On Our Quest for the Cure, Pink Tie Ball Raises Record-Breaking Funds

Susan G. Komen Orange County’s seventh annual Pink Tie Ball was a huge success! More than 400 attended the lakeside gala, which was held last Saturday, May 11 at Lake Mission Viejo.

Women in gorgeous flowing gowns and men in sharp suits and tuxes walked along a path of floating candles and entered the gala beneath a pink shooting star archway.  As servers offered hors d’oeuvres and cocktails, guests mingled and placed bids on silent auction items.

More than 200 handmade stars were hung for the “Stars of Hope” opportunity drawing. For a donation of $100, guests could choose a star created by survivors and friends of Komen Orange County, and were given a chance to win one of three prizes from sponsor Black, Starr & Frost, including a grand prize of a set of 18-karat white gold constellation star earrings featuring 0.65 carats of round brilliant white and black diamonds (valued at $6,000).

As the sun began to set, pink lights cast a glow around the edges of the venue. At dinner, Pink Tie Ball co-chair and breast cancer survivor Estela Riela shared her touching story of survival and explained that the event’s theme “Quest,” which promotes the search for a cure, was inspired by the lyrics of “The Impossible Dream” from “Man of La Mancha.”

TV newsman and returning Pink Tie Guy Ed Arnold introduced the 2013 Pink Tie Guys before asking the previous classes to join them in front of the stage. This year’s Pink Tie Guys are:

• Bruno Serato, Chef/Owner, Anaheim White House
• Hector Infante,  Public and Government Affairs Manager, Chevron
• Dennis Parks, COO, WalkStyles, Inc.
• Sam Riela, President, Salstar Enterprises, Inc.
• Scott D. Sherman, Executive Vice President, Human Resources, Allergan
• Chris Lawrence, Senior Vice President, Director of Finance, Opus Bank
• Dr. Melvin J. Silverstein, Medical Director, Hoag Breast Care Center

The Pink Tie Ball raised $385,000 through live and silent auctions, sponsorships, ticket sales and revenue opportunities throughout the evening. Seventy five percent of the funds raised will go back into the community for breast health education, services and mammograms for underserved and uninsured men and women. The remaining 25 percent goes towards ground breaking global research.

Thank you to all who attended the 2013 Pink Tie Ball and helped contribute to our mission of serving women and saving lives. Keep an eye out on our Facebook page over the next few days for photos from the event!

With my strength, my power, the world is mine! –Incredible Hulk

National Superhero Day is this Sunday, April 28. Here at Komen Orange County we have a number of superheroes we’d like to honor and recognize! Just like many of the action fighters we are all familiar with and admire, we are on our own quest to save the world from breast cancer.

Sure Superman can fly around the world to undo time and can catch a speeding bullet in his teeth. Wolverine can detect nearby enemies with his smell and heal from any wound almost instantly. The Incredible Hulk can withstand extreme temperatures and possesses unlimited strength and power.

But at Komen OC our breast cancer survivors are our ultimate heroes, the real “Wonder Women” of Orange County. They have extraordinary powers of strength, bravery and courage that inspire all of us.

Let’s celebrate on Sunday by paying tribute to these local survivor superheroes and those who we may have lost along the way. There are lots of ways you, too, can be a superhero and help raise funds for breast cancer research and local breast health services for uninsured and underserved women and men.  Consider volunteering, forming a Race team or donating a life-saving mammogram. To find out more about how to get involved and make a difference with Komen Orange County, visit www.komenoc.org.

Share your stories below of who you consider to be your biggest superhero.

Kowabunga for Komen at Stand Up for the Cure

Aloha! Standup for the Cure on Saturday, May 4 in Newport Beach as we paddleboard together through one of life’s hardest waves – to help end breast cancer forever. at the second annual fundraising event for Komen Orange County.  Take on the shores of Newport Dunes in Back Bay at the second annual fundraising event for Komen OC with lessons from top international paddlers including Zane Schweitzer.

The event to support Komen Orange County will raises funds for breast cancer research and local breast health services for uninsured and underserved women and men. Last year, Standup for the Cure raised $60,000 and set the Guinness Book of World Record for the most number of paddleboarders on the water with more than 700 participants. We are excited to break our own record this year and raise even more funds to provide breast health services in Orange County.

The event will take place from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Entry fee is $35 and includes paddleboard demonstrations and rentals, lunch provided by Ruth Chris Steakhouse in Irvine and possible life-saving mammograms for those in need. Barefoot Wines and Kona Brewing Company will also be sponsoring a great happy hour.

 Surfs up to live music with the Wheeland Brothers and Crimson Crowbar! There will also be a silent auction, pet costume parade, sandcastle competition, children’s activities and free cancer screenings. Whether or not you want to get wet or hang ten on the sand, there will be something for everyone.

Don’t wipe out! Register for the beach-filled event at http://www.standup-for-the-cure.org/. A special thumbs up to Judie Vivian, founder of Standup for the Cure, and all of the sponsors too!

Breast Cancer Survivor leads a “Quest” to find a cure as chair of PTB

Komen OC is incredibly grateful and excited to have Estela Riela as our first-ever breast cancer survivor chair of this year’s Pink Tie Ball. Estela possesses inspirational energy and passion to head up this annual gala fundraising event focused on the promise of a world without breast cancer. She has been an active participant in planning the Pink Tie Ball for the last five years and has been personally touched by Komen.

Currently in her seventh year of survivorship, Estela is co-chairing the event with her husband Sam, who has been her strongest supporter. Estela’s two daughters, Jordana and Jessica with their families, are also helping plan this year’s event and have made it a family affair.

“Sam and I are honored to be part of this year’s Pink Tie Ball. I am a two-time breast cancer survivor with two beautiful daughters. As a mother, all you can ever hope for is that your children grow up to be happy and healthy and that you as a parent can live for many years to be there for them. There were times, not once, but twice, that I worried my girls would grow up without me. I am alive today because of Komen-funded research. I want to raise funds so that every woman, every mother, will have that chance at a long, healthy life,” says Estela.

Nearly 20 years ago, when Estela was in her 40s, she went to the doctor for her routine mammogram and learned she had breast cancer. Her treatment included a lumpectomy and seven weeks of radiation.

After living cancer-free for more than a decade, Estela visited her doctor for another routine mammogram in 2006 and was diagnosed with HER2+ breast cancer, one of the most aggressive forms of the disease, right before Mother’s Day. At the time, a new medicine had just cleared trials called Herceptin, a drug that was made available through Komen-funded research and development, which she believes is what ultimately saved her life. She also underwent the three most aggressive forms of chemotherapy and surgery.

As she faced her battle for a second time, Estela knew once she recovered she wanted to help others who are less fortunate fight this disease and help find a cure. Soon after, she became involved with Komen.  We’d like to thank Estela and her family for all of their support over the years and continued dedication to Komen Orange County and the Pink Tie Ball.

The 2013 Pink Tie Ball will be held Lakeside at Lake Mission Viejo on Saturday, May 11. This year’s theme is “Quest” as we all journey together in hopes of finding a cure and ending breast cancer forever. If you’d like more information on attending or volunteering, please call 714-957-9157.

Twitter Chat with AACR and Komen on Tuesday 3/19!

Susan G. Komen is excited to be co-hosting its first Twitter chat on breast cancer prevention, risk reduction and screening with the American Association for Cancer Research.

Join us and the conversation on Tuesday, March 19 from 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. PT on Twitter using the official hashtag #BCPrevention. The other hashtag used in conjunction with the event will be #SGK.

Dr. Christopher Li with the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center will be co-hosting the Twitter chat with Susan G. Komen’s vey own Chandini Portteus, VP, Research Evaluation and Scientific Programs. During the inaugural Twitter chat, Dr. Li and Chandini will be available and answering questions on breast cancer prevention. Be sure to follow @AACR and @KomenfortheCure as these are the accounts they will be tweeting from. Don’t forget to also follow @KomenOC and join the conversation in Orange County!

Happy Tweeting!

Real Men Wear Pink

We are so excited to have such wonderful volunteers in our Komen OC community and share this great story with you!  Cory Holmes, 26, has been working hard on his custom car to help us spread breast cancer awareness.  A great article ran in the Tustin News today on Cory and his 2006 Infiniti G35 Coupe. We guarantee you haven’t seen a volunteer or a car one like this!

We can’t forget Cory’s tattoo, another way he helps spread breast cancer awareness.

UPDATE MARCH 15: Cory’s story will be featured in The Orange County Register on March 16. We’re thankful for Cory’s support and proud to have such an inspirational volunteer!

Area Salons Open Their Doors Tomorrow to Susan G. Komen

“More Than My Hair” Tour Hits Orange County and Long Beach to Spread Breast Cancer Awareness in the African American Community

Did you know that breast cancer is the most common cancer among African American women, and the second most common cause of cancer death?

Susan G. Komen Orange County and the Los Angeles County Affiliate have teamed up to help spread breast health awareness and education to African American women at select salons in the greater Long Beach area as well as Irvine and Anaheim. Nearly a dozen hair salons will be offering their locations from 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. as part of a “More Than My Hair Tour” to help spread the word about breast health and the importance of early detection. Volunteers will be handing out fact sheets as well as information on local resources and how to get a free mammogram.

The event is part of Komen’s Circle of Promise movement, designed to further engage black women around the globe in the fight against breast cancer.

Stop by one of these salons tomorrow to learn more:

In Long Beach:

Hair it is Hair Salon: 4505 Orange Ave.

Heads up Hair Design Salon: 906 E. Artesia Blvd.

Hair Plus Salon: 6088 N. Atlantic Ave.

Bonded by Roots: 4148 Norse Way

The Beauty Box: 4166 Norse Way, Suite B

Divas Hair Salon: 1401 E. South St.

Class of Elegance: 5407 W. Cherry Ave.

In Irvine:

LeShay’s Salon & Spa: 17942 Skypark Cir., Bldg. 44, Suite D

In Anaheim:

Savy Hair Salon: 2795 W. Lincoln Ave.

Anointed Hands Beauty & Sheas Salon: 1842 West Lincoln Avenue

For more information about the “More Than My Hair Tour” please call the Los Angeles County Affiliate at 310-575-3011 or Orange County Affiliate at 714-957-9157.

Look for this poster at local salons tomorrow.