Reason No. 4 to come to the CCCC Kick-off at Sierra Vista Hospital on June 4: Meet Dr. Tom Vendegna, cancer survivor and advocate for exercise. Dr. Tom is an avid and really good cyclist. He’s also one tough guy. A huge proponent of exercise, Dr. Tom rode a stationary bicycle while being administered chemotherapy. He said it helped him flush the toxins and recover faster. Please come and register at the event and meet Dr. Tom. The kick-off begins at 9 a.m.

I was so very sad to hear this. I worked with Grete when I was doing the Manufacturers Hanover Corporate Challenge in the 80’s. Such a gracious and wonderful lady. Cancer strikes again. This makes me even more resolved to kick this disease into extinction. – Heather
Norwegian icon and pioneer of women’s Marathon running, Grete Waitz, passed away on 19 April.
Grete Waitz had a long and successful career on the track (recording two world records at 3000m) and in cross country before turning to the Marathon in 1978. She ran the New York City Marathon and posted a world best time in her debut of 2:32:30, lowering it to 2:27:33 in the same race the following year, and to 2:25:41 in 1980. She won New York again in 1982 and 1983, in the same year briefly recapturing the world record in the London Marathon in 2:25:29 and winning the inaugural World Championships in Athletics women’s Marathon in Helsinki. In 1984 she finished second in the Inaugural Women’s Olympic Marathon in Los Angeles. She won nine times in New York and twice in London. She dropped out of the 1988 Olympic Marathon in the later stages, and although later retired from competition continued to participate in events, encouraging fitness awareness and and charitable causes. She ran the 1992 New York City Marathon with race founder Fred Lebow, after he was diagnosed with brain cancer. In 2005 she was herself diagnosed with cancer, and in 2007 set up a cancer care foundation funded through an agreement with adidas to direct a percentage of sales receipts from their Grete Waitz and Modern Classics collections. She died of cancer on 19 April 2011, aged 57.

MEET MO CLANCY, THE CENTRAL COAST CANCER CHALLENGE OUTREACH QUEEN. WE’RE HAPPY TO HAVE HER ON THE TEAM!
Hi, my name is Mo Clancy and I am a 3 ½ year ovarian cancer survivor. WOW….did I just say that! Back in the spring of 2005, after the passing of my parents, I ran a marathon in Mesa, Arizona in qualifying time for the Boston Marathon in April 2006.
Upon my return to Arroyo Grande, I continued my training and in the fall of 2005, I officially entered the race and made all the necessary arrangements.
What excitement…..My training was going well, Christmas was approaching, holiday get togethers happening. Oh, speaking of that, I attended one in particular at my God parent’s house and met an Irish fella, Seamus.  Imagine that, being that I am of Irish descent, it brought a “twinkle to me eye”.  Between that Christmas and New Year’s Day,
I developed urinary retention that I chalked up to “old age”, but then at my New Year’s Eve party I felt a side ache that would not go away.
As I was working at Arroyo Grande Community Hospital on New Year’s Day, I reluctantly went to our emergency room to be examined.  That day the physician found a large mass and the testing done determined that I had ovarian cancer.
That was the day I became a survivor!
Immediately, my total hysterectomy surgery was scheduled “ouch”, plans for chemotherapy were arranged, Boston Athletic Association notified and thankfully deferred my race to 2007.
After five days in the hospital, I was discharged home and immediately started walking and examined my diet in my quest to gain strength before my chemotherapy began on February 14, 2006 and we know what day that is!  Even though my treatment lasted until June 2006, I managed to go to Boston in 2006 along with Seamus to support fellow runners from our community. It was awesome! I then resolved to return to Boston in 2007.
We came home and I continued my rehabilitation. I slowly began jogging in August 2006, returned to part time work at the hospital, continued being monitored by my physician and life began to have some normalcy again.
Guess what! In December 2006, as Seamus and I are heading to Ireland to celebrate the holidays, he asked me to marry him and of course, I said “yes”. We decided to marry in his home town of Sligo, Ireland at a small church with a reception in a castle…..
Dreams do come true!
But before that took place in October 2007, there was a house to be renovated, moving to be done and most importantly a race to be run.  I became a Boston Marathon Finisher in April 2007 and was “happy as Paddy’s pig” especially having Seamus waiting for me at the finish line.
Once again, we returned home and prepared for our wedding which was a beautiful day celebrated with family and friends.
Fast forward to June 2008, I had a recurrence and was subsequently treated. I was able to continue working during this time with wonderful support from my co-workers at the hospital.
In Spring 2008, since my days of running are behind me, I found The SurviveOars, a group of cancer survivors who for leisure or competition row in Morro Bay.  We took two 1st Place trophies on August 1, 2009 at the Long Beach Dragon Boat Races. Way to go team!
And now here I am, telling my story, happily married, in good health and hoping to raise awareness on this silent disease.
Please………..”Turn Up the Volume”
Maureen “Mo” Clancy

The Central Coast Cancer Challenge wants to congratulate Bridget Ready, co-founder of Jack’s Helping Hand, on being named 2011 Woman of the Year by Assemblyman Katcho Achadjian from the 33rd District. Jack’s Helping Hand is one of our beneficiaries this year. The organization does such wonderful work and a portion of our event proceeds will help children with cancer, survivors and their families.

I just found out today that a very dear friend who has been battling lung cancer will most likely lose her battle this week. It’s so difficult. If anything, it makes my, our, resolve that much stronger. As I remind myself, the person may be gone but LOVE never dies.

We want to thank everyone who participated in the Central Coast Cancer Challenge. Because of your efforts and generosity, we donated a total of $12,000 for cancer support services in San Luis Obispo. We gave the LIVESTRONG Foundation $6,000.00 and The Wellness Community $6,000.00. And this in the inaugural year!!
Keep a look out for 2011 Central Coast Cancer Challenge announcements.

We were very sad to read about the passing of Paso Robles Policewoman Deanna Mete. Here is a story in the Tribune. Our thoughts and prayers for her family.
http://www.sanluisobispo.com/2010/10/29/1347765/paso-robles-police-mourn-officer.html#storylink=omni_popular

My cancer story…
My name is Shannon D’Acquisto and I am a cancer survivor. Here’s how my story began…. I grew up on the central coast of California- God’s country, no family history of cancer, and no reason to think that I would ever be telling a cancer story today.  I grew up and married my college sweetheart and rode off into the sunset. 
End of story, right?  Just the beginning…

I was blessed with my first child at 27 and twins at age 30 – and on my 32nd birthday- I went for my first mammogram, because I found a lump in my right breast.

My mammogram was CLEAR!  So of course the technician and almost all the doctors thought I was crazy.  I fought on, because I had a bad feeling about it – and after many more tests I was diagnosed with Stage 3C breast cancer, just after my 32nd birthday.  My daughter was 5 and my twins were 2.

I thought that was the year when I would finally get to lose the weight I had gained from pregnancies and the year that I would get back into that college bikini bod again!  I had so many big plans for my life and my family!  Then came the realization that I had new choices to make….get new boobs, or keep the old ones??  I was a smart girl, I did all the research – a mastectomy would give me the best shot that I would get to see my twins go to kindergarten.  Due to the severity of my cancer I chose to have a bilateral mastectomy, which meant both boobs had to go at age of 32 – not quite the bikini look I had planned.

All of the sudden that bikini didn’t matter anymore -because with cancer we count our lives in minutes and days that we have left to spend with loved ones, not in fat or thin.  And as a mom we count how long we get to spend with our children.  So I told the surgeon, “the girls” both had to go.  That was the beginning of a long journey, fraught with danger, wildfires, enemies and sword fights.

Most cancer patients would tell you the details about the awful nature of treatment and chemotherapy – I am going to spare you the details and tell you just to read Lance Armstrong’s book – he explains it much better than I ever could, but I will tell you through treatment (surgery, chemotherapy and radiation – followed by 4 more surgeries) I was blessed with only one trip to the ER – because with cancer any fever, even small means a trip to the ER.

With a cancer diagnosis came a new reality in my mind…. I felt that every headache must be a tumor, every time I lose my breath it’s probably because this time cancer has gone to my lung!  My new reality taught me many lessons – most importantly- to live each day to the fullest and to remember that life isn’t about the things we collect while we are here, but the collection of memories that we create with our loved ones. 

This reality became even more painfully clear to me when I was at Disneyland celebrating the completion of my own cancer treatment and I was given the horrible news that a dear childhood friend and fellow college alum was just diagnosed with cancer.  I had been without cancer in my life for 1 day only to find out it had struck another… too close to home. 

My friend lost his fight just 9 months later.  He inspires me to continue this fight.   Cancer has brought out my inner warrior, to fight the good fight, not only for myself and my friend, but for our future generations to have better options when it comes to fighting cancer and to have better diagnostic and support options in dealing with cancer.

I want to share with you the gifts that cancer gave me:

Cancer taught me that when life gives you lemons – always make lemonade, and when given the choice to stay home or go to Disneyland – I vote for DISNEYLAND every time!  Since finishing treatment in the spring of 2006 I have been to Disneyland more than 50 times.  – Because the day after treatment ended for me, bald head and all, I went to Disneyland to begin to celebrate the minutes and days that I have left here on this earth.

Cancer gave me the clarity to stop sweating the small stuff, to stop keeping up with the Jones’ and stop climbing the corporate ladder – not that all those things are bad, but for me, they were getting in the way of living my LIFE!

I am living proof that surprises do happen…  I had no family history of twins, no family history of cancer and only a 19% chance of 5 year survival.  I am proud to say that in 2 short weeks, I will hit my 5 year anniversary -cancer free reaching that lofty goal of beating all the odds- 5 years disease free!  And this fall my twins will be starting the third grade!

So in closing, I charge you to be prepared for all that life may throw your way, live each day to the fullest, enjoy every hat that you wear-

And find your Disneyland and go there often!

Here are a few photos of our TV Commercial. We all had a great time. The crew at KSBY was fantastic. The stars are Ellie and Will, hands down. But a huge thank you to everyone who came together to do this! Watch out for us. It should start airing soon.
Ellie and Will
      
Shannon, Hayley and Linda

Have you all heard of the Showtime Series call The Big “C” starring Laura Linney? It premieres tomorrow night. It’s about a woman who gets a terminal diagnosis, then really starts to live. It could be hard to watch, and from the previews I’ve seen very fun. Laura Linney is a brilliant actress. I imagine that this is treated with sensitivity. Will you watch?