Finding a cure now...so our daughters won't have to.

Archive for the ‘News’ Category

Pink Glove Dance Video Goes Viral, Raises Thousands for PBCC

Posted By on November 12th, 2012 at 8:48 am | 0 comments.

Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center knows a thing or two about the power of pink.  More than 600 faculty, staff, and students at the hospital recently sported pink surgical gloves and raised awareness about early detection in the annual Pink Glove Dance competition hosted by Medline.

Hospitals and non-profits across the country compile videos every year in hopes of raising money for local and national breast cancer organizations.  Penn State Hershey used a strong social media and online presence to promote its 2012 video submission for the PA Breast Cancer Coalition.  Each hospital department choreographed its own routine to Katy Perry’s “Part of Me” with featured guests like the Penn State Nittany Lion and patients of all ages.  Hundreds of thousands of votes were tallied and we are thrilled to announce that Penn State Hershey was awarded second place in the contest with a prize of $5,000!  The Medical Center has generously offered to donate all of that money to the PBCC.

“This may be the most creative and enthusiastic show of support the PBCC has ever seen.  It’s incredible,” said PBCC President and Founder Pat Halpin-Murphy.  “The PA Breast Cancer Coalition is truly grateful for the time, dedication and generosity of the Penn State Hershey staff.

Each day, 32 women in Pennsylvania are diagnosed with breast cancer.  Each year, more than 2,000 of those women will lose their lives to the disease.  With the help of the Penn State’s contribution, the PBCC aims to improve the quality of breast cancer education, research, programming and outreach in the state.   Thank you Penn State Hershey!

In case you didn’t get a chance to watch Penn State’s Pink Glove Dance video, you can watch it here:  Pink Glove Dance 2012
You can read more about Penn State Hershey’s Cancer Institute and the competition here:  Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute

 

Why Will YOU Give?

Posted By on November 6th, 2012 at 2:03 pm | 0 comments.

This November 30, The PA Breast Cancer Coalition will join hundreds of nonprofits, organizations and businesses in Lancaster County for the Extraordinary Give.

So, what is this whole Extraordinary Give thing, anyway?  It’s a 24-hour online giving marathon hosted by the Lancaster County Community Foundation during which the PA Breast Cancer Coalition has an opportunity to raise thousands of dollars to support women and families in Pennsylvania.  Beginning at midnight, November 30, anyone in the world can log on to ExtraGive.org, search for the PBCC and give a donation of $25 or more.  During that time, the Community Foundation will choose donors for special incentives.  For example, during the “Midnight Madness” hours of 12am – 3am, the Foundation will select a donor at random and throw in a little “Extra” to whichever organization that person chose to support.  Click Here for more information on prizes or head to ExtraGive.org.
Find out why many PBCC supporters have chosen to donate:

Will YOU Give to the PBCC?

If you’re undecided, we’ve chosen the Top 5 Reasons why you should consider it:

1.  All of the money will stay right here in Pennsylvania.   $.83 of every dollar we receive goes to support our programs and services.

2.  The need is great.  32 women in Pennsylvania will be diagnosed with breast cancer TODAY and more than 12,000 will be diagnosed this year.

3.  Research.  Scientists and doctors in PA are breaking ground on possible new treatments every day, but they cannot continue their work without funding from nonprofits like the PBCC.

4.  Advocacy.  There are no questions too big or too small.  The PBCC staff works to find the answers, treatments and resources for women every day.

5.  Because we need to find a cure now.  Each one of our programs at the PBCC supports that mission. From our Friends Like Me Care Packages to our Refunds for Research program, the PBCC relies strongly on contributions from the community to continue our work.

For 20 years, we have been fortunate to have generous donors, volunteers and Grassroots Partners.  The PBCC has set an Extraordinary Give goal of $3,200 – $100 for each woman in PA diagnosed with breast cancer every day.  Help us continue our mission for the next 20 years by setting aside a little “Extra” and participating in this year’s Extraordinary Give on November 30!

#PBCCgive
ExtraGive.org
pbcc.me/Give

 


WEBSITE COUNTDOWN

PBCC President and Founder Pat Halpin-Murphy responds to breakthrough breast cancer study

Posted By on September 24th, 2012 at 2:38 pm | 0 comments.

Researchers have unveiled what they believe is a hallmark study for breast cancer patients and the doctors who treat them. Their findings, published Sunday in the journal Nature and the New York Times, are expected to pave the way for new treatment options in the coming years.

The project, funded by a larger federal grant, focused on a genetic analysis of breast cancer, which kills more than 12,000 women in Pennsylvania each year.  The scientists monitored the tumors of 825 breast cancer patients in the US. As a result, they found four distinctive types of breast cancer. Within those types, researchers say they identified at least 40 genetic alterations that might be attacked by drugs. Many of those drugs are already being developed for other types of cancers with the same mutations.

Researchers and patient advocates stress that it could still take years of research and clinical trials to incorporate the insights into new treatments. They say a wide variety of drugs will most likely need to be created and tailored to individual tumor types.

“This is a tremendous new development that will alter the way women with breast cancer are treated,” said PBCC President and Founder Pat Halpin-Murphy. “Of course, this is the first step, but I believe it’s the first step toward a cure for many types of breast cancer.”

The four types identified in the study are basal-like cancers, luminal A and B cancers, and HER2-enriched cancers. From here, doctors and researchers are hoping clinical trials and dozens of separate drug studies will help to develop new breakthroughs in treatment from the findings. Dr. Elizabeth Stark, a breast cancer patient and biochemist at Pfizer, says she knows it will take time, but she’s hopeful the research will lead to a cure. “In 10 years, it will be different,” she said. “I know I will be here in 10 years.”

To read the complete New York Times Article, visit this link: NY Times Article

To read the complete journal Nature study, visit this link: journal Nature study

The PA Breast Cancer Coalition represents, supports and serves breast cancer survivors and their families in Pennsylvania through educational programming, legislative advocacy and breast cancer research grants. The PBCC is a statewide non-profit organization dedicated to finding a cure now…so our daughters won’t have to. For more information, please call 800-377-8828 or visit www.PABreastCancer.org.

Bats, boas and Barnstormers: Lancaster teams Take a Swing Against Breast Cancer®

Posted By on July 31st, 2012 at 1:22 pm | 0 comments.

What a perfect way to wrap up derby season 2012!  15 teams and 2 individual sluggers battled it out on the field for bragging rights and those coveted pink bats this past Saturday at the home of the Lancaster Barnstormers.  After a rain-out earlier this month, our dedicated batters and volunteers showed their support yet again with an incredible turnout.  In the end, “Guns of Roses Team 1″ from the Lancaster Police Department secured the top spot with 1,560 points.  The group enters the derby each year to support their co-worker, Judy, a breast cancer survivor of two years.  The day’s highest individual score went to Greg Gunter of Team UTI who smashed two homers over the Clipper Magazine Stadium fence and racked up 535 points!

Here is a complete look at this weekend’s standings:

Guns of Roses Team 1 – 1,560 Points (Lancaster winners!)

UTI Team 1 – 1,545 points (Greg Gunter with 2 home runs!)

Swinging for 2nd - 1,280 points

UTI Team 2 - 1,240 points

Guns of Roses Team 2 – 1,220

RKL – 1,170

Wells Fargo Team 2 – 1,150

Susquehanna Bank Team 2 – 1,025

Susquehanna Bank Team 1 – 975

Scared Hitless – 920

Wells Fargo Team 1 – 890

Dart Container Team 1 – 885

Dart Container Team 2 - 860

Team Emerald Team 2 – 830

Team Emerald Team 1 – 745

Individual Batter Scott Bell – 335

Individual Batter Judy Millan – 115

 

Congratulations to our home run hitter!

Greg Gunter - 2

Thank you to the awesome staff and crew at Clipper Magazine Stadium for making Derby #8 a success!  You can check out all of the Lancaster Derby photos by clicking here.  Don’t forget to stay up-to-date on PBCC news and events by following us on Twitter and Facebook!

Did we have fun or what?  Derby season would not have been complete without every one of our batters, volunteers and spectators!  Thank you for all of your hard work and support as we fight to find a cure to this disease.  We hope to see you again soon!

Batters of all ages step up to the plate in Altoona

Posted By on July 30th, 2012 at 10:26 am | 0 comments.

The Skys the LimitOn Wednesday, July 25, batters, fans and a plethora of volunteers came out to the Peoples Natural Gas Field, home of the Altoona Curve, to participate in the second-to-last home run derby of the season. Take a Swing Against Breast Cancer® at the Altoona Curve started out with a group of “little sluggers” stepping up to the plate to take their turn at the batting cage. This group, comprised of 3 batters under the age of 15, knocked off the socks of spectators as they made some incredible hits to the outfield and truly held their ground. Look out for this group in the years to come at Altoona!

Thanks to all of our teams, and the groups of volunteers who stayed with us throughout the day to shag balls in the outfield as the sun beat down on them…that’s dedication! We had groups from AT&T, Best Buy, YTI Career Institute and the Altoona Curve Junior. We couldn’t have been there without you, thanks for your support!

Check out the list of teams below, and our solo home run hitter!

Home Run Hitters:

Thanks to everyone who came out, including the staff of the Altoona Curve for their help and enthusiasm at our event. View all of the photos from the Altoona Derby at Peoples Natural Gas Field here.

Swinging for the Fences in Williamsport

Posted By on July 27th, 2012 at 3:47 pm | 0 comments.

On Tuesday, July 24th, Take a Swing Against Breast Cancer® rolled into Historic Bowman Field, home of the Williamsport Crosscutters, for the 5th annual home run derby. Batters, volunteers and fans came out on this sticky summer morning to support the PA Breast Cancer Coalition and our efforts to fight breast cancer across the state. Check out the list of teams below, and we hope to see you out at the ballpark in Williamsport next year!

 

Special thank you to all the media partners who came out to the event, including WNEP Channel 16, WBRE-TV and the Williamsport Sun-Gazette. Check out the video clip from WBRE here. Additionally thanks to the staff at the Crosscutters and our great volunteers who stayed throughout the entire day!  View all of our photos from the Williamsport Derby here. Next up: Lancaster on Saturday, July 28! Follow us @PBCC for live tweets during game days!

A Message from Heather

Posted By on July 23rd, 2012 at 2:21 pm | 0 comments.

Hello friends.  It is with very mixed emotions that I write this today.  After 18 memorable years with this remarkable organization, my time here is coming to an end.  I have learned so much first as an intern…then as a fledgling part-time employee…then as Program Director…and finally as Executive Director.  I am confident that nowhere else could I have gotten such a wide range of experience, or encountered so many amazing people.

People like the ABCs support group…the Play it Again for Charity hockey fans…the Garden Spot Motorcycle Club members…Refunds for Research grant recipients…and the folks at Bill Martel Racing to name a few.

People like the incomparable staff:  Dolores, Tricia, Jen, Kim, Carol, Kristen, Natalie, Kevin, Sarah, Jessie, and the many interns who have worked with us over the years.  You make it a joy to come to work every day.  And I’ve never laughed as hard as I have with all of you.

And people like Pat Halpin-Murphy.  A more effective leader one will never find. She is a trailblazer, an innovator, and is never at a loss for how to better this organization.  She taught me to never take “no” for an answer.  She taught me the power of being positive.  And she taught me that a hug can absolutely be transmitted through the phone lines.

It has been an honor working for all of you, and I know that one day the cure to this disease will be found.  And I know that the PBCC will be at the forefront.  It’s where we belong.

 

With fond memories,

Heather Hibshman

 

 

Go PINK at Pocono Promotes Breast Cancer Education and Early Detection

Posted By on June 22nd, 2012 at 9:52 am | 0 comments.

For Immediate Release
June 22, 2012

For PA Breast Cancer Coalition:
Heather Hibshman, 717-721-2580
For The Martel Group:
Rob Ziemba, 717-480-8610

Harrisburg, Pa. – The summer heat of August may be three months away — but a new fundraising partnership is already burning up the pavement for a statewide non-profit organization. The PA Breast Cancer Coalition (PBCC) recently teamed up with Lebanon-based Bill Martel Racing to promote breast cancer awareness and education at the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Pocono Mountain 125 and The Pennsylvania ARCA 125 – Presented by Menard’s. These events will take place during the first weekend of August at The Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, PA.

Go Pink at Pocono benefits the PA Breast Cancer Coalition and event organizers are searching for supporting sponsors to join them in victory lane. Multiple sponsorship levels are available and include race car and race truck logos, event tickets, pit tours, driver meet-and-greets and more! Inaugural Go Pink at Pocono race t-shirts will also be for sale and are sure to be a hit. Race veteran Kyle Martel of Lebanon will drive one-of-a-kind pink vehicles during two events at the Pocono Raceway.

“This unique event will take the message of breast cancer awareness and early detection to thousands of Pennsylvania families,” said Pat Halpin-Murphy, president and founder of the PBCC. “We are extremely grateful to Bill Martel Racing for joining forces with the PBCC.”

“We are both honored and excited to promote the PBCC at one of the most visible races in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series – and for one of the best causes in Pennsylvania,” said Rob Ziemba, V.P. Sales and Marketing for Bill Martel Racing and The Martel Group. “The winner will be the PBCC because the money stays in Pennsylvania.”

Ziemba concluded by saying “we are racing for a reputable Pennsylvania organization and have the right race team and driver in place to help raise as much money and awareness as we can. We want to cross the finish line with the PBCC and do our part to help find a cure for breast cancer now…so our daughters won’t have to.” 

To sponsor Go Pink at Pocono, and to request additional information, please contact Rob Ziemba at rziemba@hanovercoldstorage.net. For more information about Bill Martel Racing, visit www.kylemartel.com.

The PBCC represents, supports and serves breast cancer survivors and their families in Pennsylvania through educational programming, legislative advocacy and breast cancer research grants. The PBCC is a statewide non-profit organization dedicated to finding a cure now…so our daughters won’t have to. For information call 800-377-8828 or visit www.PABreastCancer.org.

###

Summer edition of FrontLine now available online

Posted By on June 22nd, 2012 at 9:27 am | 0 comments.

Take a read through our summer edition of FrontLine, our quarterly newsletter. If you would like to register for the 2012 Conference, to sign up for the Take a Swing Against Breast Cancer home run derby, or to find out more about our Grassroots Partners, take a browse through our site!

The PA Breast Cancer Coalition Showcases Traveling Photo Exhibit In Luzerne County at Hazleton Health & Wellness Center

Posted By on June 15th, 2012 at 10:24 am | 0 comments.

PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 14, 2012

Contact:   Jennifer Pensinger
Program Director
610-763-5937
717-721-2580 x101

HAZLETON, Pa. – The PA Breast Cancer Coalition (PBCC) announces its partnership with the Luzerne County Exhibit Committee to bring its traveling photo exhibit, 67 Women, 67 Counties: Facing Breast Cancer in Pennsylvania, to the Hazleton Health and Wellness Center from June 14th through June 24th.

Pat Halpin-Murphy, president and founder of the PBCC, encourages everyone to visit the exhibit. “Breast cancer is not a rare event separate from the fabrics of our everyday lives. It impacts our mothers, daughters and friends. We must educate ourselves about this disease and fight to find a cure now…so our daughters won’t have to.”

“We are very happy to have been given the honor to host the exhibit. It further reinforces the importance of breast cancer awareness and early detection as key components in fighting breast cancer,” said Jim Edwards, President/CEO of the Greater Hazleton Health Alliance. “This exhibit also compliments the Women’s Services, including digital mammography, that we provide at the Hazleton Health & Wellness Center and the already established events that we host every October during National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.”

An opening reception is scheduled for Thursday, June 14th at 6 p.m. The exhibit and reception are FREE and open to the public. To RSVP for the opening reception, please call 800-377-8828 x304. 

This work of art features women from each of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties, along with a message about how breast cancer has touched their lives. The women reflect the diversity of Pennsylvania, and their stories show the impact of breast cancer on themselves, their families and their communities. The exhibit encourages women to learn about early detection and celebrates life, courage, hope and the dignity of women and families who have battled breast cancer. 67 Women, 67 Counties: Facing Breast Cancer in Pennsylvania is sponsored by the PBCC and funded by the Pennsylvania Department of Health.

The PBCC represents, supports and serves breast cancer survivors and their families in Pennsylvania through educational programming, legislative advocacy and breast cancer research grants. The PBCC is a statewide non-profit organization dedicated to finding a cure now…so our daughters won’t have to. For more information, please call 800-377-8828 or visit www.PABreastCancer.org.

 ###