Seventeen local women donate hair to help cancer patients

UNM School of Medicine in conjunction with the
American Cancer Society and local salon team up for charity event

Mary Seiler, a 2nd year medical student at the University of New Mexico, displays the hair she donated December 5 at a local Pantene Beautiful Lengths event – a charity hair cutting event to benefit women who have lost their hair due to cancer treatments. Pantene Beautiful Lengths is a program done in partnership with the American Cancer Society. As wigs are created, they are distributed by the Society for free through wig banks in New Mexico and across the country. Seiler was one of 17 women who donated at this event. The organizers from the UNM School of Medicine were Brandy Padilla-Jones and Micaela Esquivel and the salon who hosted the event and donated their time for the cuts was Skin Bliss in Old Town. Women facing cancer can find out about the availability of a wig by calling the American Cancer Society at 1-800-227-2345. The Society can also help callers with a number of resources providing educational and emotional support.

American Cancer Society Cancer Survivor College Scholarship Program

The American Cancer Society Cancer Survivor College Scholarship Program gives young cancer survivors the opportunity to pursue their post-secondary education from an accredited university, community college, or vocational technical school.

Eligibility
•Must be diagnosed with cancer before the age of 21. Applicants must be age 25 or younger at the time of application.
•Scheduled to graduate from high school and/or continuing college in the upcoming school year.
•Must be a U.S. citizen and a resident of Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington or Wyoming.
•Accepted without condition to an accredited university, college, community college or vocational technical school.
•Must have a 2.5 GPA or above.
•Must become a full time student at an accredited university, college, community college or vocational technical school in the upcoming academic year.

Award
The American Cancer Society Cancer Survivor College Scholarship program provides funds each academic year in increments of $2,500 per student. Recipients have a lifetime scholarship limit of $10,000. After the initial award, scholarship renewal in subsequent years is based on successfully meeting program eligibility requirements, continuous academic achievement, and level of commitment as an American Cancer Society volunteer. A previous award recipient is not guaranteed a scholarship award. Due to limited resources, the American Cancer Society is not able to award scholarships to all cancer survivors.

Obtaining an Application Packet
Application packets can be requested by calling the Great West Division Patient Service Center at 1.866.500.3272 or the National Cancer Information Center at 1.800.227.2345.

Application deadline for the 2010 scholarship program is February 26, 2010.

"Bras Across the Bosque"

As Breast Cancer Awareness Month was nearing the end on Friday, October 30, local Clear Channel radio station KPEK-100.3 “The Peak” along with the American Cancer Society and The Peak's sister station KZRR 94 Rock hosted an event dubbed “Bras Across the Bosque" in which hundreds of bras were strung across the Montano Bridge in Albuquerque to help raise awareness about breast cancer.

The event got the attention of the local media as well as numerous commuters crossing the bridge during morning rush hour. The event was generously sponsored by Lovelace Women’s Hospital and M&F Auto Sales. Albuquerque Tents donated supplies to display the bras.

Bras were collected from community members throughout the month at various Lovelace Health System locations, M&F Auto Sales locations, the Peak Studios as well as at the University of New Mexico by members of Colleges Against Cancer. After the event’s conclusion the donated bras were donated to the Storehouse to be cleaned and available for those in need.

Crew from the radio station joined with Society staff Geraldine Esquivel, district executive director for NM; Mike Radigan, executive director for NM, Enrico Jeantete, lead community relationship manager and event organizer; John Weisgerber, regional communications manager for the Society; and John Patrick Weisgerber, 12-year-old volunteer, to string the bras together in the early hours before the morning commute.

More than 192,000 women in the United States will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer this year, and more than 40,000 will die from the disease. This year about 1,090 women in New Mexico will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer, and approximately 240 die from breast cancer. Awareness is important because treatment works best when breast cancer is diagnosed at an early stage.

Another American Cancer Society Research Grantee Receives Nobel Prize

One of the three scientists receiving the 2009 Nobel Prize for Chemistry is a former American Cancer Society research grantee, bringing the number of Nobel Laureates among the Society’s funded researchers to 44. Thomas A. Steitz, Ph.D., of Yale University received two multi-year grants from the American Cancer Society between 1983 and 1997 totaling more than $1 million. Dr. Steitz has also mentored two post-doctoral researchers (Carl Correll, Ph.D. 1993-1995 and Virginia Rath, Ph.D, 1992-1995). He was honored today along with Venkatraman Ramakrishnan of the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge, England and Ada E. Yonath of the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, Israel, for describing the ribosome and its function. Earlier this week, former American Cancer Society research grantee Jack W. Szostak of the Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Mass., was a co-winner of the 2009 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.

The 44 Society-supported researchers who have won the prize since 1946 is a record that is unmatched in the non-profit arena. This research into understanding an underlying mechanistic cause of cancer will also continue to inform the area of cancer detection and diagnosis as well as treatment. The American Cancer Society investment in cancer research facilitates the research advances and also is amplified by the training impact of future professionals who will contribute more cancer research discoveries.

American Cancer Society Researcher Among Nobel Prize Winners

Award Means 43 Society Funded Researchers Have Received the Honor

One of the three scientists receiving the 2009 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine received an American Cancer Society research grant early in his career, bringing to 43 the number of Nobel Laureates among the Society’s funded researchers.

Former American Cancer Society research grantee Jack W. Szostak, Ph.D., of the Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Mass., is a co-winner of the 2009 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine along with Elizabeth H. Blackburn, Ph.D., of the University of California, San Francisco, and Carol W. Greider of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Md. They were recognized for their discovery of how chromosomes are protected by telomeres and the enzyme telomerase. Their work described the function of telomeres, which reside on the end of chromosomes and are often compared to the plastic tips at the end of shoe laces that prevent them from unraveling, and the enzyme telomerase, which adds DNA to the tips of chromosomes to replace genetic material that has eroded away. Their groundbreaking research in the late 1970s and early 1980s identified the potential that telomerase might be manipulated for therapeutic purposes to prolong cell life and combat cancer. The discoveries have had an impact not only on cancer research but also on research into aging and other diseases.

Dr. Szostak received an American Cancer Society grants early in his career, before the profound implication of their work would become clear. He was supported by an American Cancer Society project grant for $125,000 between 1981 and 1983 while at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute for “Mutants of Yeast Deficient in Mitotic Recombination.”

In addition, all three recipients have mentored American Cancer Society grantees. Dr. Szostak was a mentor to American Cancer Society grantee Grant R. Zimmermann, Ph.D. (1998-2000). Dr. Blackburn has been a mentor to five American Cancer Society researchers: Bradley A. Stohr, M.D., Ph.D. (2005-2008), Jeffrey J. Seidel, Ph.D. (2003-2006), David Gilley, Ph.D. (1993-1995), Karen E. Kirk, Ph.D. (1992-1995), and Dorothy Shippen, Ph.D. (1989-1991). Dr. Greider was the mentor to grantee Alyson A. Kass-Eisler, Ph.D . (1996 -1999).

Dr. Blackburn also received the American Cancer Society Medal of Honor, the Society's highest honor, in 2001.

“The American Cancer Society’s research department has long recognized the importance of funding promising grants by scientists early in their careers,” said Elizabeth “Terry” T.H. Fontham, M.P.H., Dr.P.H., national volunteer president of the American Cancer Society. “The high honor Dr. Szostak received today is a proud reminder of the strength of the Society’s peer-review process and the credibility of its research grant program. The work of his that the Society began funding more than three decades ago is now recognized as having enormous potential to help us achieve a world with more birthdays, and inspires us to continue our investment in cancer research by training future professionals who will contribute more cancer research discoveries.”

American Cancer Society and Lobo Men’s and Women’s Soccer Team Up to “Kick Cancer”

Lobo men's and women’s soccer will strap on their shin guards and team up with UNM Hospital, the UNM Cancer Center, and the American Cancer Society to "Kick Cancer" during a doubleheader at the UNM Soccer Complex on Saturday, October 3. The Lobo women’s soccer team will lace up their cleats first for a 5 p.m. match against Mountain West Conference foe TCU. Following the women, the Lobo men will take the field in a non-conference match-up against Cal-State Northridge at 7 p.m.

Both men’s and women’s teams will augment the cancer research theme by taking the field in pink jerseys, while giveaways include 1,000 pink water bottles and pink Howl Towels provided by UNMH. The Lobos will also be giving away a pair of Lobo men’s basketball single-game tickets. A silent auction of Lobo soccer gear will raise funds for the American Cancer Society, whose presence raises awareness for breast cancer research. The games are sponsored by UNMH and UNMCC.

“Cancer has affected or will affect many of us during our lives," said Lobo men’s soccer head coach Jeremy Fishbein. "The Lobo men’s soccer team is happy to join the fight against this disease and we hope for a future where no one has to hear the words ‘you have cancer’."

Donations will be accepted at the gate to benefit breast cancer research and all Lobo fans are encouraged to do their part and help the Lobo soccer teams "Kick Cancer." During the games, several Lobo players and coaches will be honoring friends and relatives who have been touched by cancer. Come support the Lobos and a good cause. Cancer experts and volunteers will be on hand to help answer questions and provide information on available programs, services, fundraising, and volunteer opportunities.

“October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month," said Lobo women’s soccer head coach Kit Vela. "The Lobo women’s soccer team is glad to help raise awareness about breast cancer and other cancers among our great fans and in our community.”

Entry to this game is free for UNM students, faculty, and staff. For the public, entry is $5 for adults, $4 for seniors (55+) and $3 for youths (18 or under). For ticket and game information please contact the UNM Ticket Office at (505) 925-LOBO or log onto http://www.golobos.com/. All seating is general admission. Men's and women's soccer single-game tickets can be purchased at the north gate of the UNM Soccer Complex up to one hour prior to a UNM men's or women's home soccer game.

Runner on 1,300-Mile Trek to Fight Cancer - PRNewsChannel.com

Runner on 1,300-Mile Trek to Fight Cancer - PRNewsChannel.com

Shared via AddThis