Passionately Pink for the Cure

My oldest sister Joy, who was diagnosed with breast cancer last year, underwent reconstruction surgery Wednesday, having gone through chemotherapy and two other operations already.

Hanes(R), partnering with actress Sarah Chalke and Susan G. Komen for the Cure(R) to join the fight against breast cancer, recently raised $4.3 million to fund programs.

Hanes(R) was the official 2009 Passionately Pink for the Cure(R) apparel sponsor, according to research and donated $250,000 to Susan G. Komen for the Cure(R), who they call the global leader in the fight again breast cancer.

In unrelated cancer news, Stand Up to Cancer (SU2C), a charitable initiative created last year to fund groundbreaking research aimed at getting new treatments to patients in an accelerated time frame, through a celebrity-driven telethon that aired simultaneously on the ABC, CBS, and NBC networks in Sept. last year, announced recently it will soon allocate grants totaling $73.6 million to five multi-disciplinary, multi-institutional research "Dream Teams." (Source: pancan.org).

"I am thrilled to announce that one of the Dream Teams will focus its research on pancreatic cancer," stated Julie Fleshman, president and CEO of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network in a press release. "The Pancreatic Cancer Dream Team's project named 'Cutting off the Fuel Supply' will receive $18 million in funding."

Fleshman said since a total of 237 Dream Team applications were submitted for consideration, the review process was "quite competitive, so it is gratifying to know that pancreatic cancer was chosen as one of the areas for study."

Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in the U.S., according to the release.

"This project is critical to extending the lives of pancreatic cancer patients; 75 percent die within the first year of diagnosis because of the lack of effective treatments," wrote Fleshman. "The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network is the only national organization creating hope in a comprehensive way through research, patient support, community outreach, and advocacy for a cure."

In other cancer news, more than 350 guests "dove in" to support CancerCare for Kids(R) this month in New York City at the Under the Sea Gala.

"We help the child whose parent has cancer understand what's going on," says Brooke Laster, the company's social worker.

The next CancerCare Connect(R) education workshop will be held July 16 and the topic will be "Understanding Peripheral Neuropathy."

For more information, visit cancercare.org or call 800-813-HOPE.

Project Angel Hugs is dedicated to providing support and encouragement to children with cancer, according to writer Deanne Schultz. (http://www.sheboyganpress.com/article/20090625/SHE04/906250352/-1/archive).

"Sara Ladwig's son Bryce, who was diagnosed with cancer at six, receives regular packages from the group," said Schultz. "Project Angel Hugs extends that support to parents, who receive cards, notes, and even special packages on Mother's Day and other holidays."

The website is projectangelhugs.com.