Kicking Up a Little Dirt

Staying up for 24 hours and donating to a good cause? That’s easy, compared to fighting breast cancer. That was the thinking behind Kawasaki’s decision to hold a dirt bike school to raise awareness for breast cancer. The event, Moto Marathon for the Cure, raised $2,500 for the cause, as well as raising a little dirt, a little fun and lots of breast health awareness.

Two inspirations sparked the idea for Jan Plessner, Kawasaki’s Public Relations Manager. First was the Monster Energy AMA Supercross event in Anaheim in February, which went pink with breast cancer awareness. The second inspiration was friend Shasta Johnson, who was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 35. Now 38 years old, Shasta’s cancer is thankfully in remission, although her younger sister Fiona died at age 29 from the disease.

The Moto Marathon had a perfect setting – the 5.5 acre dirt and grass field next to Kawasaki’s headquarters in Irvine. There was no problem getting participants – the spots were filled, with a waiting list. Riders were divided into beginners and riders with experience. The lucky riders got four free hours of dirt bike instruction, plus other goodies from Kawasaki. All in exchange for a donation to Susan G. Komen for the Cure. The Kawasaki employees who put on the event went from 8 a.m. one day until 8 a.m. the next day to finish all the classes.

The instructors who ran the Marathon, and the riders, were happy in the end. Instructor Tania Satchwell summed it up this way: “The battle to stay up for 24 hours is nothing like the battle breast cancer survivors have to go through. It’s awesome. Crazy, but awesome.”

Rider Beverly Morgan of Newport Beach has a boss who is a breast cancer survivor. Did she have fun? “This is a great setup. The bikes feel brand new and they’re spoiling the hell out of us,” she said.

Good News from Sacramento

There was a bit of good news for the state of California’s breast cancer screening program, Every Woman Counts. The Joint Legislative Audit Committee approved an audit of the program at the request of Assembly members Noreen Evans (D-Santa Rosa) and Pedro Nava (D-Santa Barbara), who are challenging the state’s elimination of mammograms for low-income women.

The Every Woman Counts program, which provides mammograms to 350,000 underserved women in California each year, was closed to new entrants January 1, 2010, and will not start screening women again until July. And when the program resumes, services will be denied for women age 40 to 49 — only women age 50 and above will be eligible.

Evans and Nava seek the audit in time for incorporation into the 2010-2011 state budget. The audit will review how Every Woman Counts has faced financial shortfalls and assess how the program uses the money it receives.

The good news comes right after Lobby Day on February 8th in Sacramento. There was a lot of pink for Lobby Day as breast health advocates and survivors took their message to state lawmakers. The Komen Orange County Affiliate was represented, as all the California Komen Affiliates worked together as the California Collaborative to raise a strong voice on behalf of the Every Woman Counts Program. You can follow public policy issues with Susan G. Komen for the Cure at www.komenadvocacy.org/

Buy Your Ticket Today

Stop procrastinating and buy your ticket today to MasCUREade. You save $5 per ticket – the price will go up next week.  MasCUREade, a Celebration of Wellness for Breast Cancer Survivors and Co-Survivors, happens in just two weeks, on Friday, March 5, from 6 to 11 p.m.

What’s planned? The Komen Orange County Affiliate promises fun, food, music and a meaningful tribute to survivors –the community gathering is dedicated to celebrating breast cancer survivors and co-survivors. There will be educational demonstrations and presentations, a photo booth and an opportunity drawing. One highlight is sure to be the recognition of Komen’s Most Inspirational Breast Cancer Survivor, Most Inspirational Co-Survivor and Outstanding Breast Health Advocate.

Casual cocktail attire is suggested. The location will be the Costa Mesa Neighborhood Community Center.

You can register and get your ticket today at www.komenoc.org, where you can also read a special message from the event Chair. See you there!

Don’t Miss the Party Prizes

The bad news is that you missed the party. The good news is that you can still buy tickets to win great Opportunity Drawing prizes. More good news – you can throw your own Passionately Pink for the Cure® party anytime during the year and wear silly hats and eat pink sweets. Check out www.passionatelypink.org for ideas.

The Komen Orange County Affiliate hosted 40 guests this month as a sample Passionately Pink party. It was impossible to taste all of the desserts in the baking contest – but you could inhale the sugar and enjoy the creativity of the bakers. It was indeed “eye candy.” (Cassi Hartmann won the contest with eye-catching mini Swedish cakes, Susan Laird won second place and Chris Tannous placed third in a close overall vote.) Lyndi Begen, Stampin’ Up! hostess, kept everyone busy with various Valentine’s Day crafts. Email her a lyndib@cox.net to learn more.

More about those great prizes — we need to raise an additional $120.00 in ticket sales soon! If we do, Lisa Wolter will wear a pink wig at the upcoming 2010 MasCUREade: A Celebration of Wellness for Breast Cancer Survivors and Co-Survivors on March 5. Drawing tickets are a mere $5 each and one prize is a KitchenAid Cook for the Cure stand mixer in pink. (That would be the best $5 you ever spent.) Other prizes include pink designer sunglasses, beauty and fitness products. Stacy Davis at 714-957-9157 x34 or sdavis@komenoc.org can help you with tickets.

Be passionate. The need to end breast cancer is urgent.

Couples Having a (Pink Tie) Ball

Analisa & Dr. Bruce Albert

Even the name of the event is romantic – the Komen Pink Tie Ball.It’s an elegant evening of extraordinary cuisine, fine wines, dancing, haute couture and, of course, inspiration about why we need to end breast cancer forever. California’s only Pink Tie Ball will be held in Orange County on Saturday, May 15. The evening promises to be a sensory adventure, offering guests the opportunity to celebrate survivors, honor those who have lost their battle and ,most importantly, raise funds as well as awareness for the fight against breast cancer.

John Miller & Marica Pendjer

The Pink Tie Ball is chaired this year by a “trifecta” of couples: OC philanthropists Mrs. Analisa and Dr. Bruce Albert, longtime sweethearts and Komen advocates Marica Pendjer and John Miller, and fundraising power couple Trish Coury and Mike Gustafson. Each has their own strengths that will help create a wonderful experience for guests– for example, Analisa is a connoisseur of food and drink and will oversee the  gourmet cuisine, Trish is experienced in planning successful fundraising galas, and Marica is a marketing expert who is vital to the overall vision of the Ball.

Michael Gustafson & Trish Coury

Of course, their significant others aren’t sitting idly by; all are well-connected businessmen who will help perfect details for the ball and solicit in-kind and cash donations so more funds can go directly to the Komen Orange County Affiliate. Those funds will be used for local breast cancer services and research.

The couples are indeed making Pink Tie Ball “a labor of love!”

The Ball will be held at Atlantic Aviation’s private hangar in John Wayne Airport – the unique setting a representation of Komen’s worldwide mission to find a cure for breast cancer. Join the party — you can purchase tickets, make a donation for our auction or volunteer. Event details are at www.komenoc.org. Singles and couples welcome!

Click here to see pictures of the 2009 Ball.

Incentives to Your Goals

Keep Going on your resolutions AND help Komen

How are you doing on your resolution to get and stay fit in 2010? Two national corporate sponsors of Susan G. Komen for the Cure might help you stay on track.

Energizer has a limited-edition Keep Going® Journal to benefit Komen for the Cure. The journal, which features quotes, a calendar and a pink ribbon bookmark, is available through March 31, 2010 by mailing in three proofs of purchase from select Energizer battery packs. For every journal redeemed, Energizer will donate $1 to Susan G. Komen for the Cure, up to $15,000 with a minimum guaranteed donation of $10,000. More information about the Keep Going Journal can be found at www.energizer.com/komen.

If you are looking for walking or running shoes, head to a New Balance store. From now until April 4, 2010, each customer who tries on a pair of New Balance shoes in New Balance stores will be given a $1 “Instant Give” donation voucher. Customers who receive a voucher can designate Komen for the Cure as the recipient of the instant donation. And each customer that purchases a pair of New Balance shoes in New Balance stores through April 4, 2010 will be given a $5 mail-in rebate voucher, which can also be designated to Komen for the Cure. New Balance is donating a maximum of $150,000.00 in total donations to selected charities (including Komen) via the Instant Give promotion. More information is at www.newbalance.com/instantgive.

Orange County Director of Volunteer Services Honored

Congratulations Cindy Brenneman!

Cindy Brenneman, Director of Volunteers Services for the Orange County Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure® was honored with an Excellence in Leadership Award by Leadership Tomorrow. This honor is well deserved as Cindy works tirelessly to motivate Orange County residents to become volunteers and breast health advocates. She has inspired and engaged countless people in the community to become involved in the breast cancer movement and is key in recruiting and retaining stellar volunteers. Under her leadership the Orange County Affiliate has consistently retained more than 2,000 committed volunteers for various projects ranging from the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure® to the Pink Tie Ball®. Her work continues to further the Komen mission to save lives and end breast cancer forever.

Most importantly, Cindy practices what she preaches and is an active volunteer herself. Cindy is receiving the award for her work with the Orange County Affiliate, the Costa Mesa Community Emergency Response Team, the Costa Mesa Community Foundation, OC Medical Reserve Corps and the Mesa Verde Homeowner’s Association.

Making Healthy Lifestyle Choices

Article by Nate Winkler, Juggernaut Training System http://www.JTSstrength.com

Why does it seem that women’s health and fitness is full of warning labels and caution signs? 2010 is the year we need to get informed, get fit, and enjoy the process of getting healthier.

The two obvious areas of focus are nutrition and exercise; no I won’t tell you that it’s ok to eat burgers and fries, and yes you will have to sweat to lose weight. What I will tell you is that you can reach your health goals in 2010, and actually enjoy your diet and exercise routine!

Here are some tips:

• For dieting, your first meal sets your metabolic rate for the entire day, so make breakfast count. Carbs are turned into lean muscle more than proteins right after hard workouts, and should only be avoided during the late evening hours and low activity days.

• Healthy chocolate has great benefits, 10X more antioxidants than spinach, chocolate decreases blood clotting, inflammation, and improves mental alertness.

• Reach for Green tea, no other natural, non-addictive caffeine source burns abdominal fat better.

• Raspberries have a variety of natural chemicals that reduce cellulite.

• Blueberries are packed with vitamins and other benefits that keep you looking young and fight against age related diseases.

• Veggies are a must every day.

• For exercising, circuit training is the most productive, time efficient exercise regimen (only 45 minutes). Spend 30 minutes doing 3, 10 minute circuits that have a cardio (treadmill), leg strength (lunges), and an upper body (push up) component, this will allow you to keep intensity up and continuously shock the body, resulting in maximum calorie expenditure.

• Steady state exercise, i.e. jogging for 30 minutes, teaches your body to conserve energy and reduces caloric use, so if you have little time and big goals circuit training is your best choice.

• Spend 10-15 minutes stretching at the end of your workouts, this will relax muscles, and reduce stress which lowers cortisol levels, a major contributor to increased body fat and lowered immune system efficiency.

• Set Goals and stay committed, results are only a few workouts away!

For more information on how to make 2010 your healthiest year ever call or click Juggernaut Training Systems

949-215-7378 or JTSstrength.com.

Break Out the Party Hats

Bring your party self to Komen on Wednesday, February 10!

Are you ready to party? And party for a purpose? Plan to be at the Komen Orange County office on Wednesday, February 10 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. (or earlier) for the Passionately Pink for the Cure Party. “Passionately Pink” is code for raising funds and awareness for Susan G. Komen for the Cure with a strong emphasis on fun.

Plans for February 10 include Stampin’ Up, a line of decorative rubber stamps, a pink dessert baking contest and an opportunity drawing with great prizes. You can be assured that pink wigs, hats and boas will be worn. The party planner extraordinaire is Komen staff member Stacy Davis. (Trust us, she’s good at this.) All the details can be found at www.komenoc.org under Upcoming Events and you must RSVP by this Friday, February 5.

Passionately Pink for the Cure is a national program that you can customize into your own party any time during the year. It’s passionate because the need to end breast cancer is urgent. It’s pink, because we love to accessorize with pink. Party ideas and recipes to get you thinking about the baking contest are at www.passionatelypink.org. Please join the party and help us reach our first goal of $625 so we can extend the fun into March with Executive Director Lisa Wolter. (Check out the incentive on http://www.komenoc.org.)