St. Charles Regional Cancer Treatment Center celebrates LIVESTRONG Day on May 13
Event celebrates cancer survivorship and survivorship support programs
Bend, Ore. – On Tuesday, May 13, the St. Charles Regional Cancer Treatment Center will join 500 other groups across the country to participate in LIVESTRONG Day – the Lance Armstrong Foundation’s one-day initiative to raise awareness, funds and support for people affected by cancer. The day will be commemorated by a press conference at 11 a.m. that will include brief comments from local advocates and cancer survivors.
Peggy Carey, Cancer Program Director for Cascade Healthcare Community, states, “Across the United States, 10 million people are living with cancer – 8,500 of those live in the Central and Eastern Oregon region. LIVESTRONG Day is an opportunity to celebrate survivorship and all the programs that support those affected by cancer in our community, including the Cancer Survivorship and DEFEAT Cancer Programs at St. Charles.” Carey added that this day also marks the one-year anniversary of the Cancer Survivorship Program.
The Cancer Survivorship Program aims to provide Central and Eastern Oregonians living with a history of cancer the opportunity to access a variety of supportive, life-affirming programs. A generous donation from the Tour des Chutes organization helped establish the Survivorship Program in 2007, with a particular request to create a means to match newly diagnosed patients of any cancer and their caregivers with trained volunteers who have survived similar experiences. The newly created “Support Volunteer Program” will hold its first training on May 16 and 17, in partnership with the national non-profit Cancer Hope Network.
At 5:30 p.m., the Lance Armstrong Foundation-funded DEFEAT Cancer program will hold its monthly meeting at St. Charles with live videoconferencing to Redmond and Burns. DEFEAT Cancer is a survivorship empowerment program that focuses on nutrition, physical activity, education and inspiration. Its participants exemplify “survivorship in action” through their commitment to D-E-F-E-A-T: Diet, Exercise, Family, Education, Attitude and Thriving.
The LIVESTRONG Day press conference will be held from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the entrance area to the St. Charles Regional Cancer Treatment Center located on the west side of the hospital. All media are invited to attend as well as cancer survivors and anyone touched by cancer. Speakers will include Peggy Carey, Cancer Program Director for Cascade Healthcare Community; Dr. Archie Bleyer, Pediatric Oncologist and founder of the DEFEAT Cancer program; Gary Bonacker, cancer survivor and founder of Tour des Chutes; Beth Larsen, Cancer Survivorship Program Coordinator, and Dr. Kent Yundt a local neurosurgeon. All speakers and cancer survivors from around the region will be available for comment.
Press Conference Information-
What: LIVESTRONG Day Press Conference
When: Tuesday, May 13, 2008 at 11 a.m.
Where: St. Charles Regional Cancer Treatment Center in Bend located at the west entrance of the hospital in the Heart Center Building.
About the St. Charles Regional Cancer Treatment Center
The St. Charles Regional Cancer Treatment Center serves as the primary resource and referral center for cancer patients in Central and Eastern Oregon. The Cancer Treatment Center offers cutting-edge treatments, research and clinical trials, an experienced and dedicated staff and a wide range of survivorship and support services for cancer patients and their caregivers. Only one in four hospitals that treat cancer patients receive accreditation as a Comprehensive Cancer Center by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer. St. Charles Regional Cancer Treatment Center is one of them. www.bendcancer.org
About Tour des Chutes
Tour des Chutes is a multi-distance community cycling event to celebrate survivorship and raise awareness of the issues facing cancer survivors. Funds benefit the Lance Armstrong Foundation and the Cancer Survivorship Program at St. Charles. This year’s ride is July 19, 2008. www.tourdeschutes.org
About the Lance Armstrong Foundation
The Lance Armstrong Foundation (LAF) unites people through programs and experiences to empower cancer survivors to live life on their own terms and to raise awareness and funds for the fight against cancer. The LAF focuses on cancer prevention, access to screening and care, research and quality of life for cancer survivors. Founded in 1997 by cancer survivor and champion cyclist Lance Armstrong, the LAF has raised more than $250 million for the fight against cancer. Join 60 million LIVESTRONG wristband wearers and help make cancer a national priority. Unite and fight cancer at LIVESTRONG.org.