On behalf of the Board, staff and volunteers of WCRC, our congratulations go to sister organization Breast Cancer Action. On Saturday, October 15, BCA held its gala celebration at Yerba Buena to mark 15 years of activism and to honor women whose passion for truth and justice have created a powerful national network of social action for women with cancer. Among those to be honored with the “Spirit of Activism Award” is our Program Director Dolores Moorehead. For more information go to www.bcaction.org.

There’s been a lot happening at WCRC and I want to acknowledge the incredible staff here for their dedication, creativity and team spirit. Since my last communication with E-Bulletin readers, we’ve held a number of tremendously successful events. Read on!

The Spanish Speaking Women’s Cancer Initiative held its “Celebracion de la Vida” on September 24 at Concord Community Park. The SSWCI is a collaboration of direct service agencies providing service to Latinas in Contra Costa County.

WCRC benefited from the generous support of Rockridge Merchants during “Out and About” on September 25. Merchants donated $5,000 in merchandise for a raffle to support direct services to women with cancer. Our heartfelt thanks go to all who participated.

Best wishes,

Peggy McGuire, Executive Director

Ten Years and counting!

Marty's Mermaids

Our 10th Annual Swim a Mile for Women with Cancer, held on October 1 and 2 at Mills College, engaged nearly 600 swimmers and 220 volunteers in raising nearly $200,000 so far. Our goal is $250,000 and we are confident that swimmers will continue to collect their pledges now that they have accomplished their swim goals. Here’s a letter one of our swimmers sent to her supporters about the day:

Dear friends and family:

A quick note to thank you all for your support and love, and for sending me the names of people you wanted on the commemoration wall at the swim-a-mile for women with cancer.

It was a beautiful day. There were people out cheering, swimming, dancing, singing, all there to support family members and loved ones. The commemoration wall was full, papered with names and pictures all placed there with loving hands.

One of the things about cancer, I have found and heard, is how isolating it can be to face the challenges associated with it, or to lose someone you love to the disease. This past Sunday was a complete antidote to that.

Approximately 580 swimmers participated over 2 days. The spirit and energy were incredible. What a blessing to be able to participate in something so moving... I was so glad to be there. Thank you for your help in getting me there, and for caring. I am lucky to have so many of you in my life. Many blessings to you all.

With love, Kelly

Our thanks go to all of the Planning Committee, swimmers, and volunteers that made the weekend as lovely as the weather as well as the event sponsors: Mills College, Men’s Wearhouse, Bay Area Business Woman, Panera Bread, Izze Beverage Company, and Speedo

Salud Celebration

The ¡Salud! Celebration of Latino Art, Health, and Community held on September 17th for Latino Heritage Month was wonderfully successful. The event drew over 250 people from as far away as Cupertino and Manteca. Eight local health groups passed out information and 18 visual artists dazzled us with their creativity. The visual art show in the gallery at WCRC continues through 10/20.

WCRC Art Gallery

Oaktown

Mark your calendars now for the next big art reception at WCRC. Five local artists show us their visions of “Oaktown,” art about Oakland and our communities. Artwork covers the gamut of watercolor, drawings, photography, paintings and more. Artists featured are” Scott Courtenay-Smith, Mikki Ferrill, Alan Leon, Susan Liroff, and Karen Schneider. The Reception will be Friday, November 4th, 7-9 PM and the show runs through December 16th. The reception will also feature local musical treasure Mary Watkins playing jazz standards, old favorites, and original compositions on keyboards. Free.

Skates on the Bay is donating to WCRC $1.00 for each pepper crusted salmon entrée ordered during October in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Skates is located at 100 Seawall Drive at the Berkeley Marina.

The Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in San Francisco has partnered with the WCRC on a project to renovate the center. Led by their instructor, Grant Gibson, a recognized local designer, nine master’s thesis students (Shira O’Keefe, Nicole Bowen, Nancy Wu, Michelle Kennedy, Kortney Giometti, Amy Simmons, Andrea Hunt, Melodie Batt, and Chanie Russell, with support from Diane Cuyler and Barbara Cupper, are working with us to assess our space and storage needs and to develop interior and exterior design options. Our goal is to create a more welcoming, serene and healing environment.

Come visit WCRC’s portion of the big community altar at the Oakland Museum’s Los Días de los Muertos Community Celebration on Sunday, October 23, 12 pm – 4 pm. There will be altars, music and other performances, family fun, hands-on activities and demonstrations. Free.

Darlene de Manincor

It is with great sadness I am writing about the passing of Joann Diaz, a long-time member of the alternative treatment support group. Joann brought a refreshing and gracious presence to our group. She taught us with patience and humor to honor her journey. She was a dancer in spirit and in life. Joann was simply one of the big teachers in the group. Her lessons were of life and love.

My fondest memory of her is an image generated from an e-mail I received from Argentina, where she went for treatments. She told me after treatments she and her husband Darren went dancing on the beach. That image was Joann -- when things got rough she got soft and she danced. She died on 18 September a night of the full moon. I like to think of her dancing in the glow of that full moon. We in the alternatives treatment group will miss her.

A message from our sister organization, Breast Cancer Action

Dear Friend:

I can tell when fall has arrived because pink ribbons pop up on just about every kind of product you can imagine. Toilet paper, makeup, breath mints, cookbooks, candles, clothing, and more, all promising to give some portion of proceeds to breast cancer.

Each fall I wonder whether these pink ribbon products are more about boosting sales than saving women's lives.

Sure, the people in these companies truly care about the disease. But so many of the businesses give pathetically small amounts to breast cancer programs for each purchase. Many of them don't even tell you how much money from, say, a $200 sweater, actually goes to help women with breast cancer. It could be a penny. But they're not telling.

Well-meaning people want to make a difference. But too often companies--rather than women with breast cancer--are profiting from our good intentions.

Meanwhile, breast cancer rates keep rising. Every 1.9 minutes a woman hears the words, "You have breast cancer." Every 13 minutes, a woman dies from the disease.

We need more than just awareness and pink ribbons to change these staggering numbers.

That's why I'm urging you to join Breast Cancer Action's efforts for change this October. Send a message to companies that sell pink ribbon products. Ask them to reveal how much money actually goes to breast cancer, how the funds are being raised, who gets the money, and what programs are being supported. Tell them to put people before profits.

Before you buy another pink ribbon product. . .

Think Before You Pink.

Watch BCA's Internet Flash movie and send a message to pink ribbon marketers.

Sincerely,

Barbara Brenner, Executive Director, Breast Cancer Action

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