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!

 

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!