Friends in Pink by myashuk

Friends in Pink Taylorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s innovative approach to fundraising

First quarter 2014 1

Publication designed by Melissa Yashuk Cover art by Kaunis Hetk Photography provided by Gail Anderson

Friends in Pink

OH HELLO We want YOUR stories!

elcome to the new version of the Friends in Pink newsletter. It looks a little different. Our goal is to keep you informed of events, fundraising activities and all things related to Friends in Pink. With that said, we want your feedback. We want your stories of beating breast cancer. Do you have a great recipe that helped you get through chemo? Share it with us. Or maybe there is something that moti-

vates you every day. We want to hear it. No matter what your story, tip, recipe or suggestion, tell us. There are several ways of getting in touch. You can email me melissa.yashuk@gmail.com. Or hit up Friends in Pink on Facebook. Or reach us on Twitter. So, what are you waiting for? Stay connected and discover what you can do to be a part of your favorite local organization.

Melissa Yashuk ~ Communications Coordinator

Table of Contents Upcoming events 6 President's message 9 Trails in Pink photos 10 Volunteer of the quarter 14 Lost Lakes Luncheon 16 Support groups 20

Upcoming Events

Events

Bingo Luncheon Moose Lodge in Port St. Lucie Feb. 25 Volunteer meeting Feb. 26 Volunteer meeting Mar. 12 Volunteer meeting Mar. 26 Volunteer meeting Apr. 9 Volunteer meeting Apr. 23

Presidentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Message

From the desk of Cheryl Norman Caldwell As I sit down and begin to write this, I am overwhelmed with a feeling of gratitude and awe. WOW! What a year 2013 was. By year’s end, we helped more than 200 people. Not bad for an organization that began in 2005 with a bunch of survivors, friends and supporters sitting around a kitchen table formulating a plan to help local breast cancer patients. Basically, that small group of people believed every diagnosed breast cancer patient should have the opportunity to survive this deadly disease. Perhaps “opportunity” isn’t the correct word. I guarantee our founders felt as strongly as we do today…

People noticed we had no “Signature Event” in 2013, but we had an incredible “Signature” production. The first “Friends In Pink” Recipient Documentary video was produced under the benevolence of Dr. Cynthia Crawford of Vero Beach. Her Hollywood connections, her home and her contacts made the production possible but it’s our own Jeannette Weiss, of J Weiss PR, who directed our winner! Take a look at it on YouTube. Search for Friends In Pink. The video is on the top of the list. I am proud to say we’ve already received over $20,000 directly related to our “Signature Production.” The Vero Beach Release party was such a success that we expect to have another in Martin or St. Lucie county this year, maybe in cooperation with our 2014 Signature Event.

Everyone has a RIGHT to survive breast cancer. Recipients, volunteers, directors, and even our contractors demonstrate that sentiment each and every day toward the people we are currently serving. Thank you one and all.

2014 started out with our first equestrian event with Michelle McNally. What a fun event “Trails In Pink” was. The weather was perfect, along with a lot of new friends and local notables such as Dr. James Vopal and Mr. and Mrs. Joe and Barbara Catrambone. Thank you Michelle. Once again our notable donors have had most of their 2014 golf and women’s club events.

I want to take a moment and share with you some more incredible information. In spite of the many setbacks in 2013 (the loss of our largest grant, several resignations and departures), due in a very big way to our volunteers, we ended the year in a remarkably positive position. I’m pretty certain I’ll forget to mention someone so please accept my personal apology by saying you know we know who you are – Thank you only begins to express our gratitude.

As I mentioned before, Taylor Anderson, our youngest volunteer, has just gone above and beyond with her latest fundraising campaign at http://www.gofundme.com/Taylors-Mitzvah-Project. Kudos to you, your Mom-Gail, and Jacob. What a pleasure and an honor to have such a young and motivated volunteer.

Every first quarter, we have a group of local supporters that work hard and contribute much to our recipients. I’m very happy to thank the following groups for their consistent support. Lost Lake Women’s Club, Lost Lake 9-hole Women’s Golf Tournament, Piper’s Landing Women’s Golf Club, Monarch Women’s Golf “Think Pink” event, and Willoughby Women’s Golf Association and 9-holers. These groups of selfless women make raising money look so easy and fun! We could not do what we do without them.

We will have a new website in a matter of days, according to Director Allan Everett. Keep checking and keep your eyes open. Give FriendsInPink.org a real work-out. Let Allan and me know what you like and what we could do better through our contact page. I am available to any and everyone at cnc01@friendsinpink.org. You can also always reach me at 772-871-9289.

I want to say a very special “Kudos” to Marte’ McKeon and her family. Their hard work on the Annual Turnpike campaign netted almost $40,000 to benefit our recipients. Thank you to all those who manage and work at the Turnpike concessions and contribute their tips to our organization.

We will have a Signature Friendship event this year and early in 2015. Although a small group of volunteers have already started meeting, we need more. If you’re interested in being in on the planning phase of our events, please contact Vivien Coniglio at 772-3441365. Do I sound a little mysterious? Good! Here’s a hint…start collecting teapots, china teacups and saucers for 300 people, and stay tuned!

Thank you Margie Jimenez: Your tenacity is a credit to every woman that fights the good fight and survives. “Margie’s Cardio for the Cure” in cooperation with Planet Fitness, and under the leadership of local star Rosalind Neilen, was a resounding winner, on an incredibly miserable rainy Sunday afternoon. At $4,000 an event, Margie has set the mold for a winner we can reproduce at every gym on the Treasure Coast!

Finally, we continue to help new recipients to fulfill our mission every day and thanks to the advances in breast cancer research we are still helping 59 recipients from previous years. We need volunteers to help with office tasks, data entry, events and fundraising campaigns. If you feel like writing a grant, great! If you have an idea and not sure where to start let us know. If you want someone to make a presentation, let us know. We have a wealth of experience and love to have fun while we’re raising awareness about our mission, which is to financially assist diagnosed breast cancer patients with little or no health insurance. Please join us at our volunteer meetings or ring me.

Another hit was a young lady named Taylor Anderson, who has completely come into her own this year but worked with one of our directors on the Pandora bracelet raffle that brought in more than $1,700. A real special thank you to Mary Lou Hawkins. Mary Lou has been with us for as long as I can remember and, very quietly, she has created remarkable events that bring in considerable sums of money for our recipients, over and over again. Sally Stumpf, another longtime supporter, continues to amaze us with her efforts at Nettles Island… and Madeline Herrmann… well let’s face it, no one can put on a Bingo Luncheon like her!

Again, since we began this journey in 2005 we, no-YOU-, have helped over 200 people on the Treasure Coast. From the bottom of my heart, and on behalf of our entire organization, thank you!

Trails in Pink

Photos by Jeannette Weiss

Jill Heppleston, of Jupiter and winner of the poker run, donated back her winnings at Trails In Pink on Feb. 8. She is pictured with organizer of Trails in Pink, Michelle McNally.

Photos by Marilyn Kane

Volunteer of the Quarter

Volunteer of the Quarter Taylor Anderson creates innovative fundraising plan for Friends in Pink By Melissa Yashuk Taylor Anderson may look like your average seventh-grade: Cute, concerned with her family and friends. But here’s what sets her apart from her peers: She created a GoFundMe. com project to raise money for Friends in Pink and Elev8Hope for her Bat Mitzvah project. So far, she’s raised $1,411 total. The total of the money raised will be Photo by Kaunis Hetk Photography split in half for each organization. Pictured is Taylor Anderson. “I’m so proud of her,” said her mother, Gail Anderson.

Taylor became drawn to the cause of breast cancer after her mother’s best friend had breast cancer and grandmother died of breast cancer. “Our children are very close. She’s seen the worst of it and the best of it,” Gail said. Taylor is also working to get a fundraising campaign started at school. She’s in talks with her principal at Hidden Oaks to get something started. “Her passion is Friends in Pink. She wears pink all the time and is dedicated to an awareness for cancer,” Gail said.

“Her passion is Friends in Pink. She wears pink all the time and is dedicated to an awareness for cancer.” Gail Anderson Want to help? Click below.

Lost Lakes Luncheon

Support Groups

Check out the list below for support groups on the Treasure Coast IRMC All Cancer Support Meeting: 5 p.m. 1000 36th St., Vero Beach. Every month on the third Tuesday. Friends After Diagnosis support group meeting: Second and fourth Mondays, 2-3:30 p.m., Indian River Medical Center Cancer Center, 1000 36th St., Vero Beach. (772) 567-4311 Friends After Diagnosis Support Group: Third Saturday, 10-11 a.m., Indian River Medical Center Executive dining room off cafeteria, 1000 36th St., Vero Beach. (772) 567-4311

Chair Yoga: Chair Yoga for Cancer Survivors, noon. 1550 24th St., Vero Beach. Every month on the third Monday. Cancer Support Group: 2-3:30 p.m., 501 E. Osceola St., Robert and Carol Weissman Cancer Center, Stuart. Call: Kimberly Ouellette (772) 223-5945 Kimberly.Ouellette@MartinHealth.org Young and Young at Heart Breast Cancer Support Group (Martin County branch), Second Thursday of the month, 6:30 p.m., Robert and Carol Weissman Cancer Center

Submit your story!

Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re looking for your story. Share your story of breast cancer and help other people. It may end up published in the newsletter. To send your story, email melissa.yashuk@gmail.com.

at Martin Health System, 501 E. Osceola St., Second Floor Meeting Room, Stuart. Contact: Kim Ouellette, MSW, 772-2235945, ext 3719. Look Good Feel Better (Hosted by American Cancer Society- for female patients to learn how to apply makeup/wigs while going through treatment) MUST RSVP in advance! Last Monday of the month 2:30 p.m., Robert and Carol Weissman Cancer Center at Martin Health System, 501 E. Osceola St., Second Floor Meeting Room, Stuart. Contact: American Cancer Society, 772-287-7467, ext 5255

Helpful links

Links & Resources www.BreastCancer.org www.BreastHealthCoalition.org www.CancerCare.org www.CancerHopeNetwork.org www.CancerInformationService.com www.GetBCFacts.com www.Healthline.com/health/breast-cancer www.Komen.org www.MartinMemorial.org www.Medicinenet.com/breast www.NationalBreastCancer.org www.NationalCancerInstitute.org www.StLucieMed.com www.TheBreastCareSite.com www.cancer.org or 800-ACS-2345 NOTE: All newsletters can be viewed on our website www.PinkTieFriends.org by clicking on media, newsletter. 23

Until next time PinkTieFriends.org