August 2017

A Lesson about Komen Kentucky

August is always an exciting time of year as children (and some parents) go back to school. It's a time for new beginnings, fresh adventures, and learning.

At Komen Kentucky, we have some important findings to share with you, too. For example, we just compiled the numbers of the individuals we assisted in 2016 through our partners, staff, and outreach groups with the money raised at our Races for the Cure and galas:

- 3,423 got mammograms
- 1,379 assisted by patient navigators
- 892 received treatment support services
- 528 helped with diagnostic services
- 466 supported by transportation assistance
- 296 relieved through compression garments
- 216 helped by financial assistance
- 51 encouraged by survivor programs
- and 70,280 were reached with educational information!

While we are on the topic of schools, if you have connections to a school that would like to get involved in raising awareness or funds for Komen, please check out our new Pink Out eToolkit. It's a great resource!  

In closing, I want to give a special thank you to those who participated in our BIG WIG campaign during July (it's not too late to issue your own challenge, see below!), and the sponsors who made it possible: Delta Dental of Kentucky, WHAS 11, Red Tag Digital, Buzz Advertising, iHeart Media and OUTFRONT Media.  

I also want to encourage everyone to register for the Louisville or Lexington Races for the Cure. These events are our primary fundraisers and will help us continue to provide the services and programs listed above.

Thank you for showing WHAT PINK MAKES POSSIBLE!

Lynda Weeks
Executive Director

BIG WIG CHALLENGE

Help fight breast cancer and take the BIG WIG Challenge! 

1. Put on something pink.

2. Post a video or picture online challenging 8 of your friends, family or co-workers to participate in the Komen Big Wig Challenge (since 1 in 8 women in the US will be diagnosed with breast cancer during her lifetime). 

3. Direct everyone to BigWigKy.org to donate (be sure to tag Susan G. Komen Kentucky on your post so we can share your challenge with others and the media).

4. Make it your own and HAVE FUN!

SURVIVOR SPOTLIGHT 

Melba Smith

Melba Smith is a breast cancer survivor who has been a volunteer for the Lexington office of Komen Kentucky for more than two years. She started as an outreach volunteer for Colors of Promise, SGKK’s educational ambassador outreach program for African Americans, and is now the community outreach chair. With her involvement, Colors of Promise was able to reach over 8,000 parishioners during its Pink the Pews events last October, educating women of color on the warning signs and risks of breast cancer. If you would like your place of worship to be involved in this year's event, please contact our office. 

Melba works for UK Healthcare and enjoys spending time with her grandchildren: Corey, Corbyn, Courtlynn, Mariah, and TJ. She also loves to travel - especially on cruise ships to places like Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, the Bahamas, and Belize.

Women like Melba are the inspiration for the work we do at Komen Kentucky and why we Race for the Cure in October.  We hope you will join us by organizing a team of your own. 

*If you are willing to share your Survivor story to provide hope and encouragement to others battling the disease, please contact us. We can help write it. The stories and pictures collected may be used in our monthly eNewsletter, on our website, and/or in SGKK educational or marketing materials.

RACE FOR THE CURE

Where Does the Money Go?

One of the questions we get asked is "how is the money raised used?" The Louisville and Lexington Races for the Cure help fund breast cancer research as well as grants to LOCAL medical and non-medical partners to provide screenings, treatment support, and survivor programs, as described above in Lynda Weeks' article. For more information about this year's partners, click here.

Register for the 2017 Races today and start fundraising so that we can continue to help those in need!

Louisville, Saturday, October 14 at Louisville Slugger Field
Lexington, Saturday, October 21 at Robert F. Stephens Courthouse Plaza

Donate and Win!

New this year - every Race for the Cure participant who makes a SELF-DONATION of $25 or more to either Race (Louisville or Lexington) will be entered into a drawing for 25,000 American Airlines AAdvantage Miles (one winner for each Race). The miles may be used for most main cabin roundtrip tickets within the 48 contiguous states or for gift cards to retailers such as Macy's, Target, Sears, and Home Depot. Every increment of $25 will get you an additional entry; so if you donate $50, you'll be entered twice, $100=four entries, etc. Drawings will be held at 1:30pm EST December 4, 2017. American Airlines is a national Race for the Cure sponsor.

Race Volunteers/Committees

It takes a lot of people to organize Races of this size, so if you would like to get more involved in either event, we invite you to join one of our Race committees or become a volunteer: 

Louisville Race Committee will meet on Tuesday, August 22, 5:30pm at the Komen Kentucky main office, 1201 Story Ave., Ste. 205, Louisville. Contact Lynn (502.495.7824). for more information. 

Lexington Race Committee will meet on Tuesday, September 5, 5:30pm at the Komen Kentucky satellite office, 207 N. Upper St., Ste. D, Lexington. Contact Ally (859.368.7133) to get involved.

August is National Breastfeeding Month

Did you know that August is National Breastfeeding Month? There have been many studies that show breastfeeding is beneficial to both the mom and the baby! One of the benefits is that it lowers the risk of breast cancer, especially in premenopausal women.

Breastfeeding also lowers the risk of:

• Type 2 diabetes
• Ovarian cancer
• Postpartum depression

To learn more, click here for additional information.

Upcoming Events

AUGUST 12, noon-4pm - Onsite Registration for the Louisville Race for the Cure at the New Balance store (1983 S Hurstbourne Pkwy, Louisville). Anyone who registers onsite will receive their choice of a bonus long-sleeve Race t-shirt from a past year. Come out and see us! 

AUGUST 12 - Lexington Legends Pink out the Park, 6:35pm (sponsored by LBX). Come out to the ballpark for a celebration of survivors and their families. Survivors will walk onto the infield and release pink balloons before the game against the Charleston RiverDogs. After the balloon release, catch nine innings of exciting Legends baseball as the team wears special Breast Cancer Awareness Jerseys that will be raffled off during the game.

AUGUST 31 - Thank you to Mark's Feed Store (910 Beaumont Centre Parkway, Lexington) for hosting a benefit night for Komen Kentucky.  Fifteen percent of all carryout or dine-in orders will be donated to SGKK when you present the attached flyer. Tell your family and friends! 

VOLUNTEER WITH KOMEN

Now that the school year is underway, many people start thinking about volunteering. Komen would love for you to get involved with our organization! To learn about involvement opportunities, join us at the next Volunteer Training Session in our Louisville office on Tuesday, August 15, 5:30-6:30pm, where we will share information about Komen Kentucky, breast cancer, and upcoming volunteer needs. (contact Richelle to register at 502.495.7824) and/or sign up for our monthly Volunteer Update that lists openings for the upcoming month. The next update will go out Friday, August 11.

If you are part of a group looking for service hours, please contact us! We have a number of projects that would be great for student or volunteer groups.

JASON ALDEAN HONORING BREAST CANCER SURVIVORS

Country music star Jason Aldean is honoring breast cancer survivors across the country through his tour in 2017! You can nominate yourself or a loved one to be entered to win 2 tickets to his concert in Louisville on October 20 and a special VIP backstage meet-and-greet experience. Learn more: komen.org/jasonaldean #Aldean4Komen