To Team, or Not to Team, That is the Question

A few members of Chapman University’s first year team, The Argyros Panthers.

There’s no wrong way to support Komen Orange County’s mission to educate and save lives, but there are choices when it comes to participating in the 22nd Annual Susan G. Komen Orange County Race for the Cure. Whether you choose to join a team, race as an individual, or volunteer on race day you will be contributing to saving lives. This year we are excited to have a number of passionate first-year participants, like Chapman University’s Argyros Panthers team spearheaded by their MBA Alumni Association and in honor of two faculty members who have battled breast cancer. For those who don’t already know, we’re happy to shed some light on what is expected of a team, how to start one, and how to meet specific team goals!

1.      Pick a team captain. Your team captain should be someone who is committed to the Komen Orange County mission of increasing education and saving lives, and to making your team a success! They should be organized and able to inspire participation through leading by example, which means having the ability to answer questions and encourage the team to be active in fundraising, leading up to the race, and participating on race day!

2.      Come up with a creative team name and register. Whether you want to be funny, inspiring or representative of your company’s participation during the race make sure you pick a team name that your team members and donors will remember. Chapman University is keeping their school spirit alive by naming their team the Chapman Argyros Panthers and friend and family teams often come up with names to honor the person who inspired their team to Race for the Cure. Or come up with a team name that will inspire a chuckle when others walk by your tent in Teamland. Once your team is named, you can register on the Komen Orange County website.

3.      Fundraise, Fundraise, Fundraise! The Race for a Cure is a moving event that inspires hope and action from a whole community through its participants, but it’s important to keep in mind that the goal of the race is not only to inspire, but also to put that inspiration to work by raising funds for community programs that help women and men and save lives. Komen Orange County offers mammograms, diagnosis and treatment programs to people who would otherwise be ineligible to receive such care. By fundraising with a team, every single team participant is directly affecting the treatment and diagnosis available to members in our community who are fighting breast cancer. Many teams, like Ware Malcomb Warriors host a number of fundraising events leading up to the race, which they promote on their Facebook and Twitter pages. For other fundraising tips and ideas, or to see if your team is a top fundraiser visit the Komen OC Race for the Cure website.

4.      Set Goals. At Komen Orange County we challenge every participant to raise $125, the cost of one mammogram, but every bit of participation helps. Each team should set clear goals, whether they are monetary or participatory, the team participants should know what is expected of them, so create goals that will get participants excited!

5.      Teamland. Teamland is a great place for your team to meet before the race, grab some breakfast and gather support for each other at the start of race day. It’s also a place to celebrate or remember the people that have inspired your team to raise and gain emotional momentum that will last the whole day! Reserve your spot in Teamland by September 6.

6.      Race Day.  Many teams show their spirit by coordinating their gear, having shirts made, or just picking some fun accessories that are sure to stand out. Team watching on race day is part of the fun and a lot of teams flex their creative muscle when coming up with their race day attire! There are three different race times for teams to participate; we encourage everyone to participate in whichever race works best for them. Throughout the day there are a number of other events recognizing survivors, or remembering loved ones no longer with us.

Race Day Participants show their spirit at the 2012 Race

We would love to hear from our established or new teams in the comments section. Share with us what works for you leading up to the race or any information you think 2013 teams should know!

Check our detailed race day schedule for all the events happening on September 22 and we look forward to seeing everyone then!

Upcoming Events:

September 22^nd – The 22nd annual Komen Orange County Race for the Cure will be held at Fashion Island. If you haven’t registered yet, click here to join a team, start your own, or just support the race! We’re looking forward to seeing everyone at the starting line!

Orange County Survivors and Advocates Celebrated at Komen Orange County Awards Luncheon

Three strong and inspirational individuals were recognized at the 2013 Komen Orange County Survivor Celebration and Awards Luncheon  on August 11 , in addition to the many more being celebrated throughout the day. As in years past, this is always a wonderful event where we can give back to inspiring survivors, co-survivors and advocates from within the Orange County community.

Orange County Sheriff-Coroner Sandra Hutchens, who, in October of 2012 announced her diagnosis with Stage III breast cancer, gave a speech that was inspiring, emotional and humorous. We are so grateful to her for coming out and sharing her experiences and stories with the award recipients and all those in attendance. This was the first event where she shared her deeply personal story and she did it in a way that touched us all.

Three honorees were awarded Most Inspirational Breast Cancer Survivor, Most Inspirational Co-Survivor and Outstanding Breast Health Advocate.

The Most Inspirational Breast Cancer Survivor recipient was Huntington Beach resident Georganna Hall Wadsack who, when diagnosed with breast cancer in 2011 as a 38-year-old single mother, was able to benefit from programs put in place by Komen Orange County which helped in both her diagnosis and treatment. She has since been married and invested herself in Komen Orange County by taking part in many events. She spoke during the Survivor Tribute at last year’s Race for the Cure and volunteered at Stand Up for the Cure which, with the help of Georganna and other volunteers, raised more than $100,000 last year! Georganna will be joining the advisory board for 2014’s Stand Up for the Cure.

The Most Inspirational Co-Survivor recipient was Aliso Viejo resident, Melissa McGee, who has been affected by the disease three times by supporting and caring for her two friends and mother who had breast cancer. Melissa is also the person responsible for bringing to life the ever-inspiring Susan’s Gardens Posters that decorate the Race for the Cure path each year. She creates and hangs each poster on race day in memory and recognition of loved ones who have fought the disease (The deadline to purchase your order is Sept. 4^th)

The Outstanding Breast Health Advocate recipient, Angela Acevedo, got involved with Komen Orange County after recognizing a need for community outreach and education with Latinas through her work at St. Joseph’s Hospital. She identified a need in a high-risk population and goes above and beyond her call of duty as a nurse navigator. Not only does she help those with breast cancer navigate what can be a confusing landscape of health care, but she also volunteers her time to Komen Orange County events, even going as far as traveling to Indiana to donate her own breast tissue at the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Tissue Bank at IU Simon Cancer Center in Indiana. 

Thank you to everyone who attended this wonderful event. Komen Orange County is proud to honor individuals leading the charge toward furthering breast health education and energizing science for the cure.

For more information about Komen Orange County, visit us at http://www.komenoc.org, or text “News” to 50555 for mobile updates . You can also text “KomenOC” to 50555 to donate to local breast health services and education in Orange County.

Upcoming Events:

August 24^th– Join us for our last Team Captain Kickoff before the race! Come meet other team captains, learn effective ways to fundraise, and about all the race day logistics!

September 22^nd – The 22nd annual Komen Orange County Race for the Cure will be held at Fashion Island. If you haven’t registered yet, click here to join a team, start your own, or just support the race! We’re looking forward to seeing everyone at the starting line!

The Damsels of Destruction Demolition Derby Crashes Cars in Support of Breast Health and Early Detection

The donation tent was set up at the front gate before and after the derby.

The crushing of cars met cheers from thousands of spectators at the OC Fair’s Action Sports Arena during the ninth annual Damsels of Destruction Demolition Derby. The OC Damsels took aim and smashed into each other, putting on an exciting show for a nearly sold-out audience. The event raised more than $9,000, benefitting Komen Orange County and local breast health services.

The evening began with a message from Rebecca Hultquist, an eight-year breast cancer survivor and member of Susan G. Komen Orange County Race for the Cure Team MDK. Rebecca shared her battle with breast cancer, emphasizing the importance of early detection and Komen Orange County’s mission to serve women and save lives. She concluded the night with a floral presentation to the winner, Talia Feige, along with the nine Damsels. Hultquist, who will serve as a hostess at the survivor tent for the 22^nd annual Race for the Cure on September 22, is a frequent presence at Komen Orange County events. Along with her family, both natural and adopted through Komen, she cheered with the crowd as the smoke cleared and Talia’s bright green and pink car ran over the others and succeeded to be the last car… rolling.

Survivor, Rebecca Hultquist hands winner, Talia Feige, a congratulatory bouquet.

The night was action-packed, punctuated with dirt flying from the tires, the crushing of metal on metal and with the crowd roaring at the edge of their seats. Everyone in the stands, on the ground and behind the wheels had fun – all for a great cause. We would like to thank each of the daring Damsels: Windy Jones, Shannan Childs, Talia Feige, Tiffany Ortega, Jill Henderson, Jessica Hughes, Rhonda Palmer, Denise Childers, Misti Laverde and Leigh Hansen. We hope you had as much fun driving as everyone in the crowd did watching!

Survivor Rebecca Hultquist poses with the Damsels after the race

Upcoming Events:

September 22^nd – The 22nd annual Komen Orange County Race for the Cure will be held at Fashion Island. If you haven’t registered yet, click here to join a team, start your own, or just support the race! We’re looking forward to seeing everyone at the starting line!

August 24^th– Join us for our last Team Captain Kickoff before the race! Come meet other team captains, learn effective ways to fundraise, and about all the race day logistics!

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Komen Tissue Bank Comes to Orange County for One Day Only

Orange County Komen supporters Angela Acevedo, Charlene Kazner, and Jane Ka’ala travel to the Komen Tissue Bank in Indiana.

At Komen Orange County, we’re proud to fund and support studies that result in groundbreaking breast cancer treatments for women and men. One initiative we’ve been working closely on is understanding breast health and healthy breast tissue behavior. That’s where the Susan G. Komen Tissue Bank at The IU Simon Cancer Center comes in.

On Saturday, November 2 the Komen Tissue Bank is coming to Orange County to host a first-of-its-kind donation drive west of the Mississippi. In order to understand breast cancer, we have to understand normal – to transform the way we do research and increase our knowledge and awareness about the fight against breast cancer.

The Komen Tissue Bank is currently the only repository in the world dedicated to the study and collection of normal breast tissue. While the tissue bank has had much success collecting samples in Indiana, it is lacking some key demographics, from those of high-risk populations. By coming to Orange County, the tissue bank hopes to increase the diversity of tissue samples they currently house.

Recently, Komen Orange County hosted an informational webinar for interested tissue donors. Among those in attendance were three Orange County residents, Jane Ka’ala, Charlene Kazner and Angela Acevedo. The three women shared their first-hand experience as Komen IU tissue donors.

Jane, a 70-year-old retired nurse whose husband is a breast cancer survivor, shared details of her procedure and the ease of the entire process. Angela, a nurse at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Orange, has been active with Komen OC since its inception. She went to Indiana to be able to use her experience to encourage others in her community to take part in the tissue bank when it arrives in Orange County. Charlene commented on how organized the tissue bank was and how organization made the entire experience seamless. All three women commended the Komen Tissue Bank on how unobtrusive the procedure was and how little discomfort they felt afterwards. They encouraged those in attendance to sign up and learn more about how they can help as a tissue donor, volunteer or medical assistant.

The tissue bank drive will be held at MemorialCare Medical Group in Fountain Valley on November 2 from 7:30 am- 4:30 pm. For more information and to add your name to the donor sign up list, click here .

Upcoming Events:

August 9th– Damsels of Destruction. Join us at the OC Fair at 8:00 for an all-female car derby sure to be fun for the whole family! Free Fair Admission is included with the ticket price so put on your favorite pink shirt and come over for a fun night that helps benefit Komen OC! To purchase tickets, click here.

August 15th– Susan G. Komen Orange County Breast Health Education Series. Spend the evening with expert, Lisa Curcio, learning how a healthy diet can benefit your health and may reduce the risk of breast cancer. The event will be held from 6:00- 8:00 pm at the Norman P. Murray Center in Mission Viejo. For more information click here.

September 22nd– The 22nd annual Komen Orange County Race for the Cure will be held at Fashion Island. If you haven’t registered yet, click here to join a team, start your own, or just support the race! We’re looking forward to seeing everyone at the starting line!

Enter to Win a Pink Prize Package for Race for the Cure

Happy Friday to our Komen OC community! Tomorrow, Saturday, August 3 marks 50 days until the 22^nd annual Susan G. Komen Orange County Race for the Cure!

As a way to say “thank you” to our wonderful and supportive community, we’re launching an interactive contest on Twitter this weekend only and will give away a pink prize package, perfect for Race prep.

We’re hoping that if you haven’t already, you’ll REGISTER for Race for the Cure and let everyone know! If you already registered, GREAT! We hope you’ll make at least a $22 donation (and let us know)! That way, you’ll be entered to win!

Just follow the steps below:

1.       Follow us on Twitter @KomenOC:

2.       Check our Twitter page after 9:22 a.m. on Saturday, August 3^rd  to uncover the UNIQUE hashtag to use in order to win!

3.       Register for the Race, or make a donation of at least $22, between 9:22 a.m. on Saturday and 12:00 p.m. on Monday.

Then… PROVE IT!

4.       Take a screen shot of your proof of registration, like this:

Or of your confirmation email, like this:

 

Or even this:

 

Just some form of proof that you registered or donated to Race for the Cure this weekend!

                 How do you take a screenshot? It’s easy:

·         On a Mac: hit Command + Shift + 3 on your keyboard- now it’s in a png. file on your desktop!

·         On a PC: hit the Print Screen/ Sys RQ button on your keyboard – now you can paste it in a document!

·         On an iPhone: Hold down the Sleep/Wake and Home buttons at the same time and release them- now you have an easily uploadable shot

5.       Tweet the screenshot using the unique hashtag that we will reveal this weekend on  our KomenOC Twitter  page.

·         An example of a tweet could be:  “I just registered for Race OC #??? With only 50 days left, you should too!”

6.       Enjoy the rest of your weekend and check back Monday night, when we announce the winner via Komen’s Facebook and Twitter pages!

   We know that the anticipation to see whether you won will be very exciting, so to pass the time, get outside this weekend and start training for the Susan G. Komen Orange County’s Race for the Cure. After all, now you’re registered and only have 50 days until the race!

   Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter for the special hashtag and to receive updates on what is going on with Komen Orange County!

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 supporting Komen OC.

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 that will discuss known risk factors for breast cancer, and provide screening recommendations and risk reduction strategies at St Jude’s Centers for Rehabilitation and Wellness in Brea.