Breast Cancer Awareness

This is my first post in a series of 'Awareness' posts. I am beginning with Breast Cancer because it is the most common of all cancers that affect women. By going to the National Breast Cancer Foundation's website, you can create an early detection plan. Here are some facts straight off the site that tell you why to create a plan:

"By creating and following an Early Detection Plan, you will increase your chances of detecting breast cancer in its early stages. According to the National Cancer Institute,    

• One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime.
• Over 200,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year.
• When breast cancer is detected early (localized stage), the 5-­year survival rate is 98%.
• Over 30% of women are diagnosed after breast cancer has spread beyond the localized stage."

(http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/default.aspx)

The Susan G. Komen Foundation's also has information on breast cancer and awareness facts. It also allows you to get involved. This foundation is known for the 3-day walk, where people walk 60 miles in 3 days to raise money and awareness. One of my bucket list goals is to participate in one of these walks and walk all 60 miles.

 Both of these sites have support pages for those affected by breast cancer. These sources can be a great way for those battling cancer, cancer survivors, and family members to connect with others in their situation.

A very important step in recognizing breast cancer, is giving yourself a regular breast examination. This website shows you 5 basic steps to keep you safe.

By looking at these sites and many others, we can protect ourselves and our friends and families. Make sure you tell your loved ones to stay aware and do frequent self exams for breast cancer.

Also, check out this site for more facts and figures.

Cancer Facts and Figures

Take a look at this PDF from the American Cancer Society with facts and figures about cancer.

My How We've Grown

As I was filming a news show for Mercyhurst's television station, I came across an old Merciad (Mercyhurst University's Newspaper). One of the stories from January, 2010 was about the kickoff for the first annual Relay for Life. The article said that the Student Government and Circle K (similar to Key Club) hosted the event. The event was mainly coordinated by a Student Government Rep, who said the relay would be in May and for 12 hours. Another person who was helping to plan Relay was the President of Circle K. The rest of the article summarized the day of Relay and why they were hosting it. It also said that they asked for teams of up to 15 people and asked them to raise at least $25 dollars each.

I found this article to be interesting because Relay at Mercyhurst has expanded a lot in two years. We are now our own 'Colleges Against Cancer' chapter and we host Relay within the group. The Student Government donates funding, but everyone in the Relay for Life Committee plans the actual event. This years Relay is going to be 24 hours instead of 12 and we anticipate that many people will participate. There are numerous teams that raise tons of money, and I would assume that most people raise more than $25 dollars. I am glad I found this article so I could see how much we have accomplished in so little time.

When the world says, "Give up," Hope whispers, "Try it one more time." ~Author Unknown

An Interview with the People That Make Relay Happen

Melora Walen and Jeni Politano are the Mercyhurst Relay for Life co-chairs. Melora is a senior, History major and Jeni is a sophomore, Pre-Ocupational Therapy and Special Education major. They put countless hours into planning the event and leading others to help and participate. I sat down with my two friends, while they answered some questions about Relay and had some fun.

The Relay Exec Board, wearing pink bars for Breast Cancer

What made you want to get so involved with Relay For Life?

M.  Fighting cancer is an important cause. My roommate was very into Relay, so she got me involved.

Jeni at Relay

J.    I joined Relay for Life because I have had many family members who have passed away from cancer and it effects people’s lives everyday. Also, the disease takes such a physical as well as emotional toll on a person that I want to help the cause.

What is your favorite part about planning Relay For Life?

M.   Getting to know the people involved and bonding with them throughout the process.

J.    “Telling people what to do”- Melora “No, I love when everything comes together during the days of Relay. It is a great feeling, seeing all we accomplished.” -Jeni

What does a world without cancer mean to you?

M.   A less stressful world. A world without Relay… which would be sad, but a good thing. Less heartache.

J.   A lot more happy people, celebrating more birthdays. It also allows us to put money towards other diseases to those who also need it.

How many hours have you spent planning this event?

M.     Gee, about 10 hours a week. Since June. Soooo….. 500 hours? Minimum. I email a lotttt…. “Yeah, she sends soo many emails!”-Jeni

J.     One whole hour. No I’m kidding. Days, Weeks, 2-3 hours a weekend. Idk, so much time.

What are your goals for the upcoming Relay?

M.     No one gets burnt by the bonfire. And I would like to make our goal of $25,000.

J.   To raise $25,000 dollars and to have 20 faculty join and 500 students. 

M. Wow 500 students!? Last year we had 250!

 J. Doublin’ it up… BAM!

What Relay event are you most excited for?

M.     The paper lanterns, because it is the first time we have done them.

J.     The bouncy house

M. There is a bouncy house!?

J. Yeah a team is doing it! But seriously, the Romantic Era is coming so that will be awesome.

How many hours will you be awake on the days of Relay?

M.    More than 24, because that is the actually event. So probably 30 plus with setting up and taking down.

J.     Lets think, I’ll be waking up at 7am so 7 until… something. About 30 hours. After its over, I’m crashing.

What do you think people should know before participating in Relay For Life?

M.    They should know the meaning behind the event and giving twenty four hours of your time is worth it because we can find a cure. They should also be prepared and know what to bring. Like money, clothing, etc.

J.     GET INVOLVED! MAKE A TEAM, MAKE A TRADITION OF IT. Put away a night of drinking and come save lives. Cha Ching, bada bada bing… Don’t say that I said that.

Melora with a friend at a Relay Tye-dye event

What are 3 items everyone should bring to Relay? Why?

M.     Can I put them into groups? Clothing: Different outfits for the theme laps, Sleeping Gear: blankets, pillows, etc., and money to participate in other teams activities.

J.     A Tent, Layers of Clothing, 5 Hour Energy, Bring a smile is the fourth.

What is your favorite part about the Relay event?

M.     The Luminaria Ceremony, because it is emotional and it highlights the hardships and struggles people go through and shows why we Relay.

J.     Realizing how much money we made and seeing how many people participate. Oh and seeing if we beat the other schools (Gannon) muahahaha!!

And the Planning Begins...

The Relay for Life committee at Mercyhurst University has been meeting for months now to plan our relay. It is being held on APRIL 27 at 1pm - APRIL 28 at 1pm and the theme is Ferris Bueller's Day Off. This is our first attempt at hosting a 24hr event, so it should be interesting. Many people may not know, but planning a Relay for Life takes a lot of time, effort, and people. You need a committed group of people who collect funds, create ideas, and gather participants. So far, the number of people signed up and the amount of money raised has been good considering the Relay is still more than a month away. These next couple of months are crunch time and we have begun planning 'Paint the Campus Purple Week' to get students and faculty interested. (Note: THE COMMUNITY IS MORE THAN WELCOME TO JOIN IN RELAY!!!) For Paint the Campus Purple Week, we will be holding themed days to raise funds and awareness.

More Birthdays Monday: We will be holding a bake sale, which will feature a birthday cake. Celebrating more birthdays is one of the many goals of Relay For Life.

Tye-Dye Tuesday: We will be tye-dying shirts purple, which is the color of relay and the color of the week.

WTF (Win The Fight) Wednesday: We will have a board set up that reads "What a World Without Cancer Means to You." People will be free to write on the board and share what they think. I will be putting SANITY up on it.

Throwback Thursday: This is my favorite and I will be at a table all day listening to boy bands while selling colored ribbons and luminaria bags. The ribbons will signify a cancer that you wish to recognize and the luminaria bags will be for a small ceremony being held at night. On the actual day of Relay, there is a luminaria ceremony held where people decorate bags for their loved ones. Then the bags are lit and everyone walks a lap of silence. On Thursday we will be holding a smaller ceremony to show people the power of coming together.

Fight Back Friday: We will have a 'punch wall' where people punch a hole and win a prize. There is also word of purple crush coming into play.

The whole week should be very exciting and get people involved in Relay for Life. Aside from the daily activities, we are hiding easter eggs around campus that anyone can find. They will have candy or a note telling them to collet a prize. On the Sunday before, we will be decorating the campus purple with ribbons, banners, window paint, etc. This is the week to 'go big or go home' in hopes that people get pumped!

Once you choose hope, anything's possible. ~Christopher Reeve

My Story

My team at Relay For Life

In October of 2008, I lost my aunt to ovarian cancer. During her battle, my family and I participated in various Relay For Lifes near my hometown of Cleveland, Ohio. My

Mercyhurst's Relay For Life

aunt was a teacher at Rocky River high school, so bright and early on the morning of their Relay, we would be there to help out. Supporting causes that help fund cancer research is very important to both sides of my family because we are directly connected with cancer victims. My mother lost her mother to cancer at the age of 10, her sister had breast cancer, and she lost her sister to ovarian cancer. My father also had a brother who survived Hodgkin's lymphoma. I had grown up knowing the tragic effects of this disease, which is what lead me to participate in Mercyhurst University's Relay For Life. My freshman year of college, I found out that my aunt and godmother's ovarian cancer had returned. She, like my other aunt, was strong and grateful of the life given to her. It seemed that my answer had come when I saw the posters for Relay For Life. I immediately got involved and loved every minute of it. The people that help with Relay are a special breed. They willingly choose to stay up all night, they choose to spend countless hours of planning, and they choose to make a difference. These characteristics astound me. When my aunt passed away in March 2011, I was heart broken, but I found comfort in the Relay group. Without even expressing what I was going through, I already knew that I had a family beside me. Being a part of Relay For Life has changed me for the better. I know there is something to strive for and I know that, even with the smallest event, we can make a change. This year, we are holding a 24hour event and I will be staying up for about 30 straight hours. It will be insane, but fun at the same time. Participating in Relay gives me hope for the future. It allows me to strive for a world untouched by cancer, and more birthdays. Those who read my blog may say "you are just quoting the Relay For Life slogans", but they are true. It gives you comfort to know that everyone at a Relay is wishing for the same thing and you can lean on strangers for strength and hope. I will continue to be a part of Relay until I can no longer walk.  This years Relay For life is on APRIL 27 at 1pm - APRIL 28 at 1pm. 

Me with my Relay Team Banner

At Relay, dying our hair pink and purple 

My family at OROC (Out Run Ovarian Caner)

Lighting the Luminaria at Relay