Happy Holidays - CanCare
Happy Holidays - CanCare
Happy Holidays - CanCare
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<strong>CanCare</strong>, Inc. provides<br />
one-on-one, emotional<br />
support for cancer<br />
patients and their families.<br />
Number Four 2011<br />
Team <strong>CanCare</strong> WanTs You!<br />
Cheer, run or Walk for <strong>CanCare</strong> in the houston Marathon January 15, 2012<br />
Team <strong>CanCare</strong> has an awesome<br />
group of runners and walkers for<br />
the upcoming Chevron Houston<br />
Marathon. Even if you’re not a marathon<br />
runner, you can still join the team and<br />
participate in the 5K, plus you’ll get one of<br />
our free Team <strong>CanCare</strong> t-shirts! Sign up at<br />
www.teamcancare.org.<br />
Cheerleaders and supporters are<br />
welcome on race day at our “Hoopla Site,”<br />
sponsored by Williams. We will have<br />
live music playing while we cheer on the<br />
team as they near the finish line. Email<br />
amyt@cancare.org for a map and directions<br />
to our spot on the race course.<br />
Team <strong>CanCare</strong> has participated as an<br />
official “Run for a Reason” charity in the<br />
<strong>Happy</strong><br />
<strong>Holidays</strong><br />
from the Staff<br />
at <strong>CanCare</strong><br />
Houston Marathon every year since 1996.<br />
Over the years, Team <strong>CanCare</strong>’s<br />
dedicated participants have<br />
raised over $1 million in<br />
support of the organization.<br />
Our team is unique in that it<br />
offers an opportunity for runners<br />
and walkers to dedicate their race<br />
to someone special affected by<br />
cancer, and it is entirely supported by<br />
sponsors and in-kind donors so that<br />
all funds raised go directly to <strong>CanCare</strong>.<br />
Everyone who participates is invited to our<br />
exclusive pasta party before race day and<br />
after party at Cadillac Bar!<br />
Thanks to everyone who attended the<br />
Marathon Kickoff event at Memorial Park!<br />
Front L to R: Tommy Thompson, Nancy Tucker, Amy Tanner, Mark Downs<br />
Back L to R: Pat Weatherspoon-Hall, Anne McCluan, Rachel Gonzales, Kim Akel, Bert Davila, Debbie Edmondson, Nicole Dixon
a Message froM <strong>CanCare</strong> President, nanCy tuCker<br />
The GifT of hope<br />
Over the years, we have depended on the generosity<br />
of those who believe in our mission and have<br />
been willing to support our growth with financial<br />
support. Because of that support, we have experienced<br />
tremendous growth.<br />
In the past two years, our one-on-one matches of volunteers<br />
with new clients have grown 35%. Our hospital visitations<br />
are up 41% over last year. (This year we expect to do over<br />
12,000 hospital visits.) We have expanded our training of<br />
volunteers to other parts of the country and thanks to the<br />
internet we are serving people all over the world.<br />
While we are proud of these accomplishments, we are<br />
reaching only a fraction of those who have heard those three<br />
Colorado Springs Volunteers<br />
words, “you have cancer.”<br />
The need is so great and<br />
we can’t begin to meet the<br />
demands.<br />
In this season of giving,<br />
a gift from you will help<br />
<strong>CanCare</strong> volunteers provide<br />
the gift of hope to thousands<br />
of people who are struggling with a diagnosis of cancer. You<br />
can make a difference. As Robert Green Ingersoll said, “We<br />
rise by lifting others.” With your gift you will be helping<br />
people you will never know live better lives that you are not a<br />
part of ….What a gift!<br />
<strong>CanCare</strong> WelComes hines as<br />
a CorporaTe parTner<br />
Hines is a large, family-owned, real estate investment, development and<br />
management firm with offices in more than 100 cities on four continents. The<br />
firm’s Senior Vice President of Human Resources, Stephanie Fore comments,<br />
“Unfortunately, cancer has touched all our lives in some way and will continue to do so.<br />
We are proud to partner with <strong>CanCare</strong> in bringing hope, along with a vast array of resources, to help employees cope with the disease,<br />
whether the diagnosis is personal, or that of a friend or family member.”<br />
<strong>CanCare</strong> is excited to announce the formation of two new congregational partners:<br />
Grand Lakes Presbyterian Church of Katy and Johns Creek Presbyterian Church of Johns Creek, GA.<br />
Both congregations will be highlighted in our next issue.<br />
<strong>CanCare</strong> is proud to welcome 17 new<br />
<strong>CanCare</strong> volunteers who completed<br />
training July 29-31 at <strong>CanCare</strong><br />
member congregation, First Presbyterian<br />
Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado. We<br />
give a special thanks to Rev. Jim Singleton for<br />
graciously allowing the space to host our event,<br />
and Rev. John Goodale, Dr. Matthew Logsdon,<br />
Shirley Wilson-Barnes, Don Pollitt, Rod<br />
and Leslie Bernsen, Ed and Dorothy Abbott,<br />
Phyllis McCoy, Joe Dionisio, Susie Jenkins,<br />
Kathy Nelson, Linda Pung, Sheila Maio and<br />
Kay Dingwell for their help. Our active group<br />
of existing <strong>CanCare</strong> volunteers in Colorado<br />
also completed continuing education classes<br />
during the same weekend.<br />
www.cancare.org 2<br />
Some of <strong>CanCare</strong>’s Colorado-based volunteers: Kathy Nelson, Linda Pung, Susie Jenkins, Bill Monroe,<br />
Leslie Bernsen, Rod Bernsen, Dorothy Abbott, Ed Abbott, Phyllis McCoy
<strong>CanCare</strong> Welcomes Mark<br />
Downs as the New Director<br />
of Congregational and<br />
Corporate Relations<br />
Mark Downs began his career in 1993 as an ordained<br />
Presbyterian minister. In 1997 he was diagnosed with<br />
Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and took 18 months off<br />
to fight and survive the cancer. During that time he discovered<br />
and received care from <strong>CanCare</strong>. As a survivor, he went through<br />
the training and became a <strong>CanCare</strong> volunteer. Now he is bringing<br />
his experience as a pastor and as a<br />
cancer survivor to help <strong>CanCare</strong>. Mark<br />
is a graduate of Westminster College<br />
in Fulton, Missouri and Columbia<br />
Theological Seminary in Decatur,<br />
Georgia. He is married to Rev. Becky<br />
Downs, pastor of John Knox Presbyterian<br />
Church and they have two children,<br />
Lizzie a sophomore at Houston Christian<br />
High School (a Silver Spur), and Sam,<br />
a first grader at Holy Spirit Episcopal (a<br />
Lego master builder). In his spare time, Mark likes to mess with<br />
anything that has a motor.<br />
Welcome <strong>CanCare</strong>’s 55th<br />
Class of Volunteers<br />
<strong>CanCare</strong> is proud to welcome 23 new <strong>CanCare</strong> volunteers<br />
who completed training October 14-16 at <strong>CanCare</strong><br />
member congregation, Christ Church United Methodist<br />
in The Woodlands. We give a special thanks to Rev. Daniel T.<br />
Hannon, for graciously allowing the space to host our event, and<br />
Rev. Marc Donaldson, Dr. Luis Camacho, Rachel Birney, Sherea<br />
Cary, Teresa Doyle, Pam Salter, Jennifer Kiser, Larry Latimer,<br />
Renee Messina, Tom and Kyle Siefert and of course our lead<br />
trainers Pat Hogan-Korge and Roy Davis, who assisted in making<br />
the training a success. Congratulations to our newest group of<br />
volunteers.<br />
3<br />
GifT of hope Cards<br />
This holiday season give a “Gift of Hope.” This<br />
opportunity offered by <strong>CanCare</strong> allows you to give<br />
a gift in someone’s honor or memory and proceeds<br />
will make a difference in the lives of cancer patients and<br />
their families.<br />
To give<br />
a “Gift of<br />
Hope,” make<br />
a donation to<br />
<strong>CanCare</strong> for<br />
any amount.<br />
Mark your<br />
check with<br />
“A Gift of<br />
Hope Card,”<br />
and include the recipient’s name and address,<br />
and who the donation is honoring.<br />
Mail to: <strong>CanCare</strong>, Inc. 9575 Katy Freeway, Suite 428,<br />
Houston, TX 77024. Your designated recipient will receive<br />
a special card letting them know of your gift to <strong>CanCare</strong>, in<br />
their honor or in memory of their loved one.<br />
annual ClerGY lunCh<br />
<strong>CanCare</strong>’s Annual Clergy Luncheon was held November<br />
2, 2011 at member congregation, Chapelwood United<br />
Methodist Church. Guest keynote speaker, Virgil Fry,<br />
D.Min., Executive Director, Lifeline Chaplaincy, lead the topic<br />
“Difficult Journeys: Companionship, Hope and Renewal.” A very<br />
special thanks to HBL Architects and JD Miner Systems for their<br />
long time commitment of once again underwriting the event,<br />
and to new <strong>CanCare</strong> Director of Congregational and Corporate<br />
Relations, Mark Downs, for sharing his personal story as a cancer<br />
survivor, <strong>CanCare</strong> client and now <strong>CanCare</strong> volunteer.<br />
Tommy Thompson, Virgil Fry, Mark Downs<br />
713.461.0028
2nd annual <strong>CanCare</strong> ConvenTion<br />
Congratulations to <strong>CanCare</strong>’s<br />
outstanding award recipients<br />
at the 2nd Annual <strong>CanCare</strong><br />
Convention:<br />
• Big Heart Award<br />
Gladys Williams<br />
• Volunteer Team of the Year<br />
Bill and Sarah McCall<br />
• Spirit of Volunteerism<br />
Carol Lewis, RN and Oncology Nurse<br />
Navigator at Memorial Hermann The<br />
Woodlands Hospital<br />
• Hospital Volunteer of the Year<br />
Chris Tinsley, Hospital Volunteer at<br />
The Methodist Hospital<br />
• Volunteer of the Year<br />
Dianne Stewart<br />
James and Dianne Stewart<br />
Pam Blacklock, Estelle and Duane Gilbert,<br />
Teresa and Bruce Triplett<br />
Chris Tinsley<br />
Members of the Board served as hosts for<br />
the “<strong>CanCare</strong> Event Exhibit” and guests<br />
were entertained by comedian and worldrenowned<br />
juggler Scott Burton during<br />
dinner.<br />
Day 2 of the Convention offered Pilates<br />
by Sandy Castillo, followed by volunteer<br />
continuing education and fellowship, with<br />
the following breakout sessions:<br />
• Palliative Care: What is it? by Dr. Don<br />
Dumlao with PCS<br />
• Spirituality and Cancer by Sue Teall,<br />
author of “Why Me? Oh God,<br />
Why Not Me?”<br />
• Dealing with Cancer in the Workplace<br />
by Joe Bontke, EEOC<br />
Wanda Johnson and Jan Tobias<br />
Dr. Mauro Ferrari , Kim Akel, Bill Hall<br />
www.cancare.org 4<br />
The luncheon keynote concluded our day<br />
with his touching presentation on “The<br />
Future of Nanomedicine and Treating<br />
Cancer” by Dr. Mauro Ferrari, President<br />
and CEO of The Methodist Hospital<br />
Research Institute. The audience gave him<br />
a standing ovation for the work he has<br />
contributed to the future of treating cancer.<br />
Heartfelt thanks to the Volunteer<br />
Programs Committee who planned<br />
the event, as well as all of the speakers,<br />
volunteers and guests who participated in<br />
the <strong>CanCare</strong> Convention. For more photos<br />
of this year’s <strong>CanCare</strong> Convention, go to<br />
https://www.facebook.com/<strong>CanCare</strong>Inc.<br />
It was a wonderful success and plans are<br />
already underway for the 2012 <strong>CanCare</strong><br />
Convention!<br />
John and Jill Pavlas,<br />
Beverly and Warren Bright<br />
Elizabeth Tate-Davis & Sandy Castillo
Volunteer Spotlight:<br />
Jan dennard: 40-Year survivor<br />
and 20-Year <strong>CanCare</strong> volunTeer!<br />
Reverend Janet Dennard has been<br />
helping others for most of her 86<br />
years. Born in Chicago and raised<br />
in Cleveland, she attended the College<br />
of Human Ecology at Cornell University<br />
and earned a Bachelor of Science degree<br />
in Nutrition / Institutional<br />
Management.<br />
In 1971, Jan was diagnosed<br />
with breast cancer. She shares,<br />
“I was under the care of a<br />
surgeon for my cancer, not<br />
an oncologist.” A few years<br />
later, she started her career at<br />
M.D. Anderson and worked<br />
there from 1978 – 1995 as a<br />
patient care coordinator. After<br />
becoming a trained <strong>CanCare</strong><br />
volunteer in 1990, she was able<br />
to use her <strong>CanCare</strong> training to<br />
help others she met through<br />
MDA.<br />
In 1990, she learned about<br />
<strong>CanCare</strong> from friends who<br />
attended Memorial Drive<br />
Presbyterian Church. They told<br />
her about a new ministry that<br />
was started by Anne and Mac<br />
Turnage. After talking with<br />
Anne, she decided this was a<br />
great organization to join and<br />
was trained in <strong>CanCare</strong>’s 2nd<br />
training class. Jan was a oneon-one<br />
support volunteer for<br />
many years and still uses her<br />
<strong>CanCare</strong> training at Eagles Jan Dennard<br />
Trace, a retirement community,<br />
to help others who are battling cancer.<br />
“I’m a trouble-shooter by nature and<br />
<strong>CanCare</strong> taught me how to be a good<br />
listener. I learned that I can be there for<br />
someone without always having to solve the<br />
problem. Between my work with <strong>CanCare</strong><br />
and being a volunteer for Community of<br />
Hope, I continue to be there for people<br />
who need support. We call it our ‘Hallway<br />
Ministry’ and we pay attention to what is<br />
going on with other residents around us. If<br />
we notice that someone could use a friend<br />
to talk to, we respond by letting them know<br />
they are not alone.”<br />
As a commissioned pastoral care<br />
minister with Christian Church (Disciples<br />
of Christ,) Jan helps lead the Sunday<br />
services at Eagles Trace and finds guest<br />
clergy to lead the monthly community<br />
worship services. “My dad was a minister<br />
so I’m very comfortable with all religious<br />
denominations. It is important to us that<br />
everyone feels welcome, regardless of their<br />
choice of faith.”<br />
In the early days of <strong>CanCare</strong>, Jan was<br />
one of the planners who helped open doors<br />
for others to get support, regardless of their<br />
beliefs. <strong>CanCare</strong> was founded in Memorial<br />
5<br />
Drive Presbyterian Church. She shares,<br />
“We knew we had something special. Back<br />
then, people were less open to talking<br />
about cancer. We were doing something<br />
innovative and wanted to share it with<br />
others… we wanted to be there for anyone<br />
who wanted support, regardless of<br />
religious affiliation.” Jan has also<br />
served for many years as a <strong>CanCare</strong><br />
Board of Representatives member,<br />
representing Bethany Christian<br />
Church and Eagles Trace.<br />
She was married to Walter<br />
Holmes, also known as “Big Red”<br />
for 48 years. After his long and<br />
traveled career with Shell Oil, they<br />
settled in Houston in 1970. Jan<br />
married her second husband, Roy<br />
Dennard, in 1997 and they were<br />
married for four years.<br />
As one of seven women in her<br />
family who have experienced breast<br />
cancer, she hopes that it stops with<br />
her. In addition to her involvement<br />
with support organizations<br />
like <strong>CanCare</strong>, she has been a<br />
dedicated member of Philanthropic<br />
Education Organization, an<br />
organization with the mission<br />
of promoting educational<br />
opportunities for women, for<br />
65 years. Although passionate<br />
about all of the organizations she<br />
supports, the most important<br />
role she plays is being the mother<br />
of three, grandmother of six and<br />
soon-to-be great-grandmother in<br />
November. Jan also enjoys reading, music,<br />
singing in the choir and traveling when she<br />
has the opportunity.<br />
When asked about her years of service<br />
caring and supporting others, and 40 years<br />
as a cancer survivor, she smiles and says,<br />
“God isn’t finished with me yet. He has<br />
always had plans for me, and still keeps<br />
coming up with new plans for me. I have a<br />
lot of gratitude that I am still able to serve<br />
God each and every day of my life.”<br />
713.461.0028
19Th annual<br />
<strong>CanCare</strong> Golf ClassiC<br />
What an enormous success! The<br />
<strong>CanCare</strong> Golf Classic banquet<br />
and auction were bigger and<br />
better than ever. Special thanks to Paige<br />
Helms, who shared her personal journey as<br />
a caregiver to her daughter, Jacqueline.<br />
The golf tournament and the traditional<br />
party holes were fun and festive once again<br />
this year. Congratulations to Tim Conklin,<br />
lucky winner of the helicopter golf ball<br />
drop for the extraordinary wine raffle.<br />
<strong>CanCare</strong> is grateful to all of the volunteers<br />
who helped make the event a success, and<br />
a special thanks to Lakeside Country Club,<br />
the <strong>CanCare</strong> Golf Committee and Golf<br />
Committee Chair, Rick Kruger.<br />
Big thanks to the Friends of <strong>CanCare</strong><br />
Board, Friends Advisory Board and Young<br />
Friends of <strong>CanCare</strong> Board, whose members<br />
spent months planning for this event. We’d<br />
like to send a personal thank you to our<br />
super star volunteer, Emily Prus, who went<br />
above and beyond the call of duty once<br />
again! And a special thanks to Warren<br />
Bright for his amazing photography.<br />
1st Place Gross: Hayes/Irwin/Irwin/Newton –63<br />
1st Place Net: Bonora/Crittenden/Jacks/Dougherty–52<br />
Putting Contest winner: Robert Mann<br />
Chipping Contest winner: Sis Singletary<br />
Longest Drive Men Hole #13:<br />
Hdcp. 0-8 Vann Vandervoort<br />
Hdcp. 9-16 Don Childress<br />
Hdcp. 17 & Over Doug Fehr<br />
Longest Drive Ladies Hole #13:<br />
Hdcp. 13 & Over Iva Ann King<br />
Paige Helms, Rick Kruger, Jacqueline Helms<br />
Donna Lewis, Emily Prus, Anita Bullers<br />
19th<br />
Annual<br />
Nancy Tucker soaring high for the<br />
Helicopter Ball Drop Wine Raffle<br />
www.cancare.org 6<br />
Paige Helms, Robert Mann<br />
Nan McCreary, Betty Griffin<br />
Sonya Villamagna, Lauren Disler, Lindsay Scovil<br />
Nancy Tucker, Beverly Bright<br />
Is it the Rockettes or the Fishettes!<br />
Amy Tanner, Heather Davis<br />
John Jacks, Steve Crittenden, Pete Bonora
<strong>CanCare</strong> Board MeMBer sPotlight:<br />
sonYa villamaGna<br />
“I always understood why God chose to put cancer in my life. Not only did I get to learn at a<br />
very young age what living is all about, which I feel is a gift, but I feel extremely blessed to have<br />
the opportunity to help others. I feel like my cancer diagnosis taught me to fight hard, love hard,<br />
live hard and give hard!” – Sonya Villamagna.<br />
In December 2005, Sonya noticed a<br />
small bump at the base of her neck.<br />
It tested positive for cancer, and she<br />
was diagnosed with stage II Hodgkin’s<br />
lymphoma. Less than a month later, she<br />
began five months of chemotherapy and<br />
radiation.<br />
Sonya was forced to change her life around,<br />
even quitting dance. “This was the hardest<br />
part for me,” recalls Sonya, “because dancing<br />
is my passion…it’s how I express myself.” She<br />
was a Houston Rockets Power Dancer for<br />
two years before her diagnosis, and when her<br />
cancer treatments were over, she joined the<br />
Houston Texans Cheerleaders.<br />
She danced with them for<br />
three years. “I wouldn’t change<br />
the way things happened for<br />
the world,” says Sonya. “It<br />
was hell, but it opened up my<br />
world in so many ways: how<br />
to live life, the value of others,<br />
relationships.”<br />
Sonya has been a <strong>CanCare</strong><br />
volunteer since 2006, served on<br />
the Young Friends of <strong>CanCare</strong><br />
for six years and is the current<br />
Sonya Villamagna<br />
chair of that board. Sonya<br />
was introduced to <strong>CanCare</strong> through her<br />
church. When she initially called to become<br />
a volunteer, she was not far enough out of<br />
treatments. About six months later, <strong>CanCare</strong><br />
contacted her about going through volunteer<br />
training. “For some reason, I was very<br />
apprehensive about re-living my cancer past<br />
and almost did not go through with training”<br />
she says. “With encouragement from my<br />
boyfriend, Grant, I decided to go for it and<br />
not only did I become a trained <strong>CanCare</strong><br />
volunteer, I was a member of the <strong>CanCare</strong><br />
staff for several years too.”<br />
Reflecting back Sonya remembers, “I wish<br />
I had another young person to talk to while<br />
I was going through treatment. As I sat in<br />
the waiting room and the treatment areas<br />
in my oncologist’s office, I saw no one even<br />
remotely close to my age there to whom<br />
I could relate. I didn’t feel like there was<br />
anyone that I knew who could understand<br />
what I was going through. That is why<br />
I believe in <strong>CanCare</strong>! I wish my family<br />
and I could have spoken to someone who<br />
understood exactly what we were all going<br />
through.”<br />
“My cancer diagnosis taught me how<br />
strong my family is and that they will always<br />
be there to support me. They are my world!<br />
There were days when I didn’t<br />
want to speak to anyone but<br />
my mom, dad, sisters and<br />
brother-in-law patiently stayed<br />
by my side.”<br />
The day before she started<br />
chemotherapy, she read a book<br />
about what to expect. At the<br />
end of each chapter was a<br />
quote, and one of them really<br />
struck her: “The journey is the<br />
reward” (Tao Proverb). She<br />
thought to herself, “This is<br />
going to make me a stronger<br />
person.” She typed up the quote and put it in<br />
a picture frame so she could look at it every<br />
day.<br />
Sonya’s story of triumph and survival<br />
is certainly one to cheer about. Now, she<br />
enjoys spending time with her boyfriend<br />
and two dogs. “I love learning new things<br />
and pushing my body to its limits,” she says.<br />
She stays busy with activities such as boxing,<br />
yoga, competitive salsa dancing, volunteering<br />
for the Houston SPCA and training for<br />
the El Paso 5K with Team <strong>CanCare</strong> which<br />
is January 15, 2012. Anyone interested in<br />
running or walking with <strong>CanCare</strong> can call<br />
713-461-0028 for info on how to sign up!<br />
7<br />
u P C o M i n g e v e n t s<br />
<strong>CanCare</strong> holiday open house<br />
Tuesday, December 6<br />
team <strong>CanCare</strong> in the Chevron<br />
houston Marathon, Aramco<br />
houston half Marathon & the el<br />
paso 5k<br />
Sunday, January 15<br />
team <strong>CanCare</strong> Victory party<br />
Monday, January 30<br />
<strong>CanCare</strong> Support Volunteer<br />
training<br />
February 17-19<br />
<strong>CanCare</strong> and Memorial<br />
hermann “Back to the Future:<br />
living With and Beyond Cancer”<br />
Saturday, February 18<br />
hospital Volunteer & Support<br />
Volunteer Continuing education<br />
Saturday, April 14<br />
<strong>CanCare</strong> Support Volunteer<br />
training in Atlanta, gA<br />
Weekend of April 20-22<br />
Young Friends Crawfish Boil<br />
Saturday, April 28<br />
<strong>CanCare</strong>’s 18th Annual national<br />
Cancer Survivors Day luncheon<br />
Tuesday, May 22<br />
2011<br />
2012<br />
&<br />
713.461.0028
9575 Katy Freeway, Suite 428<br />
Houston, Texas 77024<br />
713.461.0028<br />
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED<br />
DATED MATERIAL<br />
www.cancare.org<br />
Please remember these people in your prayers:<br />
Barbara Bahrt, Nancy Bennett, Peggy Countryman, Kay Dingwell,<br />
Becky Dyke-Duran, Mavis Feldman, Karen Fentress, Beth Fish,<br />
Family of Devon Floyd, Karen Gentry, Charlotte Gorelick, Bill Henriksen,<br />
Howard Honaker, Alex Imlay, Cynthia Johnson, Liza Kutner, Ann Liggio,<br />
Felicia Mapp, Frank Mohler, Milton Oglesby, Marcia Powell,<br />
Doris Praino, Claudette Rogers, Alan Steiner, Dianne and James Stewart,<br />
Kim Thibodeaux, Maria Tramontin, Family of June Votaw, Richard Wheatley,<br />
Thomas Whitworth, Beverly Willis<br />
CAnCAre iS noW on FACeBook AnD tWitter. FolloW<br />
uS For the lAteSt neWS<br />
AnD eVent photoS.<br />
We thank ConocoPhillips for their 2011 pledge of printing<br />
to <strong>CanCare</strong>, Inc. This generous donation enables us to share<br />
<strong>CanCare</strong>’s message of Hope through this publication, About Life.<br />
We appreciate the continued support of ConocoPhillips and<br />
its employees.<br />
Nonprofit<br />
Organization<br />
U.S. Postage<br />
PAID<br />
Houston TX<br />
Permit #7983<br />
T H E M I S S I O N O F C A N C A R E : To i m p r o v e t h e q u a l i t y o f l i f e f o r c a n c e r p a t i e n t s a n d t h e i r f a m i l i e s .<br />
<strong>CanCare</strong> Staff<br />
Nancy Tucker, President and CEO<br />
Tommy Thompson, COO and EVP<br />
Kim Akel, Director of Program Services<br />
Nicole Dixon, Director of Communications<br />
Mark Downs, Director of Congregational and<br />
Corporate Relations<br />
Amy M. Tanner, Director of Development<br />
Anne McCluan, Assistant to the President<br />
Debbie Edmondson, Business Manager<br />
Pat Weatherspoon-Hall, Volunteer and Client<br />
Services Coordinator<br />
Rachel Gonzales, Development and<br />
Communications Assistant<br />
Bert Davila, Administrative Assistant<br />
Editor: Nicole Dixon, nicoled@cancare.org. Graphic design production: Hanagriff<br />
King Design, Inc. Contributing writers: Kim Akel, Nicole Dixon, Rachel Gonzales,<br />
Anne McCluan, Nancy Tucker. Contributing photographers: Warren Bright, Nicole<br />
Dixon, Gladys Williams. About Life is published quarterly by <strong>CanCare</strong>, Inc., a volunteer<br />
ministry for and by cancer patients and survivors and their families.<br />
<strong>CanCare</strong> is a nonprofit 501 (c)(3) organization located at 9575 Katy Freeway,<br />
Suite 428, Houston, Texas 77024. Phone: 713.461.0028 or 1.888.461.0028 Fax:<br />
713.461.0704, www.cancare.org.<br />
<strong>CanCare</strong> Board of Directors<br />
T. Jay Collins, Chair<br />
Richard A. Hollar, Treasurer<br />
Hal B. Sharp, AIA, LEED<br />
AP, Secretary<br />
Jill Pavlas, Legal Counsel<br />
Patricia Hogan-Korge, M.A.,<br />
Lifetime Director<br />
Richard A. Lindermanis,<br />
Lifetime Director<br />
F. Max Schuette, Lifetime<br />
Director<br />
Warren E. Bright<br />
Tim D. Conklin<br />
Bernard M. Fields<br />
Michael S. Gallagher<br />
Harvey G. Garza<br />
William W. Hall, Jr.<br />
Titus H. Harris III<br />
B. Cory Hawryluk<br />
John A. Holland<br />
Liza Kutner<br />
David L. Solomon<br />
Carol Surles<br />
Sonya R. Villamagna<br />
<strong>CanCare</strong> Medical Advisory<br />
Board<br />
Robert A. Behar, M.D.<br />
Garth A. Beinart, M.D.,<br />
F.A.C.P.<br />
E. Brian Butler, M.D.<br />
Luis H. Camacho, M.D.,<br />
M.P.H.<br />
Jorge G. Darcourt, M.D.<br />
Bonnie S. Glisson, M.D.<br />
Daniel E. Lehane, M.D.<br />
Janet E. Macheledt, M.D.,<br />
M.S., M.P.H.<br />
Rick Q. Ngo, M.D., F.A.C.S.<br />
Lois M. Ramondetta, M.D.<br />
Manoj A. Reddy, M.D.<br />
<strong>CanCare</strong> Board of<br />
representatives<br />
Liza Kutner, Chair<br />
Dorothy Abbott<br />
Darlene Alexander<br />
Dianne Gautier Anderson<br />
Marcia Barham<br />
Gloria Barnes<br />
Philip David Belanger<br />
Rachel G. Birney<br />
Marty R. Buck<br />
Charlotte Y. Burns<br />
Bitsy Cleveland<br />
Bernard “Sonny” Conner<br />
Sharon D. Cooper, R.N.<br />
Florida Cornelius-Cooper<br />
Ruth M. Davies<br />
The Rev. Mrs. Janet C.<br />
Dennard<br />
Nancy D. Devlin<br />
Helen Duesing<br />
Nila Fenton<br />
Donna Q. Fong<br />
Connie Marie Fowler<br />
Roberta D. Ganek<br />
Jill Gentsch<br />
Rabbi Dan M. Gordon<br />
David Harris<br />
Schottsie Hill<br />
Trixie Jobe<br />
David Johnson<br />
Lisa Johnson<br />
The Rev. Dr. Robert Joiner,<br />
Jr.<br />
Elizabeth Kabat<br />
Leah Katz<br />
Frances S. Kittrell<br />
Cindi D. Kuykendall<br />
Gary P. Lamb<br />
Larry Latimer<br />
Jim LeBlanc<br />
Sarah C. McCall<br />
The Rev. Ms. Kim Meyers<br />
Nancy B. Morgan<br />
Marian A. Murphree<br />
John W. Overton<br />
Michael L. Parker<br />
Sally Peterson<br />
Emily Prus<br />
Sherry C. Ritcheson<br />
Virginia Rogers<br />
Betsy Schauer<br />
Roger Schuelke<br />
Lynn H. Schulenberg<br />
Russell K. Schulze II<br />
The Rev. Mrs. Lillie Seals<br />
Joann Seuser<br />
Andrew E. Smith<br />
Mikki Wunderle<br />
Friends of <strong>CanCare</strong> Board of<br />
Directors<br />
Carol Surles, President<br />
Beth Black<br />
Cynthia Bryant<br />
Pat Hogan-Korge<br />
Nan McCreary<br />
Gretchen Odum<br />
Emily Prus<br />
Nancy Radecki<br />
Mary Jane Roeder<br />
Connie Schneider<br />
Fran Story<br />
Melanie Turzillo<br />
Dixie Ward<br />
Bonnie Whitten<br />
Friends of <strong>CanCare</strong> Advisory<br />
Board<br />
Kerry McKay, Chair<br />
Ginger Blanton<br />
Jason Cain<br />
Mary Chavanne-Martin<br />
Jennifer Cunningham<br />
Marilyn Drane<br />
Damien Garza<br />
Jessica Wilt-Garza<br />
Kathy Garza<br />
Lynn Adams Hancock<br />
Alicia Jansen<br />
Dwight Keys<br />
Linnea Kob<br />
Renee Renfroe<br />
Doug Reuschel<br />
Suzanne Thomas Fleckman<br />
Jennifer Tweeton<br />
Michael D. Westmoreland,<br />
Pharm.D., BCOP<br />
Nancy Wilfong<br />
Young Friends of <strong>CanCare</strong><br />
Board of Directors<br />
Sonya Villamagna, Chair<br />
Kendall Buckalew<br />
Kyle Callender<br />
Brianna Davis<br />
Nicholas Dickerson<br />
Philip Dunlap<br />
Taylor Edwards<br />
Will Hedges<br />
William Jochetz<br />
Lisa Kollenberg<br />
Chris Lewis<br />
Chad Lyons<br />
Sergio Marazita<br />
Rosie Murphy<br />
Catherine Najvar<br />
Rebecca Putterman<br />
Whitney Rape<br />
Ryan Russell<br />
Lindsay Scovil<br />
Michael Sieger<br />
Molly Vitela<br />
Mary Catherine White