Grassroots Quarterly Newsletter - Q4 2011

Event Feature

Huck Cancer
San Francisco, CA
Eric Arons and Renata Foucré

Huck Cancer is an ultimate frisbee tournament fundraiser created by Eric Arons, Renata Foucré and their ultimate Frisbee friends to "raise funds to help kick cancer’s butt.” According to Renata, "We picked the Lance Armstrong Foundation as the beneficiary because of a number of reasons—the commitment to helping cancer patients and survivors through the process was a big part of it.”

In July of 2009, Eric was diagnosed with a Grade IV Multiforme Glioblastoma, also known as a brain tumor. After a year of chemo, Eric suffered a second diagnosis in January of 2011.

What is the inspiration behind Huck Cancer?

Eric: I wanted to try to help others undergoing similar plight without the support network I was lucky enough to have, and thought about the various fundraising events already developed. Then some of my dear friends approached me with the idea of holding some kind of party for me. This inspired me to suggest a tournament (in lieu of a party) related to my love and appreciation of my friends and for the sport that brought us together. Not to mention my hatred for cancer…. My friends all agreed, as long as I step back and let them handle most of the work. And that’s why Huck Cancer has been such a success!

What does LIVESTRONG mean to you?

Eric: I originally learned about LIVESTRONG from a friend of mine whose sister was battling her own cancer, and I was impressed by how helpful the organization was for them. When I was thinking about where to direct the Huck Cancer tournament, I did a little research and found LIVESTRONG to be one of the most efficient, broadly oriented anti-cancer foundations. Since then, I’ve actually turned to LIVESTRONG for help in dealing with my recent recurrence, and the people there have been wonderful! They directed me to the appropriate “sister” organizations and frequently checked in to see how I was doing.

In 2011 over 100 participants raised more than $50,000. To learn more about Huck Cancer or to join Eric and Renata at Huck Cancer 3 on Saturday, March 3, 2012, visit HuckCancer.org.

Fundraiser Story

Holly Scanlan

Burlington, Connecticut

What inspired your fundraising?

Our LIVESTRONG marathon and 5K fundraising event was held at the Twin Cities (TC) Marathon weekend October 1–2, 2011. My friend Tammy Sly is a marathon runner and is also a breast cancer survivor. Following a mastectomy and reconstructive surgery she started training to run the TC marathon. She is an inspiration to me!

The two of us decided to join forces to form Holly and Tammy's LIVESTRONG Team. In addition to the marathon, 45 of our friends and family donning LIVESTRONG gear participated in the 5K run/walk the day before, and many more donated and were with us in spirit! The weekend was a huge success, we raised over $10,000 for LIVESTRONG and came together to support all of those who are fighting cancer, or have been touched by cancer.

What does LIVESTRONG mean to you?

To me, LIVESTRONG is a mindset. It's the way I want to live my life. Aside from the incredible support system I have in my family and friends, I am also part of the worldwide LIVESTRONG community! LIVESTRONG plays an important role in supporting cancer survivors, heightening public awareness so cancer can be prevented or caught in the earliest stages, and pushing for nations and states to recognize the need to make cancer a healthcare priority.

What is your cancer story?

I was diagnosed with stage 4 signet ring cell appendix cancer on December 30, 2010. To say that my cancer diagnosis was unexpected is an understatement. I was at Hartford Hospital for a relatively routine laparoscopic procedure to have a fallopian tube removed. An MRI performed the week before my scheduled procedure showed that my ovaries also looked abnormal (although benign) so my gynecological surgeon planned to remove one, or both of them. There would be an oncologist on hand during surgery to do preliminary pathology on the fallopian tube and ovary. I was hoping to go home that very day- or sometime on December 31st.

When I awoke from surgery that night, my husband Tim was at my side. I knew something was wrong by the look in his eyes. He told me that they found cancer cells in the first ovary they removed so my surgeon removed both and they called in a colorectal surgeon because the cancer cells they found had originated in the appendix. The surgeon removed the appendix, part of the colon, many lymph nodes.

I started chemotherapy on Valentine's Day. 2011 and so far my CT scans have shown that the chemotherapy is keeping the cancer at bay.

It has been a difficult journey at times, but I am hanging in there! My life has changed since my cancer diagnosis, it has made me step back and confirm what matters most. My advice to others recently diagnosed; get organized (LIVESTRONG guides are so useful), expect answers and empathy from your medical team, be kind to yourself, take care of yourself, accept that you will have low points and be angry at times, lean on your family and friends, return the love of your family and friends, and keep fighting. Live and Love Strong!

Upcoming Events

2012 event registration is now open.

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FAQ

Thanks to your efforts in 2011, more than 2,000 grassroots fundraising event participants took part in 575 events raising over $1 million.

Want to know where the money you raise goes?

Here are a few of the many LIVESTRONG successes of 2011.

• 41,985 cancer navigation services were provided, which includes 525 fertility preservation services , saving over $2.2 million in personal costs.
• 24,227 individuals in the healthcare industry were trained on cancer survivorship through a partnership with Nurse.com.
• 242,940 students have been taught lessons on what cancer is and how to cope with it through LIVESTRONG at School.
• Through the 2011 Community Impact Project over 340,000 people voted to bring cancer support programs to 93 local organizations across the country. Over $700,000 was awarded to the local organizations to implement the programs.
• 2,136 individuals completed the LIVESTRONG at the YMCA program.
• LIVESTRONG helped successfully advocate to keep the Cancer Prevention Research Institute of Texas fully funded.
• A successful anti-stigma initiative was launched in South Africa and another campaign was launched in Mexico.
• 125,198 individuals signed Lance Armstrong’s open letter to world leaders telling them to make cancer a global priority at the historic UN Summit on Non-communicable Diseases in New York this past September.

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Contact Us

Thank you for supporting our mission to inspire and empower people affected by cancer.

LIVESTRONG
Lance Armstrong Foundation
2201 E. Sixth Street
Austin, TX 78702
GrassrootsFundraising@LIVESTRONG.org