PRESIDENT'S CORNER
Pat Halpin-Murphy
President and Founder
Breast Cancer Test May Help Women Decide:
Chemo or No Chemo
The National Cancer Institute has reported that a genomic test may help some women with early-stage
breast cancer gauge the risk of recurrence of their breast cancer, and to determine the potential benefit of chemotherapy. The test,
Oncotype DX, profiles the activity of 21 genes in a tumor and rates the risk of a recurrence over 10 years. The test can
provide doctors with a better understanding of the aggressiveness of individual tumors, and may be able to assess a patient's likely benefit from
chemotherapy.
Many physicians have used the test with women whose breast cancer has not spread to the lymph nodes. Now,
researchers say the test could also predict which women with breast cancer that has spread to nodes would benefit from chemotherapy, and
define a group for whom chemotherapy would not appear to be beneficial.
The Oncotype DX test is a significant breakthrough
for women diagnosed with breast cancer because it allows women to determine whether they are at low or high risk of recurrence, which can help
them decide whether or not to take chemotherapy.
For more details about this test, see the National Cancer Institute newsletter
here.
St. Joseph's University
Think Pink Night
Join us for Think Pink Night on Saturday, February 9 at 2:00pm when the Saint Joseph's Hawks host Atlantic-10
Conference rival Duquesne at the Fieldhouse. Think Pink is an initiative started by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association to raise breast
cancer awareness in women's basketball, on campuses and in communities. During the 2006-2007 season, more than 120 schools united for this
effort and helped make the inaugural year of Think Pink a success.
For more information, visit the web calendar
listing.
Events
Calendar
February 9
Saint Joseph's University Think Pink
Night
Philadelphia
Cheer on the Saint Joe's Women's Basketball team and help support the PBCC! See details above and on our
events page.
February 9
"The Other Woman" Fundraiser
Hershey
Come enjoy the Hershey Area Playhouse's first original production, "The Other Woman". February 9th will be
Pink Night and a portion of the proceeds will benefit the PBCC. Tickets are $12. See details on our events
page.
February 10
Lady Lions Think Pink
Day
State College
The Lady Lion Basketball team presents their 2nd annual "Think Pink Day", proudly
supported by Mimi Barash Coppersmith, featuring a silent auction of autographed sports memorabilia, with proceeds benefiting the PBCC. A
halftime presentation will honor breast cancer survivors. Tickets to the game will be provided free to breast cancer survivors and up to
5 family members/friends, but you must contact Loren Crispell for tickets. Additional tickets are $5 each. See details on our
events page.
February 10 - 17
67 Women - 67 Counties: Facing Breast Cancer in Pennsylvania Photo Exhibit
State
College
The PBCC brings its traveling photo exhibit to Centre County. A reception to
kick off the display will be held on 2/10 in the South Gym immediately following the noon Lady Lions Think Pink basketball game. This reception is
free and open to the public, but you must RSVP. To RSVP please call or email Loren Crispell. All are invited! Visit our events page
for more details.
February 24
Country Dancing for a Cure
Grantville
Break out your
cowboy hats and head to Grantville to dance and raise money for the PBCC! Listen to local Country band, Leghorn. Line dance
instructor Michael Diven will be on hand to teach line dances. Great prizes will be available through a silent auction. Proceeds
benefit the PBCC. Tickets cost $20 in advance, $30 at the door. Beer, soda and light snacks are included. Visit our events page for more
details.
Please visit our website for a complete and detailed listing of upcoming
events.
Do you want to make hope grow? Plant a seed in your community and watch it grow
statewide by planning a special event or fundraiser for the PBCC! Contact Sarah Lightman with your community event idea at sarah@pabreastcancer.org or (800) 377-8828 x
107.
Makeover for Mom Contest
Tell us in 250 words or less why your mom, as a breast cancer survivor, is an inspiration to her friends, family or community, and
you and your mom could be in for a real treat! Doneckers of Ephrata is offering a free makeover grand prize for one lucky winner, and the
person who nominates her, in May 2008. The winners must be able to travel to Ephrata in Lancaster County to receive the prize.
Email your nomination by March 31st to heather@pabreastcancer.org. We will be in touch with everyone who has submitted an essay in the coming
weeks.
FUNDRAISER OF THE
MONTH
Keystone Nationals Select Baseball Club
The Keystone Nationals Select Baseball Club recently sent the PBCC a check for $2000 in honor of
Lynn Kohl (above).
Lynn, the mother of one of their 15U baseball players (a team made up of 15-year-olds and younger), has just entered into her
final stages of a successful battle with breast cancer. The Keystone Nationals Select Baseball organization, most specifically the 15U team,
organized a pledge-based fundraiser to go to the cancer charity of Lynn's choice. Lynn chose the PA Breast Cancer Coalition to receive the donation
because of how helpful the PBCC was to her throughout her struggle.
Thanks, Lynn, and all the players!
Visit our Grassroots Partners page for more photos of recent events.
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Dear ,
ALERT...ALERT...ALERT
The PA Breast Cancer
Coalition does not, and never will, make telephone solicitation calls. If you receive calls asking for money from someone
claiming to be with the PA Breast Cancer Coalition, or "the breast cancer coalition", or any combination of those words...it is NOT the PA Breast
Cancer Coalition. Please report any and all such solicitation calls to our Executive Director, Heather Hibshman at heather@pabreastcancer.org or (800) 377-8828 x 102.
PLEASE NOTE OUR NEW
ADDRESS
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The PBCC is always on the move, but this time we've moved the whole office! Our new address is 344 North
Reading Road, Ephrata, PA 17522. Our new phone number is (717) 721-2580. You can still reach us toll-free at (800)
377-8828.
We have enjoyed a wonderful ten years in the Doneckers community. Thank you, Mr. Donecker, for your many kindnesses
during our stay!
While we were searching for our new office space, Ted Williams, Senior Financial Advisor at Ameriprise Financial in Lancaster, was looking for a cause to champion. We are
all very grateful that Ted has decided to become the PBCC's office guardian angel! He made a generous donation that will completely cover our
rent increase for 2008!
The PBCC would like to thank the following people who made our move possible:
-
Pat Halpin-Murphy, for realizing that we needed to make this move
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Heather Hibshman, for finding the new space and knowing it was perfect for us
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Ted Williams of Ameriprise Financial, for underwriting a portion of the rent for our new office
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John Haller, our new landlord, for being so helpful and flexible with our work needs and budget limitations
-
Rick Stauffer, for setting up our computer network the day after the move
-
Ed Martin, of Merlin Communications, for hooking up our phone system the day after the move
-
and finally, the hard-working men of Jack Treier, Inc. Moving & Storage, who sweated and muscled each item from our
former office into the new one!
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67 WOMEN, 67 COUNTIES: FACING BREAST CANCER IN
PENNSYLVANIA™
Sunday, February 10
Penn State University Bryce Jordan
Center
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The PBCC's traveling photo exhibit will be on display at the Penn State University Bryce Jordan Center beginning
February 10. An opening reception for the exhibit will be held in the South Gym immediately following the 2:00 pm Lady Lions Think Pink
game. The Think Pink game is proudly supported by Mimi Barash Coppersmith, a PBCC advocate and supporter and the face of Centre
County in the photo exhibit.
Tickets for the Lady Lions game will be provided free to breast cancer survivors and 5 immediate
family members. Additional tickets are $5 each. A portion of the ticket proceeds and sports memorabilia auction will benefit the
PBCC. As always, the exhibit and reception are free and open to the public. To purchase tickets to the game or to RSVP for the exhibit
reception, call Loren Crispell at (814) 865-7286 or email pennstatehoops@athletics.psu.edu.
The PBCC is looking for
sites in northeast, northwest and south central PA to host our traveling photo exhibit "67 Women, 67 Counties: Facing Breast Cancer in Pennsylvania™". Additional information and space
requirements can be found here. If you are interested in
hosting this touching display, please contact Jen Fetich at jennifer@pabreastcancer.org or
800-377-8828 x
101.
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| INCOME TAX
CHECK-OFF
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 You can help find a cure for
breast cancer - Check Yes for Breast Cancer Research today!
Look for the PA Breast Cancer Coalition's Income Tax Check-Off for Breast Cancer
Research on line 35 of your state income tax form, and then donate all or part of your refund. Every penny of your donation goes to cancer
researchers in Pennsylvania and so far, over $2 million has been raised!
Starting in January, the PBCC will be holding press conferences
across the state to recognize the 8 researchers who have been selected to receive grants from the Income Tax Check-Off fund. Look for more
information in your email and mail boxes soon!
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| DONATING TIME AND TALENTS
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 The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that one hour of a volunteer's time represents a dollar value of $17.48 to the
non-profit organization. That got us thinking about all of our dedicated friends who stuff conference totebags, review books for Friends Like
Me™ care packages, speak at exhibit opening receptions, and provide an extra hand at health fairs, in the office, and wherever it is
needed.
Over the course of the past year, 168 volunteers donated a total of 1,192 hours to the PBCC - a value of over $20,000. Of
course, we know their efforts are worth even more to the women in Pennsylvania who benefit from our programs.
Have you made a New Year's
resolution to contribute your time in 2008? The PBCC has a variety of opportunities available to suit your skills and schedule. Complete
our volunteer survey to get
started!
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MONEY MATTERS
I Would Love to Talk with
You
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Financial gifts to the PBCC from friends
like you make our programs possible. Cash and checks are always welcome but these days there are other options that may make more sense for
your particular tax situation and may allow you to make a larger gift than you ever thought you could. Let's talk about it. I
am always happy to discuss creative ways to support the PBCC.
If you would like to discuss your options for making a gift to the
PBCC (with no commitment required) please call me at (717) 721-2580 x 106 or toll-free at (800) 377-8828 x 106. You can also email me at
brian@pabreastcancer.org or visit our website.
Brian Hand
Director of Development
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| MOVING MUSCLE
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The employees of the PBCC's Ephrata office would like to express our deep thanks and appreciation to the
guys from Jack Treier, Inc. Moving & Storage who moved every piece of furniture, equipment and box from our old office to our new one on January
7th. Sure, they were paid for their efforts, but those five men worked HARD, and they worked hard ALL DAY! They carried bulky desks,
stuffed-to-the brim filing cabinets, an 8'x4' wooden conference table, hundreds of boxes, and climbed what seemed like thousands of flights
of stairs...all with smiles on their faces and comments like, "it's going great"! They made us tired just watching them! But in 8 hours,
those five guys were able to move everything into our beautiful, all-on-one-floor, modern new office.
It sounds cliche, but it's true...we couldn't have done it without you! Thank you, Barry, Todd, Jerry, Thomas and Vince!
Click to see more
fun photos of our moving experience!
YOUR AD COULD GO HERE!
How would you like to see your ad, logo or message and a
link to your website here? Pink Link™ goes to over 6900 medical professionals, survivors and breast cancer advocates all across PA and
beyond!
Email Kim at kim@pabreastcancer.org today to place your ad! Ad size and
placement may vary from issue to issue.
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Subscription Information
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forwarded to you by a friend, you can subscribe here.
If you would like
to unsubscribe from Pink LinkTM, click the "Unsubscribe" link at the very bottom of this email.
Privacy
Policy
The PBCC will NEVER sell or give your personal information to a third party. Click to read our privacy policy in its
entirety.
Credits
Editor and Producer: Kim Eubanks
Head Writer: Dolores Magro
Copyright © 2008, Pennsylvania Breast Cancer
Coalition
All rights reserved.
Please feel free to pass Pink LinkTM along
to your friends. However, we ask that you keep the Pink Link attribution, subscription, and copyright information
intact.
Advertisements contained throughout this publication do not imply endorsement by the PBCC
of featured products or services.
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