Join the Fight this Holiday Season

 

Dear Friends:

Only weeks ago, news broke in the prestigious journal Nature describing how pancreatic cancer takes more than a decade to develop, and up to another five years to spread. Thanks to this pivotal research discovery, we now know there is a reasonable time frame in which to detect pancreatic cancer when it can be surgically removed, greatly improving chances for a cure.

The discovery comes from the laboratory of Dr. Bert Vogelstein, Director of The Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center. In a letter to me, Dr. Vogelstein shared the following thoughts:

“My dream scenario is that we will be able to cure 40% of individuals with pancreatic cancer through early detection and surgery, and enable another 20% to achieve long-term remissions through novel therapies. This would reduce deaths from pancreatic cancers by more than 50%...I believe this an achievable goal.”

Today, a multi-million dollar grant from The Lustgarten Foundation is supporting Dr. Vogelstein in his efforts to develop a test to identify pancreatic cancer in its earliest stages. One day, detecting pancreatic cancer may be as simple as a blood test in your doctor’s office. For those where surgery will not be possible, The Lustgarten Foundation is funding research aimed at developing targeted drugs to stop pancreatic cancer in its tracks.

As a generous supporter of pancreatic cancer research, I know you share in Dr. Vogelstein’s dream to change the course of this disease. And, never has there been a better way to maximize your support of pancreatic cancer research. Cablevision’s multi-year commitment to underwrite all of our administrative expenses ensures that 100% of every donation we receive goes directly to pancreatic cancer research.

Please make a year-end gift in support of our work, and join us in our dream scenario for a future filled with pancreatic cancer survivors. Thank you for your important partnership.

From our family to yours, best wishes for a happy and healthy holiday season.

Sincerely,

Kerri Kaplan

Executive Director

Tell your friends!

Our hope with this blog is to share information about Pancreatic Cancer with those in Colorado and beyond, and to also build awareness of Denver's Rich Phillips walk in support of the Lustgarten Foundation. To do this, we need followers and we need your help to spread the word. Forward a link to this blog to your friends and ask them to follow us and to tell their friends to do the same.

There are other things you can do as well ... write about the Rich Phillips Walk in your holiday and Christmas letters and include a link, post a link to your Facebook and/or Twitter pages, send an email out or just tell your friends.  The more people know about Lustgarten, pancreatic cancer and specifically the Rich Phillips walk, the more impact we can have in finding a cure and beating this awful disease.

Thank you for your continued support and help in getting the word out!

Cablevision's 'Holiday Rock & Roll Bash' Raises Record $1.7 Million For Lustgarten Foundation

Highlighted By JD & Straight Shot, Annual Event Benefits Pancreatic Cancer Research

Mike Reynolds -- Multichannel News, 12/10/2010 6:10:03 PM

The 10th edition of Cablevision's "Holiday Rock & Roll Bash" raised the most money to benefit The Lustgarten Foundation.
The Dec. 9 event, held in conjunction with Rainbow Media, Cablevision's programming unit and Madison Square Garden at the Hard Rock Café in Manhattan, raised some $1.7 million, the most ever in a single night in New York City for scientific and clinical research related to the diagnosis, treatment and cure of pancreatic cancer. 

Given Cablevision's ongoing commitment to underwrite all of The Lustgarten Foundation's administrative costs, all of last night's proceeds are ticketed directly to pancreatic cancer research. 

All told, more than 1,000 cable and media industry guests and friends attended the show, which centered around the rock-and-roll and blues stylings of JD & The Straight Shot, the band fronted by Cablevision CEO James Dolan. The evening also included an appearance by Robert Randolph, the pedal steel guitarist from the funk and soul group, Robert Randolph and the Family Band, as well as the Radio City Rockettes and the big man himself, Santa Claus.

Created in 2001, the Holiday Rock & Roll Bash has become The Lustgarten Foundation's premier annual event and its most important fundraiser. Since its inception, the annual party has raised more than $11.3 million to benefit pancreatic cancer research.

The Lustgarten Foundation was established in 1998 by Marc Lustgarten, the former vice chairman of Cablevision and chairman of Madison Square Garden, along with the help of Cablevision, following his diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. He passed away from the disease in 1999. Today, the foundation that Lustgarten inspired is the nation's largest private entity dedicated solely to funding pancreatic cancer research, providing more than $32 million to research since its inception.

"We are extremely appreciative of everyone who comes out each year to support this important event," said Lustgarten Foundation executive director Kerri Kaplan in a statement.  :It means so much to know that 100 percent of every dollar raised for the Holiday Rock & Roll Bash goes directly to pancreatic cancer research, thanks to Cablevision's support. This money will be used to help fund critical research so we can someday find a cure for this deadly disease."

Learn more Vmore about The Lustgarten Foundation and Cablevision's fight against pancreatic cancer at curePC.org.

Local teams to gather to honor 'beloved man'

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

BY J.C. BAUMULLER

Twin-Boro News, Sports Editor

BERGENFIELD - "It was a combination of [senior forward] Melanie [Eskin] and me," said Bergenfield girls basketball coach Erik Olson. "We had played at Park Ridge for breast cancer and at Pascack Valley for autism last year. Before the end of the [2009-10] season we decided that we would do a benefit for the Lustgarten Foundation."

The event will be a girls basketball tournament, called the Hoops 4 Hope Challenge, that will be at Bergenfield High School, beginning at 10 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 19. Ten local teams will compete in five games played throughout the day. "I contacted my close friends in the coaching circle," Olson said. "We got early commitments. I got Holy Angels and Ramapo to agree to face each other. And this was before they faced off for the county title last season." "We haven't hosted a basketball tournament in 15 years," said BHS Principal Jim Fasano. "This is the first time we are having a tournament or activity for a special reason. This will be a great day for Bergenfield High School. We have made a lot of improvements so it will be nice to show off our school."

LUSTGARTEN FOUNDATION

Pascack Valley will get the tournament going at 10 a.m. when they take on Rutherford. Bergenfield and New Milford are next with an 11:30 start. In a rematch of the 2010 Bergen County final, Holy Angels will seek revenge against Ramapo in a 1 p.m. game. River Dell and Old Tappan face off at 2:30 and Park Ridge and Tenafly end the long day of competition when they go at it beginning at 4 p.m. "Opening night (for basketball) is Friday (Dec. 17)," said Olson. "The next games are Tuesday. So a Sunday game fits perfectly."

Lustgarten Foundation, whose mission is to advance the scientific and medical research related to the diagnosis, treatment, cure and prevention of pancreatic cancer, was chosen as a tribute to the late Dr. Steven Kaminsky. During his time in the district he was the principal for both Roy W. Brown Middle School and Lincoln Elementary School in Bergenfield.

"Melanie approached me in early February," said Olson. "We sat down and figured out what we wanted to do and when we wanted to do it.

"He (Kaminsky) was my principal in sixth and seventh grades," said Eskin. "We dedicated last year's season to him. All of the girls in the upper classes had him as principal in either Roy W. Brown or Lincoln."

'A BELOVED MAN'

"Steve Kaminsky was the nicest guy," said Fasano. "His phrase was, 'Don't sweat the small stuff.' He always stayed positive, always had a smile on his face. He had an impact on everybody. He cared about the kids and we are trying to emulate that at Bergenfield High School."

Kaminsky was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in Aug. 2009, a year before he was scheduled to retire. In April 2010 he lost his battle.

"No one knows that much about pancreatic cancer," said Eskin. "We are doing this mainly for awareness and to support the cause."

"He was a beloved man in the district," said Olson, who worked under Kaminsky at Lincoln School. "He was a teacher's principal. He was a student's principal. He was everybody's principal."

And so the fundraiser will be a way to remember the man who made such a positive impression on everyone.
"I tell the girls to enjoy each day," said Olson. "Dr. K lived for the moment; he lived for today. Not yesterday or tomorrow. We can all take something from him."

"He was the best," said Fasano. "He was always calm and he based all his decisions on what would be best for the kids. This is a wonderful thing they are doing."

Love Heals -- Cindy's Journey

Sometimes, great medicine needs some help because it can do it alone.  That's where love and compassion come into play.  Watch the webisodes of Cindy's journey and learn how love has helped her face each and every day with cancer.

Cindy was diagnosed with stage four colon cancer in late 2009. She is currently undergoing chemotherapy and radiation treatment at Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers. Cindy not only has the support of her RMCC family, but also her husband (and high school sweetheart) Doug, their two children, and their families.

http://proveloveheals.com/channel/cindy

Aretha Franklin reportedly diagnosed with pancreatic cancer

From Los Angeles - Soul legend Aretha Franklin has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer but is expected to be released from hospital soon, according to a report Thursday in her hometown newspaper The Detroit Free Press.

The news was first broken by the supermarket tabloid The National Enquirer, which said that the 68-year-old queen of soul had been diagnosed by doctors when she broke her hip in a summer fall.
In November, the icon's publicist announced that she had canceled all her performances through May 2011.
Last week the singer said she was doing well after

having an operation for an unspecified ailment. 'The surgery was highly successful,' Franklin said in a statement. 'God is still in control.'

Thursday's report quoted her cousin Brenda Corbett as saying that Franklin was in good spirits and 'doing really really good.'

Read more at:
http://www.thedenverchannel.com/entertainment/26067589/detail.html

2011 Pancreatic Cancer Research Walks

Join us in the search for a cure!

 We may come from different ‘walks of life,’ but we all join the Pancreatic Cancer Research Walk for the same reasons – to support research aimed at early detection methods, better treatments, and ultimately, a cure for this disease. We join to make a difference in the lives of future generations, and to celebrate those we love.

Since its inception in 2001, Pancreatic Cancer Research Walk has raised more than $12 million!
Thank you for taking a personal role in the fight against pancreatic cancer. This year, we have set our Walk fundraising goal higher than ever, and hope that you too will raise your personal fundraising bar!

Arizona

Green Valley Walk

Saturday, March 19, 2011 at La Posada Green Valley Campus, Green Valley, AZ

Tempe Walk

Sunday, February 27, 2011 at Tempe Beach Park, Phoenix, AZ

California

Westlake Village Walk/Run

Saturday, February 12, 2011 At Westlake Village City Hall, Westlake Village, CA

Delaware

Wilmington Walk

Saturday, April 30, 2011 at Delcastle Park, Wilmington, DE

New York

Rye Walk

Sunday, April 10, 2011 at Rye town and Playland Park, Rye

Lustgarten Advertising

Research is hope. And hope never quits.

Join us.

Every year, more than 36,000 loved ones are lost to pancreatic cancer. It's the most lethal cancer there is. Just six percent of those diagnosed with this deadly disease survive more than five years. But there is hope that with more research, a cure will be found. 

And, this past summer, 5,000 strong walked with the hope and the determination that more research will lead us to a cure at The Lustgarten Foundation's 10th Annual Pancreatic Cancer Research Walk in Long Island, New York. More than one million dollars was raised, with 100 percent of all donations going directly to pancreatic cancer research, thanks to Cablevision's support of The Lustgarten Foundation.

At this record-breaking walk event, many inspiring individuals also came together to join curePC, The Lustgarten Foundation and Cablevision's public awareness campaign, by participating in the filming of a special public service announcement. These extraordinary individuals shared their personal stories about why they've joined the fight against this deadly disease. Now, in honor of Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month, we're sharing their personal stories with you through television, print and online public service announcements.

• Watch the new curePC "Why We Fight" television PSA airing this month across Cablevision's media and entertainment assets, including its iO cable television service; nationally on its AMC and WE tv networks; and in its 46 Clearview movie theatres.
• Learn more about these determined individuals who are fighting in memory of loved ones lost to pancreatic cancer.
• View our latest curePC print ads.
• View the PSAs of other extraordinary individuals who have joined The Lustgarten Foundation and Cablevision in the fight against pancreatic cancer.

Together, we can beat pancreatic cancer. Join us in the fight.