Team Captain Kickoffs Bring Team Captains, Old and New, Together for Inspiration

On Tuesday, we hosted another Team Captain Kickoff event and the turnout mimicked our community: strong. We were happy to welcome captains from a number of our Race teams to our OC office for a fun, informative planning session that was rife with tips, information on the programs we fund, suggestions for fundraising and race day logistics from successful Komen OC teams from past races.

The information was interesting and abundant, but our team captains and supporters gave our mission heart. In keeping with the theme Inspired, our team captains in attendance shared their own inspirations for participating in the race and how their lives have been affected by breast cancer and touched by Komen Orange County. There were tears, laughter and support for each other — and these team captain kickoffs speak to what amazing participants we have.

The captains were introduced to our T-shirt design for this year’s race, and were provided with a number of pamphlets and materials to distribute to their team members. Our veteran captains were eager to share tips on what has worked for them in the past, and our freshman captains were enthusiastic to take it all in and expressed any concerns or questions they had.

Here are a few great fundraising tips shared by our Race captains:

• Host a community car wash to raise awareness and support for your race team
• Post Komen logos with the name of race participants and hang them throughout your office to let everyone know who is involved with the race
•  Bake Sales can include all ages, can be done at work or socially and serve as a delicious way to increase awareness for your team the race (and gives you another reason to run or walk that 5K on Sept 22!)
• Dress Down for Donation Day at work has worked for corporate teams in the past. They’ve charged $5 for the comfort of a dress down day and donated the money to the team’s funds        
• Reach out to your friends on your favorite social network by posting a link on your wall that will bring friends directly to your personal fundraising page where they can leave an inspiring message and donations

We would love to hear what has worked for you or what you are planning for this year, in the comments section of this post. Together we can make this year’s Race event a huge success to support Komen’s mission to serve people and save lives!

Upcoming Events

August 5^th – The 11^th annual Red White and Greens Charity Golf Classic participants will be held at Aliso Viejo Country Club. Participants will take part in breakfast, a scramble golf tournament, wine and food tastings every 3 holes, auctions that cover a variety of prizes, and a chance to spend the day with the wonderful Komen OC community.

August 6^th – As a continuation of our Breast Health Education Series, there will be a presentation on “Demystifying Breast Cancer” by a dynamic team of cancer experts will discuss known risk factors for breast cancer, and provide screening recommendations and risk reduction strategies at St Judes Centers for Rehabilitation and Wellness in Brea.

Inspired to Race for the Cure

Last week, we held our Race for the Cure committee meeting where we talked about event logistics and creative ways to ensure the success of this signature event. At Komen Orange County, we’re always so inspired by the countless number of volunteers who not only donate their time and energy but share our passion toward the fight against breast cancer. That’s why we think this year’s Race theme, “Inspired” is so fitting and we’re inspired by the thousands of women, men and children who come out to celebrate a day that honors those whose lives have been touched by breast cancer.

Thank you to all who have been inspired to Race with us this year. If you haven’t registered for this year’s Race for the Cure on Sunday, Sept. 22, we encourage you to do so today. Join us in support of Komen’s mission to serve people and save lives.

 

 

Upcoming Events:

July 23^rd – We’ll have our next Team Captain Kickoff at 12:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. at the Komen Orange County office, 3191-A Airport Loop Drive Costa Mesa, CA 92626. Learn more about Susan G. Komen Orange County, the upcoming Race for the Cure and fundraising tips while mingling with other team captains.

July 24^th – Komen OC in partnership with MemorialCare Medical Group and Susan G. Komen Tissue Bank at Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer Center will host a tissue bank information session from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Learn about the Komen tissue bank drive’s local efforts in Orange County on Nov. 2. This will be the first event of its kind west of the Mississippi!

Celebrating Komen OC’s Survivors

Thank you to all our family, friends and supporters who celebrated our survivors by walking with Susan G. Komen Orange County at the 2013 Huntington Beach Fourth of July Parade.

Nearly 30 survivors, co-survivor family and friends and friends of Komen Orange County were in attendance, painting the street pink in honor of Komen OC’s mission of serving people and saving lives. For most, the color combination of pink with red, white and blue may seem like an unusual pairing, but both represent an emblem of freedom. For those shining bright in pink, the color signified a celebration that recognized survivors and the striving liberation from breast cancer.

In the march celebrating independence,  breast cancer survivors, co-survivors and supporters of Komen OC rallied to walk for breast cancer, which affects one in eight women in her lifetime.

From all of us at Komen OC, we give our deepest thanks to all those who participated.

Upcoming events:

July 10^th – Join us at our Komen Education Series at UC Irvine from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The series is free and open to the public and covers breast health care topics including prevention, screening, diagnostics, treatment and survivorship.

Don’t forget! Registration is now open Komen Orange County’s Race for the Cure.

Register today!

Celebrate the Red, White & Blue..wearing PINK!

Please join Susan G. Komen Orange County this Fourth of July at the Huntington Beach Parade, the largest parade of its kind west of the Mississippi.

We’d like to invite all survivors, co-survivors, family and friends to march alongside our pink golf cart and help celebrate life! If you’re interested in joining us, please email volunteer [at] komenoc.org or call 714-957-9157.

The parade begins at 10 a.m. at Pacific Coast Highway and 8th Street and will continue along Main Street, ending past Yorktown Ave.

If you choose to watch from the sidelines instead, keep an eye out for our crowd of pink and give us a wave and a cheer!

We hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable Independence Day.