Reminder: Monday is the start of 'Pink' month in the Valley

Note: I just posted this on the New Haven Register's View from the Valley blog and thought I'd share it here as well. It's part of an occasional series on my breast-cancer journey.


Time to mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month

As a 19-month breast cancer survivor I must admit October now has a special place in my heart.

I do what I can to help raise awareness, and make sure I wear a little bit of pink every day. 

Starting Monday, there are many activities planned by the grass roots' initiative The Valley Goes Pink.
The initiative benefits the Hewitt Center for Breast Wellness at Griffin Hospital in Derby.  

In addition, the fourth annual 5K walk/run that benefits the Center for Cancer Care at Griffin Hospital is Oct. 6. The event raises funds to help those diagnosed with all forms of cancer who are treated at the Center.

I'm kinda-sorta training for the walk. Being as out of shape as I am the thought of walking 3.1 miles with my teammates next Saturday is making me a bit nervous. As team captain does that mean I have to lead the rest of them? Scary thought indeed.

Thankfully the walk is not a competitive one. I finished it last year and imagine I can do that this year as well!

The event starts at 9 a.m. at the Center for Cancer Care, 350 Seymour Ave., Derby.
If you join in you'll find lots of dedicated family and friends eager to participate in honor or in memory of someone or just to show support.

Food, live entertainment, and a health information fair are part of the scene.

It's not too late to join a team or even walk as an individual, as I did last year.

Please think about lacing up your sneakers and taking a trek around Ansonia and Derby neighborhoods with us.

You'll be glad you did!

Wheelin' to raise awareness about disabilities

I posted this yesterday on the View from the Valley blog for the New Haven Register and I thought I'd re-post it here today. 

Ralph, Allegra and I enjoyed spending time with some wonderful, like-minded people. 

Also please check out Ralph Rolls Along ~ it's his new blog.

West Haven Wheel-A-Thon raises $16G to aid disabled youth

Music, fun, sun accompany 7th annual event 

Marc Anthony Gallucci, executive director, Center for Disability Rights, leads the way Sunday at Savin Rock. 

My daughter and I were two of the able-bodied people who took part in the 1.5-mile walk/roll event Sunday morning along the West Haven shoreline.
My husband Ralph, who uses a wheelchair, has been involved with the nonprofit Center for Disability Rights for many years and I can attest to the fact it's a great organization.

Sunday was a picture-perfect weather day, which added to the festive, upbeat atmosphere. After a complimentary breakfast walkers and rollers started down the sidewalk along the beach, then through the parking lot and out to the sidewalk along Capt. Thomas Boulevard.
Some who don't need wheelchairs tried them out to learn firsthand about the daily difficulties faced by the disabled.

Entertainment throughout the morning was provided by five talented teens in a rock band called "Up in Arms."

Members include: Joe Famiglietti of East Haven, lead guitarist; Joe Caruso of East Haven, singer and keyboardist; Kyle Cifarelli of East Haven, bass guitarist; Dan Durazzo of East Haven, drummer; and Matt Zingarello of Guilford, rhythm guitarist.

Executive Director Marc Anthony Gallucci said at least $16,000 had been raised, with more funds pledged. He said more than 90 percent of the money raised goes to scholarships for disabled young people who are headed to college or technical school. "You can feel good about that," Gallucci said.

I do feel good about being a part of this great event. And judging by the many smiling faces that were there I know I'm not alone. 

Labels: Center for Disability Rights, East Haven, fund-raiser, Guilford, West Haven

Thoughts on Relay for Life

Hard to believe I haven't posted here in a week. I've been blogging though, keeping View from the Valley full of good stuff on the New Haven Register's site.

On Saturday Ralph and I went to a wonderful lunch catered by Outback Steakhouse for cancer survivors. It was held before the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life in Shelton, Ct. I wrote about our perspective on the relay here.

Here is the survivor's lap at the opening ceremony. I don't know any of these ladies, but just behind them are members of "Circle of Friends," the support group to which I belong. I tried to get a photo of them as they passed by but it was blurry. They were way too fast for me.

We were surprised to hear my my name read from the list of survivors at the opening ceremony. I signed in at the lunch and that was the list they used.

I wasn't on a team, we just went to have a good time. I give those who stay there for 18 hours or more a lot of credit! I don't have that kind of energy.

 

It was pouring rain when we got there but it cleared up after lunch in time for the opening ceremony. Look at these beautiful clouds!

I thought there was a good turnout of relay teams and tents filled with people selling food and crafts and games of chance to benefit the American Cancer Society.
It's overwhelming to think of the numbers of people whose lives have been affected by cancer just in our little part of Connecticut.

I hope the event was a success and a lot of money was raised toward the goal of kicking cancer to the curb.


Bonus photo below. ;-)

A friend of ours was a team captain and took this pic.

This is another in an occasional series about my journey with breast cancer. 

Back to the grind...the chemo grind, that is

It's Monday morning and I'm all set to go back for treatment #10.

Only two more after today! Yay!

I always get hungry while I'm sitting there, so once again I'll bring my peanut butter and jelly sandwich for a snack. This time on multi-grain bread instead of whole wheat. Exciting, eh?


I'm going to wear my new long-sleeved T-shirt that I got for participating in the walk on Saturday. I'd take a picture of it but my rechargeable batteries aren't recharging any more. And I can't seem to find any AA batteries. Must buy some. I hate to be without my camera.


I guess that's it for now. Thanks for reading my online cancer journey journal!

Only three more to go!

Yesterday was my chemo day again...Happy to report I feel fine. Just tired. 

Three more chemo treatments left, then at some point after that (hopefully there will be a bit of a break) I'll start five weeks of radiation. 

That will be five days a week. Woo hoo!  I'm guessing it will be a tiring experience..

On Saturday I'll attempt to walk 3.1 miles in a fund-raiser for the Center for Cancer Care at Griffin Hospital in Derby, Ct. It's the third annual event and the first one in which I'm participating.
I plan to take it easy...the second half will be the hard part, since I'm so out of shape. 

Maybe I'll ask Ralph to ride along nearby in the van so he can pick me up when I'm losing my energy. (just kidding) 

My friend Linda suggested I amble. I agree ambling is good!

My (sometimes hurty) knee and I did fine Sunday walking in an event along the shore in West Haven, Ct. to raise funds for the Center for Disability Rights. 
Ralph works for the nonprofit, which gives college scholarships each year to students with disabilities. They said the route was 1.5 miles. It felt like more, but maybe because it was so muggy out.

As you can see in the photo it was an overcast morning.

Meanwhile my oncologist said yesterday he'll be making some brief remarks at Saturday's event, as will several other health-care professionals. He jokingly asked me if I wanted him to mention me.

No thanks, Doc, just wave. I'll see ya. ;-)

{That's about it today for my online journal about my breast cancer journey. Thanks for reading.}

Ruby Tuesday ~ Long Island Sound

I took this photo after the 4th annual Wheel-a-Thon to benefit the Center for Disability Rights where Ralph works. The West Haven, Ct. beach is right down the street from the Center's office. It's a perfect spot for walking, jogging, biking, roller-blading and of course, wheelchair riding!

The route for the event was 1-1/2 miles. Ralph participated by working indoors with the laptop recording pledges, keeping track of the participants and the like. We're not sure of the final total but the director said he believed they raised more than $12,000 yesterday. Not bad for a holiday weekend. They may hold it on a different weekend next year to get more people involved.

I arrived there after church to be with Ralph. By then the morning event was all over, but I got there just in time for a "free lunch." What timing I have! tee hee.

The patriotic banners along the beach walk caught my eye...I saw red, I guess you could say, and knew it would be a perfect shot for this week's Ruby Tuesday post.

Below is one of the totes our "free" lunches were packed in. I was happy to come home with two of them. I know they'll come in handy.

P.S. Here's a picture of Ralph I surreptitiously snapped Sunday. He gave me permission to post it. ;-)

To see many more Ruby Tuesday photos featuring a little or a lot of red, visit our hostess, Mary T, The Teach, at Work of the Poet.

Look what I won

I covered an annual tea hosted by the Derby Historical Society and won the centerpiece. It's full of beautiful fresh flowers arranged in a teapot with a kitchen rooster motif.
A local actress portrayed the life of Amelia Earhart at the fund-raising event, and I wrote a story for the paper that you can read here.

P.S. One thing I never understood: why would a company call a line of luggage "Amelia Earhart" luggage? Wouldn't that name jinx the travels of the owner of the suitcases?
Just wondrin'

Keep on walkin'

Um...I'm out of shape. I know it. But nevertheless I am taking the Iron Woman challenge (well, not exactly) this morning and walking for a good cause.

It's a four-mile round trip.
I've been training. Sort of. Walking in the morning around the neighborhood...

Our daughter is home from college and she will join me and her brother to walk for a local organization that operates a homeless shelter and food bank network.

We do the walk every year, and I'm glad that she wanted to be with us to participate again this year.
Now to just wake those two teens up.