Welcome Letter

On November 19th, we lost a true champion. The battle Stefanie Spielman waged against breast cancer was both courageous and inspiring. Because of her example, strength and leadership, many women here in Central Ohio and around the nation understand the importance of early detection. She was tireless in the fight again breast cancer, raising more than $6.5 million for cancer research through the Stefanie Spielman Fund.

Whenever we asked for Stefanie’s participation, she was there – whether on Race Day or to advocate for funding for all women to have access to critical breast screenings. Our thoughts and prayers are with Chris and her children and we will continue to fight Stefanie’s fight and we will race until we find a cure. 

Katie, Jill, Beth, Megan and Becca
The Staff of Komen Columbus

Komen Columbus Race for the Cure®

While the Race is only 3.1 miles for most, for one participant it’s 500 miles in the making. Mark Rickel, a husband, father to three girls and active Komen Columbus volunteer, had a feeling that even though he raised $500 during the 2009 Race for the Cure, it wasn’t enough.

“Rather than focus my efforts just around the months leading up to the 5K, 27-minute race, I would start my own 8-month, 500-mile race and increase the amount of time I had to raise money and awareness among my friends and family,” Mark said. That idea has now taken off with Mark’s Blog, “500 Miles to the Cure.”

What keeps Mark going during his miles of running are the breast cancer survivors and those who have lost loved ones to breast cancer. “I see the pink shirts at the race and know for every person wearing one, there’s an amazing story of courage and perseverance behind it,” Mark said. “Then there are the shirts and the tributes participants wear during the race – it makes it difficult to run the race when you’re choking back emotions after seeing a husband, son or daughter running in memory of their loved one.”

Aside from getting in top physical shape, Mark is looking forward to being part of something important – working to find a cure for breast cancer. “Seeing the thousands upon thousands of people all packed together at the starting line and then walking or running down High Street toward the finish line… I’ll never forget the sea of pink that went as far as we could see. Even better, it’s something that my entire family can experience with me,” Mark said.

Mark has been able to connect with former classmates and co-workers through his blog and has already received messages of support and promises of donations from his friends. Check out Mark’s blog - http://500milesforacure.blogspot.com/ - and get inspired to join the fight against breast cancer.

Join Mark at the 2010 Race for the Cure on Saturday, May 15, 2010.

Interested in being a Race Sponsor? Review our Sponsorship Packet for more information.

Komen Columbus Events

Breakfast and Insight
Join the Komen Young Professionals Committee on December 10th from 7:30-8:30 a.m. for an important discussion on basic breast health facts. Enjoy a complimentary breakfast while hearing from a young breast cancer survivor on her experience with breast cancer. The Komen Columbus Board President will also provide crucial breast health facts and discuss the recent mammography recommendations. Contact us to RSVP or click here to learn more.

True to Form
Columbus Center for Paper and Book Arts, an art gallery in downtown Columbus, recently opened its latest exhibit entitled True to Form. This installation features three-dimensional torsos as the basis for artists’ work. There are 25 unique figures on display including several focusing on breast cancer. The figures will be on display through January 23rd.

Gallery hours are Wednesday-Saturday, 11 am – 4pm. For more information, please click here. The gallery is located at 539 East Town Street, Columbus. 

Ford Cares
Need a special gift for someone this holiday season? Now through December 31st, Ford will donate 100 percent of the net proceeds from the sale of the Warriors In Pink merchandise to Susan G. Komen for the Cure Affiliates. Simply type in the promotion code for the Columbus Affiliate – COLUMBWIP – when prompted and all proceeds will benefit women in Central and Southeastern Ohio.  

Outreach Events

Interested in attending a program on survivorship or a support group? Check out our list of upcoming events sponsored by Komen Columbus Grant Programs and be sure to visit our Web site for more outreach events.

Event: Young Survival Coalition of Central Ohio "You Are Not Alone" Holiday Wine Tasting Party
Date: Thursday, December 10th
Time: 6:30 pm
Location: Camelot Cellars, 958 N. High St
Description/Participant Eligibility: Open to YSC support group participants and other young women affected by breast cancer, along with a guest.
Cost: No charge, food and gift bottles of wine included.
Contact Info: Please register for this event to ysccentralohio@youngsurvival.org or call 614-470-0300.

Event: YSC Central Ohio General Support Group for Young Women Affected by Breast Cancer
Date: First and third Tuesdays of every month
Time: 5:30 pm
Location: YSC Central Ohio Office, 7716 Rivers Edge Drive, Suite A, Columbus, OH, 43235
Our Support group for young women living with metastatic breast cancer is the second Tuesday of every month, 5:30pm at the YSC Central Ohio office.
Contact:  For more information, contact Christine Walker at 614-470-0300 or e-mail ysccentralohio@youngsurvival.org.

Event: The Mount Carmel Breast Cancer Exercise Program
Date: January 18th, 2010 – February 25th, 2010, on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays
Time: 5:30 – 7:30 pm
Location: The Southwest Community Center YMCA
Description: This supportive, customized, medically supervised program helps women who have had breast cancer at any time in their lives incorporate physical activity into their routine. Participants engage in stretching, light aerobic activity, balance training and beginning weight training. Individual nutrition counseling with an oncology dietician is included. The program lasts for six weeks and participants meet for two hours each session, three times per week. The two hours include exercise, education and support.
Contact: Amanda Putnam, 614-234-4006

Event: Look, Listen, and Feel Lymphedema Care Class
Date: January 26, 2010
Time: 1:30- 4:00 pm
Location: Haven of Hope at The Zangmeister Center
Description/Participant Eligibility: All Breast cancer survivors and support persons
Cost: Free
Contact Info: Please call Sharon Inzetta, 614-234-8124, Breast Health Nurse Navigator at Mount Carmel East Women’s Health Center, to register for this class.

Volunteer Focus

The Komen Young Professionals (KYP) recently formed under the guidance of the Columbus Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Monthly events for this dynamic group will rotate between having an educational, social and volunteer focus, in an effort to spread awareness of breast cancer among young professionals.

The Young Professionals’ kickoff event, Mingle for the Cure, was a huge success. Generously hosted by The Social Room in the Arena District, a crowd of young professionals and friends made the scene for this Friday night. Attendees enjoyed tasty hors d’oeuvres and great atmosphere, as many of the rooms shone with pink. The mood was focused around good company out for a good cause. Attendees contributed nearly $500 that will go toward funding crucial breast health education, screening and treatment programs in central and southeast Ohio. Thanks to everyone who attended this evening of awareness.

We hope you’ll join the KYP for its next event, Breakfast and Insight, on December 10th.

Stay up-to-date on all of our upcoming Young Professional events by becoming a Facebook fan of Komen Columbus. Click here to join the group.

Komen Columbus News

Mammography Guidelines
Recent changes to the national mammography guidelines have led to confusion among women who are worried that future generations will lose access to a critical tool that saved their life, according to Ambassador Nancy G. Brinker, founder of Susan G. Komen for the Cure® and the global leader of the breast cancer movement.

“We have worked so hard to build public trust and to urge people to get screened,” said Brinker. “Let me say this as clearly as I can: mammography saves lives, even this report says that. Keep doing what you are doing. And always, talk with your doctor.” Brinker also noted that Susan G. Komen for the Cure was not changing its guidelines, continuing to recommend annual mammograms beginning at age 40.

Brinker noted that breast cancer is still the leading killer of women between the ages of 40 and 60, and that 1 in 8 women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. Yet one-third of women – 23 million – are not getting the most basic screening and mammography today.

Noting that mammography, while the best currently available screening tool, is not perfect, Brinker called on the government and the scientific community to close the technology gap and develop tools that are more predictive, available and personal, but are less expensive and aggressive. 

Concerned about the recent mammography guidelines? Join Komen Advocacy Insiders and help us make a difference! The recent controversy should not suggest that there is debate about the most important issue: mammography reduces the risk of dying from breast cancer. The fact that one third of all American women do not undergo regular screening demonstrates a problem. The fact that Ohio is ranked 4th in the nation in breast cancer mortality demonstrates a problem.

New screening approaches and more individualized recommendations for breast cancer screening are urgently needed. Susan G. Komen for the Cure supports research initiatives designed to improve screening and we believe that it is imperative that this research move forward rapidly. 

Sign up today to be an Advocacy Insider and help us try to improve screening technologies and access to care. As an Advocacy Insider, we will keep you up-to-date on legislation and reforms to improve breast cancer screening and other issues important to survivors and supporters. When necessary, we will ask you to take action: to call, write, e-mail or visit policymakers to move them to take a specific action to support breast health. Together, we can make a difference in the fight against breast cancer. Sign up today to be a Komen Advocacy Insider!

Click here to read the editorial Brinker submitted to USA Today earlier this week regarding the mammography guidelines. Contact us if you have any questions about this issue.

Save Lids to Save Lives
The Save Lids to Save Lives program from Yoplait is almost over for the year. For every clean lid you send back to Komen Columbus, 10 cents will be donated to fund crucial breast cancer treatment, education and screening programs right here in Central Ohio.

Please send your clean lids by December 14th to:
Komen Columbus
855 Grandview Avenue, Suite 250
Columbus, OH 43215

Ways to Give
Federal employees will find Susan G. Komen for the Cure® listed as an option in the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC). Please locate Susan G. Komen for the Cure in the alphabetical or federation index. Our CFC number is 14545.

In addition, we participate in numerous state, county, municipal and university employee campaigns:
Franklin County: 4060
Ohio State University: 8886
Columbus State, Columbus City Schools: 3050

Please contact us if someone you know should be getting this newsletter, but doesn’t have access to e-mail.