The Circle Of Strength

Meet Nanci Cacossa. She has cancer.  Ovarian cancer.  Stage 3C ovarian cancer. She lost her ovaries, uterus and fallopian tubes to this disease, but she is not about to lose her life.  No, she is fighting with all she's got.  And what she's got is great!

I am proud to call her my friend.  We somehow found each other when both she and my husband Patrick were battling the fight of their lives. She would send me daily notes and offer guidance.

Team Prayers For Patrick and Circle of Strength were born within days of each other. Neither of us knew what the heck we were doing in the beginning, but we were both passionate about destroying this beast, and hey why not raise a bit of awareness and money at the same time :) We learned to use Social Media to get our word out there - Tweeting and Facebooking about each other's events on a regular basis.

Nanci's openness about her illness and honesty about what she was enduring was a huge learning experience for everyone around her.  The exchange and flow of information and emotion kept her strong so she could fight.  Together with friends and family, they became a circle; The Circle of Strength.

Nanci was a great support for me and my family at a very uncertain time in our lives. She was at every one of Prayers For Patrick's events, donating baskets, giving support and usually a great big hug!  The photo above is from the Relay when Nanci showed up to bring our team a cake she made. During this time she was undergoing chemo but there she was, with a delicious cake in hand.  Need I say more about this lady!

As of now, she is still receiving treatments every three weeks, four days in a row and fighting the fight. She is not going anywhere anytime soon. She will not surrender.  Nanci has certainly had her ups and downs, but she as always will continue to fight hard (most likely while planning her next event.)


Ah her next event.................Circle of Strength and the NY Islanders, Sunday, April 1st @3pm

click this link to find out more:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.458360323218.241397.567448218&type=3#!/events/217627241661265/


Ovarian cancer is the leading cause of death of gynecological cancer among women.  If not detected early, the survival rate is only between 25-30%.  The Circle of Strength is committed to educating people about ovarian cancer, and raising funds for research that will yield better diagnostic testing and improve treatment.
A circle represents the infinite nature of energy and love.  With no beginning or end, it is whole and perfect.  We seek to expand the energy and love of The Circle of Strength  and invite you to join us in support of the women battling ovarian cancer and the doctors researching therapies to manage and, one day, cure this disease.
The money raised through direct donations and events help fund the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund.

Hope Lodge.....A great motivator !

Facing cancer is extremely hard. Having to travel out of town for treatment can make it even harder!

Back in 2009, when my husband Patrick was undergoing a clinical trial, we were very lucky to live so close  to Sloan Kettering.  We were able to commute each day in and out of NYC. Patrick was able to get the best treatment possible, and be comfortable each night, in his own bed.  

For many battling cancer, treatment at NYC's medical centers provides the greatest hope for them, but requires that they are far from home. The  burden of travel and lodging expenses, on top of their sickness, can be unbearable.

At Hope Lodge in New York City, they understand that undergoing treatment for cancer can be a very scary experience.

That is why the American Cancer Society Hope Lodge,Jerome L. Greene Family Center, offers lodging at no cost for cancer patients being treated in Manhattan.

The Hope Lodge's main floor is a peaceful communal space where guests can relax, read a book, or spend time with other guests and visitors.  The main floor offers many amenities including: a large lounge with a fireplace and piano, a family visitation room, a meditation space, a computer resource center (with internet access and printer) a library and an outdoor terrace.

Hope Lodge also offers 60 private guest rooms in a home-like environment.

Patients can get the treatment that they deserve and and have a comfortable place to rest their head at night. 

We were very fortunate that My husband's oncologist, who was an expert in the field of Germ Cell Tumors, was available to us so close to home.  

I raise funds and awareness for those who are not so lucky, so that they too can get the treatment they deserve, and be as comfortable as possible.  

We recently relocated to Rochester, NY. I am happy to say that I will be visiting Hope Lodge here in Rochester, in the next few weeks to see how I can get involved!

 [To stay at the Hope Lodge, you must be referred by your medical center's social worker. Your social worker will need to fill out a referral form to coordinate placing your name on our waiting list. It is advisable to initiate the referral process well in advance of the first date of treatment, as patients are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.Once the referral form is received at Hope Lodge, the potential guest will be contacted regarding their status.
Residency at a Hope Lodge facility is a courtesy extended at the sole discretion of American Cancer Society. All individuals who meet the Hope Lodge eligibility requirements will be welcomed regardless of race, creed, citizenship, physical disability, gender, color, ethnic heritage, veteran status, economic status, or sexual orientation.]

Fundraising in Today's Economy

Fundraising in a difficult economy is not an easy task.  There are a few  ways you can go about this, that I have found successful in my own efforts.

Team Work

The best way to start off is by creating a team !  As my mother- in- law Anna Conlan always says "many  hands makes for light work"  Your team can be made up of friends and family, and anyone that would like to help out and be part of the team.  The more diverse your team, the better your resources and outreach.

 Offer a Service

Rather than fundraising by calling people and asking for money, try offering a service for which all proceeds will go toward the cause. Teams can use volunteers to support car washes, lawn care, auctions and other money-making ventures that will bring in the donations. In a weak economy, individuals are much more likely to pay for a service they need than to offer cash donations while receiving nothing in return.  Teams can get creative with these fundraising efforts.  Ask your team and find out what talents they have that can be leveraged for your fundraising.

 Host a Family Event

Family events are great fundraising activities in a difficult economy because regardless of their own economic situation, people need to have fun.  Some ideas are bowl or dance-a-thons, block parties, community picnics and sporting events.Not only do these events offer a great way for people to have fun and socialize, but they offer network fundraising.

Fundraising for Relay for Life doesn't have to slow down in the middle of a poor economy. However,you do have to think harder about the fundraising efforts that will bring in the most donations.

In the end, just remember that any effort- is just that, an effort and for the better of the cause.

Keep up the good work !

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A little bit about me

A little bit about me.....

My name is Kelly Conlan.  I just recently relocated from Baldwin, NY to Rochester, NY.
My family has been very involved in the American Cancer Society over the past few years, you could say everyone there has become somewhat of an extension of our family. 

My husband was diagnosed in 2009 with a very rare form of cancer.  This was not supposed to happen to us (at least that is what I thought).We had just had our 3rd child and we were completely blindsided. We had no idea about how our lives were about to change significantly.

We were unbelievably fortunate that the community of Baldwin, along with our family and friends, were there in ways that still amaze me.  So when my kids came home with a flier for the Relay in their backpacks I knew I had to get involved.  I wanted to pay it forward.  Little did I know that this would soon become such an integral part of my life.

You may ask yourself why is this person still involved in Baldwin's Relay?  My answer is simple-because I care. I hope that my blogs serve as not only a reference that you and your teams can go to for ideas about fundraising in today's economy, but also a place that you can write posts and give ideas about how together we can create a world with more Birthdays. 

I am happy to say that my husband is in remission and feeling great today.  We must always remember to count our blessings daily and reflect on how we can show our gratitude on a daily basis to others around us!

Some come on Baldwin let's Rally and make a difference !