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A message from Executive Director Maria Gemma My staff and I would like to welcome you to the second annual Reflections of Hope. Within the pages of this magazine, you will find stories about Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Resource Foundation programs and services, our signature events and how we help people affected by this disease. You will also get to know the team members whose passion and dedication are making a difference in our community. In addition, you will get a glimpse at some incredible breast cancer survivors. Our hope is that this publication inspires you to become better educated about breast cancer and become more involved. You may know someone who has been touched by breast cancer, or you may have been directly impacted yourself. It is no coincidence that everyone seems to know someone who has had breast cancer. That’s because one in six Rhode Island women will be diagnosed with the disease in her lifetime – which is higher than the national average. When the Foundation was established in 2004, after my mother Gloria Gemma passed away from stage 4 breast can-
GIVE HOPE. GIVE SUPPORT. GIVE LOCAL.
www.GloriaGemma.org
gloria gemma Breast Cancer resource Foundation 249 Roosevelt Ave, Suite 201, Pawtucket RI 02860 401-861-HERO (4376) • www.gloriagemma.org executive Director Maria Gemma Corcelli Director of Development Gary Calvino Director of signature events and Operations Bryan Sawyer Community Outreach Coordinator Maureen DiPiero strategic partnerships and Flames of hope run/Walk series Coordiator Lynn Simon Office manager and survivor Carol Ann Donnelly Young survivor program Coordinator Mandy Zito photographers Jonathan Beller, Lisa Bruno of 64 Degrees Photography, Andrew Butler, Jerri Moon Cantone, Richard Kizirian, Tiffany Medrano, Judi Sherwood of Judith’s Point Photography
Contents ABOUT The OrgAnizATiOn
6 Meet the Team 9 One Family’s Story 11 Programs Offered by the
Foundation
32 Sponsor Spotlight 35 Upcoming GGBCRF Events 36 The BRCA Gene Decision 38 Join the Fight 39 Women’s Cancer Screening
cer, my family and I had no idea that it would have such an impact on so many lives. We are grateful for the sponsors, partners, friends and supporters like you who make it possible for us to fulfill our mission to raise breast cancer awareness, increase breast health education, enhance the quality of life for breast cancer patients and their families and friends, and generate funding for local breast health programs.
providence media 1070 Main Street, Suite 302 Pawtucket RI 02860 401-305-3391 www.providenceonline.com publishers Barry Fain, Richard Fleischer, John Howell publishing Director Jeanette St. Pierre executive editor and Writer Julie Tremaine Associate editor Grace Lentini special projects manager John Taraborelli Digital manager Samantha Pezza Art Director Karli Hendrickson Assistant Art Director Meghan H. Follett Advertising Design Director Layheang
Program and the Ribbon of Hope License Plate
FlAmes OF hOpe
23 Event Calendar 24 Flames of Hope Maps 27 Guide to Flames of Hope 28 Flames of Hope in Pictures sUrvivOr prOFiles
30 Corey Calligano 33 Ghislaine Francis 37 Paula Twidale 41 Pat Van Hoolandt
Meas graphic Designer Veatsna Sok sales Coordinator Louann DiMuccio-Darwich Account managers Ann Gallagher, Nicole Greenspun, Kristine Mangan, Elizabeth Riel, Dan Schwartz, Kimberly Tingle
Flames of Hope: A Celebration of Life is a trademark of Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Resource Foundation
Copyright ©2013 by Providence Media, All rights reserved. Printed by Gannett Offset. Distributed by Special Delivery.
Cover Photography by Jerri Moon Cantone
gloriagemma.org • Reflections of Hope
| 5
Get to Know the Team The Gloria Gemma staff works hard for breast cancer awareness Maria Gemma Corcelli Executive Director Maria passionately leads her dedicated team to fulfill the Foundation’s mission. Her multi-disciplinary education and life experience, along with her mother’s value system, guide her in all areas of program development and implementation. She also ensures that her mother’s strong sense of family translates into the work that she and her team do, and everyone who walks through the Foundation’s doors or onto the Hope Bus feels like they are family.
Bryan Sawyer Director of Signature Events, Operations In his role, Bryan oversees the many events produced by the Foundation each year. He is the executive producer of the Flames of Hope: A Celebration of Life weekend, which brings over 100,000 people to the city of Providence each October. Bryan has served numerous roles in community organizations and industry associations. He is a past president of the International Special Events Society (ISES) – Rhode Island Chapter, and he also consults many area non-profits on event planning and management. Bryan frequently guest lectures about event management and planning for local universities and volunteer organizations.
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Reflections of Hope • gloriagemma.org
Top row: Gary, Lynn, Maureen, Bryan Bottom row: Carol, Maria, Mandy
Maureen DiPiero Community Outreach Coordinator Maureen is responsible for scheduling the Hope Bus’s many visits throughout the state, and prizes the time she spends sharing messages of support on the Hope Bus. She has over 15 years experience in cancer education, and connecting patients with resources. She also donates her time to the Pawtucket Cancer Control Task Force.
Journey from Despair to Hope.
Carol Ann Donnelly Office Manager and Survivor A two-time breast cancer survivor, Carol is the office manager for the Foundation and coordinates all of its interns and volunteers, as well as third-party fundraising. She is Gloria Gemma’s in-house writer, penning various articles on behalf of the foundation for local publications, including this one. She is also a contributing author to the Foundation’s first book,
Mandy Zito Young Survivor Program Coordinator Mandy is a young breast cancer survivor, and she is responsible for the development and implementation of programs specifically designed for young survivors and their families. She also provides administrative support, and schedules classes, as well as the photo shoots for the foundation’s annual Celebrate Hope, Celebrate Life calendar.
Lynn Simon Strategic Partnerships and Gloria Gemma Race/Walk Coordinator Lynn assists with strategic partnerships, and she is responsible for maintaining the donor database. She is also the driving force behind the Flames of Hope Run/Walk Series and coordinates this event, which is the Foundation’s largest fundraiser.
Photography: Tiffany Medrano
Gary Calvino Director of Development Gary is passionate about the cause both during and after work hours. He brings with him over 25 years of business experience both in corporate and entrepreneurial efforts. His experience with non-profits spans 13 years as an employee, a board member and an advisory council member. His strength is developing relationships that keep the Foundation sustainable.
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When hands need a hand. SUPPORTING: MUSIc • ARTS • EdUcATION • HEAlTHcARE • cOMMUNITy SERvIcE • ENvIRONMENT
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Reflections of Hope • gloriagemma.org
Building a Foundation After a tragic loss, the Gemma family built a community of resources for the state When Gloria Gemma was diagnosed with stage four breast cancer in 2001, it was a complete shock to her and her nine adult children. By the time doctors discovered her illness, she only had 11 months to live. “It had spread over years to her internal organs and her bones. She didn’t have any awareness that she had breast cancer, even though she had mammograms,” explains Gloria Figueroa, the eighth child in the Gemma family. “Over the course of that 11 months, as a family, we all felt very isolated from any available resources that could help us to deal with the strong emotions that this disease afflicted upon our family,” she says. “We didn’t feel that there was an adequate support system in the state – both medical and emotional support. I’m sure it was out there, but it didn’t meet our needs.” Joe Gemma, eldest sibling and now President of the Board of Directors of the Foundation, agrees. “Looking back, I was so overwhelmed. I didn’t scour the resources available to us, but there were not as many as one would think. They were more ‘where’s the best place to get chemo?’ and ‘what’s the best funeral home?’ I just wanted to be with my mom.”
The Gemma family at Flames of Hope
Because there are nine siblings, the Gemmas were able to care for their mother on a rotating schedule. “My mother received chemotherapy and radiation, so the side effects from the treatments, along with the emotional needs that she had, were enormous,” Gloria describes. “Based on all of that, when she did pass away, there was a strong need in my family to make a positive change for the people in this state who are diagnosed with breast cancer – for them, and their families and caregivers. This need basically was the springboard for the Foundation.” So, when Gloria Figueroa was diagnosed with breast cancer five years ago, she had a very different experience than her mother had. “I thought I was exceptionally healthy,” she says. “The diagnosis was a huge surprise.” Gloria had even just had a mammogram two weeks prior to the day she felt a tiny, flat lump near her clavicle bone. “After a week of trying to dismiss it as nothing, I thought, I can’t do that. The Foundation has highlighted early detection so strongly as one of the cores of what they do that it wouldn’t rest in my mind.” It turned out that that lump was one of 31 masses in her left breast – but because she found it
Gloria Gemma
so early, Gloria was able to recover with radiation and surgery. “When I was diagnosed, I was probably in one of the best shapes of my life, so I was able to bounce back very quickly,” Gloria says. “Did I need emotional support? Absolutely. But I didn’t need the same services that my mother needed. I wanted to live my life and take care of my four children,” who ranged in age from preschool to middle school at that time. “They provide a lot of support for young children, who have a really hard time expressing their emotions with regard to breast cancer,” Gloria says. Through her treatment and after, Gloria took advantage of the Foundation’s free programming, like yoga classes and instruction in healthy cooking and eating. “It really helped me to be put in a better state of mind,” she says. “They have so many different ways to nurture your spiritual and emotional self that in general make you feel better.” “Cancer goes beyond the person who’s developed it,” Joe Gemma says. His hope is that if someone’s mother contracts this dreadful disease, the name Gloria Gemma comes up. “If we’ve done anything, I would hope that people know that we’re there for them – we exist for them,” Gemma says. gloriagemma.org • Reflections of Hope
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Reflections of Hope • gloriagemma.org
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Hope, Support, Community
The Gloria Gemma Foundation is a resource when patients and families need it most No one ever wants to hear a doctor say, “you have cancer.” A diagnosis of breast cancer is devastating not only to the person with the disease, but to those closest to her (or, in some cases, him) as well. The Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Resource Foundation offers information, resources and, most importantly, emotional support at a time when it’s needed most. The foundation’s work falls into three categories. Birth to Diagnosis This section of GGBCRF programming covers the time in a woman’s life when prevention is most important. Making good lifestyle choices – like exercising, eating healthy, limiting alcohol and avoiding tobacco – can reduce the risk of breast cancer. Those same choices also make you more equipped to deal with the rigors of cancer treatment. In the same way, early detection (through selfexaminations, annual medical examinations and mammograms) significantly improves a woman’s chance of surviving the disease, as does self-advocacy when she suspects there is a problem. That is why the Gloria Gemma Foundation puts so much emphasis on education about nutrition, fitness and early detection.
Photography: Jonathan Beller
Diagnosis to EnD of trEatmEnt A diagnosis of breast cancer makes a woman feel like the world has stopped in its tracks – but it hasn’t. Often, she still has children and a spouse to care for, a home to run, a job to do and a life to live – and she will have hundreds of questions, not all of which can be answered by a doctor. Talking to survivors is helpful
and calming in a way that no other support can be. Other women who have been through the same illness understand the complex emotions and can guide a newly diagnosed patient through them. However, GGBCRF also understands that breast cancer is a family disease, and that everyone touched by a diagnosis needs support, too. For people who prefer one-on-one advice, it’s also available. The foundation also maintains a Resource Library at its Pawtucket office. The serene, private space holds books and informational materials on countless topics pertaining to breast cancer, home assistance, physical therapy, wig and specialty lingerie shops and hospital programs. There is also a computer in the library for internet research, as well as a television and DVD player. EnD of trEatmEnt anD BEyonD Those who have been through the disease understand that life does not return to normal the second a patient’s treatment is over. For months afterward, some families need support and guidance to help process the experience and resume their everyday lives. GGBCRF helps those people transition from life in treatment to life after treatment, counseling them in how to relax, care for themselves and re-enter the world. Many survivors choose to remain involved with the Foundation by volunteering at its center, on the Hope Bus and at events. Though there are more survivors than ever before, the fact is that not everyone survives breast cancer. The foundation connects families to grief counseling and hospice services, and helps patients find ways to celebrate their lives, even when their time is limited. gloriagemma.org • Reflections of Hope
| 11
Pink Ladies
Support Through Chronic Illness
A fresh perspective through the Young Survivors Program
Brittany L Drozd, MSW, LCSW Licensed Clinical Therapist
Registered in Rhode Island and Massachusetts
Call For A Free Consultation
(401) 441-1626
“I was diagnosed in
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2009 at 33,” says Mandy Zito, coordinator of Gloria Gemma’s Young Survivors Program. “I met such lovely women throughout my journey, but none of them were my age. I always felt there was something missing. Some of them had children, some had grandchildren, and I didn’t have any of that.” Mandy’s social worker through the hospital connected her to the only other young woman who was undergoing breast cancer treatment at the same time. “We would meet for lunch,” Mandy says. “It was nice just to talk.” That connection inspired the preschool teacher to return to school to make a career change. Mandy joined the Foundation as a college intern, and the “timing couldn’t have been more perfect.” Maria Gemma, the executive director, says. “We were in the early development stages of a young survivor program, because we understood there was a need.” “Our first project was the 2013 calendar,” Mandy says. “Every year it has a theme, and this year is ‘It’s not just your grandmother’s disease.’ It was all women under the age of 40 who were diagnosed.” What started with those 12 women, and Mandy making connections between them, has become a group of almost 60 who meet regularly and share support. However, the Young Survivors Program is not a support group. “We do support in different ways,” Mandy says. “A lot of young women don’t want to sit around and talk about their feelings. We want to go out and live. That’s what we’re doing.” The Young Survivors have a walking group and “apps and yaps” night for wine, food and chatter. “Cancer might come up, but we’re talking about our families, our homes, our jobs,” Mandy says. “You need that person who knows exactly what you’re going through. It’s just a friendship that we’ve all formed. It really fuels my fire to make these connections with the other ladies.” To find out more, email Mandy@gloriagemma.org.
Whole Family Support Because breast cancer affects more than just the woman who has it One of the truly remarkable things about the Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Resource Foundation is its commitment to helping families survive breast cancer together, and to heal and grow from it. There are extensive programs for women and their families during and after treatment.
Photography: Jonathan Beller
Talking Things Through The small staff and an extensive network of volunteers have all been through the experience, and want to do everything they can to help others through it. The Foundation has an open door policy; anyone is welcome any time to stop by and speak with a volunteer or staff member, or spend some quiet time in the resource library, where there are reading materials and a computer to do research. The Foundation’s many programs allow people to connect with others who understand what they are going through, because they have been there themselves. Weekly support groups led by licensed social workers give people affected by breast cancer a way to voice their emotions in a completely safe and nonjudgmental environment. Support groups are held in the Foundation’s office, on the Hope Bus, at local community centers and in hospitals. A full calendar of these sessions is available at www.gloriagemma.org. gidget’s Corner is a program designed specifically for the children of women with breast cancer, and grew out of the idea that the children’s feelings and experiences are too often overshadowed by the treatment of their sick parent. The program provides free tickets to family-friendly events like sporting events and kids activities, helping families to relax and reconnect, even in such a difficult time. geTTing CreaTive Cancer is a physical disease, but it affects the mind, body and spirit. The Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Resource Foundation develops programs and services to promote healing and wellness of the whole person. GGBCRF helps aid the healing process through the Foundation’s Creative Programs, which include therapeutic writing and healing arts classes which are held at different times throughout the year. Therapeutic writing allows people to work towards releasing the complex emotions surrounding treatment, recovery and remembrance. healing arts projects give a visual component to healing: for the Starfish Project, people made starfish to represent those touched by breast cancer, whether patient, survivor, family member, friend or caregiver. During the process, people are invited to share their stories or just create and remember. In addition, the Foundation also offers nutrition and cooking classes and a variety of spiritual classes to help nourish the body and the soul.
The garden of hope program is a horticultural therapy program. It allows people to participate in creating outdoor spaces that are places of growth, healing and tranquility. The act of gardening provides health benefits, while the rewards of the gardening – a beautiful outdoor sanctuary in which to sit, reflect and enjoy nature – are immeasurable. This program works to provide breast cancer patients and communities with these spaces. JusT for Me This program is designed to help women rediscover their beauty from the inside out. It’s an undeniable fact: when you look good, you feel good about yourself. Breast cancer treatments and surgeries can leave women with hair and skin changes, brittle nails and body changes. A diagnosis of breast cancer and the expensive treatments that come with it can also leave women with limited funds, so shopping for a new outfit and salon appointments are often the first things to be cut from the budget. GGBCRF offers spa days and classes on skin care. It also hosts yoga classes, professional bra fitting workshops, and empowerment classes. All of these services are designed to help women regain their confidence and feel beautiful again. The Foundation’s annual our heroes survivor fashion show falls under this program and breast cancer survivors who participate in this show receive star treatment by having their hair and makeup professionally done before they stroll down the catwalk, wearing gorgeous clothes from some of the Rhode Island’s premier boutiques and clothiers. It is a memorable evening that helps restore self-esteem, and helps remind participants that they are not defined by their cancer. gloriagemma.org • Reflections of Hope
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A Guy Thing The Gloria Gemma Men’s Group supports spouses through difficult times
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Property management “One of the challenges with breast cancer is that the spouse will be either amazingly supportive or in some ways absent,” says Gary Calvino, director of development for Gloria Gemma. “If a husband does come in, I slip him my card and say ‘if you need to talk, give me a call.’ Sometimes they do call and I will meet them for coffee. They want someone to talk to.” So, Gary formed the Men’s Group as a way to support men who are affected by the disease. “Getting men to come to a support group is not an easy thing, even if they need it,” he continues. “They think they can get through it.” So once a month, the group (there are roughly two dozen members at the moment) gets together to do something fun: billiards, the shooting range, McCoy Stadium. Almost any survivor will tell you that cancer is an alienating experience: patients (and their spouses and families) are reluctant to discuss their experience with healthy people, and in turn those healthy people don’t often know how to handle having sick people in their lives. Those affected by cancer often lose friends – but through Gloria Gemma, they make new ones. Like the women’s groups that get together for spa services or yoga classes (read more about that on p. 11), the Men’s Group is a fun place for people who are going through the same experience and don’t have to explain to anyone – everyone there understands what it’s like to love someone who has, or had, breast cancer. “This is not an individual disease,” Gary continues. “The family is involved. It’s not just spouses; it’s open to fathers, sons whose mothers have breast cancer.” “It shows them that they’re not alone,” Gary says. “We’ve had conversations about what their wives might be going through, that it’s happened to the others as well. We have some men whose wives are currently going through treatment, but we also have men who have been through it and their wives might be six or seven years out. They’re telling those men ‘I remember that, there’s another side beyond this.’ That’s what our organization is all about.” Call 401-8614376 or email info@gloriagemma.org for more on the Men’s Group.
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Driving Hope The Hope Bus brings support and education throughout the state
Hope Bus is quite literally the biggest part of the foundation’s community outreach program. It delivers the GGBCRF’s support, services and resources all over Rhode Island and beyond. The bright pink RV can be found regularly outside hospitals, businesses, community and senior centers, churches, schools and health fairs. On the bus – inside which anyone is welcome – there are a variety of offerings. The bus always provides resources on breast health, risk reduction, treatment and support. It’s a safe place to share experiences about the disease, whether your own or a loved one’s. On a given day, depending on the location, there are other activities on board, like healing arts programs, spa services and nutrition workshops. The bus also provides information regarding the Rhode Island Department of Health’s Women’s Cancer Screening Program, which grants access to free mammograms for uninsured and underinsured women, and the Foundation helps fund this vital program. “We go into the community,” says Maureen DiPiero, director of outreach for the Gloria Gemma Foundation. “People don’t have to travel far from home. It gives us an opportunity to educate people about the risk factors and methods of screenings for breast cancer. The hope is they will get screened, and be more aware of when there’s a difference in their bodies so we can catch it at an earlier stage.” The educational resources on the Hope Bus are invaluable, but the bus is also a meeting place for people who have been affected by breast cancer. “The magic of the bus is people coming on board and talking to others who have traveled the same path,” Maureen explains. “There’s nothing like watching the face of a newly diagnosed woman being introduced to someone who’s an 11-year survivor of the same type of breast cancer, and to hear back from the 11-year survivor that the impact is much greater on her than it is on the newly diagnosed patient. To be able to alleviate fear in someone who’s facing breast cancer at the very beginning of their journey can be healing even to someone who is a longtime survivor.” In those times, the Hope Bus becomes a place to talk and share experiences. “The fear we all carry with us is expressed on the bus because it’s a safe place,” Maureen explains. “People may be very afraid, but they don’t want to worry their spouse or their family, so they hold it in. Both the survivor and the family wear masks when they’re going through breast cancer. Even if they’re only there for 15 minutes, they can take the mask off.” But, the bus is also a place to share joy. “The other side of
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Reflections of Hope • gloriagemma.org
that is that we had a woman come on the bus who had come on it before, and we were at her cancer center. She had had her last treatment that day. She said, ‘I was hoping the bus would be here today so I could tell you it was my last day of treatment.’ I asked her what she would do if she could do anything to celebrate. She said, ‘I would dance.’ Suddenly the survivors who were on the bus put on music and danced with her to celebrate that it was her last day and she was stepping forward. Those are moments that never leave you. I can’t imagine they would ever leave anyone who witnesses them. It’s those connections – whether it’s a lifetime connection or a momentary one – that can change your life.” The Hope Bus was donated by the Halkyard Family Foundation, and is supported in part by grants from the Rhode Island Foundation, the CVS Caremark Charitable Trust, Blue Cross/ Blue Shield of Rhode Island Community Health Fund, the Champlin Foundation and the Amgen Foundation. To request a Hope Bus visit to your event or location, contact Maureen DiPiero at Maureen@gloriagemma.org or call 401-861-HERO. For sponsorship opportunities, contact Gary Calvino at Gary@ gloriagemma.org or call 401-641-7155.
Photography: Tiffany Medrano
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Early Education Pink Spirit gives kids the facts about breast cancer
Photography: Kizirian Photographpy
Though the Foundation is
an invaluable resource for families who are or have been touched by breast cancer, one of the main goals at GGBCRF is preventative education. As part of that, community outreach coordinator Maureen DiPiero developed Pink Spirit, a program that goes into high schools to reach teenagers about risk factors and early detection. The program was created to educate high school students about breast cancer in the hope that they would take the information home to the adults. “We educate students about risk factors, symptoms, screening methods, lifestyle changes that can reduce your risk or put your body in a better place to deal with breast cancer,” DiPiero said. But it’s not only about statistical education; Maureen brings a survivor to each Pink Spirit program. Some survivors share their personal stories with the students, while others are very clinical, talking about the details of their disease. Still others share life lessons that they have learned through their illnesses. Maureen recalls that one survivor told students that her doctor insisted she was too young to have breast cancer, but it turned out that she did. “She drew this straight line on the blackboard, and said, ‘This is how we all live our lives, as if they will never end. For those of us who live with breast cancer, we know there’s an end, so I live my life as though I’m at this point every day.’ She then asked the students, ‘When I get to the end of my life, will I be proud of the decisions I made?’” Students are educated about breast cancer facts, but the survivors teach them about life. Some survivors have removed their wigs to show purple stubble from new hair growth to passing around an extra breast prosthesis. And, many of the survivors tell the students it was the best thing that ever happened to them. For the last eight years, Maureen has begun each class by asking how many students have been affected by breast cancer, and she says, “90-95 percent of them raise their hands.” If you would like to schedule a Pink Spirit event, email Maureen at Maureen@gloriagemma.org.
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| 19
Heading East
Gloria Gemma brings awareness to Bristol County When it comes to
education about breast cancer, the Gloria Gemma Foundation doesn’t let anything stop them – not even a couple of bridges and tolls. Their East Bay Outreach initiative is specifically designed to bring awareness to Bristol County (Barrington, Warren and Bristol) – which has the highest incidence of breast cancer diagnoses and the highest breast cancer mortality rates of all five counties in Rhode Island. That fact prompted the foundation to increase their presence in that area. Maureen DiPiero, the Foundation’s community outreach coordinator says, “We decided we needed to provide more education and outreach in that community, because Rhode Islanders don’t like to travel far.” The East Bay initiative started two years ago with Laurie Cordeiro, who led the charge to bring services into the area. Laurie was a GGBCRF volunteer who passed away from the disease last November. Last year, the Foundation sponsored weekly yoga classes for survivors. This year, it has worked with one of their sponsors, RI Rehabilitation Centers, to create Thriving After Breast Cancer, a program which includes nutrition information and physical movement to help heal the body and reduce side effects from cancer treatments and surgeries. The Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Resource Foundation is also working with Sisters in Survival, a support group in the East
Thriving After Breast Cancer Program, RI Rehabilitation Services
20 |
Reflections of Hope • gloriagemma.org
Laurie Cordeiro’s Garden of Hope
Bay for all types of cancer, and brings the Hope Bus once a month to a different East Bay location. The launch party for the Sensuality Project was at Blithewold Mansion in Bristol (read more on p. 22). When the town of Bristol finishes converting its old Army Reserve Center into a community center, Gloria Gemma will have a presence there, too. Maureen explains, “As soon as that’s available we’ll be offering programs there, and we’ll be building a Garden of Hope on that property.” The Foundation built its first Garden of Hope in Laurie’s backyard before she passed away, and the first public garden will be at the new Bristol Community Center. A grant and volunteers from Blue Cross Blue Shield broke ground last year, in phase I of the Garden of Hope community garden. Once building renovations on the new community center are complete, the Foundation will enact phase II of the community garden. “This will provide a serene place for people to go to catch their breath.” Maureen says. To find out where the Hope Bus will be in the East Bay, visit www.gloriagemma.org.
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| 21
Bringing Sexy Back The Sensuality Project helps women feel like women again “I have never had
shy and a little scared, but evolved into powerful and sensual people by the time they left. “It’s their first step coming back,” Lisa says. The project debuted at a private gathering at Blithewold in Bristol and then was showcased in a gallery exhibit at Art & Soul in Cranston before it makes its way to the Healing Arts Gallery Pavilion at Flames of Hope. After Flames of Hope, the project will be exhibited throughout the state. “Their battle scars are sexy. They’re not something to be ashamed of,” Lisa says. “They’re so excited to see their photos displayed at different events. They shined – they absolutely shined.”
22 |
Did You Know: Breast cancer is the 2nd leading cause of cancer deaths in RI -RI Cancer Registry Cancer Surveillance Report: Rhode Island’s Cancer Burden Reflections of Hope • gloriagemma.org
Photography: (L) Tiffany Medrano (R) Lisa Bruno
breast cancer,” says photographer Lisa Bruno, “but I liken it to a soldier coming home from war. They have to reacclimatize themselves to their former lives.” Sensuality is one of the things a woman has to reacquaint herself with, after she has battled breast cancer. To help them do that, the Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Resource Foundation, with the help of Lisa Bruno, launched the Sensuality Project, a photo exhibit of breast cancer survivors looking and feeling like the beautiful women they are. Twenty survivors – some of them still in treatment, and one young woman who has tested positive for the BRCA gene mutation – posed for photos. The women were handpicked for a variety of reasons, but all of them needed to get their sexy back. The women who posed for the photos got much more than their beauty memorialized – they got a boost in their self-confidence, because they were able to see what other people see – an attractive, sensual being that is not characterized by the scars left by her disease. The insecurities these women feel about their bodies post-cancer is not uncommon. “They’ve lost so much – they’ve lost their breasts, they’ve lost a piece of themselves,” Lisa says. The photos are an eclectic collection, showing some women donning gowns, while others are wearing vintage lingerie. The common thread is that all of the women entered their photo shoots nervous,
Flames of Hope: A Celebration of Life
An overview of Gloria Gemma’s signature event, happening October 11-13 Every Columbus Day weekend, thousands and thousands of Gloria Gemma supporters take over downtown Providence for Flames of Hope: A Celebration of Life. A breast cancer awareness event, Flames of Hope is three days of education, entertainment, inspiration and remembrance. It’s now one of the biggest events of its kind in the Northeast. Friday evening, October 11, kicks off with an opening reception and unveiling of the Celebrate Hope, Celebrate Life calendar, in the ARS Pink Party tent. Invited guests get to experience the full impact of Celebration Village and the mounting excitement of the Flames of Hope event. Flames of Hope: A Celebration of Life event begins Saturday, October 12 at 3:00PM, and features education and wellness seminars, cooking demonstrations, exercise exhibits, healing arts activities, food, and live music. The day is capped off by the Illuminations of Life Ceremony, followed by a procession of 150 torchbearers who make their way to the Providence River basin to
light the final WaterFire of the season, and pay tribute to all those who have been touched by breast cancer. On Sunday, October 13, runners and walkers hit the road for the Flames of Hope Run/Walk Series. Four races make up this series, including the fifth anniversary of the Gloria Gemma 5K; the Kids Fun Run, sponsored by Macy’s; and new this year, the Gloria Gemma 10K, sponsored by Rejuvaderm Medispa. The most memorable race of the day is the Pink Pump Palooza, sponsored by the Walking Company. Men and women run this 50-yard-dash in festively decorated high heels. Pink spirit garb is encouraged for all the races. The day ends with a block party featuring live music, food and lots of fun for race participants and their guests. For more information, visit www.flamesofhopeseries.org. gloriagemma.org • Reflections of Hope
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Entrance
A
S
Vendor Marketplace
T
Illuminations of Life
Run/Walk Series HQ
U Alex and Ani
Interactive Health Pavilion
D
Mastery Martial Arts
V
Gregg’s Cake for the Cure
I
Cat Country 98.1
E
Gloria Gemma Foundation
Gloria Gemma Merchandise
Main Stage
C
gaspee street
B
8am-2pm
H
G Calendar Exhibit
Mastery Ampitheater
F
ARS Pink Party
& sunday, October 13
3pm-midnight
saturday, October 12
Entrance
Q
Flames of Hope Event HQ
R
Sandtasia Sculpture
P
O
Restrooms
N
e op oH dt oa eR h nt O
Starfish Project
J
Garden of Hope
Education & Wellness Pavilion
K
Flames of Hope CafĂŠ
Healing Arts Gallery
fi
n
ay w
In Remembrance
Torch Procession
e
M
c an
Kitchen Stadium
L
FOR MORE event details go to page 26
Celebration Village Key
francis street
Food Court
everything you can see and Do at
flames of Hope: a celebration of Life saturday, October 12 & sunday, October 13 3pm-midnight
A. Marketplace
K. Flames of Hope Cafe
Saturday & Sunday
enjoy great shopping and services by vendors such as Baxter’s Jewelry, white Light Books, russ’ Ocean state Harley Davidson, Owen’s corning, Moonworks Home improvement and g spot salon.
B. Illuminations of Life Ceremony this is the pinnacle of the flames of Hope weekend, with an emotional presentation and dance performance preceding the torch procession.
C. Main Stage
D. Gregg’s Cake for the Cure
E. Cat Country 98.1FM
Saturday & Sunday
a peaceful garden by tranquil water gardens and Hattoy nursery.
M. Kitchen Stadium
Saturday & Sunday
enjoy cooking demonstrations by local and celebrity chefs.
Saturday & Sunday
enjoy an evening of great food, live music and dancing. tickets are $40.00 per person and include two drink tickets. On sunday, this tent becomes pink glove service – a Vip experience for race participants who pay an additional fee at time of registration.
G. Calendar Exhibit check out the 2014 Celebrate Hope, Celebrate Life calendar available for purchase, and meet the calendar girls.
H. Mastery Amphitheater
welcoming people to express their emotions and heal through art therapy. Join in discovering the story of the starfish. Saturday & Sunday
the Hope Bus travels throughout the state promoting awareness, education and support.
Q. Flames of Hope HQ Volunteer check in and customer service.
R. Sand Sculpture by Sandtasia S. Flames of Hope Race Series the pink pump palooza, the Kids fun run, the gloria gemma 5k and the gloria gemma 10k. Block party with food and live music for race participants immediately after.
T. Interactive Health Pavilion
Join the team of Mastery Martial arts as they perform martial arts demonstrations throughout saturday. On sunday, this area will be used for the flames of Hope run/walk series bag check.
I. Gloria Gemma Foundation
Saturday & Sunday
the pavilion is a cornucopia of everything to do with wellbeing, and features a stage offering wellness lectures. On sunday, the pavilion is transformed into the celebrate “Kids’” Village with fun activities for children.
P. Hope on the Road Vehicle Display
wctK will be in celebration Village with Jake the cat to hold raffles and promotions for all of their great country music fans.
Saturday & Sunday
this tent has something for everyone: exercise exhibits and interactive health screenings. it is also the flames of Hope run/ walk series registration and packet pickup area for saturday and sunday.
Saturday & Sunday
come learn how the foundation can help you and your family through your journey. this pavilion is a wealth of information and resources, with survivors on hand who are willing to listen. Saturday & Sunday
Join us as we display the sensuality project, and nationally renowned photographs from the tutu project.
26 |
L. Garden of Hope
O. Starfish Project
sample gregg’s cake for the cure, with 100% of the proceeds benefiting gloria gemma Breast cancer resource foundation.
J. Healing Arts Gallery
Saturday & Sunday
grab a snack and a drink or take a break.
N. Education and Wellness Pavilion
Saturday & Sunday
Offering live entertainment throughout the day and evening with a variety of acts, including saturday afternoon music by changes in Latitude (Jimmy Buffet tribute band), and evening headliner, the Official Beatlemania stage show.
F. ARS Pink Party
8am-2pm
Reflections of Hope • gloriagemma.org
U. Alex and Ani enjoy shopping at their bangle bar.
V. Mastery Martial Arts Learn what Mastery offers at their seven academies, and purchase a board for the spectacular board breaking saturday evening.
Flames of Hope Schedule of Events 3:30PM Changes in Latitude, the country’s premier Jimmy Buffet tribute band 6:30PM Illuminations of Life Ceremony, concluding with the annual torch procession and the lighting of the largest and final WaterFire of the season * RI State House Grounds 7:00PM The ARS Pink Party, a ticketed event featuring food, desserts, beverages and entertainment by the DownCity Band 8:00PM Breaking Boards for Breast Cancer presented by Mastery Martial Arts
Illuminations of LIfe
FRidAy, OCtObeR 11 Celebration Village, Station Park, Providence
SundAy, OCtObeR 13 Celebration Village, Station Park, Providence Flames Of Hope Run/Walk Series
6:30PM • Flames of Hope Opening Reception • Celebrate Hope, Celebrate Life Rhode Island Monthly Calendar Unveiling by invitation • Evening Entertainment by the Edwards Twins
8:00AM On-site registration & packet pick-up
SAtuRdAy, OCtObeR 12
10:30AM Kids Fun Run
Celebration Village, Station Park, Providence* Photography: Jonathan Beller
9:00PM Main Stage: The Official Beatlemania Stage Show
10:00AM - 4:00PM Flames Of Hope Run/Walk Series on-site registration & packet pick-up 3:00PM • Celebration Village opens • Education and wellness seminars, cooking demonstrations, exercise exhibits, interactive health screenings and more. • Fun for the entire family
10:15AM Pink Pump Palooza
11:15AM Gloria Gemma 5K 11:15AM Gloria Gemma 10K 12:00PM - 2:00PM Flames of Hope Run/Walk Series Awards Ceremony and Block Party gloriagemma.org • Reflections of Hope
| 27
A Weekend for the Community Flames of Hope is a three-day event for those affected by breast cancer to remember, reflect and celebrate life. Join the 8th annual event from October 11-13. Photography by Jonathan Beller
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survivor profile
Age is Just a Number Corey Calligano is a young survivor
I would love to stay involved with the Gemma Foundation – to help get the word out and volunteer – after I’m done with treatment. 30 |
Reflections of Hope • gloriagemma.org
Photography: Tiffany Medrano
For 31-year-old Corey Calligano, being told she had breast cancer was totally unexpected. “Breast cancer does not run in my family, and I wasn’t at risk for it,” she says. The Cranston native has three children at home – ages nine, seven and two – and has been undergoing a battery of treatment since her diagnosis last September. “I was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma, growing aggressively,” Corey says. “I had 16 kick-your-butt, horrible chemotherapy treatments over a period of five months. I then had a lumpectomy with 18 lymph nodes removed under my left arm.” She is currently undergoing daily radiation treatment and Herceptin treatments (a form of chemo) every three weeks. Soon, she’ll be put on a daily regimen of Tamoxifen (a pill that blocks the effects of the estrogen hormone in the body) for the next five years. Illness is never easy, but Corey is going through a particularly tough treatment regimen, and taking care of a young family at the same time. But it was her daughters who led her to the Gemma Foundation, though she didn’t know it at the time. “I met Mandy Zito [who runs the Young Survivors program, a support group for younger breast cancer patients] a few years ago. My daughter was in her preschool class,” Corey says. “Mandy and I got to be friendly, and she loved my kids. So when she stopped teaching, we kept in touch. She was the only young woman I had ever met that had had breast cancer. I called Mandy the day I was diagnosed and told her the news.” This year, Corey is participating in the Celebrate Hope, Celebrate Life calendar, and the Sensuality Project (read more about that on p. 22). “I love the Gemma Foundation for getting the word out about breast cancer,” Corey says. “I love that they have a group devoted to young survivors. I have met so many survivors through this foundation. When you’re going through chemo and you are at your lowest point and you’re ready to give up, it’s comforting to be able to talk to someone who has been in that exact same position and can say, ‘There is no giving up. It’s hard and it’s awful but you can get through it and you will survive just like I did.’ It’s a sisterhood. It truly is. I am very grateful to be a part of it.”
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Sponsor of the Year
Mastery Martial Arts has raised $100,000 for Gloria Gemma
Mastery Martial Arts (MMA)
has seven academies throughout Rhode Island with one concise mission: to help their students develop a stronger sense of self to achieve their full potential in life. They carry this positive message into the community and help organizations – like the Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Resource Foundation (GGBCRF) – provide awareness, education and support for people living with breast cancer. Since 2008, MMA has been a key participant at Flames of Hope: A Celebration of Life through a spectacular boardbreaking ceremony. The ceremony wraps up MMA’s yearlong fundraising efforts that have raised over $110,000 for the Foundation to date. MMA is much more than a Foundation sponsor. Owner Greg Horton, the staff and students are considered dear friends. Two months before MMA made its debut at Flames of Hope, they held a small event in Deerfield Park in Smithfield, where they broke 500 12” x 12” wooden boards and sold T-shirts. The Foundation’s cofounder, Anthony Gemma, and the director of development, Gary Calvino, were invited to the event. They were so impressed by what they witnessed that a longtime relationship was born. For six years, MMA’s staff, students and families have sold thousands of boards to the public for $5 each. Purchasers of the boards decorate them with inspirational messages, testimonials and artwork. On Saturday night at Flames of Hope, these boards are broken in rapid succession by MMA. This
MMA student at Flames of Hope
32 |
Reflections of Hope • gloriagemma.org
Mastery instructors and decorated boards
incredible display of strength is a testament to the determination of everyone associated with the MMA family who supports the Foundation’s mission. MMA’s volunteer student performers also dedicate a special XMA demonstration to honor the survivors and their families, and those lost to breast cancer. In addition to raising money for the Foundation, MMA is committed to helping breast cancer survivors feel empowered. Every year prior to Flames of Hope, breast cancer survivors are invited to the MMA academy in Johnston to learn how to break a board. These survivors are encouraged to write their goals and dreams on the board that they will ultimately break. After a brief training, each person breaks their board, symbolically breaking through and beyond cancer. It is an evening filled with faith, hope, strength, courage and determination – the five words that are at the core of the Foundation’s values and appear on the state capitol at Flames of Hope. Not only do survivors break boards at MMA, they also break boards in front of hundreds of spectators at the MMA exhibition at Flames of Hope. It is another avenue that enables survivors to heal emotionally from the devastating consequences of breast cancer. “The Foundation is truly indebted to the wonderful, selfless commitment that Mastery Martial Arts has made to us, and we cannot thank this wonderful organization enough,” says Executive Director Maria Gemma. “Their core values and dedication to help people never cease to amaze us, and we sincerely appreciate their continued support.” For more about Mastery Martial Arts, visit www.masteryma.com.
survivor profile
Fighting the Good Fight
Ghislaine Francis stays positive through difficult times
Photography: Tiffany Medrano
“Having cancer is not
a good thing, but it makes you part of a larger family,” says Ghislaine Francis, who has been breast cancer-free since May. “You don’t have to be out there alone.” Initially, a social worker where Ghislaine was receiving cancer treatments referred her to the Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Resource Foundation to be a survivor model in their 2014 Celebrate Hope, Celebrate Life annual calendar, but she found the Foundation offered so much more. “You go to Gemma for support, resources and guidance,” she said.” Ghislaine, a Cranston resident who is turning 65 in October, was diagnosed through the Rhode Island Department of Health’s Women’s Cancer Screening Program, and
was uninsured at the time. It is a program that she has been going to for years, after her daughter discovered the program and helped her to qualify for its services. “They said since you’re over 40, you need to have a mammogram every year, and we’ll cover it,” Ghislaine says. Her upbeat personality and great sense of humor were keys to her getting through her cancer treatments, and says she never dwelled on her disease, “I knew it was there, but I knew I was going to kick it.” To Ghislaine, the key to beating the disease was to stay positive. “I wasn’t depressed,” she says. “Some people have a hard time accepting the fact that they are sick. That makes it harder for them. I just go, go, go. I’m not inviting it back any time.”
PUBLIC RELATIONS | DEVELOPMENT To our friends and colleagues at the Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Resource Foundation:
WE ARE HONORED TO WORK ALONGSIDE YOU YEAR-ROUND.
10 Dorrance Street | 7th floor | Providence www.JaiCG.com gloriagemma.org • Reflections of Hope
| 33
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AN N E C. PAPPAS CE NTE R FOR B R EAST I MAG I NG
Save The Date
A preview of Gloria Gemma’s annual signature events May The Our Heroes Fashion Show is a style event unlike any other. That night, breast cancer survivors model gorgeous outfits from Rhode Island’s premier boutiques and clothiers. They stroll down the catwalk, escorted by loved ones, doctors, emergency response professionals and members of the military. It is a magical evening filled with fashion, food, music and dancing.
June The Liberty Mutual Golf Invitational is a national program of fundraising golf tournaments that’s the biggest event of its kind in the country, drawing thousands of participants each year. Rhode Island’s event, a day of golf followed by an awards banquet, benefits GGBCRF.
auGuSt Motorcycle enthusiasts ride to benefit the Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Resource Foundation in the Highway to Hope Motorcycle Run. Bikers offer up the back of their bikes to take survivors on a
Flames of Hope Run/Walk Series
beautiful and relaxing ride through scenic Rhode Island. The convoy of bikes end their ride at Russ’s Ocean State Harley Davidson in Exeter for a cookout filled with food, music and fun.
OctObeR Gloria Gemma’s premier event (the one you see on the cover of this magazine) is Flames of Hope: a celebration of Life. Every Columbus Day weekend, GGBCRF and thousands of survivors, family members and supporters take over downtown Providence. The event features shopping, health screenings, music, healing arts activities, family fun and a special commemorative WaterFire lighting. The event includes the powerful and moving Illuminations of Life Ceremony, with a procession of 150 torchbearers walking in support and memory to those affected by breast cancer, to the Providence River basin to light the final and largest WaterFire of the season. The weekend culminates with the Flames of Hope Run/Walk Series. The series includes an easy 5k run/walk, a more challenging 10k, a kids fun run and the Pink Pump Palooza, where both women and men run a 50-yard-dash in heels to raise money, awareness and laughs for the cause. After the races, participants and their guests enjoy a block party featuring food, live music and lots of fun.
Our Heroes Fashion Show
Did You Know: The Rhode Island Women’s Cancer Screening Program has provided 43,175 free mammograms to uninsured or underinsured women since 1995 -Women’s Cancer Screening Program, RI Department of Health gloriagemma.org • Reflections of Hope
| 35
The Breast Decision A tidal wave of
controversy came crashing down last spring when Angelina Jolie announced she had prophylactic bilateral mastectomies after discovering she was positive for the BRCA gene mutation. Many people rushed to judgment regarding her very personal decision, but in the end it was just that – a personal decision. Every day, women who test positive with the BRCA gene mutation are forced to make decisions on whether to have preventive surgery, and 25-year-old Kate Morrocco is no exception. She tested positive for the mutation when she was 23 years old. Her mother is positive for the BRCA1 mutation and has spent the last nine years battling ovarian cancer. Kate’s older sister recently tested positive, and her uncle and grandfather also carry the mutation. Kate didn’t decide to have prophylactic mastectomies with immediate reconstruction on a whim; she did research and talked about it at length with her doctors. They suggested she wait
Kate Morrocco
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Reflections of Hope • gloriagemma.org
until she was at least 28 before considering the surgery, but Kate considered her future. “I had to grow up fast to help my mom. When I have kids, I don’t want them to have to go through what I went through,” she says. In order to satisfy Kate, her doctor ordered an MRI. To everyone’s surprise, the MRI revealed four spots in her right breast. The results pushed her to have the surgery sooner rather than later. Even though she knew what she wanted to do, it was still a very difficult decision to make. She recalls sitting at her parents’ kitchen table sobbing uncontrollably. Negative comments from a few people made her question her decision at one point. However, pre-surgery counseling and the support of her family and boyfriend of three years helped Kate through one of the most arduous decisions she ever had to make. The pathology from her mastectomies came back as atypical. Her doctor told her that the spots would turn cancerous; they just couldn’t predict when. Kate knew that the surgery would be life altering, so she decided to celebrate her pre-mastectomy life with a party she called Breast-fest. “It was very over the top, but I wanted to have something that was fun and positive,” she recalls. She admits that going through three surgeries in a year was tough, but the experience has changed her life for the better. “It has put things in perspective for me. I don’t sweat the small stuff and I focus on the positive.” Her doctors determined that Kate had a 92% chance of being diagnosed with breast cancer prior to having the prophylactic surgery. That percentage decreased to less than 2% post-surgery. Kate’s plans for the future include marrying her boyfriend and starting a family. She’ll have a total hysterectomy by age 35, since having the BRCA1 gene mutation exponentially increases her chances being diagnosed with ovarian cancer. She is also working with the Foundation to begin a new program specifically designed for people who carry the BRCA gene mutation, but have not been diagnosed with cancer. It will provide information and support, so that those affected can make the best decisions for themselves.
Did You Know: Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in RI -RI Cancer Registry Cancer Surveillance Report: Rhode Island’s Cancer Burden
Photography: Tiffany Medrano
After testing positive for the BRCA gene mutation, one local woman made a difficult decision
survivor profile
On the Run
Paula Twidale fundraises for the cause
ELIZABETH G R A D Y
Photography: Tiffany Medrano
“The diagnosis came out of the blue,” says Paula Twidale, executive Vice President of Collette Vacations. “I was preoccupied with taking care of my mother, who was in a nursing home. She passed away ten days after my surgery. My mother never knew I was sick. It was a very traumatic time.” Because of the demands of work, family and her illness, Paula decided to keep her diagnosis private and to keep working through treatment. “It wasn’t until a year later when I decided I was going to do the race,” she says. So, she went public with her story at work, forming a team (the PT Warriors) and raising money and awareness through the Gloria Gemma 5k. “When my niece was seven-years-old, she was diagnosed with cancer,” Paula says.
“Then, when she got married, she developed thyroid cancer. She’s gone through so much. When she went through this adversity, she was told to ‘put your warrior on.’ When my mother died, she came up for the funeral. Not a lot of people knew I was sick, and I was very self-conscious about seeing everyone. She told me to ‘put your warrior on,” she continues. “You don’t bury your head in the sand; you keep going. You have to be a leader. You have to be a warrior to get through this adversity.” “I believe in paying it forward,” Paula says. “I look at survivorship as creating an awareness and dispelling fears and stigma about this disease. It can be difficult living with that fear that it might return. That’s what the Foundation does - it helps you with dispelling that fear.”
THERE'S BEAUTY IN NUMBERS 6
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Proud Sponsor of October’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month In Seekonk, MA at 20 Commerce Way • 508-336-7710 In Dartmouth, MA at 127 Faunce Corner Road • 508-994-1100 In Franklin, MA at 130 Franklin Village Drive • 508-520-2257
Providence :: Boston :: new Haven www.diMeo.coM gloriagemma.org • Reflections of Hope
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Through your support, Macy’s
Gives to initiatives
important to you and your community – women’s health and wellness, the environment, arts, education, and HIV and AIDS research and awareness. Together,
we give every star the chance to shine.
Join the Fight How to support Gloria Gemma’s good work
The foundation could not accomplish all that it does without the help of its dedicated volunteers, and owes them a huge debt of gratitude. Often, these volunteers have been touched by breast cancer in some way. They have dozens of breast cancer survivors who willingly donate their time “wo-manning” information tables at events, performing community outreach, pounding the pavement for donations and working in the office. They provide comfort to other survivors and newly diagnosed individuals, as well as their loved ones, because they understand what it means to have breast cancer. Their selfless assistance is paramount to the foundation. The far-reaching effects of breast cancer go beyond the patient. A diagnosis is the epicenter that ripples out touching family members, friends and coworkers. The emotional impact leaves loved ones wanting to help. They volunteer in honor or memoriam of the person they love by hosting fundraisers and volunteering at signature events, including Flames of Hope.
World class medical imaging...focusing on you.
• Volunteer in the office, on the Hope Bus or at one of the GGBCRF’s signature events.
Rhode Island Medical Imaging combines nationally and internationally recognized doctors with the newest imaging technology, including the only two state-of-the-art 3T MRI systems in a community setting.
• Make a general donation or donate your used car to the foundation’s vehicle donation program. You can also support a participant in the Flames of Hope Run/Walk Series or make a donation to a Flames of Hope Torchbearer.
You and your doctor can be confident in our team of highly trained radiologists, whose diagnoses impact the direction of your care. You have a choice in your imaging provider. Ask your doctor to send you to the premier radiology group in Rhode Island.
®
401.432.2400
w w w. r i m i r a d . c o m
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Reflections of Hope • gloriagemma.org
• Intern with the foundation if you are a current college student or recent graduate. • Participate in a signature event and raise money through sponsorships. • Fundraise by hosting your own event on behalf of Gloria Gemma. Call the foundation at 401-861-HERO to learn more. • Purchase merchandise in support of the foundation at www.store.gloriagemma.org.
Photography: Johnathan Beller
HOW TO HELP
Drive for the Cause The Ribbon of Hope license plate shows your support wherever you go
What has five arms, wears a ribbon, and fights breast cancer?
Photography: Tiffany Medrano
Limited edition starfish pins and pendant, $10 –$20. One third of the proceeds benefit the Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Resource Foundation.
Pink ribbon stickers on your car are one thing, but now there’s another way to show solidarity and support for the local cause. The Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Resource Foundation now offers Ribbon of Hope, its official Rhode Island license plate. Ribbon of Hope is available for personal passenger (non-commercial) vehicles, and allows you to keep your existing five- or six-digit license plate number. The one time fee is $41.50. Of that cost, $20 goes to support the Rhode Island Department of Health’s Women’s Cancer Screening Program. (That $20 is considered a tax-deductible donation to charity.) The remaining $21.50 goes to the RI Department of Transportation for producing the plate. The Cancer Screening Program, which is a RI Department of Health initiative, provides free mammograms to uninsured and underinsured women throughout the state. Since the program’s start in 1995, it has provided local women with over 42,000 mammograms and 41,000 pap smears, as well as assisting eligible women with enrolling into Medicaid upon diagnosis. To date, the program’s services have identified nearly 400 cases of breast cancer. One of GGBCRF’s main goals is to educate the public that early detection is the most important defense against this disease. Providing women with access to free cancer screenings gives them the best possible chance at that. As a press time, the Ribbon of Hope license plate has nearly achieved the mandatory 900 orders to begin production. Show your support by ordering one for yourself. To order a plate, download the order form at www.gloriagemma.org and mail it to Ribbon of Hope Plate, P.O. Box 442, Greenville, RI 02828. For more information on the Cancer Screening Program, visit www.health.ri.gov/ programs/womenscancerscreening. gloriagemma.org • Reflections of Hope
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Reflections of Hope • gloriagemma.org
survivor profile
Seeing the Bright Side
Patricia Van Hoolandt sees opportunity in adversity
Photography: Tiffany Medrano
“I was diagnosed in
2008 at 51,” says North Providence’s Pat Van Hoolandt. “I found the lump myself, and I knew it just didn’t feel right. I had my biopsy and two days later they called me to tell me I had breast cancer. They thought it was only going to be a lumpectomy, but they found a much larger tumor in surgery. It turned out I had stage two breast cancer. I almost lost it. Then I took control of myself and said ‘ok, what’s next?’” “I’ve learned a lot about myself,” she says. “I’m a lot stronger for it. I’m actually grateful.” Pat, who was born in Africa and came to America by way of Belgium, ended up having four rounds of chemo, and 37 rounds of radiation, which is a lot. But, true to form, Pat found the positive in it. “It was okay,” she says. “I had a ball. I would have chemo on Thursday and go dancing on Friday. I love music, I love dancing. It wasn’t going to stop me. I used to go dancing bald and all. I never wore a wig. People would stare at me and I didn’t care.” She and her sister Viviane would go to treatments together, bringing so much laughter and positive energy to the situation that other patients would ask to schedule their appointments to coincide with hers. “I said it picked the wrong girl,” Pat says. “It shouldn’t pick any girl, but I’m the wrong girl. My motto is just keep swimming.” Though, of course, there were hard times – one of which was earlier this year when Pat made her five-year mark, and took some time to reflect on what she had been through. “Don’t get me wrong,” she says. “I had my moments when I was sad and cried. But I tried to make the best of whatever it was. You get closer with your family, you get closer with your old friends, and then you make new friends [through Gloria Gemma] and you don’t have to explain to them what you’re going through. When we’re together, everything is great. Nothing is wrong. We don’t talk about cancer, we talk about life.” While in her second round of chemo, Pat found the Gemma Foundation and decided to carry a torch in Flames of Hope. “It was so touching and sad to think about all of the people who were there who have lost someone, their family and children. But what a wonderful thing to honor them,” she says. “This will be my sixth year carrying the torch. It’s one of my favorite weekends all year, to see the inspiration that I receive and give out. I’m still here, and I lost a lot of friends last year, and I do it in honor of them.”
I hope I am an inspiration to other people to let them know that cancer isn’t a death sentence. It’s a wonderful thing that happened to me; it brought me to Gloria Gemma and all of the wonderful people I’ve met. gloriagemma.org • Reflections of Hope
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We Remember During the Illuminations of Light Ceremony, survivors, family and friends carry torches as a symbol of hope, faith, strength, courage and determination.
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Saturday, October 19, 2013, 8 a.m. – noon, Crowne Plaza Hotel, Warwick, Rhode Island
This event is free and open to the public. However, seating is limited and registration is required. To register, please call 401-444-4800. For program details or information about our cancer services, visit www.cancer.lifespan.org.
Please join us for an educational and inspirational morning. Keynote speaker Sherry Lebed Davis, a breast cancer survivor, will share aspects of her Healthy Steps program, which has enhanced the well-being of those with cancer or other medical conditions. She will share stories illustrating how movement, music and fun can help us heal, thrive and move on to have a better quality of life.
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For information on our Patient Service Center Lab locations call 401-793-4242 or 1-800-980-4244 or visit www.Lifespanlabs.org *RIH Ventures d.b.a Lifespan Laboratories