Hero Spotlight: Angelique Fong

Heroes come in all shapes and sizes, and from all walks of life. You don’t need to wear a cape or have superpowers; becoming a hero can be as simple as walking to support a great cause.

Susan G. Komen Orange County’s Race for the Cure is the largest fundraising event of its kind in Southern California. The vital funds raised from this event help support local breast cancer outreach and coordination of mammogram screenings for women in need, as well as treatment and support services to underserved women in the community. Besides the walks/runs, this year’s Race for the Cure features a special parade and tribute ceremony to honor local breast cancer survivors and a wellness expo. New in 2015 is the PLUS Timing Chip option, which allows the more competitive participant to test his/her hero speed on the course.

This year’s Race for the Cure theme “There’s a HERO in YOU” spotlights our extraordinary race participants who, year after year, fundraise, donate and raise awareness to support those affected by breast cancer. One exceptional hero is Angelique Fong of Rancho Santa Margarita. Fong, a wife and two-year breast cancer survivor began supporting Race for the Cure in the late 1990s. Her journey with Komen Orange County began with her dedication to the Komen mission of saving lives. One of Fong’s favorite Race for the Cure memories was fulfilling her mother’s dream of them crossing the finish line with her brother. Unfortunately, due to a broken pelvis, Fong’s mother was confined to a wheelchair for the race, but insisted on walking across the finish line by herself.

“You can see where I get my stubborn nature,” said Fong.

Fong would later need that stubborn nature to fight her personal battle with breast cancer, as she learned of her own diagnosis. In 2013, only six weeks into remission, she crossed the Race for the Cure finish line as a first-year breast cancer survivor. With a decade of Races for the Cure under her belt, Fong continues to walk/run for breast cancer survivors like herself, and for their families. Fong is not only an inspiration, but a true HERO.

More heroes like Fong are always needed! Unleash your inner hero and participate in our 24^th annual Race for the Cure on Sunday, Sept. 27 at Fashion Island in Newport Beach. For more information and to register, please visit http://www.komenoc.org/.

Thank you to our valuable volunteers!

Happy National Volunteer Week to all of our dedicated Susan G. Komen Orange County volunteers!  Thank you for your constant support and for being a crucial part of our team. Your unwavering dedication and invaluable donation of your time is a key reason that Komen OC is the strong, longstanding organization that it is today.

Last year alone, we received more than 30,000 hours of in-kind support, and our Race for the Cure teams collectively raised more than $400,000 for local breast health initiatives and global research.

 

Race for the Cure 2013

 

We still have exciting volunteer opportunities coming up this year, including opportunities to help with Pink Tie Ball on May 10 and preparing for the 2014 Race for the Cure. For more information on how to get involved with Komen OC, email volunteer@komenoc.org.

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!