Changing the Face of Cancer
| |
|
|
|
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 Dornsife
President, Lazarex Cancer Foundation |
|
|
Lazarex Events - Join us, Donate, Have Fun!
Seattle Rock 'N' Roll � Marathon
Where: Seattle, WA
When: June 26, 2010
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 Florida
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, 2010
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 
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!
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!
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 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 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 "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.
|
|
|
