Joy to Life Magazine--Premier Issue

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A N A L A B A M A G U L F C O A S T VA C AT I O N R E A L I Z AT I O N

S O M E T I M E S Y O U H AV E T O V E N T U R E O U T S I D E T O F I N D T H AT S T I L L , C A L M P L A C E W I T H I N .

Wharf Uncorked September 14 -16

Shrimp Festival October 12-15

Oyster Cook-Off November 3-4

World Food Championships Along this quiet stretch of soft, sugar white sand and turquoise water, remarkable memories create themselves.

November 8-12

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Home.

It’s where you build the future.

Take your time. Make your memories. Celebrate.

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Auto Home Life

Come home. #AlfaCares

HUGE THANKS to the artists of Femme Fatale Quatra, Bella, Seville Salon, the Renaissance Montgomery Hotel & Spa and especially these beautiful survivors.

FA L L 2 01 7

Photography by Big Dreamz Creative

PUBLISHER JTL Publishing EDITOR Joy Blondheim MANAGING EDITOR

Welcome to our fall issue! It’s a special one for two big reasons; it’s about change and celebration.

For five years, we have published lean magazine under the umbrella of the “Joy to Life Foundation.” For five years you, our readers, have enjoyed this publication, and you have told us so time and time again. Under the editorial leadership of Jenny Stubbs, we have brought you a magazine that is timely, entertaining and, yes, even a little edgy. We thank Jenny with all of our hearts for her leadership and dedication, not only to lean, but to the Joy to Life Foundation as well.

But, things always change, and Jenny has decided to retire as editor.

I have taken a real leap of faith, and I will now become the editor. Jennifer Kornegay, who has worked with us for years, will become managing editor.

Now for the exciting news about the magazine. As you may have noticed, the name lean is retiring too! We are now Joy to Life magazine, making it clear that the magazine is an arm of the Joy to Life Foundation.

We are extremely proud of our

premiere issue, celebrating October, which is breast cancer awareness month, and celebrating life with courageous survivors as part of “The Body Art Project,” a taste of which we’ve given you on our cover.

Amanda Stiffler and her team of talented artists, who you will read about on page 16, did a magnificent job creating the overall designs for the project. Nancy Fields of Big Dreamz Creative, our photographer for the project, captured the strength and uniqueness of each survivor.

Lastly, I want to thank the five beautiful survivors (Karren, Jeanette, Carrie, Adrienne and Kim) who said “yes” so quickly when I asked them to become works of art.

We hope you’re as excited about this next chapter for the Foundation’s magazine as we are.

Enjoy this issue,

Jennifer Stewart Kornegay ART DIRECTOR Erika Rowe Tracy DIGITAL MEDIA PRODUCERS Big Dreamz Creative MARKETING Margaret Fields and Kelly Haynes COPY EDITOR Jenny Enslen Stubbs CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Brenda Robertson Dennis, Jennifer Stewart Kornegay, Cheyenne Martin, Jenny Enslen Stubbs, Melissa Tate Witt CONTRIBUTING DESIGNER Karla Merritt CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Big Dreamz Creative, Billy Pope COVER PHOTOGRAPHY Big Dreamz Creative

Joy Blondheim Editor & Co-Founder, Joy to Life Foundation

Joy to Life is published quarterly by JTL Publishing. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part is prohibited without permission from the publisher. Joy to Life reserves the right to determine the suitability of all materials submitted for publication and to edit all submitted materials for clarity and space. Joy to Life is not responsible for damage, loss or any other injury to unsolicited manuscripts and/or unsolicited artwork. This includes, but is not limited to, drawings, photography, transparencies or any other unsolicited material. Joy to Life does not knowingly accept false or misleading advertising or editorial. The publishers do not assume responsibility should such advertising or editorial appear. Joy to Life is a news magazine with information on health, leisure activities and a healthy lifestyle. Readers are advised to consult their physicians before participating in any sport or fitness activity or starting any exercise, dietary or nutritional program published in Joy to Life.

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Photography by Big Dreamz Creative

Features

08

01

THE ART OF JOY

FALL

ISSUE 01

20 WHOLE LIVING

34 ON THE MOVE

22 THE DISH

40 GREAT GOODS

26 TO LIFE

44 IN BALANCE

29 FIT FOR KIDS

46 GO & DO

Read All About It

Into the Wild

Fitness Fuel

Products & Gear

Living with Lymphedema

Talking to Kids About Cancer

Stress Busters

Calendar of Events

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RIDE JOIN OUR FIGHT

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A PUBLICATION OF THE JOY TO LIFE FOUNDATION

AN ART EXPERIENCE TO CONTINUE A JOURNEY.

BO

DY A

R T P R O JE C T

ART OF E TH

A

The Joy to Life Foundation is anything but ordinary.

For 17 years, Joy to Life has funded millions of dollars for mammograms and other life-saving screenings for underinsured Alabamians throughout the state, already providing $200,000 of funds for screenings this year alone.

Participants share words and stories that give us all a reason to see life in a new light.

But behind every statistic, there’s a unique story about a person affected by breast cancer and the life chosen to continue despite the diagnosis, treatment and struggle. Once again, Joy to Life looked “outside the box” to find a few of these stories and is using body art to capture each survivor’s beautiful, unique journey.

BY BRENDA ROBERTSON DENNIS / PHOTOGRAPHY BY BIG DREAMZ CREATIVE

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A PIECE OF OUR HEART. Co-founder and breast cancer survivor Joy Blondheim explains, “My hope for these fabulous women is that the body art experience will make each feel more empowered and even more beautiful! I am certain this unique opportunity adds another dimension to their already life-changing journey.”

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A PUBLICATION OF THE JOY TO LIFE FOUNDATION

Karren

Karren Pell is a musician, songwriter, author and animal lover. And in 1999, she added cancer survivor to her list of accomplishments. “After a failed lumpectomy, I had a complete mastectomy with complete reconstruction,” she recalls. “I did a full round of chemo and had a lot of problems. I have also sustained some serious health issues from treatment. I got through it all with help from my friends, my hero hubby, Tim Henderson, and Joy and Dickie [Blondheim].”

Karren says that she is most inspired by her friends and the animals that she loves to rescue and care for. “I love animals and for the last two years have rescued kittens,” she says.

“I currently have eight who are getting healthy and will be looking for puurfect homes.” Karren is also inspired by what she refers to as her muses. “They help me write both songs and books,” she says. Karren has written five books on the history of Montgomery and its surrounding areas. She is considered to be a modern troubadour and is a Nashville singer-songwriter who has been published and recorded internationally. Her musical compositions range from commercial songs to theatrical works, to the historical ballads of Alabama Troubadour, her first book.

Her talents are also periodically on display when she performs with her friends of the Old Alabama Town Revue Crue in Montgomery.

When asked how she felt about being a part of the body art project, Karren replied, “I am proud and honored to be a part of anything Joy and Dickie Blondheim are a part of; if I can help others that is even better. I hope [people] will understand that breast cancer treatment is, like a lot of other treatments — the more successful the earlier detected. I hope [they] understand the importance of JTL’s mission of providing mammograms. Treatment is difficult and expensive and therefore, women in treatment need support.”

Jeanette

Jeanette Crook describes herself as “full of life,” and she’s right on the mark. As an active mother of two and grandmother of four, she hasn’t let cancer slow her down.

Jeanette was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer in 2003, then five years later little spots began to show up on her bones, causing her to continue regular chemo treatments indefinitely. Despite trouble with her knees and a recent hernia operation, for which she astonishingly only missed one day of work, she keeps on going. “I absolutely love it,” she proclaims when referring to her work at Baptist South gift shop. “Even with my legs like they are, I get up and go to work every day. I love to stay busy. I’m kind of hyper like that, I guess!”

Even in the little things like ironing every piece of clothing she puts on, Jeanette takes pride and care in all that she does. “My words are live, fight and hope,” she says, “because that’s what I’ve been doing every day since 2003. It takes a lot to get me down.”

Jeanette has been a regular participant in the JTL Foundation's Walk of Life over the years but had to bow out this year because of problems with her knees. But it’s clearly Jeanette’s love for life and her humor that get her through her struggles, and she hopes people can learn a little something from what she’s been through. “I hope people will get it that you never give up. I could have given up a long time ago, but I’ll go down fighting.

You can bet on that,” she declares. “I love life. I mean I love life. I want people to know just because you have cancer, that’s not the end of the world, and it doesn’t have to be the end of your life.”

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A PUBLICATION OF THE JOY TO LIFE FOUNDATION

Adrienne Like all of these ladies, Adrienne Griffin leads a full and busy life. She’s married and has five kids. She holds two degrees from AUM, and has served as the Treasurer of Beautifully Bald Montgomery.

“We are an organization promoting the beauty of brave souls in our community fighting illnesses fashionably one day at a time,” she says proudly. She’s also a volleyball coach.

Adrienne is celebrating four years as a breast cancer survivor. “My battle with cancer was truly an emotional and physical struggle,” she relates. “Four days off a great family vacation and 37 years of age, I received a followup phone call from a breast biopsy done two days before with the news I have breast cancer. A month later, I was undergoing a mastectomy and breast reconstruction at the same time. I had a very difficult time after surgery and especially with the reconstruction procedure. Six weeks after surgery, it was discovered my body was rejecting the tissue expander placed on my chest wall. Two days later, I was back on the operating table, removing the expander because I had a severe infection.”

After recovery and therapy, she was asked what she wanted to gain at the end of her sessions. Her response?

To hit a volleyball again. Four years later, Adrienne is proud and not ashamed of having one breast. “I do not wear my prosthetic because I have so much nerve and muscle damage from the tissue expander. Every day I have constant pain. I block it out of my mind a great part of the day and keep moving. I always tell myself , ‘It could have been a lot worse, so get over it and deal with it.

You are still here.’”

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A PUBLICATION OF THE JOY TO LIFE FOUNDATION

Kim

Kim Scharf has been a registered nurse for 21 years and works in the cardiac step down unit at East Alabama Medical Center in Opelika. She admits that when she first started her treatments for breast cancer in 2013, she was scared and worried about a lot of things, “as many of us are,” she says. “But I had a breast cancer survivor tell me one day that ‘there's life after this.’ It made me see my treatments in a whole other way. I had a better attitude about treatment and life, in general. Many people would comment about how great I handled chemo and that I never seemed to let it get me down. I have used my testimony as a survivor many times in caring for my patients to help them know that they can get through whatever tough situations they are going through, if they have the right attitude.”

The 43-year-old wife and mother of two was diagnosed with breast cancer on July 15, 2013 at the age of 39. “I had a double mastectomy and did chemo every other week for four months. My breast cancer was estrogen positive and HER2 positive so besides chemo, I also had to get a Herceptin infusion once a month for a year.” Kim credits her appreciation for life and the gain of a long-term perspective for being able to count this as her fourth year as a survivor.

When asked about participating in the body art project, she describes it as a unique experience. “It took a lot of patience and time. The artists were very talented and fun to work with. Everyone involved in the project was wonderful and pleasant,” she says. “What I took from it was that this project took bodies that cancer had scarred and changed and made them beautiful pieces of art. I hope that readers will gain a positive attitude and understand that to achieve something, you have to fight for it.”

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A PUBLICATION OF THE JOY TO LIFE FOUNDATION

Carrie

Carrie Nelson Hale is a 27-year breast cancer survivor as well as founder and CEO of SISTAs CanSurvive Coalition, Inc. “We are dedicated to promoting health and wellness cancer survivorship practices to increase the quality of life of cancer survivors through positive lifestyle changes,” she says. “I am also a retired Army veteran and the owner and licensed counselor of HAVEN Integrative Therapy Center, LLC, with specialties in the treatment of survivors of cancer, chronic illness and trauma.”

Diagnosed with breast cancer in March 1990 at the age of 37, Carrie discovered a lump on her own through a routine selfbreast examination and followed up with mammography.

“My breast cancer was detected early, and I was treated surgically, undergoing a left modified radical mastectomy,” she recalls. “My decision to forego reconstruction served to allow me to embrace my scar as a symbol of my survivorship.”

Carrie is married and has three adult sons and a family dog named Rusty. “I have only one sister, Mari, who is an ovarian cancer survivor and two first cousins who are breast cancer survivors,” she says. “Because of this familial history in my family, I decided to take the breast cancer (BRCA) genetic test which identifies me as having an inherited mutation to the BRCA 1 gene. The significance of this finding is that it has empowered me to educate my family and others about the importance of genetic testing.”

Carrie says the body art project left her with the thought of how powerful and strong the messages of faith, hope, believing and courage can be. “My take away from this experience is: Without a spoken word, yet through art, the message is that we CanSurvive and we do survive!”

JOIN THE FIGHT AT JOYTOLIFE.ORG

A

the

rtists

Left to right: Shannon O’Toole, Elaine Tindill Rohr, Jeanette Crook, Karren Pell, Linda Adams and Amanda Stiffler.

“We had the most fantastic experience creating works of art on these beautiful, living canvases,” says lead artist Amanda Stiffler. “They have enormous heart, and tremendous courage! They've survived such incredible triumphs, and we are blessed to be included in their stories.”

The artists of Femme Fatale Quatra Body Art have been providing face painting and body art for a collective 60+ years. They work as a team at events throughout the nation, mainly focusing on face painting and variety entertainment. Amanda Stiffler has been working with Joy To Life for the last seven years, providing entertainment for the Walk of Life each year. “This project has been in the works for a long time,” says Amanda. “We are very excited to see it come to life, with the help of this talented team of artists, photographers and the support system at Joy To Life.”

AMANDA STIFFLER is the artist and visionary director of these pieces of living art. Amanda has been in the entertainment industry all of her life.

She started out singing in churches at the age of four. Later in life, her love of

the stage and all that she learned made her into the variety artist that she is today. She now owns one of the largest variety entertainment companies in the Southeast, called Amanda S Productions. Her days are very colorful and are filled with face painting, body art, costuming, balloon art, magicians, stilt walkers, specialty entertainers and variety shows.

LINDA ADAMS is the owner of a small but fabulous sign shop in downtown Clayton, North Carolina, which feeds her need to create. She has been in the face and body art industry for more than 10 years and has been an integral member of Femme Fatale Quatra Body Art from the beginning.

SHANNON O'TOOLE is a lifelong visual and performance artist, with a background in elementary education. She has been a face and body painter and has served as assistant to Amanda Stiffler for the last seven years.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON FEMME FATALE QUATRA BODY ART CALL OR VISIT: amandasproductions.wordpress.com facebook.com/femmefatalebodyart/ facebook.com/AmandaSProductions/

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MANY THANKS TO THE ARTISTS OF Femme Fatale Quatra Body Art. MORE ABOUT THEM:

ELAINE TINDILL ROHR has been an experienced face and body paint artist for more than 20 years and competed in the World Body Painting Festival in Austria in 2014. She is the team “techy” and a valuable part of the group.

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SUPPORT

i s i re

Cancer Basics: Cancer and Care Giving

How

Keep

to your

Strength p

When a loved one is diagnosed with cancer, the impact often has a ripple effect among close family members and friends. As the patient is faced with decisions regarding treatments and health, the patient’s community is left to find its role as a support system and caregiver. It can be overwhelming for all involved.

Educate yourself.

A few helpful thoughts.

Being a caregiver means different things to different people and often changes throughout a loved one’s treatment. From a simple meal to around-the-clock care, being a caregiver can oftentimes become difficult, demanding or overwhelming, despite the obvious desire to help.

For spouses, partners, parents and children, caring for a cancer patient can be even more involved. While caring for a loved one can be fulfilling, understanding your role and how to best fulfill it as primary caregiver may be easier to understand by considering these points.

RESOURCES: American Cancer Society, AARP

Knowledge is power. Research the form of cancer, treatment options and pharmaceutical side effects.

Knowing what you can expect your loved one to go through will not only help you anticipate how to meet their needs, it can also do much to relieve your own fears and anxiety. Make sure you and your loved ones talk to your employers and familiarize yourselves with the Family and Medical Leave Act, which guarantees 12 weeks off per year to care for a loved one. Not every employee qualifies for it, and it only applies to large companies, but it’s important to investigate all avenues.

Evaluate finances.

If your partner is the one who primarily pays the bills, you need to sit down and go over the budget together. It might not be necessary for you to take over the finances, but it’s important for you to know where the money is and how it is spent. During this meeting, also go over the expected cost of treatments, including any lost income.

Call your insurance company and ask questions about what is covered and then seek out programs that can help off-set the rest of the cost. The Cancer Financial Assistance Coalition is a good place to start.

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By Cheyenne Martin

Stay organized.

Appointments, support group meetings and medication schedules can get tricky. Use your phone to set reminders about treatment days, appointments and when to take or refill medications. Consider using a calendar or app that syncs so you can easily share information. Pill dispensers are also useful. Consider a small binder or folder to organize contact information for doctors and pharmacies as well as information specific to cancer type and treatment.

Communicate clearly.

Clear, compassionate communication can help avoid misunderstandings and frustration.

Listen to and respect the patient’s requests when it comes to publicly sharing a cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Make sure you are clear about your own abilities to help and that you give deference to what the patient can and wants to do without help. Remember that a cancer diagnosis does not leave your loved one completely helpless. Defining workloads and roles within the family, whether they change or stay the same, is important. Also make sure you are clear in how your loved one wants to proceed with treatment.

When cancer is advanced and treatments are invasive, the demands of caregiving increase and overwhelm. Always know your limits and don’t be afraid to ask for help. Give yourself grace and don’t fall victim to the guilt you might feel at not being able to do it all on your own. To make it easy to ask for help (as well as take friends up on their offers to help) consider using something like the calendar found at carecalendar.org. It’s a free website that acts like a digital sign-up sheet. You can list the things you need help with (meals, carpooling, babysitting) and friends can sign up to help.

Prepare for end-of-life care.

When the diagnosis is severe and the outlook is grim, the caregiver is usually the one tasked with taking care of final arrangements. Work with your loved one’s doctor to make arrangements for hospice or in-home care. Familiarize yourself with life insurance policies, wills and finances, consulting an attorney if necessary. And know ahead of time your loved one’s wishes concerning everything from resuscitation orders to funeral arrangements. Be gentle with yourself as you begin the grieving process and ask help from friends, family or professionals.

JOIN THE FIGHT AT JOYTOLIFE.ORG

Ask for help.

Stay healthy.

you've got a friend . . .

If you have a friend recently diagnosed with cancer, think of what you are able to do to help and offer to do it. Call your loved one and find out what the treatment schedule is and how it might impact day-to-day life.

Then, instead of offering the blanket statement “Let me know if I can help,” listen to your friend’s needs and discuss specifics. Maybe you can take the family supper on treatment days or invite young children over to play so parents can rest. Perhaps you can gift several magazine subscriptions or books to read during treatment and recovery. Housekeeping, yard work, homework help and carpooling kids to activities are other ways you might help. Support could even be as simple as sending an uplifting text message on treatment days.

STILL FEELING OVERWHELMED? LEARN A FEW WAYS TO TAKE STRESSFUL MOMENTS TO A CALMER PLACE. TURN TO PAGE 44

p u p s rt

Caregiving takes an emotional, physical and spiritual toll. Taking care of your own well-being is not selfish and means you can offer better long-term care. Caregivers can experience symptoms like fatigue, changes in weight, insomnia, guilt, depression and even resentment.

Make sure you take time out for yourself to do something you enjoy. Make an effort to eat regular meals and exercise; even walking can be a benefit. If you are struggling with feelings of depression or anger, reach out to a professional. In matters of faith, religious leaders can be instrumental in offering encouragement.

Talking about the frustrations and triumphs of caregiving with people who truly understand should not be underestimated. Talk to your loved one’s doctor, call the hospital or do an internet search to find a caregiver support group in your area.

G WHOLE LIVIN

Cozy up with one of these great books we’ve handpicked for autumn.

Ou r a m a b a l A SWEET

HOM E ,

Read All About It

Since its beginnings, our state has produced a wealth of writers who’ve tackled a diverse array of subjects and penned tomes in a variety of genres.

From literary luminaries of the past like Harper Lee to bright new talents, Alabama’s authors continue to make many, many book lovers happy.

Here are a few of our favorite recently released Alabama-related reads.

“Mockingbird Songs”

“Just Mercy”

// by Wayne Flynt

Despite being one of the least prolific authors ever, Nelle Harper Lee is without a doubt one of the most beloved and famous writers of the last century.

She’s also one of the most mysterious.

She – and her close friends and family – fiercely guarded her privacy, and as a result, the general public knew very little about her as a person. Dr. Wayne Flynt’s book “Mockingbird Songs,” released last spring, is finally giving the average Joe the opportunity to better understand Lee. A history professor and Baptist preacher, Flynt was possibly Lee’s dearest friend, and after her death, he felt comfortable publishing the large collection of correspondence they shared. Decades of letters reveal Lee in her own words and show her to be witty, caring and concerned about the past and future of her home state.

GET IT >> Bookstores all over the

state and on amazon.com.

// by Bryan Stevenson You could compare him to a modern-day Atticus Finch (the Mockingbird version, not Watchman’s), yet Bryan Stevenson is far more outspoken and active than Harper Lee’s fictional attorney ever was. He’s dedicated his law career to righting wrongs and shining a harsh, telling light on the injustices in our justice system by founding the Equal Justice Initiative in Montgomery. EJI works to defend the poor and marginalized as well as working to free dozens of wrongly condemned prisoners. His book walks readers through several of his cases and is a compelling call, asking us all to consider compassion’s role in justice.

While it strips away idealism, its tone is hopeful.

GET IT >> Bookstores all over the

state and on amazon.com.

BY JENNIFER STEWART KORNEGAY

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C ol or TE T H E S TA

Alabama Your Way >> Laura Murray, a Georgia transplant to Auburn, gives us the space to enjoy our state a whole new way.

“Amazing Alabama”

// Written and illustrated

by Laura Murray This unique coloring book takes kids (and adults) on a trip all around Alabama, featuring a page for each of the state’s 67 counties. Whimsical black and white illustrations are ready for readers to bring them to life as they fill in the outlines of historic monuments, favorite restaurants, local flora and fauna and other iconic sites for each spot with all the brilliant shades of the rainbow.

Designed to teach about the wonders found all over Alabama, the book’s publication in November coincides with two significant bicentennial celebrations: the 2017 anniversary of Alabama becoming a territory and the 2019 anniversary of Alabama becoming a state. Accompanying text goes into more detail on what makes each county special, something Auburn-based pen and ink illustrator Laura Murray discovered on frequent road trips after moving to Alabama from Georgia.

GET IT >> Bookstores all over the state, on amazon.com or directly from its publisher at newsouthbooks.com.

A b ou t THE ARTIST

“Extraordinary Adventures” // by Daniel Wallace

In this cheery, funny novel filled with heart, the Alabama author of “Big Fish” gives us another story that’s less fantastical but no less fantastic.

In this refreshing twist on the traditional romantic read, a lonely shipping clerk who’s always on the outside looking in wins a fabulous beach vacation. But his conquest comes with a catch: It’s for a couple. His search for the perfect companion – or just someone who’ll consent to go – leads him on some truly interesting “adventures” and reminds us all that when we open up to life, it can open up to us.

Illustrations by Birmingham artist Laura Levie, also shown in Great Goods on page 42. Find more of her work at lauralevie.com.

GET IT >> Bookstores all over the state and on amazon.com.

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RIDE JOIN OUR FIGHT

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A PUBLICATION OF THE JOY TO LIFE FOUNDATION

the dish

W H Y I T M AT T E R S

FITNESS FUEL ) (

CARB TO NOT CARB? TO

OR

WHAT TO EAT WHEN, AND WHY, FOR PEAK EXERCISE PERFORMANCE.

THIS IS THE ANSWER.

Stay away from carbs! Eat tons of carbs if you want to perform better! Wait, what? Which is it? If you’re exercising, and especially if you’re training for a race, carbs play an important role in your before, during and after exercise diet.

Carbohydrates are a type of macronutrient and are the body’s primary source of fuel. They are converted by the body into glucose and stored in the liver or muscle as glycogen.

There are two types of carbohydrates: simple carbs and complex carbs.

SIMPLE CARBOHYDRATES Simple carbohydrates are broken down and digested very quickly, but most simple carbs contain unwanted refined sugars and very few essential vitamins and minerals. Examples include table sugar, soft drinks, molasses, maple syrup and brown sugar.

COMPLEX CARBOHYDRATES Complex carbohydrates are the better bet. They take longer to digest (translating to sustained energy) and are packed with valuable fiber, vitamins and minerals. Examples include vegetables, whole grain breads, oatmeal, legumes, brown rice and wheat pasta.

When you’re physically active beyond normal everyday activity, your body’s use of carbs increases. Without adequate amounts of carbs, you begin to hit what exercisers everywhere affectionately call “the wall.”

So how can you best use carbs to your advantage before an exercise event like a race? For high-intensity or long events (90 minutes or more), “carb-loading” is a good option. It will provide the energy needed for endurance so you perform better and faster and experience less fatigue when you’re done.

BY WILL STEWART, D.C., C.S.C.S.

Buy local. Locally sourced foods are better for you, better for the environment, taste better and support the farming families in your community.

FOR EVENTS UNDER

90 MINUTES

IT’S BEST TO SIMPLY EAT A HEALTHY AMOUNT OF COMPLEX CARBS ALL THROUGHOUT YOUR TRAINING.

EAT UP

DO YOUR BODY GOOD

.

Bananas' high carbohydrate content makes them good sources of energy.

They're rich in potassium and magnesium, minerals that you lose as you sweat.

STAY OFF SUGAR Whether you are training for a race or not, it's best to eat only minimal amounts of refined sugars.

DRINK UP! Even if it’s cool outside, you need to drink plenty of water. If you’re not properly hydrated, it won’t matter what else you put in your body; your performance will suffer.

SUPPORT

IF YOUR EVENT CALLS FOR CARB-LOADING, FOLLOW THESE TWO STEPS:

For high-intensity or long events (90 minutes or more), “carb-loading” is a good option. It will provide the energy needed for endurance so you perform better and faster and experience less fatigue when you’re done.

ONE WEEK BEFORE EVENT Adjust your carbohydrate intake so that it’s about 50 to 55 percent of your total daily calories.

Increase protein and fat intake to compensate for any decrease in carbohydrates.

Continue training at your normal level. This helps deplete your carbohydrate stores and make room for the loading that comes next.

THREE TO FOUR DAYS BEFORE EVENT

GET IN GEAR A new line of Joy to Life gear is now available to suit up for workouts and runs. Designed to bring awareness to breast cancer, the messages urge others to believe, inspire, fight and remember in the name of survivors and loved ones.

WWW.TOLIFESTUFF.ORG

HIT THE ROAD

Three to four days before the event, increase your carbohydrate intake to about 70 percent of your daily calories.

Cut back on foods higher in fat to compensate for the extra carbohydrate-rich foods.

Also scale back your training to avoid using the energy you’re trying to store up. Rest completely the day before your big event.

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Be sure to burn some calories training for JOY TO LIFE'S WALK OF LIFE in downtown Montgomery on April 21, 2018! To learn what the Walk does for your Alabama, check out JOYTOLIFE.ORG.

HOORAY! YOU DID IT

FINISH LINE SKIP THE CANDY AND TRY THIS POST-WORKOUT, POST-RACE SNACK PACKED WITH BETTER-FOR-YOU SIMPLE CARBS.

AFTER YOUR TRAINING SESSION OR EVENT IS WHEN CARBS CAN BE YOUR BEST FRIEND. Your body has just depleted its energy stores and is ravenous for replacement. At this point, simple carbs are an acceptable option since your body will quickly convert them to glucose and replace what was used up. (See the below recipe.) Protein is also an essential post-exercise nutrient.

EASY ENERGY BITES 1 1/2 cup oats 1/2 cup raisins 1/4 cup ground flax seed 1/2 cup natural peanut butter or almond butter 1/4 cup honey 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Mix all ingredients together and use your hands to form into small balls. Store in a sealed container in at he fridge for up to a week.

About 90 PERCENT OF WOMEN who will develop lymphedema do so within three years of breast cancer treatment. It occurs in about 20 PERCENT OF WOMEN who undergo axillary lymph node dissection.

Living with a risk for cancer survivors

What is lymphedema?

WITH MORE TREATMENT OPTIONS THAN EVER BEFORE, CANCER IS NOT THE HOPELESS DIAGNOSIS IT ONCE WAS. BUT EVEN CUTTING-EDGE TREATMENTS ARE NOT RISK FREE. MANY PATIENTS FIGHTING CANCER ALSO FIND THEMSELVES CONTENDING WITH LYMPHEDEMA. IT IS OFTEN ASSOCIATED WITH BREAST CANCER, BUT FOR THOSE FACING PROSTATE CANCER OR GYNECOLOGICAL CANCERS, LYMPHOMA OR MELANOMA CAN BE AT RISK TOO.

Lymphedema, as the name suggests, affects the body’s lymphatic system. It happens when excessive lymphatic fluid settles into the interstitial tissue (the solution that surrounds tissue cells) and causes excessive swelling in the arms and legs, and sometimes in the chest and breast. Lymphedema can develop after an infection or trauma but when cancer patients are diagnosed, it is likely brought on by the cancer itself or any accompanying treatment (such as radiation or surgery). If a high number of lymph nodes are removed, the risk for

RIDE

treatments include massage, lymph drainage, exercises to improve range of motion and other therapies that stimulate the lymphatic system. Compression bandages and clothing can help with swelling and medications may also help treat inflammation and infections or prevent blood clots.

Mild lymphedema can be reversed, but it leaves you susceptible to lymphedema in the future. In that sense, lymphedema can’t be “cured,” but it is far from being

lymphedema increases.

terminal. If you have been diagnosed

How is it treated?

ment, talk to your health care provider

Lymphedema can be treated, but early detection is important. Symptoms can include swelling, limited function of ex-

PINK YOUR

with a tight, stiff feeling. Non-surgical

tremities, a breakdown in the skin and infection. It isn’t (always) particularly painful, but it can be uncomfortable

JOIN OUR FIGHT

with cancer and are undergoing treatabout your risks of lymphedema and what you can do to prevent and treat it.

RESOURCES: www.breastcancer.org and Cancer Treatment Centers of America

BY CHEYENNE MARTIN

y JOYTOLIFE.ORG

26

VISIT READLEAN.ORG

from a surviv or:

GOOD NEWS

“LYMPHEDEMA IS A SERIOUS AND DIFFICULT PROBLEM.

a groundbreaking surgery

Joy to Life Foundation founder Joy Blondheim has struggled with

Those that have it should educate themselves

lymphedema since her breast cancer diagnosis 20 years ago. Recently, Dr.

on how to manage it to avoid infection. I have

Fred Ames, Joy’s surgeon at MD Anderson Cancer Center, suggested she

suffered through six infections in 20 years,

make an appointment with Mark Schaverien, Ph.D., to discuss her issues

and this bypass surgery could mean no more

with lymphedema. Schaverien has been working with MD Anderson on a

life-threatening infections.”

groundbreaking surgery for the condition since 2005.

-Joy Blondheim,

Schaverien explains the procedure known as lymphovenous bypass

FOUNDER OF THE JOY TO LIFE FOUNDATION

surgery was “initially considered to be experimental,” but “has now been

AND BREAST CANCER SURVIVOR

accepted as the gold standard for treatment and over the last two to three years [we have] experienced a steep increase in the number of patients we are treating.”

Getting your best strength:

Lymphovenous bypass surgery is a procedure which involves removing a patient’s lymph nodes and relocating them to other lymphedema-affected

Typically, an exercise plan for anyone at risk for or diagnosed with lymphedema includes some combination of:

areas in the body.

During Joy’s meeting with Dr. Schaverien, he said, “We cannot determine if Joy is a candidate for this procedure until she has a few more simple

• flexibility and stretching exercises

tests. But if we determine she is a candidate for this surgery, then it would

• strength training

mean she should never have another infection in her affected arm again.”

• aerobic exercise that uses the upper body, helping with weight loss and encouraging deep breathing, which in turn helps lymph move along

“Because of the seriousness of lymphatic infections, it was an aha moment. I realized I could go through this elective surgery and never have to experience an infection again,” Joy recounts. “That’s a game-changer!”

Schaverien pointed out, “For patients with advanced chronic lymphede-

It is recommended to work with a professional who specializes in lymphedema management and breast cancer rehabilitation.

ma, such ‘physiological’ surgeries are no longer possible. However, liposuction debulking (which reduces the size of the limb) improves function and reduces the risk of future infections. However, the patient will need to wear a compression sleeve to prevent it from recurring.”

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT LYMPHEDEMA AND THE LYMPHOVENOUS BYPASS SURGERY, VISIT MDANDERSON.ORG.

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A PUBLICATION OF THE JOY TO LIFE FOUNDATION

wiLlpower

health

decision

frEedom

prevention

eFfective wait

future

smart

abstinence proud

relationship discipline goals security choice

responsible

avoidance self-restraint

safe

behavior

action

trust

confidence

knowledge

dedicated worthwhile

It's your body.

Take Control.

Talking to kids

about Cancer

After receiving a cancer diagnosis, one of the first concerns many parents have is how to discuss this news with their children. Although this task can seem daunting, being the first to communicate this news to your kids can go a long way in helping them cope.

BY MELISSA TATE WITT

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A PUBLICATION OF THE JOY TO LIFE FOUNDATION

S F IT F O R K ID The way this conversation happens depends on many things: the age of your children, the details of your diagnosis and the dynamics of your family. There is no wrong way to have this conversation! You know best how to approach it, but here are a few things to keep in mind.

Make a plan Before you share the news, be sure you are ready to do so. Being ready doesn’t mean emotions won’t be present. In fact, they are welcome and necessary to express. Just take a little time to prepare for what you wish to cover.

When’s the best time to have this conversation?

Some want to share this information immediately, and others would rather wait to know more details about the prognosis and treatment plan. Consider a time and place that is easy to talk and also easy to decompress. You don’t want to feel rushed, but you also don’t want to be so isolated it’s hard to resume to “normal life” upon them receiving the news.

Don’t be surprised if their reaction is different than you expected.

Think about who should be involved in the conversation. One parent or two? Several of the children at once, or each one differently?

Again, there is no wrong way.

Spend time thinking through what feels best for you and your family.

Hit the important stuff Beforehand, outline the details you wish to cover, as they may be different depending on the ages of your children. Regardless of their ages, be as honest as possible and use real terms to avoid confusion and fear. It is also perfectly okay to not have the answers for all of their questions. Let them know that you don’t know but will try to find the answer for them.

Remember this is the initial conversation— not the only one. The goal here is to lay out the situation, set expectations for upcoming changes to the current household lifestyle, and establish a secure place for emotions and open dialogue within the family. Additional discussion can follow based on the needs of your family and changes that come along the way.

30

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Be patient Allow time for your children to process this information and don’t be surprised if their reaction is different than you expected. Many children won’t react at all to the news or mostly be worried about how any changes will impact them.

Above everything else, be patient.

Don’t feel like your conversation will go according to a script. As things get started, allow questions to happen and be ready to experience various emotions from everyone—It is expected and healthy.

Answer the Toughest Question of All:

Are you going to die?

This is, of course, the most dreaded question a parent faces, but again, trying to be honest with your child is the best approach.

Share with them that you are not dying, but are taking strong medicine and/or having surgery to get rid of the cancer. Reassure your children that specialized doctors are doing everything they can to help. Perhaps you can share positive information about new advances in treatment or a promising prognosis.

Reiterate the fact that although people do die from cancer, lots of people don’t. It might be good to talk about others you know who are cancer survivors—Your kids may not even know about it!

Even though their judgment isn’t always amazing,

their healthcare is.

Healthcare as amazing as their potential 1600 7TH AVENUE SOUTH BIRMINGHAM, AL 35233 (205) 638-9100 ChildrensAL.org

LeanMagazine_COA_JudgmentAd.indd 1

4/12/17 10:59 AM

The Dana-Farber Cancer Institute has an excellent outline of items to consider, including your initial conversation. Visit dana-farber.org.

Tell them mom (or dad) has a disease called cancer.

Explain cancer is a general name for many different diseases in which cells that are not normal divide more rapidly than usual. These abnormal, quickly growing cells often develop into a tumor. Cancer can also spread to other parts of the body, but it is not contagious: Your children cannot “catch” cancer from you.

Talk about the causes of cancer.

Ask how they think cancer gets started.

You might mention some of the known behaviors that seem to increase a person’s chances of getting cancer, such as smoking or spending lots of time in the sun. Mention that although all the causes of cancer aren’t known, experts are studying this question and coming up with more answers all the time.

Let your kids know where the cancer is in your body, along with

home for extended periods of time. It is important to discuss how treatment may affect you temporarily but is helping to make you better in the long run.

That is often hard to understand.

Depending on their ages, you might also ask your children how they would like to respond when others ask them questions about your health. Who can they talk to and what all can they share?

This discussion also gives you a chance to check on how much your sons and daughters understand about your illness as well as what issues you may need to clarify for them.

Explain to older kids and teens that your illness will probably affect the family’s daily routines and responsibilities, and you will keep them posted as these changes occur.

how you will be treated. Tell them if you will be in the hospital or away from

Source: http://www.dana-farber.org/Adult-Care/Treatment-and-Support/Patient-and-FamilySupport/Family-Connections/Talking-with-Kids-about-Cancer.aspx

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A PUBLICATION OF THE JOY TO LIFE FOUNDATION

River Region

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To book a cosmetic appointment, email drussell@rrdermatologylaser.com.

River Region Dermatology & Laser 2060 Berryhill Road · Montgomery, AL 36117 · (334) 676-3366 · RRDermatologyLaser.com

ON THE MOVE

Alabama’s Forever Wild program is a long-term commitment to preserve portions of our state’s vast natural resources for public enjoyment. Learn how it works and why it’s important.

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OUTSIDE

AL

Into the

D WILD We all know that even a few moments spent outside can do so much to lift our spirits. Fresh air and Mother Nature’s scenic splendor can almost instantly elevate even the deepest “down in the dumps” mood. And there’s now evidence to support our personal observations on this point. Several recent scientific studies back them up, showing that exposure to nature can lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol as well as inflammatory cytokines, which are linked to heart disease, diabetes and other issues.

Being truly immersed in the untouched outdoors is the best way to capture its calming effects. From the glittering Gulf

Get Out There

of Mexico to mountain peaks and everywhere in between, Alabama is blessed with an abundance of beautiful landscapes

Go out and enjoy some of

urging us outside. But to get out and enjoy wild places, there have to be some left.

the lands Forever Wild has protected. All of the recreational

While it may seem far-fetched to imagine all our fields and

opportunities available are

forests could one day be covered in concrete, with the current

highlighted on its website,

pace of population growth, development and urban sprawl, it’s not a completely impossible future outcome. That’s why

alabamaforeverwild.com.

initiatives like Alabama’s Forever Wild program are so vital and valuable to the overall health of our state and its residents.

BY JENNIFER STEWART KORNEGAY

35

A PUBLICATION OF THE JOY TO LIFE FOUNDATION

Images courtesy of Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

preservation progress The Forever Wild Land Trust has acquired title to approximately 195,000 acres and secured public recreational access to more than an additional 60,000 acres of land pursuant to long-term lease agreements, equaling a total of approximately 255,000 acres.

/

Why is Forever Wild important?

/

How is Forever Wild Land Trust funded?

Chris Blakenship, Commissioner of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and executive secretary of the Forever Wild Board, explains the program’s purpose, how it is funded, the progress it has made and why it matters.

calm Into the

Blakenship: Alabama is home to a rich diversity of natural areas having unique ecological systems, plant and animal life, geological formations and wildlife habitats that offer significant recreational opportunities for its citizens and visitors. The Forever Wild program provides funding for the state to acquire land from willing sellers for use as recreation areas, wildlife management areas, state parks and nature preserves. These tracts provide public access that is critical in supporting the natural heritage of Alabama which historically has been—and continues to be—closely tied to outdoor recreation. The program’s success has ensured that the public’s use and enjoyment of these state lands will continue for the benefit of future generations.

Blakenship: Funding for the Forever Wild Land Trust (Forever Wild) is generated by interest earned from royalties deposited into the Alabama Trust Fund (ATF) from offshore natural gas leases. Forever Wild receives 10 percent of interest earnings distributed to various ATF beneficiaries, capped at $15 million for any given year. Another source of funding is the Forever Wild Land Trust state license plate.

of the great outdoors 36

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37

A PUBLICATION OF THE JOY TO LIFE FOUNDATION

/a few spots to set foot

/

These are just a few of the amazing areas and sites accessible to the public thanks to Forever Wild.

The Walls of Jericho: This tract in north Alabama and its box canyon of sheer rock walls is one of the state’s most popular natural wonders. Part of the James D. Martin Skyline Wildlife Management Area, it hosts many deer and turkey hunters, but as with other properties, it is also managed for multiple uses. Visitors can enjoy an impressive recreational trail system offering 11.7 miles of hiking trails and 11 miles of horseback riding trails that also includes designated primitive camping areas. The Cumberland Plateau hardwood forest found on the tract also provides conservation protection to numerous sensitive species.

The Upper Delta, Mobile-Tensaw Delta and W. L. Holland Wildlife Management Areas: At the south end of the state, in these areas, visitors experience a nationally recognized range of ecological diversity in the Mobile-Tensaw Delta. This complex of tracts provides protection to a unique headwater and bottomland hardwood ecosystem while at the same time offering vast recreational activities that include hunting, fishing, canoeing/kayaking, camping, hiking and horseback riding.

Coldwater Mountain: This tract near Anniston currently contains 35 miles of biking trails created in partnership with the International Mountain Biking Association, Southern Off-Road Bicycle Association and North Alabama Bicycle Association. Hiking is also permitted on this tract. In addition, it offers protection to the dry mountain longleaf pine ecosystem and directly protects a large portion of the watershed of the municipal water source, Coldwater Spring.

What positives has Forever Wild brought the state since its inception?

Blakenship: The Forever Wild Land Trust has proven to be an important component of state efforts to respond to the loss of land available for public hunting and outdoor recreation. Since its inception, Forever Wild has secured the protection of over 255,000 acres of unique and diverse ecologically rich ecosystems that broaden the type and amount of recreational property available for the public’s use. As a result, Alabama’s public lands and waters support increasing recreational opportunities such as hunting, fishing, horseback riding, hiking, biking, canoeing, kayaking, camping and wildlife watching. Providing opportunities for outdoor recreation delivers a direct benefit to the state’s economic bottom line. In fact, a recent study by the Trust for Public Land shows that every $1 invested in land conservation through Forever Wild has returned $5 in natural goods and services to the state. The study also highlighted that tourists and residents generate $7.5 billion annually in consumer spending related to outdoor recreation.

This spending then generates approximately $494 million in tax revenues for the state and further supports 86,000 jobs. (Source: Trust for Public Land Report: According to The U.S. Fish “Alabama’s Return on and Wildlife Service, hunting Investment in Forever and fishing activities alone have Wild,” TPL.org.) The a $2.6 billion dollar economic U.S. Fish and Wildlife impact on Alabama and Service has also comsupport more than piled figures demonstrat35,000 jobs. ing that hunting and fishing activities alone have a $2.6 billion dollar economic impact on Alabama and support more than 35,000 jobs in our state. If just wildlife watching is added, the economic impact of these three specific activities increases to approximately $3.9 billion dollars annually. (Source for these figures: “U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 2011 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife Associated Recreation.”)

F E AT UR E D H A ND B A G : L UR E IN S A G E $ 2 9 8

a few spots to set foot

H O L I DAY

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ARRIVING OCTOBER

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8129 VAUGHN ROAD MON T GOMERY, A L 36116 334-272-8116

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STICKY SWEET HEAT Pepper jelly is a pretty common condiment in Alabama, but 5ive Oaks is already moving to the head of the pack with its blend of red bell, habanero and jalapeno peppers combined according to owner Tim Murphy’s family recipe.

He and his wife Heather turned the tradition into a business in early 2016.

Based on the favorite spread made by his grandmother, 5ive Oaks is handmade and packaged in small batches to ensure optimum quality.

The couple often eats the jelly the oldfashioned way, spooned over a block of soft cream cheese and scooped up with a cracker, but they’ve found other ways to enjoy its bright, well balanced heatmeets-sweet too. “We’ve also added the jelly to recipes with chicken, pork, beef, shrimp and even sauteed vegetables,” Heather said. Find it in grocery stores in and around Birmingham, at The Alabama Gift Company in Gadsden or order it off Amazon.com

PINK YOUR

5iveoaks.com

RIDE JOIN OUR FIGHT

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COLOR CALLING Soon, leaves on trees across our state will be trading their verdant hues for all variations of scarlet, orange and gold. A drive along Scenic Route 281 in eastern Alabama is one of our favorite spots to gawk at some fab fall foliage.

The 26-mile journey on this designated Alabama Scenic Byway starts on the southern end at Cheaha State Park (which contains our state’s highest point atop Mount Cheaha) and winds its way across and through the foothills of the Appalachians and the Talladega National Forest, boasting one panoramic view after another.

Image courtesy of Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

toureastalabama.com

TAKE LEAVE Adventure calls when the air gets crisp. Tag along for a virtual escape to quiet spots or greasy spoons via the @roadtrip_alabama Instagram feed.

Check out this image in their feed for 12 places to take in the beauty of Alabama's changing leaves this season.

roadtrip_alabama

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A PUBLICATION OF THE JOY TO LIFE FOUNDATION

HANGING OUT With a face only a mother could love, poor possums are not often found adorning fashion, but Standard Deluxe, the combo screen-printing/design biz and host of the popular annual 280 Boogie concert events in Waverly, Ala., sees something special in the hairy, beady eyed little guys and put them front and center on some recently released T-shirts. Their upsidedown lounging is the personification of “hanging out,” and that relaxed activity is exactly what these tees are perfect for. Order one and wear it to the Fall Boogie, coming up on September 23 and featuring bands including Lee Baines III and The Glory Fires and more. standardeluxe.com

ART AT WORK Pack whatever you like (colored pencils or other art supplies, perhaps?) into these precious fabric pouches by Birmingham-based illustrator Laura Levie. Her watercolor works are whimsical, and the pouches are her attempt to take art off the walls and blend it into everyday life. “For the zipper pouches, I selected objects that inspire or motivate: the art supplies to create and collaborate and the world landmarks to travel,” she said. She hand-paints each scene and works with an Alabama printer to put the art onto the pouches. At $20 each, they make great gifts.

SUPPORT

shop.lauralevie.com

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Not your everyday salon experience.

ty le Beau Seville h S er op & Barb

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Most days about 9 or 10am Occassionally as early as 7am But some days as late as 12 or 1pm

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About 5:30 or 6pm Occassionally around 3 or 4pm But, sometimes as late as 10pm

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appliances • electronics

For sixty years Montgomery has been counting on Cohens for the best names in home appliances and electronics… and with the best prices and service in town, we deliver year after year.

Come in and talk to people who can answer every question you may have about the newest appliances and home theater/audio needs. Cohens delivers confidence.

in

Balance

STRESS BUSTERS

HOW TO DEAL WITH IT

Take a few deep breaths.

Count to 10 before speaking.

Walk away from stressful situations.

You can think more clearly once you’ve had a chance to digest everything.

Say you are sorry if you make a mistake.

Set your timer several minutes early so you don’t have the added stress of being late.

Break problems down to make them more manageable.

Avoid busy roads and drive in the slow lane.

Find simple joys.

Smell a flower, give a hug or a smile.

W Gratitude is a choice.

Share a good outlook with others by lending a hand or kind words. It will brighten your day too!

THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION CITES

FOUR WAYS TO HELP ALLEVIATE STRESS: Think positively.

Just relax.

Daily relaxation techniques like meditation, yoga or prayer do wonders for calming tension.

Act. Do something that makes you feel better.

It could be as simple as talking with a friend, going for a drive or reading a book, but enjoying something simple is a natural way to relieve stress.

GET IT RIGHT IN THE GUT Would you like to feel more relaxed, energetic and less stressed?

What if we told you eating certain foods could help?

We’ve listed some stress-busting foods, and you’ll notice they taste good too. Bonus!

AVOCADOS

Bananas usually get the nod when talking about potassium, but avocados have it going on with potassium (and vitamin E) too, which help relieve stress by maintaining healthy brain cells.

MILK

This delicious drink purportedly helps to alleviate mood swings and anxiety. And, let’s be honest, there’s nothing like a glass of milk before bedtime.

Zzzzzzzzzzzzz.

45

NUTS

Nuts such as walnuts, pistachios and almonds help protect you against the effects of stress on the body by working to restore vitamins.

A PUBLICATION OF THE JOY TO LIFE FOUNDATION

Practice emergency stress stoppers. Go for a walk.

SPINACH

Evidently, Popeye knew what he was talking about! These leafy greens are filled with magnesium, which helps regulate your body’s level of cortisol.

FATTY FISH

Omega-3 fatty acids, anyone? Protecting against heart disease is only one of the several stress-relieving benefits found in fish such as salmon, tuna and trout.

CHECK OUT SOME OF JOY TO LIFE’S FAVORITE EVENTS THIS SEASON.

7

JOY TO LIFE’S MISSION SHINES BRIGHT IN THE FORM OF PINK DURING OCTOBER! BE SURE TO SUPPORT BREAST CANCER AWARENESS BY CHECKING OUT SOME OF THESE EVENTS.

September 29 Tickled Pink Women’s Expo, Montgomery alabamanews.net

Annual

Joy to Life Fundraiser

Join Joy to Life and the Alabama News Network to help kick off Breast Cancer Awareness month as we celebrate life, beauty, fashion and fitness at this exhibition. Proceeds from ticket sales benefit the Joy to Life foundation and its mission of saving lives.

S JOIN U

PINK YOUR

RIDE JOIN OUR FIGHT

y JOYTOLIFE.ORG

Pray in Pink joytolife.org

Pray in Pink is an opportunity for houses of worship and any groups or organizations to honor breast cancer survivors and remember those who have lost their fight to this disease. Through Pray in Pink, you can provide life-saving information about breast cancer during the month of October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Register today, it's free! #PRAYINPINK

2017

SEPT/OCT/NOV

GULF SHORES

Oct 12-15

National Shrimp Festival

Are you ready?

SAVE THE DATE! Walk of Life 2018

JOY TO LIFE'S WALK OF LIFE WILL BE APRIL 21, 2018.

REGISTER ONLINE STARTING IN OCTOBER!

Who you calling shrimpy?! Drawing hundreds of thousands of people each year, this festival of feasts is sure to please with its delectable seafood delights. And the view ain’t so bad, either!

MONTGOMERY

Oct 13-15, 20-22, 27-31 Zoo Boo Go wild at this year’s much loved, month-long event, filled with Halloween-themed games and attractions, some scary and some not.

WETUMPKA

Nov 1-4

Alabama Frontier Days Watch history come to life at this annual festival, which brings people together to watch, imagine and experience what life was like for European and American explorers alongside Native Americans, circa 1750.

VISIT JOYTOLIFE.ORG TO FIND OUT MORE WAYS TO SUPPORT JOY TO LIFE DURING BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH. #LIVEHEREGIVEHERE

Take the scenic route!

ALABAMA HAS ITS OWN FALL COLOR TRAIL. GET THE INSIDE SCOOP AT ALABAMA.TRAVEL.

It wAs on ly A

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s n g i S e h t Know Most suicidal people show signs that they are thinking about suicide. Know the signs, start the conversation, and get help. One small act can make a difference.

1. Withdrawal 2. Depression/Anxiety 3. Reckless Behavior 4. Loss of Interest 5. Neglect of Personal Appearance 6. Substance Abuse 7. Giving Away Belongings Together we can prevent suicide.

Just Talk About It.

Call 1-800-2 73-8255 Available 24 hours every day alabamapublichealth.gov/suicide

Breast cancer may not have a cure yet, but that doesn’t mean you can’t beat it.

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