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!

 

September Update

I know it has been quite some time since my last post, but things have just been crazy around here, as we finish the transition from the Recreational Facility to the office, and have had a number of events and activities going on.

 

On Saturday, September 15, 2012, COURAGE BOWL VIII was played.  The COURAGE BOWL is the annual football game between the St. John Fisher College Cardinals and the University of Rochester Yellowjackets, to benefit the children and families at Camp Good Days.  This year’s game took on extra meaning, as it was the final game in the series between the Cardinals and the Yellowjackets. 

 

We went into this game wanting to give the Honorary Coaches, which included Danny Bookhart, III; Ryan Kruzicke; and Zack Murphy for the Cardinals; and Denton Jajkowski; Lucas Lowe; and Nicholas Krentz for the Yellowjackets; and the Honorary Cheerleaders, which included Katie Foster and Mareesa Boyatzies for the Cardinals; and Morgan DeMatteo and Kendell Caton for the Yellowjackets; a special experience and the opportunity to create some memories that they will carry with them for a long time.  We also wanted to give the players from both teams the chance to spend some time with these amazing campers.  We hoped for a beautiful fall day and a game which would showcase the exceptional Division III football played here, as we can oftentimes be overlooked with the Buffalo Bills to the west and Syracuse to the east.  We wanted a competitive game on the field, without injuries, that would keep the spectators interested.  We wanted a respectable crowd in the stands and a halftime show different from previous years.

 

Looking back, we could not have scripted it any better if we tried!  On Wednesday, September 12, 2012, the Courage Bowl Community Luncheon was hosted by St. John Fisher College President, Dr. Donald Bain.  In addition to formally announcing the Honorary Coaches and Honorary Cheerleaders, it was officially proclaimed to be COURAGE BOWL WEEK in the County of Monroe, the City of Rochester, and the Town of Pittsford.  We were thrilled that The College at Brockport President, Dr. John Halstead, and Athletic Director, Erick Hart, were able to join us for the luncheon, as we are looking forward to having The College at Brockport Golden Eagles as the opponent for the St. John Fisher College Cardinals in the Courage Bowl games, when they join the Empire 8 Conference. 

 

 

 

On Thursday, September 13, 2012 and Friday, September 14, 2012, the Honorary Coaches and Honorary Cheerleaders all had the chance to attend practice with their respective teams and the players and cheerleaders from both schools went above and beyond in making our campers feel welcome and a part of the team! 

 

On Saturday, September 15, 2012, thousands of fans filled Growney Stadium on the St. John Fisher College campus.  It was a perfect night for football and the game was very exciting, coming down to the final minutes of play and ending in a Cardinals victory, 20-16, over the Yellowjackets.  Adding to the excitement of the evening, Jennifer Dinolfo sang God Bless America and the acappella groups, Measure 13 from St. John Fisher College and Vocal Point from the University of Rochester, performed the National Anthem together.  At halftime, we presented the Third Annual Courage Award to Rochester Police Department Officers, Adam Alliet and Paul Dondorfer, who along with three medical students and a doctor from the University of Rochester Medical Center helped to rescue a father and his two small children from the Erie Canal in August.  Following the Courage Award presentation, the Gates Chili High School Marching Band put on a fantastic halftime show. 

 

 

 

For those who were unable to make it to the game, the COURAGE BOWL was carried live on WYSL 1040AM / 92.1 FM and on SportsRadio 950 ESPN, and was broadcast live across New York State by Time Warner Cable Sports.  If you missed the game, or want to see it again, it is now available OnDemand for Time Warner cable customers. 

 

We want to thank all of our partners and sponsors – St. John Fisher College, the University of Rochester, the County of Monroe, TOPS Markets, The Flanders Group, Karpus Investment Management, Passero Associates, Phoenix Graphics, Time Warner Cable Sports, Clear Channel Radio, and Vanderstyne Toyota, who helped to make COURAGE BOWL VIII a great success, as well as all of our Courage Bowl Souvenir Program Book advertisers and all the fans who came out in support of the children and families at Camp Good Days!

 

We are all looking forward to beginning a new chapter in the COURAGE BOWL playbook next year and we are excited about the continued growth of this very special event. 

 

Following the COURAGE BOWL, we jumped right back into things and last Friday, September 21, 2012, we held a Press Conference during which we announced that the final Project T.I.P.S. event for this year will take place this Friday, September 28, 2012 in the Webster Avenue neighborhood. Project T.I.P.S. stands for Trust, Information, Programs & Services, and includes community agencies and law enforcement personnel working in selected neighborhoods to rebuild trust amongst residents and share information.  Locations are selected by Rochester Police Chief, James Sheppard, along with his command staff, with collaboration from the Rochester Fire Department and other partner agencies.

 

Project T.I.P.S. will again include door-to-door, anonymous community surveys, conducted  by groups of one Police Officer, one Fire Fighter, and two volunteers, who will visit residents within the neighborhood to create conversations about quality of life issues, as well as to obtain information about the crime and violence that has plagued the neighborhood, in an anonymous format for residents.  The groups will also provide residents with information and contacts they can use regarding services that range from health care issues (cancer, diabetes, heart disease) to reporting information for things such as crime, vandalism, and fire. 

 

Residents are invited to attend a community cookout and get together, in the Webster Avenue neighborhood, (Thomas Ryan Community Center / School #33, 500 Webster Avenue, 14609), where they can come and obtain more information from service providers and law enforcement agencies, as well as have some food and beverages, and have the opportunity to visit with their neighbors that they know and meet some neighbors they may not know. 

 

Bringing Project T.I.P.S. into a neighborhood such as that of Webster Avenue and providing residents with information about the many services and programs available to them, as well as creating for them a forum in which they can share concerns, issues or suggestions, is a positive and productive effort.  Each of the previous Project T.I.P.S. events has proven to be very successful and provides residents and community members the opportunity to share issues they are facing, in a safe and anonymous format, while also giving them tools and information they can use in the future.  Given the recent crime and violence that has plagued our community over these past few months, we feel that bringing Project T.I.P.S. into the Webster Avenue neighborhood could not come at a better time.  We all share the responsibility and obligation, as residents of this community, to stand up against the violence by sharing information and reporting suspicious and illegal activity, and help to take back our neighborhoods in a positive and safe way.

 

After Project T.I.P.S. on Friday, many of us will head down to the Camp Good Days’ Recreational Facility for a full weekend.  The Women’s Oncology Wellness Program will take place from Friday evening through Sunday morning and approximately 60 women who are all dealing with cancer will have the opportunity to spend a beautiful fall weekend on the shores of Keuka Lake, taking part in a variety of activities such as Fishing, Yoga, Massage, Manicures, Mary Kay Makeovers, Arbonne Skin Care, Jewelry Making, Jafra, Woodworking, Reiki, and more. 

 

In addition to the Women’s Wellness Program, we will be hosting the Tour de Teddi, a bike ride around scenic Keuka Lake on Saturday.  Sponsored by Marina Auto Group, BonaDent Dental Laboratories, and Park Avenue Bike Shop, Tour de Teddi will start and finish at the Camp Good Days’ Recreational Facility.  Tour de Teddi offers three different cycling courses: a 45-mile ride around Keuka Lake; a 27-mile ride to Hammondsport and back; and a 14-mile ride along Keuka Lake.   The 45-mile ride begins at 10:00 AM, followed by the start of the 27-mile ride and 14-mile ride at 11:00 AM.  Close to 200 participants are registered to take part in Tour de Teddi and we are excited about bringing back this fun event.

 

As you all know, CANCER MISSION 2020…THE END OF CANCER BY THE END OF THE DECADE is an effort that is very important to me and one that I am and will continue to dedicate my time and commitment to.  This past Monday morning, after many months of hard work, I was so pleased to join Dr. Byron Kennedy, Deputy Director of the Monroe County Department of Public Health, to present the Action Plan to Reduce the Burden of Cancer in our Community, on behalf of our committee, to Monroe County Executive, Maggie Brooks, and approximately 100 government, medical, service agency, business, and community representatives. 

 

In late 2011, it was brought to my attention that cancer is now the leading cause of death in Monroe County, which led me to meet a number of times with Dr. Kennedy.  We then met with County Executive Brooks on Thursday, December 29, 2011 and it was suggested that she host a meeting to share this information.

 

That meeting took place on Tuesday, February 28, 2012 at Monroe Community Hospital where approximately 35 people joined us, including Rochester Mayor, Tom Richards; Monroe County Clerk, Cheryl Dinolfo; and representatives from Congressman Tom Reed’s Office; Congresswoman Ann Marie Buerkle’s Office; Congresswoman Louise Slaughter’s Office; Congresswoman Kathy Hochul’s Office; Wilmot Cancer Center; University of Rochester Medical Center; Rochester General Hospital; Thompson Health; Anthony Jordan Health Center; Rochester Primary Care Network; Greater Rochester Health Foundation; Monroe County Board of Health / Penfield Place; American Cancer Society; and Gilda’s Club Rochester. 

 

In follow-up to this initial meeting, and based upon the synergy and enthusiasm displayed, County Executive Brooks asked us to form and lead a small committee to develop a plan to serve as a first step for how our community could respond to the news that cancer is now the leading cause of death in Monroe County.  More than 40 individuals, representing a wide cross section of private, not-for-profit, medical, and governmental agencies and organizations have supported and / or contributed to the establishment and progress of CANCER MISSION 2020 and the development of this plan.

 

The Action Plan for Reducing the Burden of Cancer in the County of Monroe focuses on four key areas:

·         Education and Awareness -  educating residents about how to reduce cancer risks

·         Prevention- working towards tobacco free policies

·         Screening- increasing colorectal cancer screening rates

·         Support Services- ensuring that all cancer patients have access to support services

 

This plan is presented as a starting point for our community, to share information about where we currently are, as well as to provide some initial recommendations for moving forward in addressing this.  It is the hope that fellow community members will embrace this plan through action, by finding ways in which they can help to address this serious and life threatening issue. This plan can also serve as a model for other communities across New York State and the country, as they receive the news that cancer is the leading cause of death in their community and seek ways in which to respond to that news.  Cancer is already the leading cause of death in the United States for those 85 and younger and many believe that if something significant is not done soon, by 2016, cancer will be the leading cause of death in the United States, regardless of age.

 

To learn more about the plan and ways that you can get involved with the implementation, check out www.cancermission2020.com. 

 

I hope that I have caught everyone up on all that has been going on here at Camp Good Days and there will be much more to come as we begin our new fiscal year this coming Monday, October 1, 2012, and with that our 34^th year of serving children and families who are dealing with cancer. 

 

I wish you all a safe and happy weekend and based on the Camp Good Days’ calendar, a Happy New Year!

A Sad and Difficult Week

This past week has been a very difficult one, where in the midst of the excitement and challenges of the final weeks of our 33^rd summer of programs, we have lost two very special members of our Camp Good Days’ family.

Last Wednesday, while at our Recreational Facility, I learned that a very special friend of mine, and someone who had been instrumental in helping me to start Camp Good Days, had passed away.  Former Monroe County Legislator and Family Court Judge, Anthony F. Bonadio died last week after a long battle with Alzheimer’s. 

Judge Bonadio was always the first to stand up for young people in our community and while most would use Family Court as a stepping stone to bigger positions, Judge Bonadio was honored and pleased to serve as a Judge in Family Court for two full terms (20 years).

Judge Bonadio was a good husband to his wife, Marilyn, a good father to his four children, and loving grandfather to his grandchildren.  In addition, he was a very special friend to the many, many children and families at Camp Good Days and was someone who could always be counted on to help out. 

In the early hours of this Tuesday morning, Melinda Gippe Andrus lost her battle to cancer.  Over the past 33 years, since I started Camp Good Days and Special Times, following the diagnosis of my youngest daughter, Teddi, with a malignant brain tumor, I have been blessed to have had the opportunity to meet some extraordinary people.  People of all ages, who in small ways and big ways, have had an impact on my life and I like to believe that each one of them has left me with something that has helped me to become the person I am today. 

Des Stone, the former Editor of the Democrat & Chronicle’s Editorial Page once described Camp Good Days as a place where the human spirit soars and a place that brings out the very best in mankind. 

Some of those that truly exemplify the very best in mankind are the children I have met who are forced to grow up and become adults much too quickly.  No child age nine, ten, 12 or 13 should have to come face to face with their own mortality.  One of the cruelest parts of being a child diagnosed with cancer is that it robs the child of that very special time in all of our lives called childhood.  That time when you have a sense of invincibility and feel like you will live forever.

Melinda, affectionately known as Mel, was one of the young people I have been blessed to know and she first came into my life 25 years ago when she was originally diagnosed with cancer at the age of 13.  Mel came to Camp Good Days first as a camper and stayed as a volunteer.  She carried her battle with cancer throughout her life, with some obvious physical and visible signs and when she looked in the mirror or met new people, everyone could tell that she had gone through a difficult experience and some challenges.  However, Mel never let cancer define who she was.  She finished high school and went on to college.  She passed her nursing boards and worked as a nurse at Strong Memorial Hospital, working her way up to being a supervising nurse.  She married an exceptional gentleman who became her life partner and best friend.  Despite all that was going on in her life, Mel always found time to care for others.  I was always so impressed with her many accomplishments so when we had an opening on the Camp Good Days’ Board of Director’s I invited Mel to serve.  Not only was she an involved and active member of the Board, she continued to volunteer at the many sessions of our Women’s Oncology Program, bringing her love of jewelry-making and spending the day with the women teaching them how to make beautiful earrings, necklaces and bracelets, and she brought all of her own materials and supplies for them to use.

Mel was someone who was my hero.  No matter how bad or challenging of a day I had, when I was with her, she always made me feel better, and I am confident she had that effect on all those she came into contact with.  She truly helped you to look at things and keep them all in the proper perspective. 

This past February, Mel’s cancer returned with a vengeance and this past week SHE made the decision to stop the treatment and have hospice care in her home.  I was honored that her husband called me on Monday and asked if I would visit her that afternoon.  I am so grateful I was able to do that and that I had the chance to hold hands, one more time, with this gentle and extraordinary young lady, the day before she left this world. 

Melinda will never know how she touched so, so many lives through being an inspiration for others by the way she handled the difficult hand in life she was dealt, through her work as a nurse, and through her giving spirit as a volunteer.  She impacted my life so much and I will carry our friendship and those things we shared with me all the days of my life.  Our community and our Camp Good Days’ family has lost a shining star and I have lost a very special angel. 

I ask that each of you keep Judge Bonadio and Melinda’s families and friends, as well as all of the children, families, and volunteers who are a part of Camp Good Days in your thoughts and prayers.

Summer Update

Where does the time go?  It is so hard to believe that we are in mid-August already and that the summer residential camping programs, here at Camp Good Days, are winding down in the next couple of weeks.  So much has happened this summer and so much is still yet to come, but the time just seems to be going faster and faster.

I am happy to report that we have had an amazing summer, thus far, and hundreds of campers have had the opportunity to experience the magic and spirit of Camp Good Days, firsthand.  We just completed the annual Doing A World Of Good Program, which is for children with cancer from countries around the world who come for two weeks and are joined by two different groups of children with cancer from the United States, each group coming for one week.  This summer, we welcomed campers and chaperones from Mexico, Bahamas, Dominican Republic, Turks & Caicos, Germany, Ethiopia, Czech Republic and Slovakia.  We also had a group of young people with cancer from Central Florida join us.  Our international campers and chaperones had an amazing two weeks at Camp Good Days, as did the campers from the United States.  A few of the highlights included a visit from the Rochester Rhinos Soccer Team; a visit from the New York State Police Helicopter and the New York State Police K9 Unit; and visits from the Rochester Police Department’s Mounted Patrol and Scuba Units.

On Wednesday, July 25, 2012, we hosted our Annual Summer Open House and we were so thrilled that New York State Lieutenant Governor, Robert Duffy, along with his wife Barb; as well as Joseph D’Amico, Superintendant of the New York State Police, and his wife, Judy; New York State Police Captain, Michael Cerretto and his wife, Lisa; Craig Doran, Administrative Judge for  the Seventh Judicial District of New York; Monroe County District Attorney, Sandra Doorley; Yates County District Attorney, Jason Cook; Pediatric Oncologist, Dr. David Korones; as well as my good friends, Steve & Patty DiGennaro and many, many others, took the time out of their busy schedules to visit and spend some time getting to know the campers and volunteers.  Lieutenant Governor Duffy surprised us all when he presented us with a very special Citation on behalf of New York State Governor, Andrew Cuomo.

On Friday, July 27, 2012, our international campers and chaperones came to the Camp Good Days’ Headquarters in Mendon, where we had a picnic dinner and a special welcome from Monroe County Executive, Maggie Brooks, and City of Rochester Deputy Mayor, Leonard Redon.  They both presented the group with Proclamations, on behalf of Monroe County and City of Rochester, and we are so thankful that they both took the time to come out and meet our guests.  Following the picnic, everyone headed to the Rochester Rhinos game at Sahlen’s Stadium, where the campers were excited to see the players they had met at Camp a few days before and we were all happy that the Rhinos won the game! 

For some of our campers from the Rochester area who were not participating in the Doing A World Of Good Program, we were once again invited to be the special guests of the Buffalo Bills Community Relations Department for Buffalo Bills Training Camp at St. John Fisher College.  The group of campers that attended last Thursday’s afternoon practice had a great time watching practice and playing in the interactive area, and were thrilled to have the chance to get autographs from some of their favorite players, including Ryan Fitzpatrick and Marcell Dareus.  Special thanks to Gretchen Geitter, Vice President of Community Relations, her staff, and the players, for making our campers’ visit to Buffalo Bills Training Camp one they will remember for a long time!

This week we have our younger campers who are participating in Teddi’s Team, which is for those children, ages 8-12, who are dealing with cancer.  So far the weather has been beautiful and the kids are having a great time.  Next week we will host Camp B&ST, which is for children, ages 8-17, who have lost a parent or sibling to cancer within the past three years.  Next weekend we will have the Brain Tumor Family Retreat, which is a weekend camping retreat for families wherein one member is dealing with a malignant brain tumor.

We will finish our residential camping programs for children with the Camp Good Days / Rochester City School District Leadership Program, which is for students from the Rochester City School District, who are making the transition from elementary school to middle school this coming September. The primary goal of this special program is to give the students an overall experience that includes a variety of social and educational activities and special guest interactions, which are designed to help prepare them for their Middle School and High School years and to provide them with some of the knowledge and tools they will need to successfully navigate their future.  During this program, which is a collaboration between the Camp Good Days’ Partners Against Violence Everywhere (PAVE) Initiative and the Rochester City School District, we like to have special guests, who are life models and leaders within our community to come and speak with the participants and share some of their experiences and words of wisdom and I am so happy that the US Marshal for the Western District of New York, Charles Salina; Monroe County District Attorney, Sandra Doorley; and Reverand Lawrence Hargrave from Asbury First United Methodist Church are all willing to take the time out of their busy schedules to visit the program and speak to the participants.

We also have a few more sessions of the Women’s Oncology Program coming up later this month and in September.

While our camping programs are in full swing, much work continues on a variety of activities and events and it is really hard to imagine that the football season is about to get underway.  Plans are beginning to come together for this year’s COURAGE BOWL, the annual football game between the St. John Fisher College Cardinals and the University of Rochester Yellowjackets, to benefit the children and families at Camp Good Days, which will be played on Saturday, September 15, 2012 at Growney Stadium on the campus of St. John Fisher College, with kick-off slated for 7:00 PM. This year’s COURAGE BOWL will be the final showdown in the series between the Cardinals and the Yellowjackets, which promises to be thriller on the field, and we anticipate a sold-out stadium of students, alumni, families and fans.  We are excited to start the next chapter of the COURAGE BOWL when the Cardinals will face The College at Brockport Golden Eagles in future games.

As has been done with all previous COURAGE BOWL games, Camp Good Days will select six boys, all of whom are campers in Camp Good Days’ programs and are dealing with cancer, to serve as Honorary Coaches, three with each team.  The Honorary Coaches will attend a practice with their team the week of the game; will meet their team for the pre-game meal; be in the locker room with their team; lead their team on to the field; be at midfield for the coin toss; and coach from the sidelines during the game.  Camp Good Days will also select four girls, also campers who are dealing with cancer, to serve as Honorary Cheerleaders, two with each squad.  The Honorary Cheerleaders will attend practice with the squad the week of the game; meet the squad for pre-game preparation and cheer with the squad during the game.

To learn more about this year’s COURAGE BOWL, including how to support the event and get involved, check out the COURAGE BOWL page on our website, www.campgooddays.org, or contact Laura Osborn at 585-624-5555 or losborn@campgooddays.org. 

We have had a couple of special fundraising events take place over the last few weeks, including the first annual Just Clowning Around 5K and Bocce Bash.  Both events were new for Camp Good Days and by all accounts the people who attended and participated had a great time and both events will help us to continue to be able to provide our programs and services free of charge for the participants.

We also have some special fundraising events coming up soon.  The Corey-Coffey Golf Classic will be held on Monday, August 20, 2012 at Penfield Country Club; the Friends of Ramon Santiago Golf Tournament is scheduled for Monday, August 27, 2012 at Midvale Country Club; and we are excited to be bringing back the Tour de Teddi Bike Ride on Saturday, September 29, 2012, around Keuka Lake. 

For those of you in the Central New York area, the Dr. John L. Dadey Memorial Golf Tournament will take place on Wednesday, September 12, 2012 at Drumlins Country Club and for those of you in the Western New York area, the Fashion Show will be held on Sunday, September 23, 2012 at Salvatore’s.

For more information and details about all of the upcoming events and activities, be sure to check out our website, www.campgooddays.org and be sure to like us on facebook, www.facebook.com/CampGoodDays79. 

In regards to CANCER MISSION 2020, we are working now on the final draft of the initial plan, which will be the first step in addressing cancer in Monroe County, where cancer is now the leading cause of death.  We look forward to officially presenting the plan this fall and to sharing that with all of you.  Please be sure to check out www.cancermission2020.com, sign the petition, and share the site with your contacts. We need everyone’s help and support in order to reach our goal of ending cancer by the end of the decade. 

Last, but certainly not least, Camp Good Days has been blessed over the years to have many, many special friends and supporters who go above and beyond to help make all that we do possible.  Two of those friends are Jay and Jay Jay Vanderstyne of Vanderstyne Toyota. For the second year in a row, Vanderstyne Toyota, with support from Toyota Motor Company, is making it possible for us to hold the Camp Good Days’ Car Raffle! 

Every single dollar raised through the sale of raffle tickets will enable us to provide some good days and special times for some children and families in our community who need them the most!

The prize is a 2012 Toyota Corolla-S Model, featuring sunroof, cruise control, Bluetooth, power windows, and power locks, performance and fuel efficiency, plus an impressive list of safety features.  Tickets for the Camp Good Days’ Car Raffle are only $25.00 each and may be purchased by contacting Camp Good Days at 585-624-5555 or 800-785-2135 or online at www.campgooddays.org.  Tickets may be purchased using cash, check, Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Discover.  The prize winner must be at least 18 years of age. The drawing will take place on New Year’s Eve, Monday, December 31, 2012. 

Don’t miss out on this amazing opportunity to not only win a brand new car, but to help support the many children and families at Camp Good Days!

Summer in Full Swing!

Forgive me not being as good about these blog updates as I would like to be, but after reading this, you will understand how crazy things are here.  One only has to step outside to realize that we are truly into the summer season and here at Camp Good Days we are busy with a lot of special events, activities and our residential camping programs. 

A couple of weeks ago, on Wednesday, June 27^th, which would have been my daughter Teddi’s birthday, we hosted “Life, Cancer, and the NFL…An Evening with NY Giants’ Mark Herzlich” at the Rochester Plaza.  As I shared previously, we had to really live by our motto of adapt and adjust, as Mark was originally scheduled to be in Rochester on June 5^th as the Special Guest for our Tournament of Love golf tournament, but was required to be at mandatory practices that week.  Mark wanted to honor his commitment to the children and families at Camp Good Days and although we had minimal time to plan, promote, and prepare, I am pleased to report that the event came together and exceeded all of our expectations.  A very special thank you to The Flanders Group, ESL Federal Credit Union, and the Democrat & Chronicle for their sponsorship and support of this special evening! 

The more than 200 guests in attendance had a fantastic, laid-back evening with stadium-style foods served for dinner and had the chance to hear from Mark about his life, his battle with Ewing’s Sarcoma and his courage and determination to not only defeat cancer but to make it into the NFL and win the Super Bowl as a member of the NY Giants.  Guests also had the opportunity to ask Mark questions and he went above and beyond in taking the time to answer questions, sign autographs, and take photographs.  Mark also spent some time prior to the dinner with some of the campers who have served as Honorary Coaches with the St. John Fisher College Cardinals and the University of Rochester Yellowjackets for the Annual Courage Bowl.  He talked to them one-on-one about his battle with cancer, playing football in college, playing in the NFL and going to the Super Bowl.  I am sure that the experience made some great memories that these campers will carry with them for a long time.  Save the date… the Eighth Annual Camp Good Days’ COURAGE BOWL will take place on Saturday, September 15, 2012.  We are bringing the COURAGE BOWL back to Growney Stadium on the campus of St. John Fisher College, where the Cardinals will take on the University of Rochester Yellowjackets for one more game and this is one you won’t want to miss!  Following this year’s COURAGE BOWL, the Cardinals will face a new opponent in future COURAGE BOWL games.

Our Junior Good Days program also took place from Tuesday, June 26, 2012 through Friday, June 29, 2012, both in the Rochester and Syracuse areas.  This program is for those children, ages 4-7 that are still too young to attend residential camp.  The highlight of the program came on Friday, June 29, 2012 when all of the Junior Good Days’ campers and volunteers from Rochester and Syracuse spent the day at the Camp Good Days’ Recreational Facility on Keuka Lake, and got to have a little taste of what “big” camp is all about.

This past Thursday through Saturday, we held the Women’s Wellness I Program.  It was a great program and a great group of women, many of them new to Camp Good Days.  They had the opportunity to be pampered and take the time to relax and rejuvenate, with some of the only people in the world who can truly understand what they are going through – other women with cancer.  The participants were able to take advantage of a variety of activities during the program including: massages, manicures, creating their own her garden, making jewelry, water yoga, boat rides, fishing, clay projects, and more.  On Friday evening, my good friend and Camp Good Days’ volunteer, Dolly Malik, provided an instructional session on mindfulness and relaxation techniques.  The program concluded with the very special Closing Ceremony, held in the beautiful Outdoor Chapel Area.  Sister Fran Quinn conducted the Closing Ceremony, as she always does, but my heart went out to her as she no longer has Father David Ambuske – her partner in these special Camp Good Days’ services.  We all miss Father Dave very much but I know that his spirit and memory will live on through the children and families at Camp Good Days.

On Saturday night, Wendy and I, along with her Dad, went to the Rochester Rhinos game and it was great to see them win for the second time in a week.  Hopefully they are back on a winning streak now!  If you are at a Rochester Rhinos game, you can visit us inside Gate D at the Quarters for Cancer table, or if you would like to help out with Quarters for Cancer, email Laura at losborn@campgooddays.org.  On Sunday, we went to see Wendy’s Grandma and celebrate her 95^th Birthday – what a milestone!

Our first full week of summer residential programs for children started this Monday.  We have a full program for Childhood USA I, which is for children ages 8-12 who have a parent or sibling who has been diagnosed with cancer or sickle cell anemia within the past three years, and/or is actively undergoing treatment.  Next week, we will welcome a second full group of campers for Childhood USA II, which is similar to this week’s program, but for children ages 13-17.  In the coming weeks we will welcome campers for the Doing A World Of Good Program and we are so excited that some of our friends from countries around the world, such as Mexico, the Bahamas, Ethiopia, Germany, Turks & Caicos, and Dominican Republic will be able to join us again this year and we look forward to meeting new campers and chaperones from the Czech Republic!  Special thanks to Dr. Lubos Barta, who served as a Judge for the Finger Lakes International Wine Competition and has been instrumental in helping to make it possible for some children dealing with cancer from the Czech Republic to be able to attend the Doing A World Of Good Program this summer.

We also have a number of special fundraising events coming up, all of which help us to continue providing our programs and services free of charge for the participants.  More than 200 people are registered to take part in the Just Clowning Around 5K, which is taking place this Saturday, July 14, 2012 in Mendon.  Be sure to follow the event on facebook and twitter, as the participants will each receive a clown wig to wear during the event and the photos are sure to be great!  In the coming weeks and months we will also be hosting a Bocce Bash, with Valenti Sports and PushYourself.com on Saturday, August 4, 2012; the Corey Coffey Golf Classic on Monday, August 20, 2012; the Friends of Ramon Santiago will host their golf tournament on Monday, August 27, 2012, from which proceeds benefit the Arts & Crafts area at Camp Good Days; and we will be bringing back the Tour de Teddi Bike Ride on Saturday, September 29, 2012.      For more information about any of our upcoming events, to learn how you can get involved as a participant, sponsor, supporter, or volunteer, check out our website, www.campgooddays.org and become our fan on facebook, www.facebook.com/CampGoodDays79. 

On the CANCER MISSION 2020 front, we are making progress in the plan for addressing cancer in Monroe County, where cancer is now the leading cause of death.  We will be meeting with the committee to review that plan on Monday, July 16, 2012 and we look forward to sharing the final plan with all of you very soon!  Don’t forget to check out www.cancermission2020.com, sign the petition, and share the site with your contacts.  It is a simple task that will only take a few moments of your time, but in the end, will make a world of difference!

A Quick Update...

Things have been happening so quickly here at Camp Good Days that I have not had as much of a chance to stay on top of my blog as I would like, but I did want to take a few minutes to fill you all in on some of the things going on.

We hosted what is always one of my favorite programs, the Young Adult Program, the weekend of June 15-17, 2012.  We had a great group of young adults who are dealing with cancer, and this year we expanded the program so that they could bring along a significant other or close friend.  Fortunately, it is very rare for someone between the ages of 18-39 to be initially diagnosed with cancer.  However, these young people often fall through the cracks in regards to programs and services available to them.  They are too old to fit in with the children’s programs, but yet too young to fit in with the older adults.  These young people face challenges and issues about their futures – education and careers – health insurance -  relationships – just like all young adults, however these young people have the cloud of cancer to deal with as well.  Through the Young Adult Program, these young men and women can meet and connect with others who are going through similar situations and who are within their own age range.  Those that attended the program had a fantastic time and I consider it a true blessing that I had the opportunity to spend some time with them.

Last week started with a trip to Buffalo for the Parent Information Meeting, for those who have children that will be attending our residential camping programs this summer.  It was ironic as we pulled into the parking lot at St. Philip’s Church to see so many people lined up to get into the meeting.  All I could think about was 33 years ago we had a press conference at Roswell Park Cancer Institute, to announce that we were starting Camp Good Days and would be offering residential camping experiences for children dealing with cancer.  The only people in attendance at that press conference were the Public Relations Assistant from Roswell, my daughter Teddi and I, and my friend Tom Gosdeck who is originally from Buffalo and made the trip with us, and Tom’s parents.  Boy…how things have changed!

During the Parent Information Meeting we shared some of the plans and changes for this summer.  When we were driving back to Rochester, I was thinking about how much has changed over these past 33 years.  When I started Camp Good Days, Jimmy Carter was President and no one talked about cancer.  Cancer was one of the most feared words in the English language and there were no programs or services available for children or families dealing with cancer.  Today, one of the things that I am most proud of is that no one dealing with the diagnosis of cancer, whether it be themselves or someone in their family, has to face that battle alone, unless they choose to do so. 

A few things manage to stay constant over the years though.  Our goal, here at Camp Good Days has stayed the same over these 33 years.  We strive to give those children, who through no fault of their own have been dealt a difficult hand in life, a wonderful experience and a chance to get back some of the childhood that has been robbed from them.  And we provide them the opportunity to create some good days and special times with the only others in the world who can truly understand what they are going through – other children going through the same thing.

Thanks to so many generous people and the success of our special fundraising events, we have also been able to keep the promise I made 33 years ago that no family would ever be faced with the decision between paying their bills on time and sending their loved one to Camp Good Days.  All of our programs are provided free of charge for the participants so as not to place any additional financial burden on those families served.  Today, so many families have both Mom and Dad working, but with the diagnosis of cancer, if the family is fortunate to have both Mom and Dad, one of them, and the majority of the time it will be Mom, has to cut back on their work hours to become the primary caregiver.  However, the mortgage or rent payments stay the same, the car payments stay the same, and the rest of the bills stay the same.  Oftentimes, families will have to dip into their savings or even be forced to claim bankruptcy. I never wanted Camp Good Days to be a source of anxiety for families who are already facing so many challenges and I am so pleased that here we are, having served 43,000 campers from 22 states and 27 foreign countries, and we have been able to keep that promise.

In preparation for what is shaping up to be another full summer with hundreds of campers experiencing the magic and spirit of Camp Good Days, we are in the midst of our Summer Staff Training Program.  I had the chance to spend last Tuesday at Camp and speak to the summer staff members.  I am so impressed with their energy and excitement about making this summer one of the best yet! 

Last Friday afternoon, we welcomed Joe Szafranski, his bother-in-law, Mike, and Joe’s daughter, Jasmine, as they made a stop for lunch at the Camp Good Days’ Headquarters in Mendon, as part of their Ride4Cancer2020.  Joe departed on the Second Annual Ride4Cancer2020 from Buffalo on Saturday, June 16, 2012 and traveled from Buffalo to Albany and back.  Joe was riding to honor and remember his nephew, Jimmy, and to generate awareness and funds to support Camp Good Days and CANCER MISSION 2020…THE END OF CANCER BY THE END OF THE DECADE.  Joe, a Buffalo Police Officer and New York State National Guard Staff Sergeant, lost his 16 year old nephew to cancer in January 2011 and he is turning some of his pain and anger into action.  Last year Joe rode across the state to bring awareness to the importance of cancer research through Cancer Mission 2020 and raised $2,606 for Camp Good Days. Countless people also signed the Cancer Mission 2020 petition along the way.  It was great to see Joe, Mike, and Jasmine and we are all so grateful and appreciative of their continued support for the children and families at Camp Good Days and their efforts on behalf of CANCER MISSION 2020.  More information can be found at the Ride4Cancer2020 website, http://www.ride4cancer2020.com/, on Facebook, http://www.facebook.com/Ride4Cancer, and on Twitter https://twitter.com/Ride4Cancer2020.

Saturday morning, Wendy and I were up early as my granddaughter, Delaney, graduated from Gananda Central Schools.  It was a very nice ceremony and Congresswoman Ann Marie Buerkle did a great job as the commencement speaker.  On Saturday evening, we headed to Buffalo for the Annual Creative Black Tie Gala at the Buffalo Hyatt.  This year’s theme was CAMP OLYMPUS and once again this year, Lisa Donato from our Buffalo Office and her staff and amazing group of volunteers did an outstanding job. I would like to extend our thanks to Rob Lederman, for serving as Master of Ceremonies again this year, and to all those who attended and generously supported the event.  I would also like to congratulate Angelo Veanes, who is an outstanding volunteer and Camp Good Days’ Board Member and was honored as the recipient of the Spirit of Teddi Humanitarian Award.  It was a fun evening and the guests were truly remarkable in their support and generosity, helping us to continue being able to provide programs and services for all those families across Western New York who need them.

This is another busy week.  Today, I had breakfast with my good friend, Charlie Craddock and later I will be going to Blue Heron Hills Golf Course for the Rich Funke, Jr. Memorial Golf Tournament, from which a portion of the proceeds benefit the children and families at Camp Good Days.  Tomorrow we begin our Junior Good Days’ Program, both in the Rochester area and the Syracuse area.  This special day-camp program is for our youngest campers, ages 4-7, who are still too little to attend residential camp.  I know that our staff and volunteers, here in Rochester, and the staff and volunteers in Syracuse have a fun-filled four days planned for the campers.

I am really looking forward to this Wednesday evening, when Camp Good Days will host, “Life, Cancer, and the NFL…An Evening with NY Giants’ Mark Herzlich”.  Mark has a remarkable story that exemplifies courage and determination.  An All-American Linebacker at Boston College, Mark was diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer, and went on to return to football, securing a place as a member of the New York Giants.

“Two years ago, I was told I might never walk again,’ Mark typed to his loyal followers on Twitter. “Just walked off the plane in Indy to play in the Super Bowl. Take that cancer!” One week later, Mark Herzlich found himself celebrating at midfield with his teammates as part of the 2011 Super Bowl champion New York Giants.

This special evening will provide attendees with the opportunity to hear at length from Mark, about his football career thus far and playing both in college and as part of a Super Bowl winning team, but also about his courageous battle with cancer.  The evening will be casual and fun, with stadium-style foods and for me personally, it will be a very special way to commemorate what would have been my daughter Teddi’s birthday.”

A small number of tickets are still available for this amazing event and can be purchased by calling the Camp Good Days’ Headquarters, 585-624-5555, or online at www.campgooddays.org.

It can be tough what we deal with here at Camp Good Days, and unfortunately this has hit very close to home these past few weeks.  So we ask that you please keep James, and all those battling this terrible disease, in your thoughts and prayers.

Until next time…wishing all of you a safe and happy Fourth of July!