Recap from the Weekend

As I shared with you on Friday, it was a busy weekend with many things going on.

I had the opportunity on Friday afternoon to tour the new Saunders Research Building at the University of Rochester Medical Center with my old friend, Bob Witmer, and to meet Dr. Thomas Pearson, the Director of that facility. I was truly impressed with Dr. Pearson and the facility and was excited to learn about all that they will be doing at the facility to help generate much needed research and science to help us find the answers to cancer and other diseases. We are very fortunate, here in Rochester, to have been selected by Congress and the National Institutes for Health as one of the initial sites to build such a facility and to have Dr. Pearson providing the guidance and leadership for their work.

For those of you who have been involved with and following CANCER MISSION 2020…THE END OF CANCER BY THE END OF THE DECADE, you know that I truly believe that if we are going to find the answers to cancer we need to educate the American public about the absolute necessity of research and clinical trials, especially for adult cancer patients. Currently in the United States, only 3-5% of adult cancer patients participate in clinical trials. Where we have made some real progress is in the area of pediatric cancers because 65-70% of pediatric cancer patients are participating in clinical trials.

For more information about CANCER MISSION 2020, please check out www.cancermission2020.com and JOIN THE MISSION BY SIGNING THE PETITION!

From the meeting with Bob and Dr. Pearson, I went straight to Clifford & Conkey Avenues in the City of Rochester for the Project T.I.P.S. (Trust, Information, Programs & Services) event. This was our second Project T.I.P.S. event for 2011 and the location was a new one for us. The weather held out and by all accounts it was another successful afternoon with many community residents sharing their thoughts, concerns and ideas through the anonymous community surveys. Residents then came and joined us for a cookout, with burgers, hot dogs and beverages all generously provided by TOPS Markets. A special thanks goes out to our good friends, Mike Lawandus and Velma Campbell, as well as some staff members from Camp Good Days’ and Rise Up Rochester who manned the grills all afternoon! Residents also had the chance to obtain valuable information from a wide variety of social service agency representatives including: Rochester / Monroe County Youth Bureau, City of Rochester Department of Recreation, Pathways to Peace, and many more. The Rochester Police Department had their Child Find area set-up; the Rochester Fire Department had their portable Fire House set up for the kids; A Horses’ Friend provided horse rides for the kids; the New York State Police did their car seat checks for parents; and DJ Dr. Sweetback kept everyone entertained with his music.

It was a great afternoon for the community and representatives from New York State Police, US Marshal’s Service, FBI, Rochester Police Department, Rochester Fire Department, Monroe County District Attorney’s Office, Monroe County Probation, the Youth Violence Intervention Partnership at Strong Memorial Hospital, all joined in to make it a success.

As a special highlight, Joe Szafranski, a Buffalo Police Department Officer and New York State National Guard Staff Sergeant rode to Project T.I.P.S. as part of his Ride 4 Cancer 2020. Joe spent some time at the event and was presented with a special Proclamation from Monroe County Executive, Maggie Brooks, proclaiming Friday, June 17, 2011 as Joe Szafranski Day in the County of Monroe.

On Saturday I was up early and proud to see my grandson, Shane, graduate from DeSales High School in Geneva. We also attended the Buffalo Creative Black Tie Gala on Saturday evening and I am happy to report that Joe made it back to Buffalo safe and sound and completed his Ride 4 Cancer 2020 and it was great to see him and his family recognized during the gala. Once again, Lisa Donato from our Buffalo Office, along with her staff, gala committee and the many, many volunteers did an outstanding job! What a great event, with attendees joining in on the Wizard of Oz theme – There’s No Place Like Camp! The decorations, designed by Mike Russo and his team truly brought us all into the Emerald City, Rob Lederman, once again, did an amazing job as Master of Ceremonies and Lindy Ruff graciously accepted the Spirit of Teddi Award, from his player and Honorary Chairman, Paul Guastad, for all that he and his family have done in support of the children and families at Camp Good Days. Special thanks to all those who attended on Saturday and to everyone who helped, in small ways and big ways, to make that event a wonderful success again this year.

On Sunday, I did, in fact, have the chance to relax a little bit, spending a beautiful Father’s Day at Frontier Field for the Red Wings game with Wendy and her Dad.

This week, we continue with our Summer Staff Training at the Recreational Facility, where this past weekend a group of 25 young men and women dealing with cancer had a wonderful retreat and I have a number of meetings scheduled regarding the many things we have going on and coming up including CANCER MISSION 2020, wrapping up the Tournament of Love, finalizing plans and details for the Corey-Coffey Golf Classic, and finalizing the plans and necessary paperwork for the new building being constructed at the Recreational Facility, promoting Courage Bowl VII, and more!