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BREAST CANCER CALENDAR BRINGS MESSAGE OF HOPE
Local patients come together to raise funds for area
breast cancer support programs
Portsmouth, NH – November 2011 – The 2012
Heroes of Hope Breast
Cancer Calendar – created by
New
England Walkers for Knockers – features the photos
and stories of 13 local breast cancer patients and
community leaders. In the calendar the models share
their experiences and the steps they took toward healing
and moving forward from their cancer diagnosis. Sales
proceeds go directly to support
My
Breast Cancer Support, a Portsmouth-based program to
support breast cancer patients throughout the greater
seacoast.
My
Breast Cancer Support works with Portsmouth Regional
Hospital, Wentworth Douglas Hospital, Exeter Hospital,
York Hospital and the Cancer Center of York County. An
affiliate of
BreastCancerStories.org, the new local program
includes: Hope Chests at each cancer center containing
gas cards, dinner and movie gift certificates, plus
other special treats; non medical personal grants to
enhance a patient’s quality of life; travel scholarships
to cancer conferences; and assistance with household
needs. The program’s goal is to help local patients who
are being treated for breast cancer to stay on a path
toward emotional wellness and healing.
“While October’s breast cancer awareness month is
over, we should be reminded every day of those affected
by the disease,” said Wendy McCoole, Executive Director
of BreastCancerStories.org, and calendar model. “When I
was approached by the creators of the calendar to get
involved with the project, I jumped at the opportunity.
Having such a vibrant group of women come together in a
format such as this is so incredibly powerful and
inspiring.”
The Heroes of Hope
Breast Cancer Calendar also includes the story of a
male patient, Captain Ed Johnson, who is an 81 year-old
retired Marine Officer and the founder of the Pease
Greeters. Johnson wrote in his story, “Men are not
vulnerable to breast cancer. It is rare but it is there.
Treat every lump seriously. Don’t be macho, be safe and
check things out.” Originally diagnosed five years ago,
Ed’s breast cancer has returned and it has spread. He is
staying positive and strong and recently wrote to the
women in the calendar to let them know how wonderful it
was to meet all of them and he told them that they were
as brave as many Marines he has led.
The Heroes of Hope
Breast Cancer Calendar costs $20 plus and proceeds
from local sales of the calendar go directly to support
BreastCancerStories.org – a non-profit organization
that launched the new
My
Breast Cancer Support program earlier this year.
To order a calendar online or to see a list of retail
locations that are selling the calendar throughout the
holidays go to
www.MyBreastCancerSupport.org/calendar. If you
are a local retailer and would like to learn how you can
sell the calendars at your location please send an email
to
info@breastcancerstories.org.
ABOUT WALKERS FOR KNOCKERS
Established in 2006 by Brenda Smith,
New
England Walkers for Knockers is dedicated to
providing funding through its various initiatives to
people fighting breast cancer. To date, the
volunteer-supported organization has raised more than
$115,000 in breast cancer donations and support
nationally and locally. This year the organization
adopted
BreastCancerStories.org as one their beneficiaries
and in addition to receiving donations from the calendar
sales,
New
England Walkers for Knockers also held a Ride For A
Cure motorcycle ride out of Seacoast Harley Davidson in
October that raised close to $6,000 for
BreastCancerStories.org.
ABOUT BREASTCANCERSTORIES.ORG
BreastCancerStories.org, a local non-profit
organization offering people affected by breast cancer
an online networking environment, recently launched its
new program, My Breast Cancer Support (www.mybreastcancersupport.org).
Working closely with area hospitals, My Breast Cancer
Support helps local patients who are being treated for
breast cancer to stay on a path toward emotional
wellness and healing. The brainchild of Wendy McCoole,
founder of
BreastCancerStories.org, My Breast Cancer Support is
designed to provide breast cancer patients the support
tools they need to find a comfortable balance between
life and treatment.
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