CANCER AID & RESEARCH
Chairman--Darlene Stanton
(February is Cancer Awareness Month-the Ribbon Color is White)
Dear Sisters:
I hope this letter finds you in a nice, warm, toasty spot watching out the window as the snow falls. This is a great time to be thinking about what you are going to do as a fundraiser for your auxiliary's donation to help the Department of New York raise $100,000. I am proud to say that we have reached the $50,000 mark thanks to all your help we have made the half way mark and still have five more months to reach our goal and her is one way we can do it:
The National Director, Tami Elliot has created a program called the 7-7-7 Campaign.~ This is how it works: Tami is asking every auxiliary sister to call 7 friends or family and ask them for a $7.00 (or more) donation in 7 Days. You can choose whatever 7 days you want but the project ends March 30th. Any pledges collected go towards meeting your quota.
When you call your friends and family, tell them that all donations will help us to give our auxiliary sisters cancer grants in their time of need to help with expenses while they are unable to work due to surgery or chemo and radiation treatments. The funds we raise will also fund cancer research and all donations are tax deductible. Checks should be made payable to your auxiliary and earmarked "cancer pledge" and sent to your treasurer as soon as possible.
After you have collected all of the pledges, send one check for the total amount raised, made payable to the Department of New York Ladies Auxiliary, earmarked "Cancer Pledge" and mail it to me (Darlene Stanton, Cancer Aid & Research Chairman, 4 Darcy Lane, Clarksville, NY 12041.) Contact me if you have any questions or need any help. If every sister in the Department of New York donates at least $7.00 we will raise $127,925.00!!!! Bring your pleases with you to the Spring Conference and be recognized.
SPRING CONFERENCE is right around the corner. We will hold our very first Reape's Round-Up on Saturday afternoon. You will find more information in your conference information packet that will be sent to each auxiliary. This includes a sheet for you to round-up donations for cancer from your friends, family, strangers, and co-workers. Join us and have lots of fun and laughs and raise lots of money for a great cause.
Congratulations to District 8, Albany Co. Co., Chautauqua Co. Co., and Putnam Co. Co. for being 100% in participation.
The Memory Quilt is almost finished and I cannot wait to see it. I would like to thank all of the Sisters who made squares for this special project. Each square is unique and as beautiful as the person whom it honored. I hope by now that you have received your quilt raffle tickets and started to send them back. The drawing will be held at the Department Convention. Please call or email me if you would like more tickets.
FEBRUARY IS CANCER PREVENTION MONTH: You can help yourself by reducing the risks of getting cancer. It is not a guarantee, but it doesn't hurt to try. You can start by eating a healthy diet and schedule regular cancer screeings.
HERE ARE 7 TIPS TO HELP REDUCE THE RISK OF CANCER
1. DON'T USE TOBACCO! Smoking has been linked to lung, badder, kidney and cervical cancer. Smokeless and
chewing tobacco can lead to oral and pancreatic cancer.
2. EAT A HEALTHY DIET! Limit your fat; eat leaner and lighter and include lots of fresh fruits and veggies, whole
grains and beans. This will help keep your weight down. Being overweight increases your risk for cancer.
Drink alcohol in moderation. The risk of breast, colon, lung, kidney, and liver cancer increases with the amount
and length of time you have been drinking.
3. PHYSICAL ACTIVITY and HEALTHY WEIGHT! Lots of physical activity, walking, swimming, and exercise help you to keep in shape and maintain a healthy weight. Thirty minutes every other day will help you stay in shape and it's a great way to help keep your heart healthy.
4. PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THE SUN! Stay in the shade when possible, wear a hat and sunglasses for extra protection. Use lost of sunscreen. Avoid tanning beds.
5. GET IMMUNIZED! Include protection from viral infections such as Hepatitis B and Human papillomavirus (HPW) that can lead to cervical cancer. Your doctor will decide what is right for you.
6. AVOID RISKY BEHAVIORS! Always practice safe sex and use protection to keep you safe from infections such as HPV or HIV [AIDS]. Drug users should never share needles.
7. TAKE EARLY DETECTION SERIOUSLY! Regular self-exams, professional screening and early detections increase the success rate for battling cancer especially for skin, colon, breast, cervical, and prostrate cancer. Contact your doctor and ask which screening is the best for you.
The best road to prevention is you!!!! You have the power to take these early detection methods and make them work for you-so start today! Self-exams only take a few minutes and the results could last a lifetime. If you find any signs or feel that something is just not right don't wait! Schedule an appointment with your doctor~early detection is the best for you.
A check list for you: Did you send in Cancer Tickets? Did you give out any Cancer Grants? Did you buy Cancer Pints? Did you give out any Fellowship Grant Applications? Did you send in a report? Report on all the great things you do so I can give you the credit you deserve as we ... "Care Enough to Make A Difference" and "Leave No Veteran's Loved One Behind."