ISU WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM TO HONOR BREAST CANCER SURVIVORS DURING FEB. 14 GAME

Join the Indiana State University Women's Basketball Team and the Wabash Valley Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure as we honor breast cancer survivors!

On Saturday, February 14, 2009, the ISU Women's Basketball Team will host "Hats Off to Survivors" during their game against Missouri State. The game will begin at 2 p.m. in Hulman Center. Breast cancer survivors can pick up two free tickets to the game by stopping by the Komen Wabash Valley Affiliate office, located in Meadows Shopping Center, on Saturday, Feb. 7, between 9 a.m. and noon.

All who attend the game are encouraged to wear pink, and breast cancer survivors who wish to be recognized during the game are invited to meet at the North End Zone of Hulman Center at 1:30 p.m. Attendees can also make a donation to the Wabash Valley Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure during the game.

To purchase tickets for the "Hats Off to Survivors" game, call 812-237-3737 or 1-877-ISU-TIXS, and join the Lady Sycamores in the fight against breast cancer! More information is also available online at www.gosycamores.com. More information about the Komen Wabash Valley Affiliate can be obtained by calling 812-229-CURE or visiting the Affiliate website at www.komenwabashvalley.org.

PURCHASE WITH PURPOSE AND HELP END BREAST CANCER

This holiday season, the Wabash Valley Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure® is giving people the opportunity to purchase with purpose and help raise funds to help fight breast cancer.

Through Christmas, on Wednesdays and Saturdays, the Komen Wabash Valley Affiliate will be selling breast cancer awareness merchandise at their office location at Meadows Shopping Center, 2800 Poplar Street, Terre Haute. On Wednesdays, hours are from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., and on Saturdays, hours are from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Items available for purchase include sweatshirts, t-shirts, hats, scarves, jewelry and socks. The items make wonderful Christmas gifts, and the purchase will help support Komen’s promise to save lives and end breast cancer forever.

Last year, the Affiliate raised more than $100,000 through the Komen Wabash Valley Race for the Cure® and other events. Up to 75 percent of net proceeds generated by the Affiliate stays in the Wabash Valley to support critical, non-duplicative, collaborative and innovative breast cancer education, screening and treatment programs in the Affiliate's eleven-county service area, which includes Vermillion, Vigo, Clay, Sullivan, Parke, Greene, Monroe, Putnam and Owen counties in Indiana and Clark and Edgar counties in Illinois. The remaining income goes to the national Susan G. Komen for the Cure Grants Program to fund research.

The following local programs received grant dollars from the Affiliate:
- Post Mastectomy Prosthetic Supplies (Clara Fairbanks Center for Women)
- Breast Cancer Screening for Women in Edgar and Clark Counties – Illinois (Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center)
- The ABC's of Breast Cancer for Monroe and Owen Counties (Bloomington Hospital Foundation)
- Ensuring Breast Cancer Screening for Uninsured Patients (Volunteers in Medicine of Monroe County in c/o Bloomington Hospital Foundation)
- Take My Hands: Massage Therapy for Breast Cancer Patients in Monroe and Owen Counties (Bloomington Hospital Foundation)
- Screening Mammograms, Diagnostic Digital Mammograms, Ultrasounds and Diagnostic Biopsy Procedures and Breast Care Conferences (Clara Fairbanks Center for Women)
- Advancing Complementary and Integrative Health Approaches for the Education, Growth and Well-Being of Breast Cancer Patients and Survivors (The Maple Center, Inc.)

For more information about the Wabash Valley Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, call 812-229-CURE.

BREAST CANCER SURVIVORS INVITED TO RECEPTION AT HUX CANCER CENTER

Nikia Hammonds-Blakely, a young breast cancer survivor who was diagnosed at the age of 16, will share her story at a wine and cheese reception for breast cancer survivors on Friday, Oct. 3. The reception, which is sponsored by the Wabash Valley Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, will begin at 5:30 p.m. at Hux Cancer Center, located at 6 1/2 and Beech streets on the north side of Union Hospital in Terre Haute. The reception is free for breast cancer survivors.

Having survived a life-altering bout with breast cancer at age 16, Hammonds-Blakely uses her unique ministry of motivation and encouragement to share her testimony of physical and emotional healing.

In the face of her battle with cancer, Hammonds-Blakely became an honor graduate of William A. Wirt High School and the first in her family to graduate from college, earning a B.S. in communications from Indiana State University. Since then, she’s received an M.B.A. from Capella University and is currently completing a Ph.D. in organizational management.

Most recently, Hammonds-Blakely was chosen as 1 of only 11 young women in the United State to serve as a member of the Young Women’s National Advisory Council for Susan G. Komen For The Cure. She is also a national ambassador and media spokesperson for Circle of Promise, a breast cancer awareness campaign specifically targeted toward African-American women.

She credits her success to God’s favor and “the will to live,” and through her work, she seeks to encourage youth to follow their dreams and maximize their potential, even in the face of adversity.

For more information about Hammonds-Blakely’s presentation, contact Gwen Hicks at wvracecure@aol.com or 812-241-9730. Hammonds-Blakely will also participate in the Susan G. Komen Wabash Valley Race for the Cure on Oct. 4 at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College. For more information about the Race or to register, visit www.komenwabashvalley.org or call 812-878-WILL (9455).

BUSINESSES, ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS INVITED TO "TINKLE ME PINK"

Businesses, organizations and individuals interested in supporting the fight against breast cancer in a fun and unique way are invited to design a port-a-potty with the new “Tinkle Me Pink” program. 

For $100, anyone can sponsor a port-a-potty which will be displayed during the 2008 Susan G. Komen Wabash Valley Race for the Cure®. This is a great opportunity to advertise a company, school or club and let your group or business be seen while others are “taking care of business!” Decorate your port-a-potty with balloons, ribbons, bows, flags, signs, plants or photos. Drape it with crepe paper or fabric. Place a welcome mat outside. Leave brochures for your group inside or out. Add some lovely scented items. Let your imagination go!  A prize for the best potty will be awarded during the closing ceremonies of the Komen Wabash Valley Race for the Cure, which will be held on Oct. 4, 2008, at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College.

Space is limited, so sign up now. To receive more information, or the decoration guidelines and registration form, email patty@cottom.org or call 812-229-0629.

FORM A TEAM FOR THE SUSAN G. KOMEN WABASH VALLEY RACE FOR THE CURE®  

The 12th Annual Susan G. Komen Wabash Valley Race for the Cure® will be held on Oct. 4 at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, and the team captain kick-off will be held on August 23, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the parking lot across the street from Fitness Experts, 810 Ohio St., in Terre Haute. 

Groups of 10 or more can form a team and register at team rates of $20 per adult, $8 for children grades five and under, and $10 for grades six through college. 

For information about forming a team or the team captain kick-off, contact Jessica Clevenger or Mary Umphries at register@komenwabashvalley.org. For more information about the Komen Wabash Valley Race for the Cure, visit www.komenwabashvalley.org or call the Race Hotline at 812-878-WILL.

LOCAL STUDENTS AND YOUTH GROUPS INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN I AM THE CURE

Students from local schools and universities and sideline supporters who want to be part of the excitement of the Susan G. Komen Wabash Valley Race for the Cure are invited to participate in a I AM THE CURE training session on Sept. 27. The training session will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College in Hulman Hall, room 108/110.

I AM THE CURE is a rallying cry that is emotional, memorable and motivational. It speaks to the importance of early detection, understanding that early detection is the best defense against breast cancer, and provides simple, action-oriented messages that Race participants can take home and put into action.

During the Komen Wabash Valley Race for the Cure on Oct. 4 at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, Cure Leaders, the official "cheerleaders" for the Cure, will cheer on runners and walkers along the Race course while reminding everyone of important steps they can take to care for their own breast health. Participants will receive an official Cure Leader T-shirt and a list of cheers to chant. Cure Leaders will also receive megaphones and other supplies to use to cheer on walkers and runners.

Young persons from local schools and universities are especially encouraged to participate. This is a great opportunity for cheer squads, dance teams, athletic teams, service clubs, and groups of interested young men and women from all of the eleven counties served by the Wabash Valley Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure to get involved.

To register for the Sept. 27 I AM THE CURE training session, or get your group involved with I AM THE CURE, call Sara Umphries at 812-533-1556 or e-mail IATC08@yahoo.com. Participants are encouraged to enter Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College using the gates for the Woods Day Care and park their vehicles in the parking lot behind Hulman Hall.

Registration for the Komen Wabash Valley Race for the Cure is available online at www.komenwabashvalley.org. More information can also be obtained by calling the Race Hotline, 812-878-WILL.

CHURCH GROUPS INVITED TO REGISTER A TEAM FOR SUSAN G. KOMEN WABASH VALLEY RACE FOR THE CURE®

The 2008 Komen Wabash Valley Race for the Cure® will be held on Oct. 4 at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (near Terre Haute, Ind.), and area churches are encouraged to form a team.

Groups of 10 or more can form a team and register at team rates of $20 per adult, $8 for children grades five and under, and $10 for grades six through college. The Wabash Valley Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure® challenges all churches to get involved and hopes to have a team from every church in the Affiliate’s eleven-county service area at the 2008 Race.

The Komen Wabash Valley Race for the Cure® is the largest 5K in the Wabash Valley. Since the first Race in 1997, the day has evolved into a family event, with entertainment, a Silent Auction and Expo Tent highlighting our local and national partners. Approximately 3,000 people attend the event each year.

This year, opening Ceremonies and Survivor Tributes will begin at 10 a.m., with the Celebration Fun Walk/Run beginning at 10:30 a.m. and the 5K Race beginning at 11 a.m. There will also be a new event, the Kids for the Cure dash, at 10:20 a.m.

Last year, the Wabash Valley Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure raised more than $100,000 through the Komen Wabash Valley Race for the Cure® and other events. Up to 75 percent of net proceeds generated by the Affiliate stays in the Wabash Valley to support critical, non-duplicative, collaborative and innovative breast cancer education, screening and treatment programs in the Affiliate's eleven-county service area (Vermillion, Vigo, Clay, Sullivan, Parke, Greene, Monroe, Putnam and Owen counties in Indiana; and Clark and Edgar counties in Illinois). The remaining income goes to the national Susan G. Komen for the Cure Grants Program to fund research.

To register or request a team packet, email Jessica Clevenger or Mary Umphries, registration chairs, at register@komenwabashvalley.org. To register a team online, to get more information about the Race, or to learn about volunteer opportunities, visit www.komenwabashvalley.org. More information can also be obtained by calling the Race Hotline at 812-878-WILL.

REGISTRATION NOW OPEN FOR 12TH ANNUAL SUSAN G. KOMEN WABASH VALLEY RACE FOR THE CURE®

The 2008 Komen Wabash Valley Race for the Cure® will be held on Oct. 4 at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (near Terre Haute, Ind.), and online registration is now available at www.komenwabashvalley.org. 

The Komen Wabash Valley Race for the Cure® is the largest 5K in the Wabash Valley. Since the first Race in 1997, the day has evolved into a family event, with entertainment, a Silent Auction and Expo Tent highlighting our local and national partners. Approximately 3,000 people attend the event each year.  This year, opening Ceremonies and Survivor Tributes will begin at 10 a.m., with the Celebration Fun Walk/Run beginning at 10:30 a.m. and the 5K Race beginning at 11 a.m. There will also be a new event, the Kids for the Cure dash, at 10:20 a.m. 

Last year, the Wabash Valley Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure raised more than $100,000 through the Komen Wabash Valley Race for the Cure® and other events. Up to 75 percent of net proceeds generated by the Affiliate stays in the Wabash Valley to support critical, non-duplicative, collaborative and innovative breast cancer education, screening and treatment programs in the Affiliate's eleven-county service area (Vermillion, Vigo, Clay, Sullivan, Parke, Greene, Monroe, Putnam and Owen counties in Indiana; and Clark and Edgar counties in Illinois). The remaining income goes to the national Susan G. Komen for the Cure Grants Program to fund research. 

To register or request a team packet, email Jessica Clevenger or Mary Umphries, registration chairs, at register@komenwabashvalley.org. For more information about the Race, or to learn about volunteer opportunities, visit us online at www.komenwabashvalley.org or call the Race Hotline at 812-878-WILL.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR SUSAN G. KOMEN WABASH VALLEY RACE FOR THE CURE® 

Those interested in learning more about volunteer opportunities with the Susan G. Komen Wabash Valley Race for the Cure® are invited to attend "Casting Call for the Cure" on Thursday, Aug. 28, at 5:30 p.m. at the Indiana Theatre, 683 Ohio St, in Terre Haute. Current volunteers with the Komen Wabash Valley Affiliate will be on hand to share information about various volunteer opportunities, including Race registration, education, fundraising, and marketing and communications. 

With the help of hundreds of volunteers, the Wabash Valley Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure® has raised more than $1 million for breast cancer research and prevention since 1997. This year, the Wabash Valley Affiliate will celebrate the 12th Annual Komen Wabash Valley Race for the Cure on Oct. 4 at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, and volunteers are needed before, during and after the Race.  

For more information about "Casting Call for the Cure," contact Theresa Goodwin, 2008 Race Chair at 812-230-2585 or racechair@komenwabashvalley.org; or Jill Ferres, volunteer coordinator, at 812-235-7495 or volunteer@komenwabashvalley.org. For more information about the Komen Wabash Valley Race for the Cure, visit www.komenwabashvalley.org or call the Race Hotline at 812-878-WILL.

JOIN THE FIGHT AGAINST BREAST CANCER BY emBRAcing A CURE

The Wabash Valley Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure is giving people a unique way to join the fight against breast cancer with the new emBRAce program. 

Through the emBRAce program, participants will have the opportunity to use their artistic talents and creativity to decorate a bra that will be on display at the Race Registration site in Meadows Shopping Center. There are no parameters for the theme or design – the more artistic, the more attraction there will be to your display – but all entries must be in good taste, and the emBRAce committee has the right to refuse any entry. Also, décor must not be perishable.

There is a non-refundable $20 entry fee per bra to enter emBRAce. All entries must be received on Sept, 24 or 25 in order to qualify for the contest. Entries will be on display at Meadows Shopping Center, and the public will have the opportunity to vote for their favorites Sept. 26 – Oct. 3. The top three winners will receive a prize. All bras will then be in the silent auction that will take place on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2008, at the Komen Wabash Valley Race for the Cure at Saint Mary of the Woods College. 

For more information about the emBRAce program, contact Molly Price at molly.price@gibault.org or call 812-239-2651. You can also download the registration form and guidelines. For more information about Race for the Cure registration, or request a team packet, email Jessica Clevenger or Mary Umphries, registration chairs, at register@komenwabashvalley.org. For more information about the Race, or to learn about volunteer opportunities, visit www.komenwabashvalley.org or call the Race Hotline at 812-878-WILL.

PINK MARTINI EVENT TO RAISE MONEY FOR SUSAN G. KOMEN FOR THE CURE

The third annual Pink Martini event will take place on Sept. 18 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Copper Bar in Terre Haute. Tickets are $10 and include one pink martini, food and fun! The Pink Martini event benefits the Wabash Valley Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure®.

Online registration for the 2008 Komen Wabash Valley Race for the Cure is available online at www.komenwabashvalley.org. For more information, call the Race Hotline at 812-878-WILL.

COUCH TO THE CURE PROGRAM TO TRAIN BEGINNING RUNNERS FOR SUSAN G. KOMEN WABASH VALLEY RACE FOR THE CURE® 

Have you always wanted to run the Susan G. Komen Wabash Valley Race for the Cure® 5K event? Well, this is your chance! Fitness Experts has partnered with the Komen Wabash Valley Race for the Cure to create a new Couch to the Cure training program, and registration will be held on August 23, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Fitness Experts, 810 Ohio St., in Terre Haute. 

Many people are turned off from running simply by trying to start off too fast. The six-week Couch to the Cure program, coordinated by Fitness Experts in Terre Haute, will allow you to ease into your running program gradually. The idea is to transform you from couch potato to runner, getting you running three miles (or 5K) on a regular basis in just six weeks. 

Those interested in participating in the Couch to the Cure program can sign up for one of two options. Option 1 includes full access to the Terre Haute Fitness Experts Club, your Race registration, a walk/jog class two times per week, six weeks of helpful training hints, and a Fitness Experts Team t-shirt for $99. Option 2 includes your Race registration, a walk/jog class two times per week, six weeks of helpful training hints, and a Fitness Experts Team t-shirt for $49.

Registration for the Couch to the Cure program will be held on August 23, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Fitness Experts, 810 Ohio St., in Terre Haute. For more information about the Couch to the Cure program, contact Kari Hiatt with Fitness Experts at 812-231-1065. For more information about the Komen Wabash Valley Race for the Cure, visit www.komenwabashvalley.org or call the Race Hotline at 812-878-WILL.

WABASH VALLEY CORVETTE CLUB CAR SHOW KICKS OFF RACE FOR THE CURE REGISTRATION

The Wabash Valley Corvette Club will host a car show on Sept. 7, from noon to 4 p.m. in the Meadows Shopping Center Parking Lot. The car show, which benefits the Susan G. Komen Wabash Valley Race for the Cure®, will include door prizes, food provided by Area 7 Agency on Aging and Disabled, music by Just Cruisin’ and a 50/50 raffle. The entry fee is $10, and more information can be obtained by calling Jay and Anita Wilhelm at 812-299-8294. 

The car show will serve as the opening event for the Komen Wabash Valley Race registration site at Meadows Shopping Center. The 2008 Komen Wabash Valley Race for the Cure® will be held on Oct. 4 at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College near Terre Haute, Ind. Registration is available online now at www.komenwabashvalley.org, but those who wish to register in person can do so at the Race Registration site at Meadows Shopping Center Sept. 7 through Oct. 3.

The Race Registration Site is open Monday through Saturday during the following times:

• Monday - 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
• Tuesday - 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
• Wednesday - 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. & 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
• Thursday - 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
• Friday - 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
• Saturday - 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

Registrations can also be mailed to Komen Wabash Valley Race for the Cure, P.O. Box 3162, Terre Haute, IN 47803; faxed to 812-877-9404; or there will be a registration tent at SMWC on Race Day from 8:30 a.m. to 9:55 a.m. For more information about Race for the Cure registration, or request a team packet, email Jessica Clevenger or Mary Umphries, registration chairs, at register@komenwabashvalley.org. For more information about the Race, or to learn about volunteer opportunities, visit www.komenwabashvalley.org or call the Race Hotline at 812-878-WILL.

GOLFERS INVITED TO RALLY FOR THE CURE/HIS AND HER GOLF TOURNAMENT

The Terre Haute Women’s Golf Association’s Rally for the Cure/His and Her Golf Tournament will be at Hulman Links on Aug. 31 with a 1:30 p.m. shotgun start. Registration is $50 per player, which includes golf, cart and a meal after the tournament. The tournament benefits the Wabash Valley Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure®.  For more information about Rally for the Cure, contact Rene Honselman at rlhonselman@hotmail.com. Online registration for the 2008 Komen Wabash Valley Race for the Cure is available online at www.komenwabashvalley.org.

POWER OF PINK SURVIVOR CELEBRATION

The Wabash Valley Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure will honor breast cancer survivors during a survivor celebration on Saturday, May 31. The celebration, which is titled “The Power of Pink,” will begin at 1 p.m. in the Le Fer Ballroom of Le Fer Hall at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College.  

The event will feature several guest speakers, including Lydia Kruse from the Clara Fairbanks Center for Women who will discuss how digital images are being used to detect possible cancerous spots in mammograms. Dr. David Howard from The Maple Center Inc. will also speak, and Nina Storey and Rachel Drake will share their stories as young breast cancer survivors. Both women were diagnosed with breast cancer before the age of 40. Julie Henricks from B102.7 will serve as the emcee for the event, which will also include a fun game of “Deal or No Deal.” Sodexho will provide refreshments.  

All breast cancer survivors will be admitted to “The Power of Pink” survivor celebration free of charge. Their friends, family and other guests are invited to attend for a cost of $5 per ticket. Reservations are required and can be made by calling 812-229-CURE or e-mailing wvracecure@aol.com.

WABASH VALLEY CROP FOR THE CURE®

An upcoming scrapbooking event will raise funds to support the fight against breast cancer. The Wabash Valley Crop for the Cure® will be held on Saturday, March 29, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Terre Haute at the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology Sports and Recreation Center. Registration is $25, and the event will include ample cropping space, goodie bags, beverages and snacks, yard sale tables, vendors, games and door prizes. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Wabash Valley Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

Every year, up to 75 percent of the net money raised by the Wabash Valley Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure is used to support critical, non-duplicative, collaborative and innovative breast cancer projects in the Affiliateís eleven-county service area, which includes Vermillion, Vigo, Clay, Sullivan, Parke, Greene, Monroe, Putnam and Owen counties in Indiana; and Clark and Edgar counties in Illinois. To date, the Komen Wabash Valley Affiliate has raised more than $1 million and granted more than $750,000 to local healthcare providers to provide support to women and men diagnosed with breast cancer. More than $250,000 has been contributed to the national research grant program of Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

For more information about the Crop for the Cure® event or to register, contact Kae Smith at 812-859-4553 or wvcropforthecure@yahoo.com. More information about the Wabash Valley Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, can be found online at www.komenwabashvalley.org.

LOCAL STUDENTS AND YOUTH GROUPS INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN I AM THE CURE

Students from local schools and universities and sideline supporters who want to be part of the excitement of the Komen Wabash Valley Race for the Cure on Oct. 4 at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College are invited to sign up for I AM THE CURE.

I AM THE CURE is a rallying cry that is emotional, memorable and motivational. It speaks to the importance of early detection, understanding that early detection is the best defense against breast cancer, and provides simple, action-oriented messages that Race participants can take home and put into action.

During the Komen Wabash Valley Race for the Cure, Cure Leaders, the official "cheerleaders" for the Cure, will cheer on runners and walkers along the Race course while reminding everyone of important steps they can take to care for their own breast health.

Those interested in participating simply need to register and bring enthusiasm on Race day. Participants will receive an official Cure Leader T-shirt and a list of cheers to chant. Cure Leaders will also receive megaphones and other supplies to use to cheer on walkers and runners.

Young persons from local schools and universities are especially encouraged to participate. This is a great opportunity for cheer squads, dance teams, athletic teams, service clubs, and groups of interested young men and women from all of the eleven counties served by the Wabash Valley Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure to get involved.

To get your group involved with I AM THE CURE, call Mary Umphries at 812-533-1556 or e-mail RUMU76@aol.com.