Issue 21 • Winter 2015

The Susan G. Komen® Promise

is to save lives and end breast

cancer forever by empowering

people, ensuring quality care

for all and energizing science

to find the cures.

“The Promise” to share news of Susan G. Komen Northwest Ohio

SURVIVOR SHARES SUCCESS, IMPORTANCE OF EARLY DETECTION

KOMEN NORTHWEST OHIO 2014-2015 SMALL GRANTS

nCancer Patient Services

Breast Cancer Assistance Program

419-423-0286

Project Services: 

Treatment support

County Served: Hancock

nLucas County Breast Health Coalition

University of Toledo

Empowerment for Successful Living:

A One-Day Conference

for Breast Cancer Survivors

419-530-4171

Project Services:

Education and survivorship

Counties Served: Fulton, Lucas,

Ottawa and Wood

nNightingale’s Harvest

Nutritional Changes

for Palette and Texture

419-779-2961

Project Services:

Treatment support and survivorship

Counties Served: Lucas and Wood

nYWCA of Northwest Ohio

YWCA and Komen Breast Health

and Education Project

419-241-3235

Project Services:

Education and treatment support

County Served: Lucas

The Curran family left to right: Conor, Kit, Kelly, Dick and Andrew

SAVE THE DATE FORPARTY IN PINK

April 30thInverness

Country Club

More details to come

By Kristen Tomins

At 54-years-old, Kathryn “Kit” Curran, like many women, had plenty of life

plans and goals for herself. While enjoying those plans with her husband

and three children, working two jobs she loved – one of them being her own

business – Kit also found herself busy and reluctant to get her mammogram

screening.

In August of 2013, Kit’s plans were interrupted after being diagnosed with

Ductal Carcinoma in Situ (DCIS ) Stage 0 breast cancer, as well as Lobular

Carcinoma in Situ (LCIS), in her left breast. Even though Kit worked two jobs,

she found herself without medical insurance. Kit thought she was in for a

difficult journey until she was referred to a Komen-funded grant.

Following her diagnosis, Kit underwent a bilateral mastectomy (removal of

both breasts) and began the first stages of her reconstruction. Now, a little

more than a year later, Kit is grateful and happy to announce she is cancer-free,

although she said for many, it’s not so easy to say that.

“So many people are connected to breast cancer,” she said. “It’s a shared

experience; it’s emotional, but Komen makes it very personal to you.” Upon

revisiting her journey a year later, Kit said she realizes now just how significant

the grants and programs available from Komen are, calling her experience

“life-changing.”

(continued on page 2)

®

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

Thank you for your valued support in 2014! I’d like to extend a

special thanks to the Mark S. Feldstein Private Foundation for

launching a Year End Challenge Grant. The $5,000 Challenge

Grant – offered by the Mark S. Feldstein Private Foundation and

my husband Dan and I – helped close out the year by raising

nearly $15,000! Enough to fund another community grant that

will save local lives right here in our 24-county service area!

Thank you!

Now as we look to 2015, we are more committed than ever to

improving the statistics and making an impact in our area. One way that we are driving

that goal is by completing a Community Profile, which is an 18 month research process

that analyzes the need in our 24-county service area. The Profile identifies the counties

and communities in our service area that have the highest incidence of breast cancer

and the highest mortality rates. The Community Profile data then drives the priorities

for funding local grants with a primary goal of reducing the breast cancer incidence and

mortality rates in our most high risk counties. Look for a full overview of the Community

Profile to be available in the fall of 2015.

Komen is always looking for new partners in our fight against breast cancer. The North-

west Ohio Affiliate is pleased to announce that we have been awarded a Walgreens Affil-

iate based grant for the Mission for Minority Breast Health Project. Please take a moment

to learn more by reading about the local partnership described below.

Please join me and all of our board members on Thursday, April 30, 2015, as we present

our 2015 grants to the community. The evening promises to be fun and powerful with

Chrys Peterson joining us to emcee the evening. The event will be at Inverness Country

Club from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. with remarks at 7:30. Tickets are $40 per person and there

are sponsorship opportunities available. Look for more information on our website in

early March or call the office at 419-724-2873.

Finally, mark your calendars now for the 2015 Northwest Ohio Race for the Cure

events – Findlay Race for the Cure is Saturday, September 26 and Toledo Race for

the Cure is Sunday, September 27. Please mark your calendars now!

Imagine a world without breast cancer,

Teresa McHugh

The Promise • Page 2

A MESSAGE FROM OUR BOARD PRESIDENT SURVIVORSHARES SUCCESS

WALGREENS GRANT AWARDED TO SUSAN G. KOMEN NORTHWEST OHIO

Susan G. Komen Northwest Ohio was awarded a grant from Walgreens in support of $64,743.00 over the next two years for

the Mission for Minority Breast Health Project. The project aims to improve breast health equity among African American and

Hispanic/Latina women in Allen, Erie and Lucas Counties by addressing culturally appropriate breast health/cancer education

and risk reduction education, minimizing barriers to access breast cancer screening, and empowering individuals. The project

is a community-based project aimed at building individual and community capacity

through outreach, education, social support, and advocacy. The goal is to build sus-

tainable capacity for breast health within the African American and Hispanic/Latina

communities in Allen, Erie and Lucas Counties.

(continued from page 1)

“Komen Northwest Ohio provided

me what I needed to take care

of myself first,” she said. “I’m still

alive and recovering well because

the program was there and acces-

sible.”

Kit participated for the first time

in the 2014 Toledo Race for the

Cure alongside her family and

friends who joined “Team Curran”

to support her in her fight with

breast cancer, an experience that

she said was more meaningful

than she ever imagined.

“I’m still unable to wrap my mind

around the whole thing and how

many people were there to sup-

port not only me, but the entire

community,” she said. “[Komen]

makes it inspirational and mean-

ingful, and it brings people to-

gether under circumstances that

are otherwise difficult to make

light of.”

Kit lives in Maumee, Ohio and

credits the loving support of her

husband, Dick, and three children

Conor, Andrew and Kelly, as well

as the support of her friends,

co-workers, doctors and Komen

Northwest Ohio for supporting

her throughout her journey, lead-

ing to an ultimate victory against

breast cancer.

The Promise • Page 3

SUSAN G. KOMEN NORTHWEST OHIO TO LAUNCH NEW WEBSITE

Susan G. Komen Northwest Ohio will release an updated website in March 2015.

With the end-user experience in mind, Komen Northwest Ohio has streamlined all

relevant information into a more aesthetically pleasing environment that is easier

to navigate. The new website platform will serve as an educational tool as well as

a home for all your Race for the Cure needs. 2015 Race for the Cure registration

will open online at www.komennwohio.org in April 2015. If you have any questions

about the new website launch and/or need help with navigation, once the new

Website is live, please contact Stephanie Pilgrim at 419-724-2873.

MAKE YOUR GIFT TODAY!

You can support your community

by donating to Komen Northwest

Ohio today.

Please visit www.komennwohio.org

call 419-724-2873, or mail a check to:

Komen Northwest Ohio

3100 W. Central Avenue

Suite 235

Toledo, OH 43606

THE FOUR KEY MESSAGES TO BREAST SELF AWARENESS

1 23

4

Susan G. Komen’s breast self-aware-

ness messages make up our education

platform. Our breast self-awareness

messages are:

nKnow your risk

nGet screened

nKnow what is normal for you

nMake healthy lifestyle choices

The first key message is Know Your

Risk and there are two action items

associated with this message. Talk to

both sides of your family about your

family health history. Sometimes fam-

ilies are private and quiet about their

health histories, especially between

generations and particularly when the

family members are men. But, know-

ing this family history can be helpful in

understanding your own risk of breast

cancer. Then, talk with your doctor

about what you have learned about

your family history. This information

can help him/her know how to ad-

vise you regarding your own risk and

screening practices that may be right

for you.

The second key breast self-awareness

message is Get Screened. Screening

tests are offered to people who feel

fine and who have no reason to sus-

pect a breast problem. They are dif-

ferent from tests that are done to

evaluate a problem in the breast.

Screening provides a real opportunity

to find breast cancer when it is early

before there are signs of a problem.

Susan G. Komen recommends; have

a mammogram every year starting at

age 40 if you are at average risk and

having a clinical breast exam at least

every 3 years starting at age 20, and

every year starting at age 40.

The third key breast self-awareness

message is Know What is Normal

For You. The signs of breast cancer

are not the same for all women. It is

important to know how your breasts

normally look and feel so that if you

notice ANY change, take charge of

your health and see your health care

provider.

The fourth key breast self-awareness

message is Make Healthy Lifestyle

Choices. Research has shown that

gaining weight as an adult increases

the risk of postmenopausal breast

cancer, so one thing you can do to try

to reduce the risk is maintain a healthy

weight over your lifetime.

Other healthy lifestyle choices which

may reduce your risk of breast can-

cer are to incorporate exercise into

your routine and limit consumption of

alcohol. Another way to reduce risk

of breast cancer is to limit the use

of menopausal hormones. If a wom-

an is considering taking menopausal

hormones (specifically estrogen plus

progestin), she should discuss the risks

and benefits with her health care pro-

vider. Lastly, studies show that breast-

feeding protects against breast cancer

especially premenopausal breast can-

cer. So breastfeed if you can. For more

information on Breast Self Awareness

please visit www.komen.org.

FINDLAY RACE FOR THE CURE

IN MEMORY OF:Kim Conkle

IN CELEBRATION OF:Lindsay Vanderveen

The Promise • Page 4

RUNNERSTOP 3 FEMALE SURVIVORS: nDeanna Kiesel

nLaura Huffman

nKimberly Wilder-Fisher

TOP MASTERS

FEMALE SURVIVOR: nMarina Williford

TOP SENIOR

FEMALE SURVIVOR: nJanet Merkel

OVERALL

TOP FEMALE FINISHER: nAbbey Trombley

OVERALL

TOP MALE FINISHER: nEvan Gaynor

MASTERS

TOP FEMALE FINISHER: nLori Lamb

MASTERS TOP MALE FINISHER: nDan Graves

THANK YOU TO OUR 2014 FINDLAY RACE SPONSORS

Visit www.komennwohio.org

to read their full stories

The Promise • Page 5

RUNNERSTOP 3 FEMALE SURVIVORS: nDenine Cramer

nChristy Miller

nJulie Whitney

TOP MASTERS

FEMALE SURVIVOR: nAngie Thetford

TOP SENIOR

FEMALE SURVIVOR: nLinda Regelin

OVERALL FEMALE FINISHER: nSarah Dickey

OVERALL MALE FINISHER: nJulius Kiptoo

MASTERS

TOP FEMALE FINISHER: nMichelle Brooks

MASTERS

TOP MALE FINISHER: nCraig Nieset

TOLEDORACE FOR THE CURE

IN MEMORY OF:Linda “LuLu” Key

IN CELEBRATION OF:Denise McCroskey

THANK YOU TO OUR 2014 TOLEDO RACE SPONSORS

Visit www.komennwohio.org

to read their full stories

The Promise • Page 6

THANK YOU ... to the following local restaurants

who participated in the 2014

Dine Out for the Cure program!

TOLEDOnAmerican Table

nApplebee’s

nThe Blarney Irish Pub

nBob Evans

nDon Pablo’s

nEl Camino Restaurant

nFrisch’s Big Boy

nGlass City Cafe

nLuckies Barn and Grill

nManhattan’s Restaurant

nMax & Erma’s

nThe Oasis Restaurant

nPizza Papalis of Toledo

nRuby Tuesday

nSpaghetti Warehouse

nStar Diner

nYe Olde Cock n’ Bull

nYe Olde Durty Bird

FINDLAYnApplebee’s

nBob Evans

nCedar Valley Cafe

nCity Barbeque

nMax & Erma’s

nWe Serve Coffee

TOLEDO TOP TEAMS

LARGEST TEAMS – as of September 24, 2014

AWARD AND TEAM NAME MEMBERSnOverall Largest – ProMedica 842

nHigh School Team Challenge – Sylvania Northview High School 61

nFriends/Family – Expecting Miracles 72

nMedical/Healthcare (1-249 Employees) – Team TRO 12

nMedical/Healthcare (250+ Employees) – Mercy 312

nBusiness (1-99 Employees) – Extreme Results 126

nCorporate (100+ Employees) – Owens Corning 233

nSchool/College/University – Toledo Public Schools 66

nFirst Time Team – Inspired Woman (Cornerstone Church) 54

TOP FUNDRAISING TEAMS – as of October 31, 2014

AWARD AND TEAM NAME MONEY RAISED

nHigh School Team Challenge – Northview High School $725.00

nFriends/Family – Team Andres $11,306.00

nMedical/Healthcare (1-249 Employees) – Team TRO $410.00

nMedical/Healthcare (250+ Employees) – ProMedica $8,964.25

nBusiness (1-99 Employees) – Team LuLu $13,616.65

nCorporate (100+ Employees) – Owens Corning $3,162.00

nSchool/College/University – Jacket Tumor-nators $2,870.00

nFirst Time Team – Wonder Woman’s Warriors $1,897.00

TOTAL RAISED $42,950.90

FINDLAY TOP TEAMS

LARGEST TEAMS – as of September 24, 2014

AWARD AND TEAM NAME MEMBERSnOverall Largest – Marathon Petroleum Corporation 390

nHigh School Team Challenge – VB Black Knights 73

nFriends/Family – Emily’s Army 50

nMedical/Healthcare (1-249 Employees) – BVMA Treasured Chests 39

nMedical/Healthcare (250+ Employees) - Blanchard Valley Health System 117

nBusiness (1-99 Employees) – Bosom Buddies 40

nCorporate (100+ Employees) – Ball Metal Corporation 140

nSchool/College/University – NB for Kim 47

nFirst Time Team – City of Findlay 19

TOP FUNDRAISING TEAMS – as of October 31, 2014

AWARD AND TEAM NAME MONEY RAISEDnHigh School Team Challenge – Army Brigade $1,780.25

nFriends/Family – Bodacious Babes $2,783.00

nMedical/Healthcare (1-249 Employees) – BVMA Treasured Chests $1,445.00

nMedical/Healthcare (250+ Employees) – Blanchard Valley Health System $2,028.00

nBusiness (1-99 Employees) – Bosom Buddies $3,228.85

nCorporate (100+ Employees) – Marathon Petroleum Corporation $34,118.23

nSchool/College/University – The University of Findlay $930.00

nFirst Time Team – Roaring for a Cure, Van Buren Lions $785.00

TOTAL RAISED $47,098.33

The Promise • Page 7

TOLEDO TOP TEAMS

LARGEST TEAMS – as of September 24, 2014

AWARD AND TEAM NAME MEMBERSnOverall Largest – ProMedica 842

nHigh School Team Challenge – Sylvania Northview High School 61

nFriends/Family – Expecting Miracles 72

nMedical/Healthcare (1-249 Employees) – Team TRO 12

nMedical/Healthcare (250+ Employees) – Mercy 312

nBusiness (1-99 Employees) – Extreme Results 126

nCorporate (100+ Employees) – Owens Corning 233

nSchool/College/University – Toledo Public Schools 66

nFirst Time Team – Inspired Woman (Cornerstone Church) 54

TOP FUNDRAISING TEAMS – as of October 31, 2014

AWARD AND TEAM NAME MONEY RAISED

nHigh School Team Challenge – Northview High School $725.00

nFriends/Family – Team Andres $11,306.00

nMedical/Healthcare (1-249 Employees) – Team TRO $410.00

nMedical/Healthcare (250+ Employees) – ProMedica $8,964.25

nBusiness (1-99 Employees) – Team LuLu $13,616.65

nCorporate (100+ Employees) – Owens Corning $3,162.00

nSchool/College/University – Jacket Tumor-nators $2,870.00

nFirst Time Team – Wonder Woman’s Warriors $1,897.00

TOTAL RAISED $42,950.90

TOP: Liberty Center High School Soccer teams raised $435 toward the fight

against breast cancer.

CENTER LEFT: The Grainger Foundation donated $10,000 to Komen Northwest

Ohio in honor of breast cancer survivor and retired employee Sharon McCluskey!

This money will be used for newly diagnosed breast cancer survivor organizers.

The goal is to provide information, resources and support to newly diagnosed

individuals in the Affiliate service area. Pictured left to right: Mary Westphal,

Komen Northwest Ohio Executive Director; Jared Fisher, Market Manager at

Grainger; Sharon McCluskey, breast cancer survivor and retired Grainger employee;

and Gayle Makin, Grainger employee and friend of Sharon’s.

CENTER RIGHT: Michelle Dunn of Bolt Express presented Komen Marketing and

Communications Manager Stephanie Pilgrim with a check for $3,000 after a third

party event in February.

BOTTOM: Riverdale Cheerleaders – Cheer for a Cure raised $1,142.59 to help

Komen find the cures for breast cancer.

THIRD PARTY EVENTS SKATE FOR HOPE TO HOLD EVENT BENEFITTING KOMEN NORTHWEST OHIO IN MAY

Skate for Hope is a not for profit, char-

itable organization dedicated to the

goal of eradicating breast cancer.

The mission of Skate for Hope is to:

nEmpower children & young adults

to better cope with a friend or

family member’s cancer diagnosis

nRaise funding for cancer research

nProvide health and wellness

education

nHonor Community Cancer Survivors

On Saturday May 2, 2015, Skate for

Hope will hold an Awareness and

Research Fundraising Show at Bowling

Green State University Ice Arena in

Bowling Green, Ohio. Proceeds from

the event will benefit Susan G. Komen

Northwest Ohio. Past performers

include Olympic Gold Medalists Sarah

Hughes and Scott Hamilton and three-

time US National Champion and 2006

& 2010 Olympian Johnny Weir.

To date, Skate for Hope has raised

over $543,000 to help find a cure with

donations to various non-profit orga-

nizations. General admission tickets

start at $11. To register to participate in

this event or for more information visit

www.skateforhope.org.

Susan G. Komen® Northwest Ohio is honored to be contacted so often by

passionate members of our community wanting to organize an event or promo-

tion benefiting breast cancer awareness and research. We partner with others

because it benefits both parties in terms of public awareness. Learn more about

how to hold a third party event and save lives in the fight against breast cancer

by emailing Stephanie Pilgrim at stephanie@komennwohio.org.

SAVE THE DATE!Saturday May 2, 2015

3100 W. Central Ave., Suite 235

Toledo, OH 43606

Non-Profit

US Postage

PAID

Toledo, OH

Permit No. 242

2015 BOARD MEMBERSTeresa McHugh, President

Michele Murnen Rice,

Vice President

Lori Decker, Secretary

Deborah Barnett

Karen Cline

Lori Edgeworth

Shaneli Fernando, M.D.

Molly Meyers

Bryan Minges

Marianne Peters, CPA

Judge Lynn Howard Schaefer

Mary Chris Skeldon

Charlie Soto

Christy Contardi Stone

The Promise is Published by Susan G. Komen® Northwest Ohio

Phone: 419-724-CURE (2873) and 1-877-604-CURE Fax: 419-724-2874

Email: info@komennwohio.org Website: www.komennwohio.org

The Komen Northwest Ohio Affiliate serves the counties of: Allen, Auglaize, Crawford, Defiance, Erie,

Fulton, Hancock, Hardin, Henry, Huron, Logan, Lucas, Mercer, Ottawa, Paulding, Putnam, Sandusky,

Seneca, Shelby, Van Wert, Williams, Wood, Wyandot and Monroe county, Michigan.

STAFFMary Westphal, Executive Director

Shannon Andersen

Special Events/

Mission Coordinator

Melissa Cogar

Operations & Volunteer

Manager

Stephanie Pilgrim

Marketing & Communications

Manager

Leslie Schubargo

Special Events Manager

Aubrey Whewell

Community Outreach

Coordinator

UPCOMING EVENTSnFebruary 7, 2015

Rockets for the Cure

UT Women’s Basketball nFebruary 28 and March 1, 2015

Pink in the Rink

Toledo Walleye nMay 2, 2015

Skate for Hope

Bowling Green University nSeptember 12, 2015

Survivor Breakfast nSeptember 26, 2015

3rd Annual Komen Northwest

Ohio – Findlay Race for the Cure nSeptember 27, 2015

22nd Annual Komen Northwest

Ohio – Toledo Race for the Cure nOctober 2015

National Breast Cancer

Awareness Month

The running Ribbon is a registered trademark of Susan G. Komen