Almost Summer Camp Time!

I know it has been quite some time since my last post, and I do apologize for that, but there has just been so much going on and all of a sudden here we are, at the end of May and coming up on Memorial Day Weekend!

Some of the highlights of the past couple of months include the Annual Florida Fun Fest trip and the Finger Lakes International Wine Competition and Auction Dinner. 

 

On Thursday, April 25, 2013, a group of approximately 30 campers and volunteers departed from the Greater Rochester International Airport and embarked on the Annual Florida Fun Fest Trip.  We started in St. Petersburg, where we stayed at the beautiful Tradewinds Resort and everyone had the chance to take part in all they have to offer including swimming in the Gulf of Mexico, swimming in the pool, playing miniature golf, going on the giant, inflatable water slide and more.  On Thursday night, everyone was the special guests of good friends, Steve and Patty DiGennaro and their neighbors.  Steve and Patty, along with their friends, put on an amazing cookout dinner at their home and the campers had the chance to swim in the pool, fish off the dock, and play games.  Once again this year, Steve and Patty and their friends went above and beyond in welcoming the campers and volunteers and everyone had a great evening.  On Friday morning, the group took a Dolphin Watch Boat Tour during which we saw dolphins, sting rays and manatees.  On Saturday, the Children’s Cancer Center in Tampa welcomed Camp Good Days with open arms, hosting us for lunch and games at their facility.  It was a fun afternoon and a great opportunity for some of our campers to meet the children that the Children’s Cancer Center serves.  We are looking forward to a long relationship with Patty O’Leary and her staff and to having some of their children attend a program at Camp Good Days this summer.  The group headed to Orlando on Saturday afternoon, checking into the Seralago Suites.  On Sunday morning, John and Linda Mongoven, and some of the residents of Hunter’s Creek put on a fantastic brunch for the group and had Chief Rowley do his Snake Education Show for everyone.  As in the past, Chief Rowley’s show was a hit with the campers and John and Linda, and everyone who helped made it a great morning for us!  After Hunter’s Creek we headed to Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure and then rounded out our trip on Monday by spending the day at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom. 

The Camp Good Days’ Florida Trip has taken place since 1985 and was originated when Rochester businessman, Wayne Meisenzahl, who was completing his own treatment for cancer, wanted to give children touched by cancer the opportunity to experience firsthand, the magic of Central Florida.  The Annual Florida Trip has continued because of the generosity of Ms. Germaine K. Hess, one of Meisenzahl’s clients, who left a bequest to Camp Good Days, through an estate, specifically to ensure that Camp Good Days will be able to continue providing the Annual Florida Trip.  In addition, the trip is made possible through the Teddi Project at Camp Good Days.  The Teddi Project is supported through the annual Dance for Love, a 24-hour dance marathon at St. John Fisher College.  The 31^st Annual Dance for Love took place this past February 8-9, 2013.  The trip is also supported by the Gary Amendola Fun Fund, which was established in memory of Gary Amendola, who was a good friend, supporter and member of the Camp Good Days’ Board of Directors and lost his own battle with cancer.  The Gary Amendola Fun Fund provides the means for Camp Good Days to host special outings, activities and events throughout the year.

If you want to see just how much fun everyone had on the trip, check out the photo album on our facebook page, www.facebook.com/CampGoodDays79. 

 

Upon returning from the Annual Florida Fun Fest trip, we headed right into the 13^th Annual Finger Lakes International Wine Auction Dinner, which was held on Saturday, May 4, 2013 at the Rochester Plaza Hotel and which, over the past 13 years has become our largest fundraising event in the Greater Rochester area.  The Wine Auction Dinner is the culmination of months of hard work and features the medal winning wines from the Finger Lakes International Wine Competition, which was held at the end of March.  The Wine Auction Dinner begins with a Sponsor & VIP Reception, followed by Wine Tasting, and Silent and Live Auction Preview and the Auction and Dinner at 7:00 PM.  Rich Funke served as the Master of Ceremonies and Matthew Chung, Fine Wine Consultant with Chai Consulting, LLC in San Francisco, served as the Auctioneer again this year. 

 

Known as one of the world’s largest charitable wine competition, the Finger Lakes International Wine Competition is open to all commercial wineries from all wine-producing countries.  A record 3,504 wines were entered from 842 wineries, representing 20 countries, 4 Canadian Provinces, and all 50 United States. The competition judges awarded 104 Double Gold, 174 Gold, 1,204 Silver and 1,327 Bronze medals this year. Special award categories included: the John Rose Award for the best in class Riesling, presented to Chateau Fontaine 2011 Semi-Sweet Riesling; the Crystal Grape Award for the best in class Icewine, presented to Znovin Ryzlink Rynsky 2009 Riesling Icewine; the highest scoring Double Gold Chardonnay, presented to Bogle Vineyards 2011 Chardonnay and for the highest scoring Double Gold Cabernet Sauvignon, presented to Merriam Vineyards 2009 "Gloeckner-Turner Ranch"  Cabernet Sauvignon, Rockpile AVA.  More information about the Finger Lakes International Wine Competition and Auction Dinner, as well as the complete list of medal winning wines is available at www.fliwc.com. 

As a special treat for all those in attendance, New York State Lieutenant Governor, Robert Duffy, and his wife, Barbara, were our special guests and the truly magical moment of the evening was when one of our campers, Katie Foster, shared her story and experience with all of the guests and reminded them how much their continued support means and how important that support is.  

 

Overall, the 13^th Annual Finger Lakes International Wine Competition and Auction Dinner was another resounding success and will ultimately help us to provide some good days and special times for some very special children, adults and families this summer!

From a personal standpoint, I learned this past January that Lieutenant Governor, Robert Duffy, had nominated me for the 2013 Ellis Island Medal of Honor.  Sponsored by the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations (NECO.org), the Ellis Island Medals of Honor are presented annually to American citizens who have distinguished themselves within their own ethnic groups while exemplifying the values of the American way of life.  Past Medalists include six U.S. Presidents, one foreign President, Nobel Prize winners and leaders of industry, education, the arts, sports and government, as well as everyday Americans who have made freedom, liberty and compassion a part of their life’s work. 

 

I then received word earlier this spring that I was indeed selected as one of the recipients for this year and Wendy and I traveled to New York City for the various activities, events, Award Ceremony and Gala, which took place on Saturday, May 11, 2013 in the Great Hall on Ellis Island.  It is hard to put into words how truly special the weekend was.  It was a weekend full of wonderful activities, events, and people that I will never forget.  Over the years, I have had the opportunity to attend a variety of events and meet many people from all walks of life, but I can honestly tell you that the Ellis Island Medal of Honor Ceremony and Gala tops the list.

 

I am truly humbled by this unexpected honor.  To be included as part of the 2013 group of Medalists, for an award that has been presented to Bob Hope, Mohammad Ali, former Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, and so many more exceptional and amazing people is a reflection on this wonderful adventure that has been Camp Good Days for the past 34 years.  It is a reflection of the hard work, dedication, and love of so many volunteers that have enabled us to serve more than 44,000 campers from 22 states and 28 countries; as well as all those who have helped us to establish and embark on our most recent initiative, CANCER MISSION 2020…THE END OF CANCER BY THE END OF THE DECADE.” 

In regards to CANCER MISSION 2020, I am excited that we are soon moving into the Call To Action phase of our plan, as we will be joining United States Congressman, Tom Reed, in early June, to share the re-introduction of the CANCER MISSION 2020 Legislation into the House of Representatives.  More specific details about this important legislation, as well as ways in which you can help and share this information, will be available in the coming weeks.  We also continue to build our database of CANCER MISSION 2020 supporters, conducting CANCER MISSION 2020 Petition Drives and collecting signatures at all of the various activities and events we are involved with. 

We are now focusing on getting everything ready to go for the summer camping programs and there is still time to register for the various programs we provide, for children, young adults, adults, and families.  Check out www.campgooddays.org for the complete schedule and online registration forms.  We are also getting ready for the Volunteer Training Sessions, to ensure that all those dedicated men and women who are willing to help us provide the best programs possible for our campers are well-equipped with the tools and information they need.  There is also still time to sign up as a volunteer.  Volunteer Applications are available on the website and can be completed and submitted online.  I can assure you that volunteering at one of the Camp Good Days’ summer programs will be one of the most amazing experiences of your life and one you won’t soon forget!

 

If you are not able to commit to a full program at the Camp Good Days’ Recreational Facility but still want to be involved and help out, there are many ways to do that as well. 

 

We are again this summer partnering with the Rochester Rhinos and Western New York Flash teams and conducting Quarters for Cancer at all of their home games at Sahlen’s Stadium.  Volunteers are needed to help collect quarters from game attendees and to help share information about Camp Good Days.  For more information and the schedule, please email Laura Osborn, losborn@campgooddays.org. 

 

We are thrilled and excited that Camp Good Days has been selected as one of the beneficiary organizations for the PGA Tour at Oak Hill Country Club, which will take place August 5-11, 2013.  This is a wonderful opportunity for us to raise some much needed funds and to share Camp Good Days with PGA attendees, but we are going to need many, many volunteers to help us make this a success.  To learn more about how you can volunteer for the PGA with Camp Good Days, please email Nicole Jones, njones@campgooddays.org. 

 

We have a variety of special fundraising events on the calendar and are looking for event attendees, participants, supporters, sponsors, and volunteers.  Some of the events include the Tournament of Love Golf Tournament, which will be held on Tuesday, June 4, 2013 at Monroe Golf Club, chaired by our good friends, Rich and Pat Funke; Brew Ha Ha on Friday, June 14, 2013; Just Clowning Around 5K on Saturday, July 13, 2013 in Mendon; the Creative Black-Tie Gala, Great Wall of Courage, in Buffalo on Saturday, June 22, 2013; Bocce Bash on Saturday, July 20, 2013; Soccer in the Sand on Saturday and Sunday, August 3-4, 2013; the Syracuse Golf Tournament on Monday, August 5, 2013; Corey-Coffey Golf Classic on Monday, August 19, 2013; the Fashion Show in Buffalo on Sunday, September 22, 2013; Tour de Teddi on Saturday, September 28, 2013; and Courage Bowl IX on Saturday, November 16, 2013.

As you can see, it has been quite busy and eventful around here and we are now heading into our busiest season, but we are excited about the coming summer programs and to doing what we do best – providing the best programs and services, all in an effort to improve the quality of life for children, adults, and families whose lives have been touched by cancer and other life challenges and helping to create some truly good days and special times for those who need them the most!

 

As I was going through the mail today, I received a few things from long-time volunteer and friend, Larry Sicurella.  I read with great interest one of the items he sent, which he wrote and dedicated to a fellow volunteer, Craig Lawrence, who became a great friend and mentor to him.  As we are getting ready to begin our 34^th summer, I thought I would share it with you…

Camp Good Days Creed

By Larry Sicurella

 

If you go to Camp Good Days, there’s some guide lines to follow

Eat all the camp food till your very last swallow

Try all the activities they have at the camp

There’s no shame in trying, you’ll feel like a champ

Take off your wig, we don’t care about hair

Wear what you want no one will stare

Bring your best voice, there’s plenty of singing

And be ready to eat when the breakfast bells ringing

The week will fly by, savor each day

It starts with a service in which we all pray

Just remember at camp there are no limitations

The counselors are unique they have different vocations

We are here together we’re a family for sure

And we’ll keep coming to camp till they find a cure

I promise you one thing Camp isn’t boring

And hopefully you’ll sleep through your counselors snoring

You must take a shower during the week

We all sleep in a cabin and we don’t want it to reek

Pick out a great costume for a Camp Good Days Dance

There’s dresses, sport coats, and all sorts of pants

Each day we are here you will laugh till you cry

And at the end we will hug and say our goodbyes

As you leave on the bus and shed your last tear

You’ll be counting the days till you come back next year

Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month / Night of Gratitude

Maybe it is just me, but the time really seems to be going by so quickly!  We are already into the third month of the New Year, the end of the second quarter of our fiscal year, and this past Wednesday was 31 years since my daughter, Teddi, the inspiration for Camp Good Days, lost her battle to cancer.  I continue to be amazed and honored everyday by the overwhelming legacy she has left and how much one little girl has impacted the lives of so many children, families, volunteers, and supporters – most of whom never had the opportunity to know her.

 

When Teddi passed away, I believed that there would no longer be the need for Camp Good Days some 31 years later, as I was sure that we would have found the answers to cancer by now, but that is unfortunately not the case.  In an effort to address the fact that we have still not found the answers, we established CANCER MISSION 2020…THE END OF CANCER BY THE END OF THE DECADE (www.cancermission2020.com).  Through CANCER MISSION 2020, we have made some real progress, through Congressional District Cancer Summits, CANCER MISSION 2020 Petition Drives, and I am excited to share that Congressman Tom Reed is in the process of re-introducing CANCER MISSION 2020 Legislation into the House of Representatives. 

 

As many of you know, it was also through our work with CANCER MISSION 2020 that we learned that cancer is now the leading cause of death, here in Monroe County and last September, I, along with Dr. Byron Kennedy, Deputy Director of the Monroe County Department of Public Health presented the Action Plan to Reduce the Burden of Cancer in Monroe County, to Monroe County Executive, Maggie Brooks and more than 100 government, business, medical, and community leaders.  In November 2012, we focused on lung cancer, the number one cancer killer in Monroe County and this month we are focusing on colorectal cancer, the second leading cancer killer in our community. 

 

At a Press Conference held this morning, which is National Dress in Blue Day, at the TOPS Market on Winton Road, I joined local community leaders, Dr. Byron Kennedy, Deputy Director, Monroe County Department of Public Health; Matthew Flanigan, Regional Vice President, American Cancer Society; Candice Lucas, URMC Center for Community Health; Jeff Adair, President of the Monroe County Legislature; and Dana Miller, Vice President, Rochester City Council, to remind residents of Monroe County and the Greater Rochester area that March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. 

 

Deaths from colorectal cancer can be prevented through screening.  When colorectal cancer is diagnosed early, at the localized stage, the five-year survival rate is 90%. In some cases colorectal cancer can be prevented when precancerous polyps are removed during colonoscopies.

There are several different screening tests that can be used to find polyps or colorectal cancer. Each one can be used alone; sometimes they are used in combination. People should talk with their doctor about which test(s) is right for them and how often they should be tested. For those of average risk, screening tests usually begin at age 50.

 

Screening tests that can detect cancer and polyps include a colonoscopy; the flexible sigmoidoscopy; the virtual colonoscopy; and the double-contrast barium enema.  There are also screening tests that are less invasive, and may indicate cancer.The fecal immunochemical test (FIT), also called an immunochemical fecal occult blood test (iFOBT), is a newer kind of stool test that also detects occult (hidden) blood in the stool. This detection is important because it can be a sign of precancerous polyps or colon cancer. In addition to screening tests, some ways in which people can help to reduce their risk of colorectal cancer include: regular screening after 50 years of age; eating a low-fat, high-fiber diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole grain foods; limiting the intake of high-fat foods, including red and processed meats; limiting the consumption of alcoholic beverages and tobacco use; being physically active with at least 30 minutes of exercise on four or more days of the week; maintaining a healthy weight; and knowing your family's cancer history.

 

There are a variety of activities taking place throughout the month, as part of National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month.   

 

As part of CANCER MISSION 2020 we will host three CANCER MISSION 2020 Petition Drives at the local Department of Motor Vehicle locations.  The CANCER MISSION 2020 Petition Drives will take place on Tuesday, March 5, 2013 from 12:30 PM – 4:30 PM at the Greece Branch of DMV, located at Greece Ridge Center Mall (Entrance 2); on Wednesday, March 6, 2013 from 12:30 PM – 4:30 PM at the Irondequoit Branch of DMV, located in Titus Mall, 545 Titus Avenue; and on Thursday, March 7, 2013 from 12:30 PM – 4:30 PM at the Henrietta Branch of DMV, located in Suburban Plaza, 2199 East Henrietta Road. Department of Motor Vehicle customers and the general public are invited to stop by and sign the CANCER MISSION 2020 Petition. 

 

People may also sign the CANCER MISSION 2020 Petition online at www.cancermission2020.com and download hard copies of the petition as well. 

 

Jeff Calkins, General Manager of the Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial has generously made a display case in the main lobby available for us to share information about the burden of cancer in Monroe County and National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month with local sporting and other special event attendees. 

 

In recognition of National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, the Cancer Services Program of Monroe County will be in four TOPS Markets locations, 450 West Avenue, 2345 Buffalo Road, 1900 S. Clinton Avenue, and 1100 Jefferson Road, on Tuesday, March 5, 2013 to give out FIT kits to those who are uninsured, as well as to share information with those who do have insurance.  TOPS Markets will have information available for customers throughout the month of March.  The Cancer Services Program is also conducting an extensive media campaign this month to generate awareness and share information about colorectal cancer.

 

Please take some time this month to do what you can to help reduce your chances and the chances of those you love and care about from being diagnosed with colorectal cancer and take a moment to visit the CANCER MISSION 2020 website, www.cancermission2020.com – you’ll find some exciting changes – sign the CANCER MISSION 2020 Petition and join us in this important effort to find the answers that have been alluding us.

 

As I mentioned a couple of weeks ago, next Friday, March 8, 2013, we will host A Night of Gratitude, at the Rochester Plaza Hotel in Downtown Rochester, during which we will recognize the 2012 Teddi Award Winners and Ring of Honor Inductees. 

 

The Ring of Honor was established as part of Camp Good Days’ 25^th Anniversary Celebration in 2004 and includes those who are selected for their outstanding dedication, commitment and support of the thousands of children and families served over the years. In addition to their award, inductee’s names will be included in the permanent Ring of Honor display, which is located at the Camp Good Days’ Recreational Facility, in Branchport, NY, for all to see.  The inductees for the Ring of Honor, being recognized at A Night of Gratitude are: Katie Bess; Maggie Brooks; Nancy Chestnut; Brian Cuvelier & Family; Monroe County District Attorney’s Office; Peter Formicola (posthumously); Aimee Gasparre; Rob & Tina Harter; Jerry Romanowski; Louise Slaughter; St. John Fisher College Football; Mark Soule; Walden Galleria Mall; Scott Vallow; Jayne Van Zile; Chris Van Zile-Stabins; and University of Rochester Football

 

The Teddi Award is one of the highest honors bestowed by Camp Good Days to those who have gone above and beyond within the past year, in helping to fulfill the mission of improving the quality of life for children, adults, and families whose lives have been touched by cancer and other life challenges.  The recipients of the Teddi Award are: Eliana Blatt; Travis Butchello; Campground Owners of New York; Canisius College Women’s Basketball; Annmarie Charo; Jerrod Church; Patrick & Suzanne Crough; Steve & Patty DiGennaro; Louie Donato; Joe Donato; Tony Donato; East Amherst Dental; Matt Elkins; Mark Gestring, MD; Otto Harnischfeger; Dave Henderson; Justin Jerzak; Lauren Keeler; Dave Petrie; Pittsford Dairy; Walter Sanders; Nikki Sepielli; Beth Shope; St. Luke’s Cookie Baking Ladies; and Vogue Salon & Day Spa.

 

We hope that you will help us in honoring and thanking all of our award recipients.  Tickets are still available for $30.00 per person and may be purchased by contacting Laura Osborn, here at the Camp Good Days’ Headquarters, 585-624-5555 or 800-785-2135, or via email, losborn@campgooddays.org.  You can also purchase tickets online, at www.campgooddays.org. 

 

Wishing everyone a safe and happy weekend and with our heartfelt gratitude and appreciation, we wish the very best to the students at Lansing High School in Ithaca who are hosting their Night of Life event this evening, and to all of the students at Fayetteville-Manlius who will dance the day and night away on Saturday, for the Fayetteville-Manlius Dance Marathon!

Teddi Dance for Love & More

One of my favorite sayings is that if you want to see God laugh, plan!  I had all good intentions of updating you with a post last week, but unfortunately I was under the weather and am just now starting to feel better and get caught up with work.

 

I didn’t feel well enough to attend the Opening Ceremonies of the 31^st Annual Teddi Dance for Love at St. John Fisher College last Friday evening, which was so difficult for me, as this is the first time in the history of this special event that I have not been there on Friday night.  Thankfully, I did make it on Saturday evening for the Closing Ceremonies and I am so glad that I did!  The Teddi Dance for Love is one of my favorite times of the year.  There are two things in life that are always guaranteed – whenever the Teddi Dance for Love takes place, it is always so cold outside, but inside, the warmth and love from all of the dancers is overwhelming.  It has been said that the two greatest gifts that we as human beings can give to one another are our time and our love.  Over those 24 hours, each and every one of them give so much of both, and their efforts will directly result in the creation of some good days and special times for some very special children and families who are dealing with cancer.  As Teddi’s Dad, they go above and beyond in helping to keep my daughter’s spirit and memory alive.  There are truly no words to express my gratitude for that special gift they give to me.

 

THANK YOU! To Danielle Allington, Chair and Jenny Keeler, Vice-Chair, along with the entire Teddi Dance for Love Committee, the hundreds of participants, all of the volunteers, and the administration, faculty and staff at St. John Fisher College, and Honorary Chairman, Steve Hausmann, co-host of Coffee in the Morning on 92.5 WBEE for making the 31^st Annual Teddi Dance for Love a tremendous success, generating $50,931.56 to support the Teddi Project at Camp Good Days, which helps to provide the Annual Florida Fun Fest trip and other special activities and events for the children and families we serve. 

 

Similar to all those who planned, participated in and supported the Teddi Dance for Love, there are so many individuals, businesses, and organizations that make it possible for us to do all that we do here at Camp Good Days – and all that we are able to give back is a good feeling and the knowledge that they are helping some very special children and families.  Next month, we will be recognizing and honoring some of those that have made a real difference in the lives of the children and families at Camp Good Days.  On Friday, March 8, 2013, we will host A Night of Gratitude, at the Rochester Plaza Hotel in Downtown Rochester, during which we will recognize the 2012 Teddi Award Winners and Ring of Honor Inductees. 

 

The Ring of Honor was established as part of Camp Good Days’ 25^th Anniversary Celebration in 2004 and includes those who are selected for their outstanding dedication, commitment and support of the thousands of children and families served over the years. In addition to their award, inductee’s names will be included in the permanent Ring of Honor display, which is located at the Camp Good Days’ Recreational Facility, in Branchport, NY, for all to see.  The inductees for the Ring of Honor, being recognized at A Night of Gratitude are: Katie Bess; Maggie Brooks; Nancy Chestnut; Brian Cuvelier & Family; Monroe County District Attorney’s Office; Peter Formicola (posthumously); Aimee Gasparre; Rob & Tina Harter; Jerry Romanowski; Louise Slaughter; St. John Fisher College Football; Mark Soule; Walden Galleria Mall; Scott Vallow; Jayne Van Zile; Chris Van Zile-Stabins; and University of Rochester Football

 

The Teddi Award is one of the highest honors bestowed by Camp Good Days to those who have gone above and beyond within the past year, in helping to fulfill the mission of improving the quality of life for children, adults, and families whose lives have been touched by cancer and other life challenges.  The recipients of the Teddi Award are: Eliana Blatt; Travis Butchello; Campground Owners of New York; Canisius College Women’s Basketball; Annmarie Charo; Jerrod Church; Patrick & Suzanne Crough; Steve & Patty DiGennaro; Louie Donato; Joe Donato; Tony Donato; East Amherst Dental; Matt Elkins; Mark Gestring, MD; Otto Harnischfeger; Dave Henderson; Justin Jerzak; Lauren Keeler; Dave Petrie; Pittsford Dairy; Walter Sanders; Nikki Sepielli; Beth Shope; St. Luke’s Cookie Baking Ladies; and Vogue Salon & Day Spa.

 

We hope that all who are able will join us for this very special evening and help us in honoring and thanking all of our award recipients.  Tickets to attend A Night of Gratitude are $30.00 per person and may be purchased by contacting Laura Osborn, here at the Camp Good Days’ Headquarters, 585-624-5555 or 800-785-2135, or via email, losborn@campgooddays.org.  You can also purchase tickets online, at www.campgooddays.org. 

 

The rest of this week brings a number of meetings for the Tournament of Love, the Tour de Teddi, our weekly Staff Meeting, and a Project Exile Advisory Board Meeting.  So things are busy and continue to move along. 

 

Until next time…wishing you all a great week and a very Happy Valentine’s Day filled with lots of love!

New Year Update

It is hard to believe that we are already one month into the New Year!  I hope that everyone had a joyous Holiday Season and a great start to 2013. 

 

We had a very successful Holiday Season, here at Camp Good Days, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank the JC Penney Managers and Employees at Marketplace Mall, Greece Ridge Center Mall, and Eastview Mall, as well as the Rochester Lancers, City of Rochester, the Walden-Galleria Mall in Buffalo, Destiny USA in Syracuse, and Old Navy at the Shops at Ithaca, as well as all of the volunteers and those who helped to support Camp Good Days and Special Times’ Annual Joe Benet Memorial Kazoo Fest this Holiday Season.

 

With the start of the New Year, we are actively pursuing our goals and objectives, which I shared with all of you in my last post. 

 

One of those is to continue the efforts of CANCER MISSION 2020, moving from the INFORMATION Phase to the CALL TO ACTION Phase.  I am pleased to share with you that I had the opportunity to meet with Congressman Tom Reed this week and he will re-introduce the CANCER MISSION 2020 Legislation, as soon as possible.  Once we have the new bill information, we will be sure to share that with all of you, so that you can ask your representatives to support this important legislation.  We also met this week, with some of our colleagues who helped to develop the Action Plan to Reduce the Burden of Cancer in Monroe County to discuss some ideas and plans for March, which will be Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month.  Cancer is the leading cause of death, here in Monroe County, and colorectal cancer is the second-leading cancer killer in our community.  We look forward to sharing our plans for next month with all of you very soon.  Save the date – if you live in and around the Greater Rochester area, our next CANCER MISSION 2020 Petition Drive will take place next Friday, February 8, 2013 from 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM at Rochester City Hall.  Everyone is welcome to stop in and see us, sign the petition, and obtain informational materials about our work to end cancer by the end of the decade.

 

We will also continue the work we do under the auspices of the Partners Against Violence Everywhere (PAVE) Initiative, and Project Exile, working to remind people about the awesome responsibility that comes with gun ownership. One important thing I have learned through my involvement with Project Exile, and according to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, is that approximately 39% of crime guns here have been stolen.  Project Exile is supported by both the NRA and the Brady Gun Lobby, and no one is denying our Second Amendment right as Americans to own a gun, but there is an enormous responsibility to gun ownership.  The horrific tragedies that occurred in Newtown, and in our own backyard in Webster on Christmas Eve, are the worst kind of violence, and while we need to be more conscious about mental illness and provide a support system for those individuals and families dealing with that, we need to have a very serious conversation about guns, and it needs to start with our leadership at the top.  Hopefully these tragedies will finally lead to some positive action.

 

Tune in to the Camp Good Days’ Radio Show next Thursday, February 6, 2013 at 6:30 PM on WYSL News 1040 AM / 92.1 FM to hear more about this topic, from local law enforcement officials and prosecutors, including United States Attorney for the Western District of New York, William Hochul; United States Marshal, Charles Salina; Resident Agent-in-Charge for the Rochester Office of the Bureau of ATF, Scott Heagney; Monroe County District Attorney, Sandra Doorley, and Rochester Police Chief, James Sheppard.  If you are outside of the listening area, you can get the podcast of the show at www.wysl1040.com. 

 

As many of you know, special fundraising events are vital to Camp Good Days, as they provide the means for us to continue keeping the promise I made 34 years ago - that all of our programs and services would be provided free of charge for the participants, so as not to create any additional financial burden on those families served.  Oftentimes, especially when a child is diagnosed with cancer, one of the parents (if the child is lucky enough to have both parents in their life) becomes the primary caregiver and must cut back their hours at work.  With that, the family income decreases, yet the bills remain the same, and I never wanted a family to have to make the decision between sending their loved one to Camp Good Days and paying their bills.  There are very few things that are the same price as they were in 1979 – that price being free.

 

This morning, some of us had the pleasure of attending the Beary Brunch, at St. John Fisher College this morning.  The Beary Brunch is the official kick-off to the Teddi Dance for Love week.  The 31^st Annual Teddi Dance for Love will take place next Friday & Saturday, February 8 & 9, 2013 in the Student Life Center at St. John Fisher College.  This 24-hour dance marathon is planned and implemented by a student committee at the college and raises funds to support the Teddi Project, here at Camp Good Days, providing the funds necessary for us to be able to take campers on special outings and activities, and on the Annual Florida Fun Fest.  The Teddi Dance for Love is one of my favorite times of year; a time when you see firsthand the true meaning of love, hope, and giving.  Each and every year, I continue to be amazed by the hard work, dedication and devotion displayed by the Teddi Committee, all of the participants, volunteers and supporters, and the overall St. John Fisher College community.  As Teddi’s Dad, all those involved with the Teddi Dance for Love help to keep my daughter’s spirit and memory alive.  There are truly no words to express my gratitude for that special gift they give to me. 

 

We will be bringing a group of campers to the Teddi Dance for Love on Saturday, from 4:00 PM – 8:15 PM.  The campers always have a blast, meeting and dancing with the participants, and the Closing Ceremonies, as well as the Opening Ceremonies, are truly remarkable.  Prior to attending the Teddi Dance for Love, the campers are in for a fun-filled weekend, which begins on Friday evening with a sleepover party, complete with ice cream sundaes and movies.  On Saturday morning, the group will head to Canisius College, where they will be the special guests of the Women’s Basketball Team, taking a tour of the locker room, having pizza in the Griff’s Den, and watching the team take on Loyola.

 

One of my personal goals is to be more consistent with these blog posts, in an effort to keep you all up-to-date.  Sometimes it can be a bit difficult, as you can tell from the number of different programs, events, activities and efforts we are involved with – but I promised to do my best.

 

So, until next week (hopefully), I wish you all a safe and wonderful Super Bowl Weekend!

Holiday Update

As you can imagine, things have been very hectic and busy, here at Camp Good Days, and the time just goes by so quickly.  As 2012 rapidly comes to a close we are in the final days of the Annual Joe Benet Memorial Kazoo Fest; we are hosting some Petition Drives for CANCER MISSION 2020; completing our annual independent audit and working on the budget for the coming year. 

 

The Kazoo Fest is taking place at the malls in Rochester, Buffalo, Syracuse and Ithaca, so if you are out doing your holiday shopping, stop by the Kazoo Fest tables and pick up some great stocking stuffers and gifts.  If you are in need of a large amount of kazoos, which make a great addition to any holiday or New Year’s celebration, please call our Headquarters at 585-624-5555 and we would be happy to accommodate your bulk purchase.  Once again, I would like to express our sincere thanks and gratitude to the store managers and employees at JC Penney at Eastview Mall, Marketplace Mall, and Greece-Ridge Center Mall, as well as the staff at Walden-Galleria Mall, Destiny USA, and the Shops at Ithaca, for their continued support and for making it possible for us to host the Annual Kazoo Fest at their locations again this season.

 

This special time of year provides us with the opportunity to be thankful for our many blessings.  Camp Good Days has so many special angels, who in small ways and large ways, help us to continue fulfilling our mission and who have helped me to keep my daughter Teddi’s memory and legacy going, and for that I am forever grateful. 

 

It is also the time that we plan for the coming year and all of the excitement and unknown that goes along with that.  With that in mind, I would like to share with you some of our objectives for 2013. 

 

There has been a lot going on in regards to CANCER MISSION 2020.  We are currently working with a small committee to make some changes and updates to the CANCER MISSION 2020 website, www.cancermission2020.com, and are looking forward to sharing those changes very soon. 

 

As many of you know, CANCER MISSION 2020 was officially launched on December 2, 2010 and it is hard to believe that two years have gone by already.   We are proud of how far we have come in such a short time and we are excited about the coming year.  CANCER MISSION 2020 is based on a three-prong approach of INFORMATION – CALL TO ACTION – ACCOUNTABILITY. 

 

To put things in perspective: the odds of tripping while texting are 1 in 10 – the odds of getting cancer in your lifetime are 1 in 2 men and 1 in 3 women.  11,000 Americans are dying from cancer every week – that is one American every single minute! 

 

In 2013, we will continue with the INFORMATION phase, through hosting CANCER MISSION 2020 Petition Drives, re-invigorating our CANCER MISSION 2020 College Campus Advocates Program, and I am pleased that we have a new staff member, Phil Martello, who will be helping with the social media aspects of CANCER MISSION 2020.  We will also be moving into the CALL TO ACTION phase with the re-introduction of the legislation that was introduced by Congressman Tom Reed into Congress this past year.  This legislation is a direct result of the recommendations that came as a result of the Congressional District Cancer Summits held in 2011.  We will also be looking at hosting additional Congressional District Cancer Summits during 2013.  We will be moving forward with the Action Plan to Reduce the Burden of Cancer in Monroe County – where cancer is now the leading cause of death – in March, during Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, as colorectal cancer is the second leading cancer killer in Monroe County. 

 

Special thanks to all those who have responded to our call for help in obtaining signatures for the CANCER MISSION 2020 Petitions, both online and in person.  Thousands have signed the petition and we continue that effort, as there is strength in numbers and we need that strength to demonstrate to our leaders that we want cancer to be a top priority.  Please share the CANCER MISSION 2020 Petition with your network – people can sign online or download hard-copy petition sheets at www.cancermission2020.com. 

 

We are in the process of putting together our summer program schedule and we will be making a concentrated effort to reach out to all of the hospitals that serve adults dealing with cancer, particularly to share information about our Women’s Oncology Program, as well as our Childhood USA programs for children who have a parent or sibling dealing with cancer, and our Camp B&ST programs for children who have lost a parent or sibling to cancer.  And as we always have been, we will continue to be dedicated to serving children who are dealing with cancer.

 

Through our Partners Against Violence Everywhere (PAVE) Initiative, we will continue to help coordinate the Project Exile Program, which is a joint law enforcement and community initiative to help remove illegal guns from the streets of our community; look at Project T.I.P.S. (Trust, Information, Programs and Services) for next summer; continue to hold the very successful Homework Huddle tutoring and mentoring program; and continue our relationships and partnerships, working with the Rochester City School District and the Leadership Program and the Rochester Police Department’s Do The Right Thing Award Program. 

 

Along with all of the above-mentioned things, we are looking to renovate the Arts & Crafts and Woodworking activity areas at the Recreational Facility, which are two of the most popular activities for our campers.  The renovated Arts & Crafts area will be done in memory of renowned artist, Ramon Santiago, who until losing his own battle to cancer, was a dear and special friend to the children at Camp Good Days.  We are also having our Headquarters and Volunteer Training Facility re-sided.

 

And last but not least, I was recently going through some boxes and came across a movie script that had been written in 1996, based on For the Love of Teddi: The Story Behind Camp Good Days and Special Times, which was written by Dr. Lou Buttino. I am dusting it off and hoping to be able to update it and take it to the marketplace and share our story with many more people.

 

The New Year is like a new day, approached with hope and promise and I will do my best in the coming year to keep you all updated on our plans and progress, as we move forward. 

 

Wishing all of you a joyous Holiday Season and a New Year filled with good health, peace, happiness and much love!

Cancer and the Election

First and foremost, I hope that everyone has weathered through Hurricane Sandy safe and sound! 

 

We are one week away from the 2012 Elections and as I am sure many of you will agree, this has been a long and highly competitive campaign season on many levels, especially in the race for the White House and I hope that each and every one of you who is eligible to do so will take a few minutes out of your day next Tuesday, November 6^th and vote, and I hope that you will take some time over the next week to consider the candidates and what each of them stands for and promises to do for our country. 

 

When considering the candidates, consider this: we have had four and a half hours of Presidential debates, and during those 270 minutes, not once did either candidate make mention of cancer and what they would do, as the leader of this country, to find the answers to this horrible disease that is taking the lives of 11,000 Americans every week. 

 

These 11,000 Americans are our mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, and as it were in my case, our children.  Deaths in America from cancer are the equivalent of one of the Twin Towers falling every single day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.  In America today if you are 85 years of age or younger, cancer is the leading cause of death and for those between the ages of 30-65, cancer claims more lives than the next three causes combined.  For those 0-14 years old, cancer remains one of the leading causes of death.  It was recently announced that cancer is the leading cause of death among Hispanics in the United States and right here in Monroe County, cancer is the leading cause of death regardless of age, race, or gender!  Many people believe that if we do not do something, by 2016, cancer will be the leading cause of death in America, regardless of age.  From a financial standpoint, cancer is one of the most, if not the most, economically devastating diseases, and finding the answers needs to be a national priority and needs to be moved to the front burner. 

 

Let’s take a look at some odds:  Odds of dating a supermodel: 1 in 88,000; Odds of bowling the perfect game: 1 in 11,500; Odds of catching a ball at a major league game: 1 in 563; Odds of tripping while texting: 1 in 10; Odds of getting cancer in your lifetime: 1 in 2 men, 1 in 3 women.   These odds are unacceptable.

 

The answers are going to come through clinical trials.  Where we have made some progress is in childhood cancer, as some 65-70% of all pediatric cancer patients are involved in clinical trials, where in comparison, only 1-3% of adult cancer patients are involved in clinical trials.  If clinical trials are where the answers are going to be found, it is easy to see why we are losing this fight against cancer. 

 

Since starting CANCER MISSION 2020…THE END OF CANCER BY THE END OF THE DECADE almost two years ago, I have talked to people at every major cancer center in the country.  We know more now than we ever have and we are on the verge of finding the answers, but we need to put our resources into clinical trials and this needs to be a priority for our leaders in government.  If we continue to do things the same way we have been doing them, yet expect different results, that is the true definition of insanity. 

 

The President’s most important job is to protect the American people.  As American citizens, and as voters, the majority of us having been touched by cancer directly or indirectly, we can no longer bury our heads in the sand and wait for someone else to find the answers to cancer. 

 

Let’s ask our leaders, and the candidates, what they are going to do to protect the American people from cancer – a disease that not only takes the lives of so many prematurely, but seems to have to humiliate them in the process.  It is time to rekindle the belief and the will in the American people that cancer is a disease that will not be tolerated any longer and can be defeated!

 

If you agree that we can do better in our fight against cancer, check out www.cancermission2020.com, sign the CANCER MISSION 2020 Petition, download copies of the Petition and collect signatures, and share this information with your family, friends, colleagues, and co-workers.  There is strength in numbers and together, we can put an end to cancer by the end of the decade!

 

Wishing all of you a safe and Happy Halloween, and don’t forget to vote on Election Day!

 

Help Camp Good Days This Holiday Season!

Fall is certainly in the air here in Upstate New York and with the change in season, all of us at Camp Good Days are gearing up for the coming Holiday Season and looking forward to the New Year!

 

With the Holiday Season comes one of our largest and most important special events – the Annual Joe Benet Memorial Kazoo Fest.  The Kazoo Fest, which has become a long-standing holiday tradition, was started more than 60 years ago by Joe Benet outside the Toy Department of the Sibley’s store on Main Street in downtown Rochester and has since become one of the major and most successful fundraising events to benefit the many programs and services we provide. Following Joe Benet’s death from cancer, his son, former Monroe County Legislator, Bill Benet, contacted me to see if the Kazoo Fest tradition could be continued, staffed by volunteers, with proceeds benefiting the programs and services at Camp Good Days.  Since 1984, Camp Good Days, with help and support from various retail locations and thousands of volunteers, has continued the Kazoo Fest. 

 

I am so pleased to share with you that we will once again have Kazoo Fest locations at the mall entrance to JC Penney at Marketplace Mall, Greece-Ridge Center Mall, and Eastview Mall in the Rochester area.  We will also have Kazoo Fest locations at the Galleria Mall in Buffalo; Destiny USA, the former Carousel Center, in Syracuse; and The Shops at Ithaca in the Southern Tier Region.  The Kazoo Fest kicks off on Friday, November 23, 2012 and goes through Sunday, December 23, 2012 and will feature the name-sake Camp Good Days’ kazoos, the always popular, peppermint-scented Candy Cane Pens, and other merchandise. 

 

HUNDREDS OF VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED to help make the Annual Joe Benet Memorial Kazoo Fest a great success.  No previous volunteer experience is needed and volunteers may select their preferred Kazoo Fest location, as well as their preferred dates and times.  If you are interested in volunteering a few hours of your time this Holiday Season, please contact your local Camp Good Days Office (Headquarters / Rochester: 585-624-5555; Buffalo: 716-206-0709; Syracuse: 315-434-9477; Ithaca: 607-266-9180) or check out www.campgooddays.org. 

 

As we approach the Holiday Season, I would like to ask two favors of each of you. 

 

The first is that you keep the children and families at Camp Good Days in your thoughts when deciding on your year-end giving.  The only way we are able to continue providing all of our programs and services, for so many who are dealing with cancer, free of charge for the participants, is because of the generosity of so many and the success of special fundraising events.

 

The second favor is to ask for your help in CANCER MISSION 2020, which many of you know is very important to Camp Good Days, to me personally, and is something that I am fully committed to.  As I shared in my last post, over the past two years we have made great strides in our CANCER MISSION 2020 efforts.  We have hosted three Congressional District Cancer Summits, the result of which was legislation (H.R. 5283) introduced into the House of Representatives by Congressman Tom Reed.  Thousands of people, from all 50 states and 95 foreign countries, have visited the CANCER MISSION 2020 website and signed the CANCER MISSION 2020 Petition and we have a number of CANCER MISSION 2020 College Campus Advocates working on our behalf at campuses across Upstate New York.  Most recently, after receiving the news that cancer is now the leading cause of death in Monroe County, Monroe County Executive, Maggie Brooks, asked Dr. Byron Kennedy, Deputy Director of the Monroe County Department of Public Health, and myself, to lead a small, working committee to develop the first steps in addressing this.  We were pleased to have presented the Action Plan to Address the Burden of Cancer in Monroe County at a breakfast meeting on Monday, September 24, 2012, to more than 100 community, medical government and business leaders.  We are now in the midst of many follow-up meetings and presentations regarding this plan.

 

While we have been making some real progress, we still have a long way to go and WE NEED YOUR HELP!  Let’s take a look at some of the odds…

 

Odds of becoming an astronaut: 1 in 13,200,000

Odds of getting struck by lightning: 1 in 576,000

Odds of bowling the perfect game: 1 in 11,500

Odds of catching a ball at a major league game: 1 in 563

Odds of tripping while texting: 1 in 10

Odds of getting cancer in your lifetime: 1 in 2 men, 1 in 3 women

Those are pretty staggering and disturbing odds! 

 

There is strength in numbers and one of our key action items is to have as many signatures as possible on the CANCER MISSION 2020 Petition, which will serve as the voice to our community, our government leaders, and our country, that we all want cancer moved to the front burner and want to put an end to this dreadful disease that is taking 11,000 of our mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, and children every single week. 

 

You can find the CANCER MISSION 2020 Petition online at www.cancermission2020.com.  It is our hope that you will share this with your friends, family members, co-workers, colleagues, neighbors, etc. and ask them to sign the CANCER MISSION 2020 Petition and join us in this effort.  Hard-copy Petition sheets are also available on the website, which you can print and share.  Completed sheets can be returned to us here at Camp Good Days. 

 

Should you need additional petition sheets or if you are a member of an organization, business, or group that would be interested in having a presentation about CANCER MISSION 2020, please contact Laura Osborn, here at Camp Good Days, 585-624-5555 or losborn@campgooddays.org.  

 

On behalf of all of us at Camp Good Days, I would like to thank you, in advance, for your help and support in this important effort and we wish you and yours a happy, healthy, and safe Holiday Season!