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July 21, 2006
Almaden’s ‘Team Gayle’ and ‘The Bahama Mamas and Papas’ raise money,
awareness about the disease at American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life
By Candy Richter
Staff Writer
There are many reasons why Relay for Life is the number-one fund-raiser for the American Cancer Society.
In fact, a visit to the Campbell Community Center’s Buccaneer Stadium on July 15 would have shown about 1,300 of those reasons—walking the track, working the tent-site fund-raisers, rallying for a cause.
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| Over 1,300 people participated in the seventh Annual Relay for Life event held on July 15-16 at the Campbell Community Center’s Buccaneer Stadium track. According to event chair Jenna Boyce, the 24-hour event raised $320,000 for the American Cancer Society. |
Now in its seventh year and going strong, Campbell’s annual Relay for Life event has developed a reputation as not only an important community fund-raiser for the American Cancer Society, but also as a welcoming, high-energy event that has attracted teams from all over the San Jose area and beyond.
Two such teams are The Bahama Mamas and Papas and Team Gayle, both from Almaden. Although these teams are very different in some respects—one is a Relay veteran and one has joined for the first time—they share a mission of education and awareness that seems to be a common thread among many of the Relay teams.
The Bahama Mamas and Papas
It was seven years ago that some of the folks from The Bahama Mamas and Papas team came over to the Campbell Relay, following the close of the Los Gatos site in 1999.
What makes The Bahama Mamas and Papas unique is that the team is made up mostly of employees of Advanced Professionals Insurance Brokerage, an Almaden-based business owned by teammates Andrea Trudeau and Diane Borrison, also of Almaden.
Borrison has also served as a member of the American Cancer Society board for the past 13 years.
“This is actually a company team-building event for us,” said Trudeau, who was diagnosed with stage-one breast cancer in November of 2004.
‘…It whispers, so listen’
This is the message printed on Team Gayle’s teal wristbands. Diagnosed with ovarian cancer four years ago, Gayle Barnes and her Relay team is committed to education and awareness for a disease that often exhibits minimal symptoms.
The following information has been culled from the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition Web site:
Ovarian cancer symptoms
- Pelvic or abdominal pain or discomfort
- Vague but persistent gastrointestinal upsets such as gas, nausea, and indigestion
- Frequency and/or urgency of urination in the
absence of an infection
- Unexplained weight gain or weight loss
- Pelvic and/or abdominal swelling, bloating and/or feeling of fullness
- Ongoing unusual fatigue
- Unexplained changes in bowel habits
If symptoms persist for more than two weeks, consult your physician.
Persistence of symptoms
When the symptoms are persistent, when they do not resolve with normal interventions (like diet change, exercise, laxatives, rest) it is imperative for a woman to see her doctor.
Persistence of symptoms is key. Because these signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer have been described as vague or silent, only around 10 percent of ovarian cancer is found in the early stages. Symptoms typically occur in advanced stages when tumor growth creates pressure on the bladder and rectum, and fluid begins to form.
Every woman should undergo a regular rectal and vaginal pelvic examination. If an irregularity of the ovary is found, alternatives to evaluation include transvaginal sonography and/or tumor markers. The most common tumor marker is a blood test called the CA-125.
For more information, visit www.ovarian.org, or contact the National Ovarian cancer Coalition at 1-888-OVARIAN |
“We started this team before I was diagnosed,” said Trudeau. She explained that over the years the team had served as an “outlet for their clients” and many that had been diagnosed with cancer would join their team to participate in Campbell’s Relay.
Working with Sponsor my Team, Advanced Professionals has helped to bring on board two new teams to Relay this year alone.
“Diane’s mission behind all this has been to spread the word that Relay exists, is a great event for a great cause and to get more and more involvement throughout every community,” said Trudeau.
With a fund-raising schedule that begins in January, some of the events that the team has sponsored have included an annual bocce ball tournament and silent auction held at Campo di Bocce in Los Gatos, a Texas hold ‘em tournament, and a rummage sale.
“At our bocce event we have a silent auction,” said Borrison. “We’ve had our auction three years, and people who come—the guests—as soon as it’s over, they ask, ‘OK, so when are you going to do this again?’ [Its] because they have a good time.”
Last year, The Bahama Mamas and Papas Team raised over $30,000 for the American Cancer Society earning them a top spot in the Campbell Relay’s fund-raising annals. For 2006, the team ranked fourth in fund-raising for the Relay event, earning over $18,000.
“For us it’s not just about the money,” said Borrison. “It’s about talking to people about what the American Cancer Society stands for – about research and the programs that are available in the community.”
Team Gayle
With a team name coined by her book club mates, Gayle Barnes’ Relay team went from zero to tents and teal stars in about five weeks. But when you’ve got a support group that has thrown you “mad hatter” parties after your chemo treatments to stock up on stylish chapeaux, nothing is insurmountable.
Diagnosed with ovarian cancer four years ago, Barnes, in her teal team T-shirt and baseball cap is upbeat and tireless in her efforts to dispel myths about living with cancer.
“For the most part, people who don’t know me don’t know I have cancer,” said Barnes. “I’m healthy and that’s what I want to project, that you can live a full and active life. My motto is finding fun in the fight.”
Barnes commented that many people don’t seek treatment because they are afraid of its side effects. She recommended that anyone facing cancer treatment visit the Web site www.thesurvivormovie.com.
“Their whole premise is ‘I have cancer, it doesn’t have me,’” said Barnes. “It doesn’t define who I am. That’s pretty far down on my list.”
Although taking such a personal matter into the public eye was hard for Barnes at first, she was “in awe” by the fact that people wanted to support and fund-raise for her.
“These are my dear friends,” said Barnes. “We’ve been together for 10 years. This is a visible expression of their commitment to me.”
“We really want to get the word out about ovarian cancer, said Barnes. “Our bands say ‘It whispers, so listen.’ It is a silent disease. You don’t really have any symptoms until you’re [in the advanced stage] for most of us. Our goal is to educate and just to bond together and have some fun.”
According to Barnes, Team Gayle will definitely do this again. However, she does acknowledge that the team needs to get more comfortable about asking for money. They have already thought about fundraising ideas for next year.
To date, Team Gayle has raised over $5,000 for ACS.
According to Campbell Relay Chair, Jenna Boyce, the 2006 Campbell event has raised $320,000 as of this printing.
If you would like to donate to Campbell’s Relay for Life, funds will be accepted until Aug. 31, 2006. Visit www.cancer.org for donation and other information.
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