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2008 Archive

JWCF Provides Sunscreen to the Newport Beach Junior Lifeguards — 2008

Spot a Spot. Save a Life. Annual Poster Contest — December 22, 2008

Submit a poster promoting safer sun enjoyment, skin-cancer self screening, the ABCDs of melanoma, or any other ideas encouraging melanoma/skin cancer awareness. A 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winner will be chosen in June.

Here are some poster submissions we've received so far from active participants from local schools in the OC. To participate, please see the rules and guidelines at the Spot a Spot Website.

JWCF and North America Sports Partner to Beat Skin Cancer — 2009 Ironman Events — November 2008

JWCF is pleased to be the official sunscreen partner of North America (NA) Sports for Ironman AZ 2008 and their 2009 events. The JWCF sunscreen will be available to athletes on race day at aid stations.

Visit the NA Sports web site for more info on their events.

Ironman Arizona — November 2008

JWCF would like to congratulate Team DUKE athlete Sterling Kwong for becoming an Ironman! He completed a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike and 26.2 mile run in one day!

Also, big thanks to Joanne Goldberg and her team of more than 60 race day volunteers wearing JWCF t-shirts.

Three Sisters Farm Store Supports JWCF, Newport Beach, CA — November 2008

The Three Sisters Farm store will reopen after Thanksgiving to sell top quality farm products for the holiday season including John Wayne Organic Beef Jerky to benefit JWCF.

The store is in the front yard and is owned and operated by three sisters.
Kelsey: I am the store manager and chief financial officer.
Summer: I am a shift supervisor and senior vice president.
Poppy: I just joined the company. I mostly work behind the scenes in the warehouse.

CHIAYA Supports JWCF – November 2008

John Wayne’s granddaughter Laura Munoz-Bottini just launched a new clothing company called Chiaya.

She created the CHIAYA as an improved option to traditional sarongs that don’t stay in place, reveal too much skin and do nothing to help flatter a woman’s curves. As a mother of three, one of her goals is to set an example of entrepreneurship and hard-work for her children, so she named the brand CHIAYA, which is an acronym for Children I Adore You All.

A portion of all proceeds will be donated to JWCF. Thank you Chiaya!

SkirtSports Helps JWCF Fight Cancer — November 2008

JWCF would like to thank SkirtSports for promoting fitness and for supporting JWCF. SkirtSports supported JWCF at the November SkirtChaser5K at the beach in Los Angeles and is also accepting donations for JWCF in their online store in November.

SkirtSports is the original fitness skirt, created by women for women.

Run in a Skirt. Ride in a Skirt. Play tennis, golf, rollerblade, ice-skate, shop or go on a blind date in a Skirt. Cross the finish line of your 100th (or first!) triathlon in a Skirt. You really can do anything in our Skirts. Try it today — make the transition and Convert to Skirt!

SkirtSports, a smart, sassy, and edgy company begun by professional triathlete, Nicole DeBoom, encourages fun and fitness and feeling good about living. Nicole began the company with an idea that would allow women to never have to sacrifice femininity for performance in their workout clothes. But, little did Nicole know that what she envisioned in late 2003 would change how women look, feel, and view themselves.

The Truth About Cancer: “A reality check to inspire us to redouble efforts to win the war…” – October 2008

JWCF is a National outreach partner and major funder of The Truth About Cancer. The television broadcast was the third installment of PBS‘s Take One Step, a campaign offering primetime programming and outreach tools to help people take the first step towards better health. The two-hour PBS broadcast event premiered on Wednesday, April 16, 2008, at 9:00 p.m., and was comprised of a 90-minute documentary followed by a 30-minute expert panel discussion titled Take One Step: A Conversation About Cancer with Linda Ellerbee.

“A reality check to inspire us to redouble efforts to win the war, or at least more of the battles.” – The Wall Street Journal

“Garmon weaves in the raw actuality of cancer for patients and their families...The betrayal of diagnosis after a lifetime of ‘following the rules,’ to hoping for a ‘home run’ with an experimental drug when all else has failed, to the pressure of not wanting to disappoint family should cancer win out in spite of a deep will to live.” – U.S. News & World Report “On Medicine” Blog

Media Highlights

• Media reviews in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and Bloomberg News, and feature coverage with Associated Press, TV Guide, The Washington Post, and U.S. News & World Report health blog.
• Watched by millions of viewers and ratings surpassed the PBS prime time average. It is expected to be an evergreen title within WGBH’s DVD backlist.
• The Truth About Cancer imagery and information was displayed on the Reuter’s 35 x 32.5-foot digital billboard in Times Square (New York City).
• Two-day national radio tour with writer, director, and producer Linda Garmon was coordinated with News Generation. Ten radio interviews reached more than 16.5 million listeners (including Metro Source and USA Radio Network).

Educational Outreach

• The goal of the educational outreach initiative was to address the complicated idea of cancer survivorship and offer resources and information for those living with or caring for someone with cancer.
• National outreach partners were the John Wayne Cancer Foundation, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Lance Armstrong Foundation, YMCA of the USA, and the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship. In addition, WGBH Educational Outreach worked with The Wellness Community and the Coalition of Cancer Cooperative Groups as online partners, and the American Library Association. Together, these groups have a combined membership of over 1 million people nationwide.
• Demonstration sites were established by 15 public television stations across the country. These community coalitions organized local resource fairs, planned events using art and music, and hosted screenings and expert panel discussions celebrating cancer survivorship. In addition, WGBH’s Educational Outreach department worked with selected YMCAs who were part of a special pilot program with the Lance Armstrong Foundation to coordinate events coinciding with LiveSTRONG Day. In total, more than 50 events took place over a five-month period.
• Outreach resources included a toolkit, event poster, and DVD screener sent to over 6,000 cancer advocacy groups and cancer programs at hospitals and libraries.

Spot a Spot. Save a Life. Annual Accomplishments — October 2008

Joel Myres passed away from melanoma during his second year of medical school at University California Irvine (UCI) in 2001.

The National Melanoma Awareness Project began as an expansion of the Joel Myres Melanoma Awareness Project which was initiated in 2003 with a group of University of California Irvine (UCI) medical students interested in teaching local teens about skin cancer. During the 2004-2005 school year, The National Melanoma Awareness Project or “Spot a Spot. Save a Life.” for short, shared the melanoma prevention and early detection message with over 3,500 students in Orange County alone.

Educating the youth about skin cancer prevention and early detection is important because skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the U.S. with 1.3 million cases of skin cancer per year and 80% of sun damage to skin typically occurs by 18 years of age. With support from the Children’s Hospital of Orange County and the John Wayne Cancer Foundation, the Spot a Spot. Save a Life! program has accomplished a tremendous amount in the last year.

Annual Accomplishments

• Taught over 9,500 Orange County and Los Angeles County students
• Over 30 volunteers trained from Chapman University, CA
• Over 200 Volunteers trained from University of California Irvine, CA
• Over 20 Volunteers trained from Cal Poly Pomona, CA
• Establishment of Spot a Spot Chapters at the Touro School of Medicine, Temple University School of Medicine, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, and UC Berkeley
• Taught at over a dozen Orange County and Los Angeles County, CA schools including: Northwood High School, South Lake Middle. Marine View Middle, Capistrano Valley High, Newport Harbor High School, Gerald P. Carr Intermediate, The Pegasus School, Lathrop Technology Magnet School, El Toro High School, Fletcher Elementary, St. Anne School, University High School, Santiago Charter Middle School
• Explored new opportunities including presentations/training sessions at: The Paul Mitchell School of Hair Design, Orange County Department of Education, Westminster School District Nurses, Ocean View School District Nurses, Ocean View School District Wellness Committee, San Clemente State Junior Guards, Huntington Beach State Junior Guards
• Spot a Spot adopted in all Ocean View School District middle schools: Marine View Middle School, Mesa View Middle School, Spring View Middle School, Vista View Middle School
• Teen Screen—Spot a Spot’s high school athletic division, which educates athletes, encourages high schools to make sunscreen part of athletic team equipment and makes melanoma screening part of high school health physicals
• Exhibited at health fairs and Miles for Melanoma running event to create awareness
• Coordinated with Dr. Tim Eden and England’s Teenage Cancer Trust and their Sun Burn Melanoma Awareness Program
• Established an active discussion board in which different regions can add schools and allow a central place for all volunteers to access the website www.spotaspot.org including presentations organized by school and RSS feed of most up to date new information on melanoma
• Created a video training session, which allows people from different regions of the country to view presentation and be trained.
• Establishment of a Resource Manual for efficiently training new Spot a Spot chapters.

2nd Annual Chuck Cook Memorial Team Roping Event - October 26, 2008, CA

Noel Cook is putting on this event in memory of his father Chuck Cook. This event will benefit the John Wayne Cancer Foundation. For more information call Noel at 909-631-7300.

JWCF supported the Reel Recovery retreats in Michigan and Texas in July and October 2008.

Reel Recovery’s mission is to help men in the cancer recovery process by introducing them to the healing powers of the sport of fly fishing, while providing a safe, supportive environment to explore their personal experiences with cancer, with others who share their stories. Reel Recovery’s purpose is to address the growing demand for and limited supply of psychosocial support services specifically tailored for men coping with cancer. Reel Recovery’s overarching goal is to improve the lives of the men they serve. To do this, Reel Recovery has designed a unique and innovative retreat program that combines expert fly fishing instruction with directed psychosocial support, conducted over a three-day period at premier fly fishing facilities. Though only a few days in duration, a Reel Recovery retreat can be a life-changing event for these men battling cancer. The program blends outdoor activity with directed conversations to create a supportive environment conducive to relaxed, open participation. Reel Recovery seeks to give these courageous men a respite from their day-to-day concerns so that they might gain a fresh outlook on their battle with cancer by providing facilitated discussions that give them strength, encouragement and a new network of friends and support; cancer information and resources to enable better management of their disease; and we new skills to bring joy, enthusiasm and renewed hope into their lives.

2008 Reel Recovery Michigan Retreat July 8-10, 2008

The 2008 Reel Recovery Michigan Retreat was held at Ranch Rudolf in Traverse City, MI July 8-10. Nine participants, ranging in age from 51-68, with a variety of cancers, including prostate, gastric, lung and lymphoma, joined 3 staff members of Reel Recovery and 9 local volunteers for three beautiful days of fishing, relaxation and meaningful conversations. The weather was perfect, the fish cooperative and the hospitality from the Ranch extraordinary. The retreat was cost-free to the participants, with all meals, lodging and fly-fishing equipment provided by Reel Recovery, thanks in part to a grant from the JWCF supporting this Michigan Retreat.

Comments from the participants included:

• “This was a great program for all of us; we found that we are not alone as we fight our disease.”
• “This was a whole lot more than fly-fishing! An outstanding experience. Thank you for your time and your compassion; for everything!”
• “This retreat far exceeded my expectations. The Buddies were awesome, so caring and patient, and the fellowship was outstanding. Everything was perfect!”

Texas Retreat October 14-16, 2008

The 2008 Reel Recovery Texas Retreat was held at Joshua Creek Ranch in Boerne, TX October 14-16. Nine participants, ranging in age from 42-66, with a variety of cancers, including prostate, colon, melanoma, bone and brain, joined 2 staff members of Reel Recovery and 10 local volunteers for three beautiful days of fishing, relaxation and meaningful conversations. The retreat was cost-free to the participants, with all meals, lodging and fly-fishing equipment provided by Reel Recovery, thanks in part to a grant from the JWCF supporting this Texas Retreat. This was Reel Recovery’s first-ever Texas Retreat, and it generated a great deal of enthusiasm and support from the local healthcare and fly-fishing communities. We received substantial local donations of both cash and fly-fishing supplies, and have now built a strong foundation for future growth of our Texas Retreat Program.

Comments from the participants included:

• “This WAY exceeded my expectations. We got to talk about cancer and its effects, then totally zone it out with Mother Nature! For a while, we got to forget the beast on our backs. Thank you for providing me such a wonderful experience.”
• “The location was magnificent and the instructors were excellent, and I don’t know if I’ve ever had better food! Everyone was extremely courteous and welcoming. The leaders kept us in a great mood with their encouragement, along with probing questions on how to deal with our recovery. I think this was perfect for me.”
• “The conversations were so helpful to me; it was so therapeutic to talk with other men with life-threatening disease. It”s nice to know I have new friends on that journey.”

JWCF Supports the Arizona Myeloma Network's Ft. Defiance Cancer Awareness and Advocacy Program - October 11, 2008

The Cancer Awareness and Advocacy Program (CAAP™) is a collaboration of many groups and individuals, including Ft. Defiance hospital staff and services as well as other leading cancer specialists, scientists, agencies, and hospitals. The conference is free and open to all. For more info. on this conference please click here.

JWCF Supports Free PSA Testing and Prostate Health Seminar at Hoag Hospital, Newport Beach, CA – October 4, 2008

One man in six will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in his lifetime. Early detection is key to finding prostate cancer when treatment is most effective. The seminar includes free PSA testing for healthy men between the ages of 50 and 80 who have not had a previous PSA elevation and have not been diagnosed with prostate cancer. The seminar also includes information and treatment options.

Grand Opening Party of A Restaurant & Market in Newport Beach to Benefit JWCF and Orangewood Pals – Wednesday October 1, 2008 – 6 to 9 PM

Enjoy an evening of fine wine, signature cocktails and an incredible array of A’s culinary creations. $60. Please reserve online: www.orangewoodpals.org. For additional information: 714-619-0237

A Restaurant & Market
3334 West Coast Highway
Newport Beach, CA 92663

National Cowboy Symposium in Lubbock, Texas – September 2008

JWCF had a booth at the exhibit hall as part of the Cowboy Cancer Crusade. Thank you to everyone who visited the booth and for supporting and donating to JWCF. The event included cowboy poets, musicians, storytellers, artists, historians, authors, editors. publishers, photographers, chuck wagon cooks, honest-to-goodness-cowboys and many more to celebrate the largest presentation in the U.S. of ranching, cowboys and the western way of life. The annual National Cowboy Symposium and Celebration is one of the modern West's most exciting explorations of the traditions of the American Frontier. Highlights of the event included the American Cowboy Culture Awards Show during the evening shows Friday and Saturday, the National Championship Chuck Wagon Cook-Off, a horse parade, over one hundred western performers, poets, scholars, and hundreds of exhibits covering every imaginable western product.

“Dale and the Duke” Program Honors Two of America’s Greatest Icons — Ft. Worth, Texas — August 2008

The families of Dale Earnhardt and John Wayne come together for a special unveiling on the steps of the Ft. Worth Livestock Exchange Building. Taylor Earnhardt and Marisa Wayne Ditteaux were guests today of the Ft. Worth Stockyards where Dale Earnhardt and John Wayne were honored as two of the greatest icons in American history. The JWCF logo is featured on the car in honor of everyone who has been affected by cancer. Click here to purchase a replica and more. Read More.

JWCF Supports First Descents Colorado Camp, August 2008

JWCF supported the First Descents Colorado camp in August, which included a week of whitewater kayaking and rock climbing for ten young adult cancer survivors.

Cancer is the leading disease killer among 20 to 39 year olds. First Descents is the only program of its kind specifically focusing on the young adult cancer population ages 18-39. The program uses the beauty and healing properties of the outdoors and adventure sports to give participants their lives back and allow them to realize that while cancer is a part of their life, it does not define them.

2008 Kiteboarding 4 Cancer Blows Top off Goal 2nd Year in a Row at $95,000! – Hood River, OR - August 9, 2008

Kiteboarding 4 Cancer (KB4C) pulled off their second event with a 40% increase in funds raised, with over $95,000. This huge feat was attributed to an incredible community of kiteboarders, manufacturers, partners, and volunteers passionate about the cause. One cannot describe the incredible vibe, great energy and beauty of this event. Participating athletes raced 6 hours, kiteboarding on the Columbia River in honor and memory of loved ones fighting cancer, with yellow and white ribbons trailing from their kites in the wind. There were even cancer survivors on the water, determined to win the grueling event. Partnering cancer organizations John Wayne Cancer Foundation, Celilo Cancer Center, Children's Healing Art Project, and Oregon Active all participated in the event. For more info. visit the KB4C site.

JWCF would like to thank Tonia Farman and Garret Zallen for having the vision and passion to create and implement this event. Thank you to the entire KB4C family and everyone involved for putting on this event and for supporting JWCF’s mission to bring courage, strength and grit to the fight against cancer. Thank you to all the sponsors including Real Watersports for donating a Jimmy Lewis standup paddleboard to a fundraising contest winner (see photo above).

How KB4C started
Professional kiteboarder and advocate for the sport, Tonia Farman, watched her brother, Scott, battle Leukemia for a year. Since May of 2006, Scott braved chemotherapy, radiation, and clinical study tests that no human being should ever have to endure.

Meanwhile, a fellow kiteboarder and pediatric surgeon, Garret Zallen, experienced cancer on a nearly daily basis at Doernbecher Children's Hospital in Portland, Oregon. Watching this awful disease take so much from a person, friends, and family, and recognizing that cancer is a common thread that unites our community, the two set out together to convert the feelings of helplessness into utilizing the passion, energy, and vitality in the sport we love – kiteboarding -- to do something good.

The result was Kiteboarding 4 Cancer (KB4C), a registered non-profit designed to sponsor kiteboarding fundraising events that donate proceeds to partnering cancer charities. In KB4C's first event on August 25th, 2007, kiteboarders raised pledge money for one of KB4C’s partnering cancer research organizations, then competed in an 8-hour endurance kiteboarding race on the Columbia River. Participating kiteboarders won prizes for most money raised for their organization, longest distance kiteboarded, top female and junior finisher, and best freestyle expression, because, after all — this is kiteboarding!

KB4C is In Memory of Scott Farman, as well as the many otherwise active and healthy individuals who fought cancer and are no longer with us.

A Tribute To Allan Goldberg of First Descents - June 2008

Please visit the First Descents website to view a tribute to Allan.

John Wayne Cancer Foundation Supports The Second Annual Miles For Melanoma Run/Walk - May 31, 2008, CA

This event raised over $10,000 for the Melanoma Research Foundation. JWCF donated sunscreen to the participants.

Old Guys Rule and John Wayne Partner Up to Fight Cancer with a New Apparel Collection - May 2008

Old Guys Rule, the popular Southern California lifestyle apparel line, is pleased to announce its partnership with the John Wayne Cancer Foundation (JWCF) in an effort to bring courage, strength and grit to the fight against cancer. Old Guys Rule is introducing a collection of John Wayne inspired apparel featuring images and quotes from John Wayne, licensed by Wayne Enterprises, with a portion of sales to be donated directly to JWCF.

Old Guys Rule sought out this collaboration to contribute to a cause that so perfectly reaches the brand’s demographic. The clothing brand represents a community of men who are dedicated to an active and exciting lifestyle no matter what their age.

“John Wayne is the ultimate cool Old Guy, his zest for life and relentless fight against cancer embodies everything that we believe in,” says Old Guys Rule owner Thom Hill.

Hill continues, “By supporting cancer research and education. JWCF’s efforts focus on fighting many types of cancers that men often get, such as skin, lung, and prostate cancers. These are issues that affect Old Guys Rule fans and that we are eager to contribute to the awareness, prevention, and treatment of. Our hopes are that we can get the message of prevention out to our loyal customers, in addition to contributing to the incredible research and programs that the JWCF supports with the purchase of every t-shirt.” Old Guys Rule is proud to help JWCF continue the fight its namesake started.

The John Wayne Old Guys Rule collection includes four unique t-shirt designs featuring images and quotes from John Wayne with a retail price of $20. The collection is available now online at www.oldguysrule.com.

Spot a Spot. Save a Life! Update - April 2008

In 2007, JWCF became one of the main sponsors of the Spot a Spot. Save a Life. skin cancer prevention and early detection education program. The program has made a very positive impact on the community and is expanding. The National Melanoma Awareness Program's Spot a Spot. Save a Life. curriculum has been taught by volunteer college students to over 8,000 students at over a dozen Orange County, California schools. The program has also taught nurses, summer camps, junior life guards, sports teams and exhibited at health fairs. The program has expanded to the Paul Mitchell School of Hair Design. Hair stylists were trained to identify potential skin cancer. Most people get haircuts more often than they go to the doctor, so this unique program will help beat skin cancer through early detection. With over 200 trained volunteers, the program has grown to Cal Poly Pomona, Chapman University, Orange County Junior Colleges and we anticipate the program being adopted at UCLA and CSULA and beyond! To learn more or to download the high school or elementary school presentations visit www.spotaspot.org.

Ten Year Old Summer Bosse Supports JWCF

Ten year old Summer Bosse recently made a $17.25 donation to JWCF. She raised the funds with her friend Katherine by cleaning their neighbors' houses during winter rainstorms. Summer and her friend took the initiative with no coaching from their parents. Every dollar counts in the fight against cancer. Thank you Summer and Katherine.

Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association (CMSA) Supports Team DUKE and JWCF

Starting immediately, the CMSA has officially signed on to hold their major mounted shoots as part of "Team Duke." Now, Cowboy Mounted Shooting-CMSA style--has saddled up to promote the name of Team Duke and bring awareness of the JWCF to more people nationwide. As members of this worthwhile and prestigious team, all CMSA cardholders will ride at our Big Four and the CMSA Classic Series, while representing JWCF. CMSA is extremely proud to be riding in memory of John Wayne, an original cowboy mounted shooter, while fighting cancer!

Living with Lung Cancer...Through My Eyes by Lori Monroe

Lori Monroe is a lung cancer survivor and advocate. JWCF supports Lori's advocacy work on lung cancer. Read about Lori Monroe and read Lori Monroe's blog titled "Living with Lung Cancer...Through My Eyes."

JWCF and Komen fund PBS show "The Truth About Cancer" - Airing April 16, 2008 on PBS at 9pm (check local listings)

As the third installment in PBS's Take One Step health campaign, The Truth About Cancer is an eye-opening two-hour broadcast event that seeks to answer the question, "Why does anyone still die of cancer?" Told in the first person by award-winning filmmaker Linda Garmon, the first 90-minutes of the documentary shares the personal story of her own husband's battle with cancer. Garmon returns to the same hospitals and institutions where her husband was treated to chronicle the lives of patients, doctors, and researchers who are united in the hope for a cancer cure. Part science, part personal catharsis, part character-driven storytelling, this powerful documentary will uncover the truth about cancer and tell us where we stand in fighting this decades-old war. Immediately after the 90-minute documentary, news journalist and breast cancer survivor Linda Ellerbee hosts a 30-minute follow-up discussion, "Take One Step: A Conversation About Cancer with Linda Ellerbee." The panel covers the importance of prevention and screenings, what to expect if you or a loved one is diagnosed, and how to live with the disease.

Click here (pdf) to learn how public television stations are supporting outreach activities connected to The Truth About Cancer film.

Contact Information
For more information about national outreach plans for The Truth About Cancer, please contact Elizabeth Cohen at WGBH 617.300.3885 elizabeth_cohen [at] wgbh.org

For more information, visit www.pbs.org/takeonestep (launching April 2008).

JWCF and Your Cancer Today - Fighting Cancer - January 2008

Cancer can strike anyone. In the United States alone, more than 1.4 million new cases of cancer will be diagnosed this year. The producers of Your Cancer Today™ have seen the frustration, anger and fear of families striving to answer the dozens of questions that arise with the first diagnosis of cancer.

Your Cancer Today believes that knowledge is the most important weapon in the fight against cancer. The Your Cancer Today™ Web site was developed to help patients and their families locate vital information and resources.

In addition, the Your Cancer Today web site will allow users to watch video segments from the Your Cancer Today™ television series, including interviews with some of the world's leading doctors and scientists. Throughout the site you can also view amazing stories of survival and recovery.

Click here to watch an episode of the television series.

Spirit of the West Riders - January 1, 2008

Here they come with sixguns a'blazin'! In the Wild West tradition of the Duke, these Spirit of the West Riders will be horsebacking down Colorado Blvd. in Pasadena's Tournament of Roses Parade for the 17th year, and for the 10th time, on behalf of the John Wayne Cancer Foundation. From left to right these rough riders are Dwayne Towns, Jim Nichols, Larry Brady, Unit Marshal Phil Spangenberger, Brent Hudspeth and riding sidesaddle is Linda Spangenberger.

Team DUKE - Competitor Magazine's Best of 2007!

Competitor Magazine asked, and you responded. They asked for your favorites.the shops, events and places that really light your fire. In record numbers this year, their readers provided their input on the Best of southern California. Here are the results, and thanks for voting.