Take Action Now - Our Promise to Save Lives and End Breast Cancer

Status Update

2010-02-22T05:04:00.002-06:00

This blog is not being updated. For more current information about the Affiliate visit us at http://www.komenaustin.org

Protect the needs of cancer patients through health care reform

2009-06-20T07:26:00.000-05:00

At the request of my friends at http://www.komenpolicy.org, I urge you to send the following to your U.S. Senators and Representative: As your constituent and a strong advocate against cancer, I want you to ensure the needs of cancer patients and survivors are included as part of a final health care package as you debate health care reform this summer. Cancer patients and survivors

Support HB 5 TX Smoke Free Legislation

2009-04-23T21:27:00.000-05:00

Texas HB 5, supported by Komen Advocacy, is up for public debate next Tuesday, April 28. For a direct link to the introduced version of the bill, go here. You can also get more information and sign a petition at http://www.smokefreetexas.org/. Please support this legislation. If you can't attend the hearing, contact the members of the State Affairs Committee and urge their support. Below is

ALERT cancer bill

2009-04-05T19:53:00.001-05:00

Have you heard of the 21st Century Cancer ALERT (Access to Lifesaving, Early Detection, Research and Treatment) Act (S.717)? This landmark cancer bill was introduced in the Senate last week and, if passed, will strengthen cancer research, emphasize early detection, and improve cancer care for underserved populations. Members of Congress are heading home for recess this weekend, which means the

Ask Congress to support the "Early" Act

2009-03-24T05:19:00.001-05:00

My wife’s breast cancer was detected when she was 39. I’m all about detecting breast cancer early. There’s a bill pending before the U.S. Congress that will make a difference for those who have been diagnosed at an earlier age and increase the likelihood of early detection. Please contact your Congressman about this bill. Here is the email I just sent about this with the support of the

Using Twitter.com

2009-03-20T06:38:00.004-05:00

You aren’t seeing a lot of posts here these days because I am exploring new uses for Twitter.com.For someone like myself, Twittering is nothing more than “micro-blogging”, or blogging in short bursts. The free service limits my posts to 140 characters, which is typically about 2 sentences. Given all that I have going on, I’ve learned that 2 sentences is about my limit. Some folks use Twitter

New blog about chemobrain

2009-02-22T06:41:00.001-06:00

Check out the blog Chemobrain by Ellen Clegg at the Boston Globe. To learn more about Ms. Clegg and her blog, click on the two “about” links on the left of the page. Also, check out the her entry with links to the latest research on chemobrain. The light bulb turned on for me in 07 when a front page NYT article made a comparison of chemobrain to stage 1 Alzheimer’s. The chemo we are using

Behind the scenes: Board of Directors

2009-02-20T06:09:00.001-06:00

The Board meeting last evening was so important that I want to mention what we accomplished here. The Board passed: the Affiliate’s first strategic plan; the slate of grantees for 2009-2010; the annual budget for 2009-2010; a measure which will enhance the philanthropic culture of the Race; and, finally, a progressive leave policy for our staff that ensures that Komen Austin will continue to be

Komen Texas Lobby Day

2009-02-04T04:37:00.000-06:00

Today our affiliate, along with our National office and all the Texas affiliates, are at the Texas Capitol being recognized by both the Texas House and Senate. The resolution on the House side is HR 248, and I will update this post when the Senate resolution has been filed. Special thanks today go to Rep. Patrick Rose and Senator Jane Nelson for their support today. We will have

Breast Cancer Litigation

2009-01-11T05:25:00.000-06:00

The husband of the late Genevieve Lupp won a $1.2 million medical malpractice malpractice suit last October. Here is a press release (Villari, Brandes & Kline) on the case, a podcast in which one of the lawyers was interviewed and a Google search on Genevieve Lupp. I don't practice this type of litigation, though I can caution anyone thinking about this sort of remedy that this outcome is indeed

2009 brings Ride for Breast Cancer

2009-01-01T06:32:00.001-06:00

Happy New Year to everyone! I have great hopes for this year. Among other great things (like the Race on November 1), we will be co-hosting a Bike Ride for Breast Cancer in October. That seems so far away, but it really isn’t. I was reminded about the bike ride this morning when I read Andrea Ball’s blog entry about her commitment to do the Hill Country Bike Ride for Aids for the

Transitional housing now available

2008-12-21T19:19:00.000-06:00

Austin's Susan G. Komen for the Cure and the American Housing Foundation team to provide free housing for low income patients during treatment AUSTIN — Susan G. Komen for the Cure Austin Affiliate, the local non-profit of the international Susan G. Komen for the Cure organization, today announced a partnership with the American Housing Foundation (AHF) to find residential housing solutions for

Three days left to contribute to 2008 Race for the Cure

2008-11-28T04:57:00.000-06:00

There are 3 days left - through Sunday Nov. 30 - in which you can still seek contributions for the 2008 Komen Austin Race for the Cure. Please visit http://www.komenaustin.org/ or go to The Cure Happens Today to make a contribution to my team. For my message to my team and the latest updates on our affiliate leadership performance, please visit our Google Sites wiki page.

Research on psychosocial factors

2008-11-20T04:42:00.001-06:00

Here is a worthwhile article about research addressing the connection between the disparities in psychosocial factors that might cause breast cancer and biological consequences: Cancer disparities: A biological and psychosocial perspective. From the article: "The connection between psychosocial factors and biological consequences makes enormous intuitive sense, despite the fact that it

Press on Facebook Fundraising

2008-11-19T04:36:00.001-06:00

Boundless FUNDRAISING(TM) Helps Komen Race for the Cure Raise More Than $1 Million to Fight Breast Cancer Charity Dynamics' Social Networking Application Helps Komen Austin Race for the Cure Reach Their $1 Million Goal Last update: 11:45 a.m. EST Nov. 17, 2008 AUSTIN, Texas, Nov 17, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- In its first implementation, Charity Dynamics' Boundless Fundraising(TM) exceeded

Thank you Seton!

2008-11-11T19:53:00.000-06:00

The Seton Family of Hospitals pulled out the stops this race season and put together a phenomenal group of 20 teams. These teams have raised a combined $20,664 with a total of 350 participants and 675 gifts. This eclipsed their previous years' efforts. On behalf of everyone at Komen Austin, I would like to extend our thanks to all the team captains, team members and donors to the Seton teams.

Starting line

2008-11-07T04:50:00.001-06:00

This was the scene as taken by our photographer Laurie Weaver on Sunday. We had almost 21,000 participants and, thanks to over 2,000 volunteers, have raised $1.3+ million!

Cancer genome decoded for first time

2008-11-06T06:59:00.001-06:00

With all the post election and post race activity going on this week, it is important to not miss this piece of significant news: an cancer patient’s entire genome has been decoded for the first time. You can Google “cancer genome decoded” for more, or here is a link to a Reuters article. The hope, of course, is that this will lead to a more individualized treatment. One day we will

At the starting line this morning

2008-11-02T13:50:00.000-06:00

Here was the scene this morning at the start of the timed race on the Ann Richards bridge. That's Governor Perry in the white shirt, Drill Sergeant Devora Curley to his left and board member Becky Kapes Osmon in front of the Govenor wearing the red shirt and cap.I would like to thank the Governor for his support this morning. Mrs. Perry has also been supportive, as she is a regular speaker

Post race report

2008-11-02T13:40:00.000-06:00

This picture says it all. This is the scene here at the Komen Austin headquarters. It was a very successful race. Final numbers won't be known for a while, but our indicators tell us to be optimistic.Thank you to all our participants, donors, sponsors and volunteers. Thousands of women will benefit from our good work and deeds today.

Why I Race

2008-10-30T14:51:00.015-05:00

Hi there! My name is Becky Kapes Osmon - I joined "The Cure Happens Today" team as a brand new Board member and I could not be more thrilled to support this fantastic organization! I'd like to share a little bit about why this race is so special to me...First, I love this race because it's what got me hooked on running. I first ran the Race in 2001 with a friend who wanted a buddy to train for a

Eight years a survivor

2008-10-30T05:00:00.001-05:00

I happened to be at the right place at the right time yesterday at Registration/Packet Pickup when Peg Neuhauser placed her 8th ribbon on her cap for her 8th year as a survivor. If you don't know Peg, stop off to meet her. She is a volunteer and serves as the Chair of the Teams Committee. She makes a whole lot of stuff go this time of year and is absolutely invaluable to the

Behind the scenes: Judey Dozeto

2008-10-29T05:28:00.002-05:00

One of the unsung heroes in our operation is Judey Dozeto. Judey volunteers by doing ALL of the graphics for our sponsorship brochures, race entry form, race poster, race T-Shirt, multiple advertisements, billboards, Power of Ten forms, race form for the web, race bibs, multiple banners and certificates. Whew! She does phenomenal work and is someone whose attitude is always, "Well, let me know

Teams to Watch: Michelle's Angels # 1

2008-10-28T05:02:00.004-05:00

Our number 1 top fundraising team is our dear Michelle Bynum of Michelle's Angels. We can't say enough about Michelle.Here is what she wrote last evening with the photo on the left: As I sit here looking at the clock, knowing I should be asleep for tomorrow's "date with a drip"....I couldn't be more proud of my family and friends who have rallied behind me and "Michelle's Angels". The dedication

Mammogram...had one lately?

2008-10-27T20:12:00.000-05:00

Laurie Weaver, one of our ace photographers, took this photo at the Bras over the Bridge event on Sunday. The sign reads, "Mammogram...had one lately?" Her shirt reads, "In Loving Memory of Ana Lisa 1969 - 2008". Whether protesting this disease on Congress Avenue or participating in a team or making a donation, those of us involved have a story to tell. I don't know the story here, but I do

Teams to watch: Annette and Pat's Posse

2008-10-27T05:02:00.001-05:00

This year our Honorary Race Chair is Annette Clayton from Dell. She is the team leader of Annette and Pat’s Posse. Annette serves as vice president, Global Supply Chain and Fulfillment at Dell, our presenting sponsor. In this role she is responsible for architecting and implementing the next evolution of Dell’s global supply chain and fulfillment model aimed at providing the lowest cost

A call to action: we need donations

2008-10-26T05:16:00.002-05:00

This week our 6 year old daughter learned two important skills in life: how to ride a bike and how to raise money for her cause. She learned how to do both in about 30 minutes. Seriously. Within minutes on her bike she had learned to steer and brake. She hasn't had a crash yet! Why was it so easy? Well, she wanted to ride very badly. Yesterday I gave her a few tips about raising money for the

Follow this blog!

2008-10-21T05:47:00.001-05:00

I have updated the gadgets on this blog to add the new Blogger feature “Follow this blog”. Please show your support by selecting that and announce to our readership that you are following us. I have also updated the gadget that allows for RSS subscriptions. Please take advantage of that as well. Thanks for reading!

Participant Count

2008-10-21T05:32:00.001-05:00

Our stats this morning on the Komen Austin web site show that we already have 10,970 participants and have $396,507.59 in donations. That’s looking good to surpass last year’s figures. Keep up the good work, everyone. I’ve had a good sense about this year since last year’s race. This one just feels like one where we are going to break some records. Help me out and prove my hunch correct

Nicki's Blog

2008-10-20T05:05:00.006-05:00

I would like to introduce you to Nicki, a Komen Austin supporter who starts chemo this week. At age 24 and a grad student studying neuroscience at UCSD, she's got a lot to say and can teach us a lot. And, like so many of the women who face and survive this disease, she is determined to get through it.Here is a link to Nicki's Blog and another link to her Race for the Cure page. And, here is

Sponsor of the day: Austin's Pizza

2008-10-19T05:56:00.000-05:00

I want to thank Austin's Pizza for donating 10 delicious pizzas to our hungry volunteers yesterday. I spoke with Dennis, the Manager at the 12th street store, and he was so supportive of our cause.In order to put on such a huge event each year, we rely on countless restaurants to help feed our volunteers. Having delicious food like pizza from Austin's Pizza is a real morale boost and keeps

Raise money on Facebook

2008-10-18T05:14:00.003-05:00

One of the strategic goals of our affiliate is to incorporate fundraising with our web 2.0 presence. I am very please to announce that we are doing just that. Now you can raise money for us on your Facebook page. Thanks to Ramona’s efforts with Convio, Komen Austin is the test pilot for this exciting new way to fundraise. The way you can learn about this is to access your Race Center by

Teams to Watch: Ambassadors for the Cure

2008-10-16T12:54:00.001-05:00

Amelia Floyd is the team leader of Ambassadors for the Cure. She’s got quite the team going. As of noon today her team has raised $4,965.00. She sent me the following message the other day in response to my posting about Valley View Elementary: “Ambassadors for a Cure is a team comprised of family and friends from Bluebonnet Montessori School of Lakeway. As our school is small, only 52

Team Fundraisers

2008-10-15T06:47:00.001-05:00

If you are having a team fundraiser and would like me to speak at your event, please let me know. If I can’t make it, I will see if I can find someone else in our fine organization who will. To notify me, just leave a comment by clicking on the envelope below. All comments are prescreened, so your comment will not be published. You can also call me on my cell at 512-468-1980. Thank

Teams to Watch: Valley View Elementary

2008-10-11T05:04:00.008-05:00

I think it is so important that our public schools show support of our Promise to end this disease, and this year I am especially proud of the wonderful people at Eanes I.S.D. One of the teams to watch this year is Valley View, an elementary school in Eanes I.S.D. The support of public education is critical because this setting is often the first place where our children learn about breast

Where the research dollars go

2008-10-07T05:47:00.001-05:00

Seventy-five percent of the funds we raise each year go to our local community. The remaining 25% goes to fund research. We send those dollars to our national office in Dallas, and they administer a complex grant making program funded by over 100 affiliates worldwide. Last year Komen Austin sent over $300,000 to Komen national for this purpose. Last week, Komen announced $100 million in

Support Seton teams

2008-10-05T10:30:00.001-05:00

If you haven’t joined a team or made a donation yet, I encourage you to consider one of the many Seton teams. Seton is a regular Komen Austin grant recipient of the funds you contribute. Seton Family of Hospitals Grants from Komen Austin in 2007 Breast Cancer Diagnostic Work -Up - $56,997 With this grant, Seton will offer diagnostic services including mammograms, ultrasounds, biopsies,

Business teams

2008-10-04T06:19:00.000-05:00

Here is a link for business teams that have already formed teams for the race. You can use this link to find out if your employer has a team, and it is also valuable to see if a business you frequent is a supporter of our Promise. Leading the pack in the business category is our presenting sponsor Dell. Also at the front are our friends at Seton. We are so appreciative of their

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

2008-10-01T20:14:00.001-05:00

Today marks the beginning of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I encourage you to reach out and volunteer for Komen Austin this month. One way to acknowledge the month is to volunteer along with us. We need your help, especially as we prepare for the November 2 race. As the Board continues its strategic planning, one thing that came to the forefront is the need to re-energize our focus on

How your donation is used

2008-09-30T06:25:00.001-05:00

Last year, only 16% of all donations were used for overhead expense; the rest was used for local and national efforts to save lives. Below are some examples of procedures that are provided to patients who do not have the means to pay for the treatment that is needed: Ultrasound $78 Screening Mammogram $102 Diagnostic Mammogram $118 Surgical Consult (Level 3) $125

Benefit for Team "In Mammary of Mom"

2008-09-28T05:13:00.001-05:00

One team to watch this year is "In Mammary of Mom". Lead by Julia Wood, their goal this year (other than raising LOTS of $) is to win the t shirt contest. And, they aren’t being shy about raising money. They have scheduled a benefit for October 24 at the South Austin Trailer Park and Eatery, and everyone is invited. Please see their Evite invitation. Live music will be provided by the Niel

Harlem Nights Gala October 18

2008-09-22T04:13:00.001-05:00

Susan G. Komen for the Cure Austin Affiliate is proud to sponsor the Links 2nd biennial Harlem Nights Gala. Ramona Magid, executive director of the Komen Austin Affiliate welcomes the

Volunteer Fair

2008-09-21T05:04:00.001-05:00

We will have an informal Volunteer Fair on Thursday, October 2nd at the Komen office from 5:30-8pm. Please feel free to stop by and sign up and ask questions. This is a great time to learn more on how to sign up your group, find the best spot for yourself or group. Snacks/drinks will be provided. Also, a 2nd fair is in the works closer towards the race.

Teams to watch

2008-09-18T03:55:00.001-05:00

On occasion I will be writing this month about particular teams to watch. Of particular interest are our friends at Seton, who have pulled out all the stops. Here are some Seton team statistics: 23 Seton Teams 79 members $2700 raised in donations Goal: $10,000 in donations Here are the 14 Seton teams that have raised donation money so far: Seton Jefferson Joggers! - $610.00 5 members

Current Race Statistics

2008-09-08T03:36:00.001-05:00

Here are our current statistics for online registration: Number of Online Participants: 1,691 Number of Online Teams: 273 Top Team Fundraising Standings: 1 - Michelle's Angels ($6,140.00) 2 - The Cure Happens Today ($6,010.00) 3 - Team Demel ($3,880.00) 4 - Peg's Team ($1,700.00) 5 - Yoga Yoga ($1,630.10) 6 - ARA Rays for the Cure ($1,395.00) 7 - Cosmopolitans ($1,275.00) 8 -

Risk of recurrence

2008-09-04T07:00:00.000-05:00

Here is a worthwhile article posted recently on Komen.org about the risk of breast cancer recurrence. It’s not all good news, so we have a lot of work ahead of us. What good news there is reiterates that early detection is the key.

I vote for the Cure

2008-09-03T04:10:00.001-05:00

Do you know that one in eight women be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime? And that more than 40,000 women and 450 men die of breast cancer each year? I know you're as troubled by these numbers as I am. That's why I wanted to tell you about a concrete step you can take – right now – to help end breast cancer. Susan G. Komen for the Cure Advocacy Alliance is working hard at the party

Top two teams

2008-08-27T06:54:00.001-05:00

As of this morning, I am pleased to announce that Michelle’s Angels has just surpassed The Cure Happens Today team in funds raised. There are no losers here. The combined total of the two teams is currently $10,635.00. That’s an astounding figure given that we are only in late August. Michelle, thank you for your dedication. Ashley, thank you for your tenacity. You both are

Register now to receive $100 from Academy

2008-08-10T16:10:00.001-05:00

Our goal is to pump up registration by adding 50 new registrants per day through the end of August. Spread the word to friends and family about the Race and encourage them to register today! Anyone who registers for the Race by August 31st will be entered in a drawing to win a $100 gift card from Academy Sports & Outdoors. Click here to register for the 2008 Race for the Cure. Do it NOW!

Aug 20 benefit for Komen Austin given by Michelle's Angels

2008-08-09T04:37:00.000-05:00

Michelle Bynum's cancer has returned. If you don't know about Michelle, here's a link to Michelle's Angels, the most focused, determined and successful team at our Race each year. These folks are something special. Please attend, meet Michelle and her Angels, and give generously. I will be attending to speak and would enjoy meeting you there.

Working men caregivers

2008-07-30T05:25:00.001-05:00

My wife and I are currently engaged in a discussion in which I am making the point that even today not enough consideration is being given to the impact of breast cancer on the male caregivers in the family. This article in the Austin American Statesman published yesterday addresses the difficulty men have in obtaining enough leave from work to be a caregiver when a woman is diagnosed with

Confessions of a Komen Austin Team Captain...

2008-07-29T13:17:00.009-05:00

I have a confession to make.And as a confession, I thought I should make it as public as possible, which is why I am using the Komen Blog to do it. I have an addiction. I am addicted. To the Cure. Not the band The Cure, but to an actual cure. For cancer. I've been promoting and talking about my Komen Race for the Cure team to everyone I know! Now, since I work for the City, I don't often run into

Media on The Cure Happens Today team

2008-07-25T05:37:00.001-05:00

With special thanks to our team member Erin Ochoa, our team received terrific press yesterday. We are especially glad to have the support of both KVUE and KEYE in their coverage of Ashley Doran’s story. Here are the links: KVUE KEYE This disease does not discriminate. Even if you have been a Komen volunteer for 12 years and are on the board, you aren’t protected. For Ashley, the

Lawyers for Women Fighting Breast Cancer

2008-07-23T05:19:00.002-05:00

I recently accepted a pro bono case from Volunteer Legal Services of Central Texas and its “Lawyers for Women Fighting Breast Cancer” program. If you aren’t aware of this program, you should be. Low income women dealing with breast cancer in our area can obtain free legal assistance to assist with the numerous issues that arise during treatment. I can’t detail the facts of this representation,

Team Captain's Blog

2008-07-17T06:32:00.001-05:00

I am now blogging on our first ever team wiki over at The Cure Happens Today. Like many of my communication “experiments” within the affiliate (I am known to argue that communication is one of our greatest priorities), I really have no idea how this will turn out. I am very committed to our move toward a more interactive web 2.0 environment, and I hope the team wiki and blog will be of use to

Convio gets national contract and becomes 2008 race sponsor

2008-07-16T05:01:00.000-05:00

I am posting below an article from the Statesman yesteday on the recent contract our National office made with Convio for Convio to provide services to all of the Komen affiliates nationwide. Behind the scenes, it was our Executive Director, Ramona Magid, who made this deal happen. For those of us in nonprofit management, we know that a successful executive director is the key to realizing our

We're off to a great start

2008-07-12T05:25:00.000-05:00

Our Teams Committee Chair, Peg Neuhauser, has reported that we already have 33 teams signed up on the first day of registration. This is a great start! All indications are that the website is functioning well and registration is smooth and quick. Special thanks this season go out early to our Web Administrator, Jess Rosales, who is so talented and makes registration a snap.

The Cure Happens Today Team Goes Live

2008-07-11T07:31:00.001-05:00

I am proud to announce the formation of our leadership team, The Cure Happens Today, in celebration of Ashley Doran. To reach my page visit here. Our team wiki can be found on this Google Sites page. Let’s cure breast cancer today. Join our team now.

Austin based cancer computing grid

2008-07-10T06:48:00.001-05:00

If you’ve never donated your CPU to grid computing to help solve a global problem, well, you are missing out. The Statesman’s Digital Savant blogger, Omar Gallaga, has written about a U.T. grid computing project to cure cancer. If you want to learn more about grid computing, which is all about all of us sharing our CPU power, visit the World Community Grid. Thanks to my friend and

Online Registration Starts Friday

2008-07-09T06:43:00.000-05:00

Online registration for the November 2, 2008 Austin Race for the Cure starts on Friday. Please visit www.komenaustin.org to sign up ASAP on Friday. I will be announcing the formation of our team, The Cure Happens Today Team, on this blog. This year will be a meaningful year for us at the Austin Affiliate and this team. Board member Ashley Doran was diagnosed with breast cancer just a few

Cha Cha Queens 3 day fundraiser

2008-07-05T17:51:00.001-05:00

HUGE GARAGE SALE, SATURDAY, JULY 12TH 7am - 2pm, BENEFIT 3DAY WALK TEAM THE CHA CHA QUEENS FOR THE SUSAN G. KOMEN FIGHT AGAINST BREAST CANCER (WALKER: ALMA TORRES) 7308 RHETT PL AUSTIN TX 78744 (LOCATED OFF EAST WILLIAM CANON & SALT SPRINGS) (MAP) We will also be selling Menudo, barbacoa tacos & drinks. Please stop by and browse,

Nonprofits of the future

2008-07-02T17:39:00.001-05:00

With the advance of social media and Web 2.0, I envision a future with highly mobile socially conscious volunteers organizing instantly to accomplish great feats. Flash volunteers or flash activists, who themselves will be able to instantly mobilize their own social network, whether it be to perform a task or for fundraising, will become valuable to the entire nonprofit community. Nonprofits

Incidence vs. Mortality

2008-07-01T04:29:00.001-05:00

While White women have the highest breast cancer incidence rate (140.8. cases per 100,000 women) in this country, Black women have the highest mortality rate nationally (35.9 deaths per 100,000 women).

Largest group of cancer survivors

2008-06-30T17:19:00.001-05:00

Here’s a worthwhile fact provided to us from our Headquarters today: America’s 2.3 million breast cancers survivors are the largest group of cancer survivors in the U.S. If there is anything that speaks about the successes of Komen, it is the large number of survivors among us.

Cancer Institute board members

2008-06-30T06:50:00.001-05:00

Here is the Statesman’s piece this morning on the new board members of the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas. The missing explanation in the article is the connection of Cindy Brinker Simmons. Ms. Simmons is the daughter of Norman Brinker, who is formerly married to Nancy Brinker, Komen founder and sister of Susan G. Komen. The Brinker’s are obviously a major reason we are

Removing the gene

2008-06-29T13:04:00.001-05:00

Here’s a new way to conceive the cure. While it may be a way to prevent the gene from passing through the generations, it isn’t a guarantee of not getting breast cancer. Unfortunately, we know it isn’t that simple. Most who have breast cancer do not have the bad gene. On the other hand, this is a yet another advance that we cannot ignore. LONDON, June 29 (UPI) -- Britain's first baby

Sponsor the Race for the Cure now!

2008-06-28T07:10:00.001-05:00

We still have time to sign your company up as a race sponsor. The deadline is Monday, with a fudge factor of a few days after that. Take action today by becoming a 2008 Sponsor of the Komen Austin Race for the Cure. Visit http://www.komenaustin.org/sponsorpacket now to learn more.

2001 Race Photo

2008-06-28T06:59:00.000-05:00

I am moving some digital photos around and came across this photo of my first race back in November, 2001. This photo is looking West on 6th Street. The building to the right is that of our Founding Sponsor, GSD&M, now Idea City. The empty lot directly across from that building we now know as the new Whole Foods building. The grey building in the background is the shopping center at 6th and

Strategic Planning

2008-06-28T05:27:00.002-05:00

I regret that I haven’t been blogging of late because of our ongoing efforts of strategic planning taking place in the background. There’s only so much one can manage… For those of you who are interested in nonprofit governance, here is our recently drafted Hedgehog statement: “We engage passionate volunteers to raise and distribute funds toward cures for breast

Fundraiser for Sally Holcomb's children

2008-06-08T03:47:00.004-05:00

I had the privilege yesterday of speaking at the fundraiser for the children of Sally Holcomb. An incredible group of mothers led by Kristi Diaz and Anne Tiedt have created a group called Austin Moms United to help support the educational expenses of Sally Holcomb's children. There is still plenty of time to donate at http://www.austinmomsunited.com/. What women like Sally experiencing stage IV

The latest on chemobrain

2008-06-07T18:21:00.004-05:00

One day in the not too distant future I am hopeful that we will all be looking back at chemotherapy as another of our barbaric drugs we no longer need. Here's a study showing that now we know it can cause permanent neural damage. And here is a worthwhile New York Times article about chemobrain.

Fundraiser for children

2008-05-26T11:27:00.003-05:00

There will be a fundraiser for Sally Holcomb's children on Saturday June, 7. You can get more information about the fundraiser at the Statesman and at the Austin Moms United site.Ms. Holcomb has Stage IV breast cancer and will be leaving behind three minor children - one of them a First grader.There's no greater motivator to become energized about ending breast cancer than children who are left

"I couldn't even cry."

2008-05-13T04:05:00.003-05:00

As I start my second year as president of the Austin affiliate, I am more cognizant than ever of the numbers of people impacted by breast cancer. People now know my role and often come to me with their stories that they are living that moment.A friend at work visited with me yesterday. She was told over the weekend about her 36 year old cousin who had just been diagnosed. While we visited her

The Cure Happens Today

2008-04-26T06:47:00.006-05:00

What an exhausting week! We started on Tuesday hosting our annual Hope for the Cure celebration in which we announce our grantees this year. In the background there are countless emails, phone calls and the start of our strategic planning. On Friday, there was a statewide affiliate public policy meeting at the Capitol put on by Ramona and Rebecca Birch with National.And, today, we are moving the

BMW Ultimate Drive 2008

2008-04-20T03:01:00.007-05:00

We had another successful BMW Ultimate Drive this year, thanks to the fine support of Ava Late and the fine folks at BMW Austin. Our community comes out regularly each year for this event to test drive BMW's, and it's all to have a little fun and contribut to our cause.We also send our thanks to our friend over at the Statesman, Andrea Ball, for covering this on her blog, Charity Chat. You can

Board leadership for 08 - 09 announced

2008-04-12T10:01:00.002-05:00

The Austin Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure announces its board leadership and new members for 2008 - 2009. Moving up to Vice President is Marianne Rochelle. Ms. Rochelle, who is starting her second year on the board, is employed by IBM as a Program Manager. Continuing as officers this year are George Noelke, President, Carol Marin, Treasurer and Yvonne Carroll, Secretary. “I am

Get trans fat out of your diet

2008-04-12T06:25:00.003-05:00

Trans fats have been linked to breast cancer in this study. To dive deeper, here's a Google link.

Why should you volunteer with us?

2008-04-09T04:14:00.003-05:00

One of my pleasures as a board member is participating in our new volunteer orientation, and I had an opportunity to do an orientation just last week. Our board members are required to participate in the orientation session of our new volunteers. Besides being a great way to meet people, it gives me a first opportunity to impress upon new volunteers just how urgent our mission is.Part of my

Office space needed - emergency

2008-04-02T03:58:00.003-05:00

We are in need of reduced or donated office space - immediately. Our current landlord has unfortunately requested that we vacate so he can lease to another tenant.The ideal would be approximately 1,800 square feet centrally located (but we won't be picky!) in Austin. We need 2 to 3 offices and a large conference room that is capable of seating 20+ volunteers for training. Also, the location

Become a 2008 race sponsor

2008-03-24T05:22:00.004-05:00

Well, it's official - the 2008 race season is commencing with our annual publication of the Race Sponsorship brochure. Here is a link where you can learn how to become a sponsor of the race this year.Race sponsorships are absolutely critical to our success. Other than generating dollars for our Promise, they help promote good will and identity of purpose in our community. I urge you to consider

Appointees to Research Institute announced

2008-03-14T04:14:00.005-05:00

The Governor has announced the first 3 appointees to the Cancer Research and Prevention Institute. They are:Scott Sanders of Austin, owner and CEO of RiverCity Sportswear;Malcolm Gillis of Houston, a Rice University professor and former president of the university; and,Jeanne Phillips of Dallas, senior vice president of Hunt Consolidated, Inc.More appointments are pending.

Reducing recurrence with Letrozole

2008-03-12T03:47:00.004-05:00

If your cancer was estrogen receptor positive, you will want to learn about the latest study concerning the benefits of Letrozole, which has been shown to dramatically reduce the chances of recurrence. Here is the NPR audio regarding the study and here is a Google search result for Letrozole.Dr. Eric Winer was interviewed for the NPR piece. He is a member of the Susan G. Komen Scientific

Stats on the 2007 race

2008-03-09T18:41:00.004-05:00

Here are some of the stats on our November 2007 race:Total Race participants: 22,140Total number of team members: 14,418 (68% of participants were on a team)Total $ (both registrations & donations): $1,498,728Total donations raised: $865,195 (83% of donations were raised by people on teams)Average donations per team member: $50These are astounding numbers, and, as I said during race day, the

The Survivor Committee is looking for volunteers!

2008-03-06T10:37:00.004-06:00

The 2008 Race for the Cure Survivor Committee needs more members!Responsibilities include, but is not limited to: Survivor bag stuffing, hosting breakfast on Race day and a recognition program. Volunteers will have the flexibility to attend meetings and events based on their time/availability; however, please note goals/deadlines can be implemented by Race Chair, office staff, Chair & Co-Chair.

National Activist of the Year

2008-02-20T04:19:00.005-06:00

Ramona Magid (center) recently received the Public Policy Activist of the Year Award from Cheryl Jernigan (right), Susan G. Komen for the Cure board member and Diane Balma (right), Director, Susan G. Komen Public Policy Alliance in Dallas at the Affiliate Conference. See also this post. Ramona received the award in recognition of her work on Proposition 15.

Legislators of the Year

2008-02-20T04:08:00.004-06:00

Texas Representative Patrick Rose and Texas Senator Jane Nelson recently received the National Legislator of the Year Award from Dianne Balma, Director, Susan G. Komen for the Cure Public Policy Alliance , at the Affiliate Conference in Dallas. The award was given as a result of their work on Proposition 15.

2008 National Affiliate Conference

2008-02-08T17:10:00.000-06:00

I am in Dallas attending the 2008 National Affiliate Conference. The day started with a stirring talk from founder Nancy Brinker.I am moved each time I hear her speak. It is easy to understand how this organization has become a global leader in ending breast cancer with her as a founder. What becomes clear about her is that she is a risk taker. She understands the need for constant change and

Cathy Bonner joins Board; Ramona Magid receives award

2008-02-06T04:13:00.000-06:00

For Immediate Release February 6, 2008Austin Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure Announces Appointment of Board Member and National Award to Executive DirectorThe Austin Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure announces the appointment of Cathy Bonner to its Board of Directors. Ms. Bonner is recognized as the key architect of the recently passed Proposition 15, the new law passed by Texas

Breast cancer prevention in low income housing

2008-02-02T05:11:00.000-06:00

Our Wise Women project got off to a strong start this week. This is an effort to encourage women in low income housing owned by the American Housing Foundation to obtain free mammograms. A kick off was held last November, and this week over 20 women received screening and training on breast health.Here is some excellent coverage of the event this week from our media sponsor KVUE.This pilot is

What are voters thinking about?

2008-01-29T06:44:00.000-06:00

As a key presidential primary takes place today in Florida, I think it is important that the rest of us reflect on what voters are thinking about in terms of breast health care:* A majority of voters, 62 percent, believe breast cancer is the most critical health problem facing women today.* More than 90 percent of voters want the federal government to pay more attention to breast cancer research,

The uninsured working poor

2008-01-20T07:50:00.000-06:00

It isn't enough that we breast cancer advocates concern ourselves with immigrant health care, but we are also faced with dealing with our neighbors right next to us who are working to make a living and don't have health benefits.Today the Statesman published a terrific article entitled Texans Trying to Survive Without Insurance, and they feature the story of a 2 time breast cancer survivor who

U.T. Medical School in Austin

2008-01-19T06:01:00.000-06:00

Breast cancer advocates need to be aware of the decisions being made locally regarding a U.T. Austin medical school. Today the Austin American Statesman published this article about whether a teaching hospital in Austin would be hosted by U.T. Austin or by one of the already existing U.T. medical system campuses. Either way, the focus should be on which choice provides the most health care for

Race T Shirts for Sale

2008-01-12T08:42:00.000-06:00

Please help Komen Austin by purchasing our most recent race t shirts. All the money raised from this effort stays in our 5 county area.Go to Craigslist Austin to learn more.

Texan of the Year

2007-12-30T06:00:00.000-06:00

I regret that today the Dallas Morning News announced their Texan of the Year award and it wasn't Cathy Bonner. [See my earlier post on this nomination.] Those of us who know Cathy and recognize all that she accomplished to create the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas in the last year are no doubt disappointed. She is an outstanding advocate and truly deserves this recognition.But

Give now!

2007-12-27T05:41:00.000-06:00

We all know the importance of charitable giving before the end of the year. Besides ending the year on a good note, we get the extra benefit with the taxes.So, give now. There's still time and we've made it easy. Here's a Komen Austin link to visit to make a contribution. And, here's a page for more information on giving.Keep in mind, too, that the Power of 10 fundraising is still going stong

Breast cancer in the news

2007-12-27T05:08:00.000-06:00

There has just been a ton of news about breast cancer this December - clearly more than even I could keep up with. As we end the year and start new I think it is important to be aware of some of the positive things, like this article in the New York Times, Report Optimistic on New Cancer Treatments.And, here is news from Komen regarding one of the most difficult to treat breast cancers, Triple

Beyond pink

2007-12-20T03:37:00.000-06:00

Having learned just last evening that the lump in my wife's remaining breast is not cancer, I am particularly cognizant at the moment of my message when I do public speaking for our affiliate: do something today, right now, to end this disease. Take action now. If you wait, you or the person you love may not be here for long.I am all the more aware of my message after last week's coverage by our

UTMB Galveston considers cuts in immigrant treatment

2007-12-04T03:39:00.000-06:00

The University of Texas Medical Branch teaching hospital in Galveston this week has created a firestorm of controversy by announcing possible budgetary cuts that would reduce the amount of cancer treatment it provides by refusing to treat indigent undocumented immigrants. If the policy change occurs that would allow this to happen, this would undoubtedly be a travesty of the worst kind,

State of Breast Cancer Report

2007-11-27T03:05:00.000-06:00

Susan G. Komen for the Cure yesterday published its first ever State of Breast Cancer Report. You can read the press release here or go here to download the State of Breast Cancer Report in pdf format.This report is a terrific tool to get a comprehensive report on breast cancer. And, it's not all sunshine. The report covers where we are weak, such as in areas of data sharing and tissue banking

UT Health Sciences San Antonio speak out

2007-11-25T06:26:00.000-06:00

The President of the Univeristy of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, Francisco Cigarroa, M.D., has spoken about the benefits of creating the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas. You can read his commentary at MySanAntonio.com.Dr. Cigarroa writes, "The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and the Cancer Therapy and Research Center, or CTRC, are partners