lazarex new logo 03-09
               Changing the Face of Cancer


June 2010 Newsletter

Current Stories
Seattle Rock 'N' Roll Half Marathon, We'reWolves. Chicago, Disneyland & More!
Meet VIP Jessica Marriott
TFL Members Paul & Dana Weiler Ride to Raise Funds Again!
Check out the Team for Life Website
Dynamic Duo Help Reveal the Heart of Lazarex

Dear Friend,


The spirit of the Lazarex family is one of my enduring joys. The latest example comes from the family of Scott Zenaro. Scott passed away in February after a series of clinical trials for Ewing's Sarcoma that extended his life by three years. His mother, Carol, wanted to stay involved with us and offered to provide bracelets she made by hand for a donation of $20 or more to Lazarex. So far Carol has raised about $4,500 and sent out more than 225 bracelets. Make your donation at www.lazarex.org and specify that you would like a bracelet. Be sure to include an address so we can send it to you. You can also call Tami in our office at 925-820-4517.

We expect our Insights with Hugh Downs segment to appear on CNBC, MSNBC, Fox News, TLC, Family Net and Discovery starting in June. Hugh's crew interviewed Susan Sappington, Dr. J. Wolf of UCSF, Susan Sappington, me, and patients Brittany Hess and Jessica Marriott. Please see Jessica's story in our Very Important Patient feature this month.

We are also expanding our online presence. Lazarex has its own Facebook and Twitter pages, along with our standard website and a site devoted to our Team for Life activities. We would love to hear from you through these channels.

Please help us spread hope for patients like Jessica, Scott and Brittany by sending this email to friends who you think would be interested in Lazarex Cancer Foundation.

If you're interested in supporting Lazarex with a financial donation or if you have a fundraising idea beyond those featured on this newsletter or on our website, send Susan an email
Won't you join us in building a bridge to hope? 
 
Sincerely,
Dana's sig

Dana Dornsife
President, Lazarex Cancer Foundation
Lazarex Events - Join us, Donate, Have Fun!


Seattle Rock 'N' Roll � Marathon       

Where: Seattle, WA

When: June 26, 2010rrseattle

What: A chance to support Lazarex's "Team for Life" as they run for a better opportunity for our patients and their families. Please help us fulfill our mission of providing resources for cancer patients who have been told they have no other options, but who are not yet done with their journey in life and refuse to give up. Even though the race is sold out you can use this link: TFL Rock 'n' Roll Seattle to sign up to fundraise (if you are already registered), to donate on behalf of team member and for more information.

 

We're Wolves of Floridawwolves

Where: Tampa to Daytona Beach, FL

When: July 3-9, 2010

What: From Florida's Gulf Coast to the Atlantic Shores of Daytona Beach, four of Central Florida's We'reWolves and Jenny Walls of the Lazarex Cancer Foundation will run 203 miles to raise funds for and call attention to the mission of Lazarex Cancer Foundation. Those interested in helping can sponsor the We'reWolves and Lazarex runners. It is as simple as visiting www.active.com/donate/teamforlife/CFLWereWolves and making a donation. No contribution is too small.

 

Chicago Rock 'N' Roll � Marathon                                 

Where: Chicago, IL

When: August 1, 2010rrchicago

What:  A chance to participate with or sponsor Lazarex's "Team for Life" as they run to raise funds for a better opportunity for our patients and their families. Please help us fulfill our mission of providing resources for cancer patients who have been told they have no other options, but who are not yet done with their journey in life and refuse to give up now. Online registration closes on July 24, 2010. Please visit TFL Chicago Rock 'n' Roll to register, support our runners, and for more information.

 

Team for Life Disneyland � Marathon                          disneyland

Where: Disneyland Resort, Anaheim, CA

When: September 5, 2010

What: This is the fundraising event of the year for our California supporters. What could be more fun than wrapping up summer with a trip to the Magic Kingdom and sponsoring some runners raising money for Lazarex? Online registration closes September 4, 2010. Please visit TFL Disneyland Half Marathon to register, support our runners and for more information.

 

Mark Your Calendar for Other 2010 Fundraising Events

 

Sep. 19  Philadelphia Half Marathon

Oct. 3    San Jose Half Marathon

Oct. 16  Hope in Motion motorcycle rally, Concord, CA


Stay tuned...more to come!

Meet Very Important Patient (VIP) Jessica Marriott

Who Has Had 100% Response in Her Clinical Trial!


 

JMarriott

My name is Jessica Marriott.  I am a Graduate Enrollment Counselor at a private university in Southern California.  I have three children and eight grandchildren.  On March 4, 2009 after going in to the doctor for a physical, I was diagnosed with Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML).  I was 46 at diagnosis.   I remember the shock as my doctor explained to me what was going on inside my body at the chromosomal level.

I was referred to one of the top oncologists at UCLA.  I can still feel the fear that came over me as reality hit that I had cancer.  My oncologist placed me on FDA approved drugs. The side affects were awful.  Further testing revealed that my body had developed a 'mutation' that prohibited the drugs from working effectively.  The only remaining step was to have a Bone Marrow Transplant that would take a year or longer to recover from.  Shock set in as I processed this information and walked through the idea of chemotherapy and radiation.  As I prepared myself, my oncologist contacted me and told me about a clinical trial being performed at University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) and wanted to know if I could participate.

Participating meant several trips to San Francisco to determine if I qualified for the trial and then moving to San Francisco for several months and putting my job and life on hold. The financial implications were daunting and seemed insurmountable. During the consultation visit, I was introduced to Lazarex Cancer Foundation and told they could possibly assist me. From my first contact with Lazarex I was amazed at their sensitivity and responsiveness. With their assistance, I was able to participate in the trial.  I can't stress enough how important Lazarex has been to me. I have since moved back home and returned to work, however, I continue to travel back to UCSF on a monthly basis for testing as well as to pick up the medication as it cannot be purchased over the counter.  Lazarex has been with me every step of the way. On May 21, 2010, I received another life altering email from UCSF informing me that results of my most recent bone marrow biopsy test indicate that the medication I've been taking as a part of the trial has been successful and there is a 100% cytogenic response!

During the months that I was in San Francisco receiving treatment I was invited to visit Lazarex, which is just an hour away.  While there I met the wonderful Lazarex team and learned about the Disneyland half marathon in September.  I decided then that I would participate and 'give back' some of what Lazarex continues to give me. I joined Team for Life and I'm asking some of my friends to join me. Without Lazarex, I would not have participated in the clinical trial that changed my life!!

Here's my link for Disneyland 2010, all donations are deeply appreciated: http://www.active.com/donate/disneyland2010/JMarriott. Won't you join me in Anaheim?

Read about some of our other VIPs

Paul & Dana Weiler Ride to Support Lazarex Again!

Weliers
Dana and Paul Weiler are "Team for Life" members participating in an endurance bicycle ride around Lake Tahoe on Sunday, June 6, 2010. They are excited to help the Lazarex Cancer Foundation "Build a Bridge to Hope". The Weilers first became aware of Lazarex in 2007 and have been big supporters ever since.


To sponsor this active couple as they bike around Lake Tahoe please visit http://www.active.com/donate/teamforlife/PWeiler1. You can also see who has already helped them as they close in on their goal of $5,000 raised. Please help put them over the top!

Check Out the Team for Life Website!

A Great Way to Get All the Team for Life 4-1-1 


      T4L


Did you know that Lazarex has an Endurance Division? The many endurance events that you see listed in our newsletter and on our website are managed by Jenny Walls, our Endurance Event Coordinator. As a result of all the activity, Team for Life has grown large enough to warrant a dedicated website: www.teamforlifelcf.org.

In it you will find all things "Team for Life" - information for all of the endurance events and for those who choose to create their own event.

 

For those of you who don't already know this, Team for Life is a unique fundraising program that gives you the chance to directly support Lazarex Cancer Foundation by participating in any endurance event where Lazarex has an official team OR by creating your own fundraising event.

To learn more go to the Team for Life website at www.teamforlifelcf.org or select Team for Life from the Lazarex website at www.lazarex.org.


Dynamic Duo Help Reveal the Heart of Lazarex

You never know where an introduction will lead you. Lazarex met James "J.E." Smith and Casey Peek for the first time at our Bridge to Hope concert in San Francisco. They had been hired by the concert producer to record moments of the event on film and in photos. Since then they have taken Lazarex under their wing. They wholeheartedly support our cause and have continued to find new and interesting ways to promote Lazarex Cancer Foundation. Casey and James are experts in multimedia communications who are helping Lazarex develop a series of films: a corporate video, a Team for Life recruiting video, a fundraising video, and a video campaign "contest" to generate buzz and find new donors. While filming at the Walt Disney World marathon weekend James was so inspired that he joined Team for Life to do the San Jose half marathon and raise funds for Lazarex. Casey is filming James' training progress in a multi-series video blog. You can see all of the films on our YouTube channel: LazarexCF. You can support James' fundraising campaign for San Jose by using this link: http://www.active.com/donate/tflsanjose10/seejamesrun.

Casey

Casey Peek is a videographer/editor in the San Francisco Bay area. With over 14 years of experience, he has produced and edited several documentaries. In addition to documentary work, Peek also produces instructional DVDs, provides live event coverage and creates customized video tributes, memorials, biographical videos, commercials and promotional clips. In addition to production, Peek also founded Progressive Films, a local company that distributes films and videos.http://www.peekmedia.com/

James



James "J.E." Smith is an award-winning stage actor with a background in photography who has produced and directed shorts and music videos, written numerous scripts, and performed various crew functions on production teams. He brings a vast knowledge of production, direction and performance to Lazarex. http://www.lostroadentertainment.com

About Lazarex Cancer Foundation
Our Mission: We provide resources for cancer patients who have been told they have no other options, but who are not yet done with their journey in life and refuse to give up now.
 
Lazarex Cancer Foundation builds a bridge to hope, dignity and life for cancer patients and their families. We provide financial assistance to defray the costs associated with patient participation in FDA clinical trials. Additionally, we help patients navigate their clinical trial options and provide community education and outreach services. We believe that together we can change the face of cancer. To learn more, please contact us at 925.820.4517, toll-free at 877.866.9523, or visit us at www.lazarex.org.

 
Please help us spread the word by sending this to a friend (or many!) who you think would be interested in Lazarex Cancer Foundation or one of our many events. Thanks!