John Wayne Cancer Foundation

2007 Archive

Louie and The Duke Classics 2007 - 2nd Annual Event to Benefit Cancer Research - November 2007

The 2nd Annual Louie and The Duke Classics will be held on November 8 through 11 in Casa Grande, Arizona. Once again, Grande Living Magazine will host a golf tournament, dinner, auction, World Series of Team Roping Qualifier and a pit barbeque. New this year is a steak fry and Western dance complete with live entertainment.

At the first annual event held in October of 2006, the golf tournament was sold out, the dinner and auction were a huge hit and there were over 1,200 team ropers competing to qualify for the World Series of Team Roping event - all to help fight the fight against cancer and to benefit the John Wayne Cancer Foundation and the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life.

Photograph by Paul Ivanushka Photography

Chuck Cook Memorial Team Roping Event, CA - October 2007

JWCF would like to thank Noel Cook for hosting the first annual Chuck Cook Memorial Team Roping event benefiting JWCF. This event was managed by Noel Cook and was held in memory of his father Chuck Cook who passed away from cancer. Thank you to everyone who was involved and we are looking forward to 2008!

True Grit Days, Ridgway, Colorado - September 8-9, 2007

JWCF would like to thank True Grit Days for supporting JWCF. Ridgway was the scenic location for Fort Smith in the film True Grit. The event included a pancake breakfast and afternoon BBQ, and an outdoor screening of True Grit. Many vendors of western art and merchandise were present and tours were given of the locations where the movie was filmed.

Photograph courtesy of Todd Meucciat

Kiteboarding 4 Cancer

Photograph courtesy of Todd Meucciat

Kiteboarding 4 Cancer Supports JWCF - August 2007

Kiteboarding 4 Cancer is thrilled to announce the Kiteboarding 4 Cancer (KB4C) Kite Derby for the kiteboarding community and those in great need of a cure for cancer. KB4C is a unique on-the-water fundraiser where participants raise pledge money, then kiteboard a set course on the Columbia River for distance to raise money for the John Wayne Cancer Foundation and other cancer organizations. KB4C will take place on Saturday, Aug. 25, 2007 in beautiful Hood River, Oregon, outdoor playground paradise to kiteboarders, windsurfers, kayakers, mountain bikers, hikers, skiers, and more. Set on the Columbia River, kiteboarders ride for prizes in kiteboarding and fundraising : Most money raised, longest distance kiteboarded, and best freestyle expression.

Interested participants and donors can fundraise for the John Wayne Cancer Foundation at: http://www.active.com/donate/kb4c-JWCF. For complete event information, go to www.kb4c.org.

NAC Sun Awareness Program - Summer 2007

The Newport Aquatic Center (NAC) is Orange County's premier community based center dedicated to the development of the Olympic sports of rowing, canoeing and kayaking. The NAC provides skin cancer early detection and prevention information to all kids who attend the 2007 rowing and paddling summer camps. Spot a Spot, Save a Life volunteers from the University of California Irvine trained the NAC camp coaches regarding sun awareness and the coaches provide the info. to the kids. The kids remind each other to wear sunscreen and hats. This new program was facilitated by the John Wayne Cancer Foundation (JWCF). It took support from Children's Hospital of Orange County (CHOC), Spot a Spot volunteers from University of California Irvine, Himaya Sunscreen, Paul Frank and NAC to make this program a huge success. JWCF would like to thank all these partners for helping the next generation of paddlers and rowers stay healthy. Paul Frank donated goody bags packed with beach towels, wallets, flip flops and other accessories to the MVPs of each class and JWCF donated caps and sunscreen to the kids.

Photograph courtesy of Miss Fullerton Scholar-
ship Program and Doug Hikawa Productions

JWCF Supports the Miles For Melanoma 5K - Summer 2007

This 5K run in Fullerton California raised over $18,000 for the Melanoma Research Foundation. Skin cancer screenings were conducted at the event and three skin cancers were identified. JWCF donated sunscreen to the runners to help prevent skin cancer. Thank you Full Spectrum Dermatology for putting on a great event and raising awareness about skin cancer.

JWCF Supports the First Descents Montana Camp - June 24 to June 30, 2007

JWCF is pleased to support the First Descents Montana camp. During the weeklong First Descents experience, young adults living with cancer will be empowered through kayaking, team building and other sports/activities to push their limits and face the challenges associated with living with cancer. Emphasis is placed on daily goal setting, confidence workouts and teamwork exercises.

Cancer is the leading disease killer among 20 to 39-year olds. Currently, there is an estimated 500,000 young adult cancer survivors between the ages of 15 and 40 years old. In contrast to younger and older patients, the survival rates for young adults have not increased since 1975.

The mission of First Descents is to become the leader in innovative camps supporting young adults with cancer. Using kayaking, extreme sports and professional athletes, First Descents offers young adults with cancer outdoor experiences that will forever change their lives. When the camp participants return to their communities they can continue to inspire others as Team DUKE Members.

The following story describes how First Descents changed Anthony Bechelli's life:

"I would like to thank everyone at First Descents for everything that you have done for Anthony and for us. We sent you a young man who was somewhat confused and unsure of himself. You sent us back a young man who was smiling, happy and ready to take on the world. To say he had a good time is an understatement. It is organizations like First Descents that shine a light for kids like Anthony who are traveling through a very dark time in their life."

Bob and Rita Bechelli
West Frankfort, IL
Parents of Anthony Bechelli, 2005 camper

The Cowboys Ambush at Mill Creek, Norco, CA - May 25-27, 2007

JWCF would like to thank The Cowboys for holding a cowboy-action shooting competition to benefit JWCF.

The John Wayne Cancer Foundation Donates $118,000 to Children's Hospital of Orange County for National Melanoma Awareness Project - May 8, 2007

JWCF’s Donation will Fund the National Melanoma Awareness Project, "Spot a Spot, Save a Life!"
NEWPORT BEACH, California -May 8, 2007. The recent $118,000 donation from the John Wayne Cancer Foundation will allow the Children's Hospital of Orange County (CHOC) Cancer Institute to partner with the National Melanoma Awareness Project created by two UC Irvine medical students in 2003. Under the leadership of Dr. Leonard Sender, medical director of the CHOC Cancer Institute, a full-time community health program manager will focus on expanding the program and increasing education and prevention efforts in the fight against skin cancer, which kills one person every hour in the nation. read more...

Ethan Wayne, the youngest son of John Wayne, presented the donation to Dr. Sender during the "Duke At The Dunes" Centennial Celebration, a highlighted feature of the 8th Annual Newport Beach Film Festival (April 19 - 29, 2007). Of the donation, Ethan stated, "When it comes to cancer prevention, awareness education is the best place to start. Especially considering the number of kids involved in outdoor action sports here in Orange County, I'm confident this program will be a great success at CHOC."

The National Melanoma Awareness Project, whose slogan is "Spot a Spot, Save a Life!", aims to educate students and their teachers in grades 6-12 about the sun's effects on skin, skin protection, and skin cancers with an emphasis on early detection of melanoma. The project seeks to leave students with an interest in teaching their friends and provides them with an opportunity to enter a poster contest, whereby winning entries are replicated and posted throughout the community, helping increase melanoma awareness.

The incidence of melanoma is rising at epidemic rates, and it is estimated that one in 50 people in the United States will be affected with the disease by 2010. Melanoma is associated with sun exposure, of which 80 percent occurs before the age of 18. This cancer affects people of all ages and is the most prevalent type of cancer among people ages 20 - 29. Melanoma is the number one cancer killer of women in that age group. It is estimated that increased public awareness and early detection could have prevented 95 percent of all melanoma deaths.

About CHOC

Making a mark in pediatric healthcare for more than 40 years and named one of the top children's hospitals in the nation by CHILD magazine, Children's Hospital of Orange County (CHOC) is exclusively committed to the health and well being of children through clinical expertise, advocacy and outreach. CHOC's growing healthcare network includes two state-of-the-art hospitals in Orange and Mission Viejo, several community clinics, a residency program that trains tomorrow's pediatricians, four centers of excellence -the Heart, Cancer, Orthopaedic and Neuroscience Institutes, and a Research Institute that brings advanced treatment to our patients.

CHOC recently earned the "Excellence in Patient Safety & Health Care Quality Award" from the state's leading health plans, and was one of only nine children's hospitals in the nation to be named to the Leapfrog "Top Hospitals 2006" list, based on results from The Leapfrog Group's Hospital Quality and Safety Survey. For more information about CHOC, visit www.choc.org or call 714-997-3000.

John Wayne Cancer Institute Receives Million-Dollar Gift in Honor of John Wayne's Centennial - April 20, 2007

Donation to Benefit the Institute's Fellowship Program
SANTA MONICA, CA - April 20, 2007. In honor of their father John Wayne's 100th birthday, Patrick and Ethan Wayne announced a gift of $1,000,000 at the John Wayne Cancer Institute Auxiliary's annual Odyssey Ball, which took place on Saturday, April 14th. These funds, from the John Wayne Cancer Foundation (JWCF), will benefit the John Wayne Cancer Institute's internationally-known fellowship program. Patrick, Ethan, and the Wayne extended family presented a check to Lou Lazatin, CEO of the John Wayne Cancer Institute (JWCI) at Saint John's Health Center. read more...

Sign up for Ralphs Community Contribution Program to Support JWCF

Help the John Wayne Cancer Foundation (JWCF) when you shop at Ralphs. It is easy, just go to www.ralphs.com and click on "Community Contribution" and "Participant - Sign Up" and follow the instructions to sign up. Ralphs will pay JWCF between 1 and 4 % of the monthly qualifying purchases per household. For more info. contact Ralphs at (888) 437-3496.

JWCF Featured in "Future This," a New Kitesurfing Video from ACL Productions

Check out the latest kitesurfing release from ACL Productions entitled "Future This.". Filmed on location in Tahiti, Mauritius, Indo, Hawaii, Australia, Chile and Peru. It showcases all the top names going ballistic in the waves! Coming soon, check out the trailer! JWCF and ACL Productions support a healthy lifestyle and bringing sun protection awareness to water sports. To see additional videos go to www.aclproductions.com.

JWCF Supports the National Plasterer's Council

The National Plasterer's Council (NPC) is an organization that represents the pool construction industry and has supported the John Wayne Cancer Institute. Many NPC members are construction workers who spend a lot of time in the sun and some of their members have been affected by skin cancer. JWCF donated 2,000 individual sunscreen packets in January 2007 to members of the NPC to help prevent skin cancer and bring awareness to this group.

Thank You For Supporting the John Wayne Cancer Foundation

The John Wayne Cancer Foundation would like to thank all donors for their support in 2006. Special thanks to our top fundraisers in 2006: Tileco, Louie and The DUKE Classics, Easton, Debra Deem, Oberthur Gaming Technologies, Chad Brown, and Cyndie Foster.

OC Marathon, California - January 7, 2007

Team DUKE had a great time at the OC Marathon! Thank you to all the Team DUKE athletes and their friends, families, and co-workers who supported the Team. Special thanks to Ryan Heuser, the top Team DUKE fundraiser for this inspiring event. JWCF donated Himaya sunscreen to 3,500 OC Marathon runners to help prevent skin cancer. View some photos from the weekend.

Easton Supports JWCF

JWCF would like to thank Easton for donating $10,000!

Well, there are some things a man just can't run away from. - John Wayne