all and energizing science to find the cures.

To that point – I’d love to see you at Blakeman’s Fine Jewelry on Thursday Oct. 6 from 6 to 9 p.m. We’ll be hosting a champagne toast to the Komen Foundation. We’ll also be donating 10 percent of all sales to the Foundation.

Ben Blakeman, G.G.  – Blakeman’s Fine Jewelry

 

Small grants can make a BIG impact!

The Skaggs Foundation covering the Ozark Affiliate service area of Stone and Taney Counties in Missouri submitted a small grant application to host a lunch and learn, regarding breast health, in each county. They were funded and hosted the first lunch and learn titled “It’s Time For You” with speaker Kelli Gosch, MSH, WHCNP.

The one hour “speaker series”  focused on health issues for women with busy lives and making some time for self care, including annual clinical breast exams and mammograms – as a priority.

Stone and Taney counties have been identified as a priority target area for the Komen Ozark because South Missouri has:

• A high number of people unemployed and living below federal poverty rate than rest of affiliate
• Greater population of aging women
• Incident trend data show a rise in breast cancer diagnosis
• Stone and Taney Counties have a late-stage diagnosis rate trend rising
• Stone County is considered to be 100 percent medically underserved

Thanks to Cox Medical Center in Branson for hosting this very well attended event! If you are interested in learning more about small grant opportunities contact:            Vicki Cowling – Director of Mission Services – Vicki@komenozark.org

 

BigWig twisted baker contest at Panera Bread – Fayetteville location!

You don’t want to miss this event! On Wednesday, October 5th starting at 11 am some of our BigWigs will be learning how to twist pink ribbon bagels.

A Panera Bread baker will teach the BigWigs how to make the bagels. The BigWigs will twist and then their three best attempts will be baked! You can come and cast your vote for the best bagel.

The votes will be tallied and the BigWig with the most votes will a draw the name of someone that has attended the event. The prize winner will receive a “bagel for a year” card.  It will be super fun to see our BigWigs in action! Mark your calendars for October 5th @ 11am – Panera Bread – Fayetteville.

 

Panera Bread – Pink Ribbon Bagels are BACK!

Each year, our wonderful friends at Panera Bread partner with Komen Ozark during the month of October for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. They make the most incredible pink ribbon bagels made with cherry chips, dried cherries, cranberries, vanilla, honey and brown sugar. Friday, October 14 – 100% of all sales will be provided to Komen Ozark to help fund local breast health services and to assist in our efforts to meet Susan G. Komen’s Bold Goal to reduce breast cancer deaths by 50% over the next decade! Plus, Panera provides a portion of all pink ribbon bagel sales throughout the entire month to Komen Ozark.

Panera offers the community the opportunity to pre-order Pink Ribbon Bagels. This option allows Panera to fulfill the demand for Pink Ribbon Bagels while maximizing fundraising. You can complete a pre-order form using the website below.

http://komenozark.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/2016-Pink-Ribbon-Bagel.pdf

(Please note that all forms sent to Teresa in Fort Smith for the NWA area will be forwarded to our Springdale office)

 

 

The Many Faces of Fundraising

 

General Mills contacted Komen Ozark about a unique fundraising idea! Several of their staff needed a quality headshot for their LinkedIn profile picture, social media and other business needs. With a volunteer photographer that agreed to set up onsite(Thanks Mark!) employees signed up and paid for a headshot. Fundraising doesn’t need to be hard, complicated or time consuming.

For an added donation they had an awesome salad bar for lunch that was a huge team project.

Thank you to our friends at General Mills for planning this “fun” event and for helping Komen Ozark meet the ever increasing need for breast health services, education, treatment assistance, support and navigation for underinsured and uninsured members of our community.

Doesn’t General Mills have the most beautiful people both inside and out?