Today I want to share with you about Look Good Feel Better. I know a bit about this program because my mom leads Look Good Feel Better classes at her local American Cancer Society office! All of the pictures in this post are of women in her classes who have given permission to be photographed for promotional use.

About Look Good Feel Better

The appearance changes women undergo while coping with cancer treatment – like beauty itself – are far more than skin deep. They can impact a woman’s self-esteem and rob her of the courage and confidence she needs to face one of the toughest battles of her life.

Look Good Feel Better, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping women living with cancer to manage the appearance side effects of treatment and improve their self-esteem, celebrates its 25th Anniversary this year, marking a milestone in helping women undergoing cancer treatment. To mark this monumental occasion, Look Good Feel Better is encouraging women to “Reimagine Beauty” (both inside and out) and what it means to women undergoing cancer treatment.

What Can YOU Do?

1. Hopefully, you don’t have cancer but unfortunately, you probably know someone who does. Let them know about Look Good Feel Better and the programs they offer. They have classes for men, women and teens. Just enter your zip code on the program finder to see what is available in your area.
2. Visit LookGoodFeelBetter.org and try out the Virtual Makeover Tool. Sharethe “after” photo from the Virtual Makeover tool on Facebook or Twitter, using the hashtag #ReimagineBeauty, to spread awareness and to be entered for a chance to win a trip to the National Women’s Survivors Convention in Nashville, TN July 31 through August 2, 2014. I did and if I would be lucky enough to win I would give the trip to my mom who inspires me every day as she gives of her time and talents to people battling cancer.
3. Share this blog post. You never know who needs this information.

Thanks for reading and sharing!

The post Introducing Look Good Feel Better appeared first on The Mom Maven.

Wendy (sister), Sandra (mom) and me at the 2011 walk.

Part of the fun of this walk is that almost everyone, men and women alike wear decorated pink bras to show their support for those who are battling breast cancer. Last year on Labor Day we decorated our bras and it was a hoot!

All fun aside though we are thankfully approaching the 6th anniversary of my mom being cancer free! My mom isn’t the only one I’m walking for. I’m also walking in memory of Jill Harris and in honor of Sharie Schultz, Janet Carter, Gayle Rainville, Rene Syler and Cathy Sasser-who are all survivors.

I don’t mind doing the walking, I’m in the best shape I’ve been in for years but I need your help in raising the money. My goal is to raise $250 before October 20th. This year I am adding an incentive. For every $5 you donate you will get 1 entry into a giveaway for a copy of the book Chicken Soup for the Soul: Think Positive-101 Inspirational Stories about Counting Your Blessings and Having a Positive Attitude. After going to my donation page and making a donation, come back here and leave me a comment with the name you donated with, you don’t have to leave the amount in your comment. On October 21st I’ll use a random number generator to choose the winner. If you don’t leave a comment you won’t be entered to win. This incentive is open to US residents only.

Thank you for your love and support!!

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After the Survivor’s dinner, the opening ceremonies were held and then the 18 hour relay started with a very special lap, the Survivors Lap. The Survivors gathered behind a banner and walked counter-clockwise around the track while the Caregivers walked clockwise around the track. The two groups met up on the far side of the track and then merged into one large group and completed the lap going counter-clockwise, it was very touching to celebrate with the survivors.

After that the teams hit the track. Each team has to have at least 1 member on the track at all times during the 18 hour relay. Teams are made up of school and church groups, civic clubs, companies and even groups of families. Each team raises money before the event and during the event they try to raise more money by selling food, drinks, t-shirts, glow bracelets and even by holding raffles. This years goal for the Venice relay was $220,000 and they were well on their way to meeting their goal when I headed home.

From my mother, in memory of her mother Blanche Sellenger

Once the sun goes down the solemn luminaria ceremony begins. People donate money and decorate paper bags in honor or in memory of someone affected by cancer. I did 2 bags one for Jill Harris, my husband’s cousin who died of breast cancer leaving 2 young sons behind and one for all of my Hystersisters who have battled cancer. My mom bought one in memory of her mom. We walk a lap in silence, the only sound a bagpipe playing “Amazing Grace”. This is so powerful. I wept all the way around the track and then I totally lost it, I got to a spot where a young boy, maybe 9-10 yrs old, wearing a survivor shirt himself, was kneeling in front of a luminaria with a man’s name on it and the word “daddy”. This brought it all home for me, my heart broke for this boy. It solidified in my heart the fact that we need to do what we can to raise funds for the American Cancer Society so that they can both support those battling cancer and those searching for a cure.

What are you doing to secure a healthier, cancer-free future?

The post Relay for Life Venice, Florida appeared first on The Mom Maven.

Due to the amount of people it took a while to park but the volunteers were doing a great job getting everyone where they needed to be. We got out of the van and I donned my pink bra and tiara and headed to the golf cart that would take us closer to the event. My mom and sister had arrived early to attend the survivor’s breakfast, so after I checked in and banked the last of my donations we headed over to the survivor’s tent where the festivities were just wrapping up. Mom headed toward the bleachers to join the other survivors for a group photo.

Then we had some time to get organized and visit the vendors and support groups that were represented. Over on the main stage a Jazzercize group was leading the crowd in some warm up exercises-which were needed especially due to the chilly un-Florida like weather. Next we headed to the starting area.

What I haven’t told you yet in any of these posts is that my mom is not only a 5 year breast cancer survivor she also suffers from COPD and is on oxygen 24/7. She works out regularly on her treadmill and in the swimming pool and completing this 5k was a HUGE goal for her. My sister on the other hand, is a runner so she was going to carry mom’s portable oxygen machine while we walked.

At the start

The walk started v-e-r-y slowly trying to get the thousands of walkers down the path and onto the streets surrounding the polo grounds. At about 1/2 mile into the walk or should I say crawl still at this point, mom’s oxygen machine started beeping that her battery was low! It said it was on 2 which should have meant at least an hour of oxygen left but it was already beeping. We discussed our options a) send Wendy back to get the backup battery supply b) keep walking til we get to a water station c) ignore it. Mom insisted we ignore it but by the time we made the first big turn the machine was warning us it was about dead. Mom shut off her machine and kept walking. Sending Wendy back was no longer an option because of the fences around the property at the Polo Club there was no short cut to take. Shortly after the one mile marker we found an official and we told him our predicament. He assured us the only answer was for mom to stay with him and wait for a golf cart to pick her up. He promised the cart would drop her off before the finish line so she could finish on her own and with tears in her eyes she said “But I won’t really be finishing” Wendy and I promised to finish the walk for her and we left her with the official.

By now the crowd had thinned out with walkers all moving along at their own pace. We settled into a comfortable cadence and enjoyed the beautiful scenery, the mansions with horses running in the side yards were just breathtaking. I was inspired by the thousands of people walking for a single cause. Men, women, teens and children all wearing pink. Many with signs of who they are walking for. I felt like I was a part of something bigger-a movement to eradicate a disease and put an end to how this disease effects families. It was a great feeling.

At the finish

I got excited as I passed each 1/2 mile marker. I was feeling good, not tired or winded like I sometimes due thanks to my anemia. When we rounded the final corner, I saw a golf cart go by and I saw my mom on it. It was a bittersweet moment because I know how much she wanted to complete the 5k. As we approached the finish line I felt such a sense of accomplishment and pride I can’t really explain it. We met up with mom and she was doing better, there are somethings that we just can’t control and her oxygen machine is one of them

I want to thank all of my online and offline friends who supported my walk with a financial donation Pat Fischer, Jean Simmons, Laurie Brosius, Ginger Davis and Rene Syler. We raised $120 not quite half of my $250 but hey-we did something and we WILL do more next year!

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Anyway, my point here is that at least in America, we are all aware of breast cancer. According to the American Cancer Society:

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among American women, except for skin cancers. The chance of developing invasive breast cancer at some time in a woman’s life is a little less than 1 in 8 (12%).

The American Cancer Society’s most recent estimates for breast cancer in the United States are for 2011:

About 230,480 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in women.
About 57,650 new cases of carcinoma in situ (CIS) will be diagnosed (CIS is non-invasive and is the earliest form of breast cancer).
About 39,520 women will die from breast cancer.

After increasing for more than 2 decades, female breast cancer incidence rates decreased by about 2% per year from 1999 to 2005. This decrease was seen only in women aged 50 or older, and may be due at least in part to the decline in use of hormone therapy after menopause that occurred after the results of the Women’s Health Initiative were published in 2002. This study linked the use of hormone therapy to an increased risk of breast cancer and heart diseases.

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women, exceeded only by lung cancer. The chance that breast cancer will be responsible for a woman’s death is about 1 in 36 (about 3%). Death rates from breast cancer have been declining since about 1990, with larger decreases in women younger than 50. These decreases are believed to be the result of earlier detection through screening and increased awareness, as well as improved treatment.

At this time there are more than 2.6 million breast cancer survivors in the United States. (This includes women still being treated and those who have completed treatment.)

So my question today isn’t “Are you aware of breast cancer?” it’s “What action have you taken this month to either a)maintain your breast health b)support a breast cancer patient or c)support an organization that supports breast cancer patients and/or research?”

This is a call to action. There are 11 days left in National Breast Cancer Awareness month and I challenge you to DO SOMETHING. As you know this Saturday, October 22, 2011 I’ll be walking in the American Cancer Society Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk. I’m not doing this because I like exercise…I’m doing it in memory of Jill Harris, my husband’s cousin who died at age 38 leaving her husband and 2 young sons behind and for all the survivors in my family Sandra Foster, Sharon Schultz, Lynn Andrew, Paula Lord and my friends who are survivors Janet Carter and Gayle Rainville. I’m sure I have missed some people and I’m sorry, but you can see that breast cancer has touched my life in a significant way and this weekend I’ll be walking to raise money to fund support services for those who have breast cancer.

I set a modest goal of $250.00 and honestly, I’m a bit sad that I have only raised $120.00 so far-not quite half of what I told my mother and sister would be “Easy to raise through social media” my mom has raised the same amount not using social media. We, The Mom Maven family have today and tomorrow to raise the rest of the $130.00. Here is where you can take the action step and DO SOMETHING this month. Click this link to my Making Strides Against Breast Cancer donation center and give what you can $5, $10, $25 or more. If just 13 of my 900+ subscribers gave $10 we would meet the goal and Team Mom Maven would be making a difference in the lives of breast cancer patients. Don’t wait for someone else to do your part, you know what you need to do…just take action.

Next week I’ll be writing a post including a final total of funds raised and pictures of us walking and celebrating life in our decorated pink bras! Thank you for your support!

The post What Action Have You Taken? appeared first on The Mom Maven.

I just wanted to remind you that even though I am on vacation this week I still need your help. I am trying to raise $250 for the American Cancer Society be fore our Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk on October 22nd. If you are able to make a donation…even as small as $10 I would greatly appreciate it. You can make a donation here.

If you didn’t read my post about why I’m walking you can read that here. Thank you for your support!

The post Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Reminder appeared first on The Mom Maven.

(I stole this picture off mom's Facebook page...I hope she doesn't kill me!)

Today is actually the 5th anniversary of my mom being cancer free! Yes, my mom is a breast cancer survivor and she now volunteers her time for the American Cancer Society’s Road to Recovery and Look Good…Feel Better programs. I am proud of my mom, how she walked through her cancer with a positive attitude and how she now gives back to others who are suffering with all types of cancers.

Part of the fun of the walk is that we are encouraged to wear a decorated pink bra on the outside of your clothing during the walk. Yesterday, we got crafty and decorated our bras for the walk.

Getting Crafty

My bra

All 3 finished projects

You’ll have to wait for my post on the actual walk to see us wearing our creations

In all seriousness though, this is a fundraising walk and I am really counting on you, my readers, to help support me in my effort. From now until the walk, the Making Strides badge will be at the top of my page for you to click on to donate. You can also click here. No donation is too small. I have set a modest goal-since we are starting kind of late, I’d like to raise at least $250.00. Together we CAN do this! Thank you for your help and support.

Please leave a comment and let me know you donated!

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