It hit too close to home, literally and figuratively when my neighbor and friend who is really more like a family member got breast cancer.
Sharon came to my front door, the sun hit her face and a light breeze blew her blond hair as she reassured me that she was going to be OK. I hugged her tight and cried. She said she already had surgery and would be checking back with her doctor weekly. It was a helpless feeling, wishing I could somehow magically take away her physical ailments.
But we”re not helpless at all.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and here in Lake County we can contribute in many ways, easing pain and assisting with research.
Sponsoring Survivorship, a nonprofit organization spearheaded by Shirley Crawford and Julie Kelley, helps to pay medical bills and other expenses for those suffering with breast cancer. The 14th annual Walk & Run takes place on Saturday at 9 a.m. at Bank of America, 500 N. Main St. in Lakeport. Many Lake County businesses donated generous raffle prizes. The event begins at 9 a.m. but those wishing to register need to show up between 7 and 8:30 a.m.
On Sept. 24, volleyball teams from Kelseyville High School, Clear Lake High School, Mountain Vista Middle School and Terrace Middle School dressed in pink and participated in the “Play it in Pink” fundraiser for Breast Cancer research, raising more than $8,000 for the cause. Nice job girls!
The Blue Wing Saloon and Caf? hosts a winemaker”s dinner tonight at 5 p.m. with breast cancer in mind. Cleavage Creek wines are the brainchild of Budge Brown who enjoyed 48 years of marriage with his wife Arlene. She lost her battle with breast cancer in 2005. Brown was devastated. According to the Cleavage Creek Web site, “Brown is mad as hell at breast cancer, and he”s determined to do whatever he can to help find a cure for it. He doesn”t want what happened in his life to happen to anyone else.” Cleavage Creek wine labels feature the image of an actual breast cancer survivor whose story is told on the Cleavage Creek Web site and 10 percent of the proceeds go to breast cancer research. The Blue Wing welcomes Brown, along with Cleavage Creek models. The Blue Wing Saloon and Caf? is located at 9520 Main St. in Upper Lake. For more information call 275-2233. Additionally, the Lake County Wine Studio carries Cleavage Creek award-winning wines. Lake County Wine Studio is located at 9505 Main St. in Upper Lake.
For more information call 275-8030.
For Breast Cancer Awareness Month at the Record-Bee, employees are shedding business attire and paying a dollar a day to wear casual clothing. We also have a fundraiser in the works and all proceeds will go directly to Sponsoring Survivorship to support Lake County victims of breast cancer.
According to the National Breast Cancer Coalition, “Excluding skin cancer, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women in the United States. In 2009, it is estimated that 254,650 new cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed among women in the United States: 192,370 invasive breast cancers and 62,280 cases of in situ breast cancer (of which 85 percent will be ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). In 2009, approximately 1,910 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed among U.S. men.”
Prevention measures include having regular mammograms, catching the disease and treating it early in its development when it is the most treatable, checking breasts once a month, having a thorough medical check-up once a year and having mammograms every one to two years for ages 40 or older. Beginning at age 50, yearly mammograms are recommended. Start mammograms earlier if there is a family history of breast cancer and build a diet around fruit, vegetables, grains and fish.
To become involved locally go to www.sponsoringsurvivorship.com. For more information nationally go to the American Cancer Society Web site at www.cancer.org. To learn more about breast cancer visit the National Institutes of Health Web site at www.nih.gov.
Mandy Feder is the Record-Bee news editor. She can be reached at mandyfeder@yahoo.com or 263-5636 Ext. 32.
