|
Be an Eagle!
What a special year for the 2007 Salt Lake City Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure Salute to Survivors Luncheon. Held at the Radisson Hotel on May 5, 2007, this was the biggest Luncheon turnout with over 400 breast cancer survivors celebrating another year of health and survivorship. The Luncheon hosted three special guest speakers, Honorary Race for the Cure® Chair Paula Julander, Officer Iris Tolley, and Dr. Dwight Randle from Komen National. All three speakers shared a similar message with Luncheon guests and survivors: determination, courage, and hope are keys to a meaningful life. Officer Iris Tolley shared her accomplishments after her breast cancer diagnosis, which included marathons, climbing high mountain peaks, winning snowshoe contests, and the list went on. Dr. Randle closed the luncheon with a story about a chicken and an eagle and words to be cherished: “We are beautiful, soaring eagles, and no chicken can ever convince us otherwise.” Be encouraged that you are part of a very special club – the breast cancer survivors club – and all members of this club are eagles.
An Amazing Race
The 11th Annual Susan G. Komen Salt Lake City Race for the Cure® was immediately nicknamed, “The Amazing Race” because it was truly amazing in so many ways--our registration went up more than 25% over last year, reaching 16,000 people. We raised over $640,000 and our sponsors exceeded their efforts of previous years. Finally, the volunteers, participants, and weather were magnificent.
We are proud to report that our participant number included over 1,000 survivors – a new record for Salt Lake City. They were grouped by years of survival for the Pink Parade which had a most dramatic effect. For some, this was the most moving moment of the event – witnessing the enormous potential for decades of personal survival. The survivor bringing up the rear of the parade held a sign that said “45+ Years.”
The Salt Lake community has embraced this annual event with participants coming from all along the Wasatch Front. The feelings of support, enthusiasm, inspiration, and hope were tangible. Many thanks go to the Race Committee and all of our volunteers for their diligence and dedication without whom this event would not be possible. They deserve kudos for making this a truly Amazing Race!
Roses Please
Traditionally each survivor participating in the Pink Parade after the Race® carries with her a pink rose. This year our usual rose supplier was unable to fulfill this request. Thankfully through the generosity of Rachael Howells, owner of Roots florist shop, this need was met. Rachael contacted all of her suppliers and was able to deliver the additional 600 pink roses! A huge thank you to Rachael and her staff for their commitment to our cause!
A Mother's Strength Honored in Salt Lake City
by Wendy Asay
A dream finally realized -- being able to throw out the first pitch at a Bees game.
What an incredible thrill to be standing there surrounded by everyone wearing pink, the color of the day. You wonder why pink ... I am a breast cancer survivor, diagnosed in March 2005 with stage 1 breast cancer.
Pink didn't used to be my favorite color, but it has come to mean something very significant. Pink means I will survive and that I have so many others out there willing to support me in that quest. As a little girl, I grew up going to the park on Sunday afternoons with my mother and brothers to play pickup baseball. I never imagined I would someday be standing on a "real" baseball field, throwing out the first pitch.
I first heard of breast cancer in whispered, hushed tones when my grandmother was in the hospital. Nothing much was said and shortly thereafter she passed away. Then in 1992, my own mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. She was a very proud woman and did not want anyone to know that she had the disease, preferring to fight it alone. She lost her battle in 1996. In 2005, my own battle began. But instead of going down the same road as my mother and grandmother, I was going to do things differently, I was going to fight with my family surrounding me and take all the support I could get.
Our family decided to band together and create a team for the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. We called ourselves Asay's Angels because we love baseball, and the team name fit in well with the Bees and their affiliation with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
It also had another meaning, as I think my children are all my angels helping me with this battle. One of my angels works on the grounds crew for the Bees, and right behind home plate he had made a very subtle heart in the dirt and put the word "mom" in it. Not just for me, but for all the mothers there. That brought the first of many tears that night.
I had no idea how emotional it would be to watch my sister survivors enter the ball field. I could not hold back the tears as they walked past me smiling and waving to the cheering crowd. They were not tears of sadness, they were tears of joy. The joy of having all these wonderful ladies fighting together, and winning, the battle against breast cancer.
They circled around the pitcher's mound, and then it was time for me to throw out the first pitch. Bees' outfielder Nathan Haynes has a grandmother who's been affected by breast cancer, so it seemed very fitting that he caught that first pitch. He was also instrumental in helping the Bees win the game, with a home run to send the game into extra innings. I like to think he hit that home run for his grandmother on this special night. I don't always scream and shout at the games, but I was on my feet yelling for him when he hit that ball out of the park.
It was amazing to see the Bees so willing to get behind this cause. To look out over the field and see an entire team dressed in pink jerseys was awesome. It just seemed like there was a special energy in the air tonight. Maybe it was all that "pink."
More “for the Cure” Events Succeed
Bowl for the Cure®
The Great Salt Lake Bowling Association’s Bowl for the Cure® held on April 28, 2007 at the Bonwood Bowl was a huge success bringing in over $6,500.00 in donations! This was a high-energy, fun-filled event with over 100 participants competing for a myriad of donated prizes including custom bowling balls and weekend get-a-ways. We wish to express our thanks to the Bowl for the Cure® organizing committee: J Dee Birkeland, Anna Green, Bev Miller, Susy Kocherhans, Chad Hall, Maureen Nelson, Heidi & Dean White and Ilona Zenner. The 2008 BFTC is already scheduled for January 26th again at the Bonwood Bowl in SLC—see you all there!
Fashion for the Cure®
Thanks to local fundraising efforts, Coldwater Creek is proud to present a check for $2,273 to the Salt Lake City Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. The donation is made on behalf of employees from Coldwater Creek’s store at The Gateway, where they hosted a shopping benefit to raise money for Komen for the Cure. In addition, employees sold semi-precious stone bracelets at Coldwater Creek’s booth during Salt Lake City’s Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure®.
Coldwater Creek raises additional funds through its IN PINK gift card. Coldwater Creek will donate 10% of the purchase price to Komen. The gift cards are available in retail stores, online at coldwatercreek.com, or by calling 1-800-262-0040.
Spike for the Cure
Westminster College’s pre-Medical Society held their first annual Spike for the Cure volleyball tournament at Sugarhouse Park on Saturday, April 14, 2008. The action-packed event raised $2,000.00 in registration fees and donations. What an amazing achievement from these dedicated students! A special thank you goes to students, Chris Glezos and Breanne Nalder for organizing this event.
|