We are shooting for a goal of raising $100,000 through the Home Run Derby this year and need YOUR help to get there. If you want to step up to the plate as a batter, register today. If you want to volunteer your time for a specific location, please complete the volunteer form. If your business is interested in sponsorship opportunities, check them out! See you out at the ballpark!

Over 60 women were assisted by our patient advocacy efforts.  Nearly 1,000 breast cancer survivors, advocates, health care professionals, and community and corporate leaders attended the PA Breast Cancer Coalition Conference in October. $100,000 was given to Dr. Craig Meyers at the Penn State College of Medicine to further his promising research into a virus that kills breast cancer cells that could potentially lead us to a cure. Grassroots Partners raised over $425,000 to enable us to continue our efforts on behalf of women and their families.

In 2012, we remain committed to representing, supporting and serving breast cancer survivors and their families in Pennsylvania. We renew our commitment to the goal of finding a cure for breast cancer now…so our daughters won’t have to.  Please join us!

The PA Breast Cancer Coalition is pleased to have joined with Curves of Ephrata for a fundraiser throughout October, breast cancer awareness month. Marsha Lausch (left) of Curves of Ephrata presented a donation of $2,062 to Heather Hibshman (right), executive director of the PA Breast Cancer Coalition.

Curves held a silent auction made up of items donated by members throughout the month of October. Thanks for your support right in our backyard!

Throughout her own diagnosis, Miller used her sense of humor on her journey. She went through her first breast cancer surgery wearing a clown nose and shoes while carrying a kazoo. For her second, she wore a pink feather boa. Miller’s sense of humor and optimism made her journey a memorable one for those around her.

Referencing “Pink Ribbon Stories,” Miller says “there are stories that will warm your heart; make you laugh; cause you to pause for reflection; and others that simply tell a story of a courageous journey through life. There are words and stories to encourage, inspire and make you smile. This book is one way I can show those who are battling breast cancer that they are not alone.”

“Pink Ribbon Stories: A Celebration of Life” is available online at http://pbcc.me/PinkRibbonStories or through your favorite e-reader’s store. Proceeds benefit the PA Breast Cancer Coalition.

About the Author:

Tammy Miller is an international speaker, author and speech coach. Her speaking topics include humor and healing, presentation and communication skills, brain aerobics, motivation and achieving goals. She is the owner of Tammy Speaks, LLC of Port Matilda, PA, and she enjoys helping others build their communication skills and achieve their goals in life. As an author, Tammy has written, “The Lighter Side of Breast Cancer Recovery,” about her personal journey of using humor to deal with her cancer diagnosis. And, “My Life is Just Speech Material… And, So is Yours,” is a valuable guide to discovering what to say and how to say it with your next presentation. She can be reached at www.tammyspeaks.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 more information, please call 800-377-8828 or visit www.PABreastCancer.org.

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Media Contact: Kevin Smith
717-721-2580 x109
Kevin@PABreastCancer.org

On Thursday, November 3rd, I had the pleasure of meeting with Lauren Egenrieder, a senior at Bermudian Springs High School. She held a 5K race on October 8th at Lake Meade to benefit the PBCC.

As her senior class project, Lauren worked with her advisor Mr. Jared Nace (pictured right) to develop the event. Thanks to sponsorships, registrations, and donations, Lauren raised $4,400 for the PBCC!

Thanks Lauren for your hard work and congratulations on your success!

HARRISBURG, Pa.

Through this PBCC funded research, Dr. Meyers discovered that adeno-associated virus type 2 (AAV2) kills breast cancer cells in every stage in the laboratory in tissue culture dishes. AAV2 is a nondisease-causing virus that kills human breast cancer cells and often infects humans. Preliminary research using AAV2 to treat breast cancer cells in a mouse model has also yielded promising results but needs further study.

“I’ve been working with this significant nondisease-causing virus that kills human breast cancer cells in the laboratory because we know that breast cancer has a complex structure and differing types,” said Dr. Craig Meyers, professor of microbiology and immunology at Penn State College of Medicine.

Referring to these exciting new findings as, “what, for decades, the medical community has worked towards and the rest of the world has been waiting for,” Pat Halpin-Murphy, president and founder of the PBCC said that her pioneering organization is thrilled to be part of Dr. Meyers’discovery of a virus that kills all stages and all types of breast cancer cells in the laboratory.

“Breast cancer survivors, their families, and all girls and women and those that care for them look forward to the final phase of this research–clinical trials with humans. While that final step may still be years away, it gives us hope that we will discover a cure so our daughters and granddaughters won’t have to. Dr. Meyers’ break-through is a real-world example that research is our best weapon in battling breast cancer,” added Halpin-Murphy.

Halpin-Murphy went on to say that “each day, 32 women in Pennsylvania are diagnosed with breast cancer and over 2,000 die every year from the devastating disease.”

“We are extremely grateful to the Coalition for their generous support of Dr. Meyers’ research,” said Richard J. Courtney, Ph.D., chair, Department of Microbiology and Immunology at Penn State College of Medicine. “The recent findings of his research group are very exciting; however, much additional research remains to be done. This grant will be instrumental in helping Dr. Meyers and his colleagues to further advance this highly promising breast cancer research ongoing within his laboratory.”

The PBCC established and oversees the Refunds for Breast Cancer Research program, which uses donations from Pennsylvanians to fund vital research grants across the state. State residents may contribute all or part of their state income tax refund to the Refunds for Research program to help find a cure. To date, Pennsylvanians have donated over $2.8 million with the average donation from taxpayers being $8. Thanks to the PBCC’s program, nearly 70 research grants have been awarded to outstanding Pennsylvania scientists.

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 and granddaughters won’t have to. For more information, visit www.PABreastCancer.org or call 800-377-8828.

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Media Contact: Kevin Smith, 717-903-8783

• Stahl Sheaffer Engineering – 1,445 points
• Bill Nye’s Guys – 1,300 points
• Blesh’s Bombers – 1,210 points
• Energy CAP/Second Mile – 1,185 points
• Automated Records “Chumley’s Clean Sweep” – 1,075 points
• Videon Central “Struble’s Cleanup Crew” – 970 points
• Barton Associates – 930 points
• The Biohazards – 745 points

• Team Hershey – 2,070 points
• Team Belmar – 1,580 points
• C&G Savings Bank Team 2 – 1,395 points
• Community State Bank of Orbisonia Team 1 – 1,325 points
• Altoona First Savings Bank Team 1 – 1,275 points
• Enterprise Car Rental – 1,275 points
• Altoona First Savings Bank Team 2 – 1,240 points
• C&G Savings Bank Team 1 – 1,065 points
• Laurel Eye Clinic – 965 points
• Community State Bank of Orbisonia Team 2 – 780 points
• Curve Front Office – 710 points
• Forever Broadcasting – 440 points

• Rep. Eugene DePasquale Team 1 – 1,615 points
• Rep. Scott Boyd’s Bombers – 1,600 points
• Sen. Mike Brubaker Team 2 – 1,525 points
• Ameriprise Team 2 – 1,410 points
• Sen. Mike Brubaker Team 1- 1,340 points
• Heany Boulder, LLC – 1,300 points
• Universal Technical Institute Team 1 ‘Power Team’ – 1,280 points
• Universal Technical Institute Team 2 – 1,275 points
• Guns of Roses Team 1 – 1,225 points
• Ameriprise Team 1 – 1,200 points
• Blakinger, Blyer & Thomas, P.C. Team 2 – 1,195 points
• Foot Locker – 1,165 points
• Average Joe’s – 1,150 points
• Guns of Roses Team 2 – 1,095 points
• Rep. Eugene DePasquale Team 2-  1,045 points
• Larson Design Group Team 2 – 1,015 points
• Bald is Beautiful Lancaster – 1,000 points
• Blakinger, Blyer & Thomas, P.C. Team  1 – 925 points
• Dart Container – 865 points
• Penn State Hershey Cancer institute Team 2 – 805 points
• Penn State Hershey Cancer institute Team 1 – 560 points
• Larson Design Group Team 1 – 495 points

Single Batters:

• Scott Bell – 370 points
• Greg Gunter – 295 points
• Andrew Hackart – 175 points

Home Run Hitters:

• Jordan Stoltzfus from Sen. Mike Brubaker Team 2 – 2
• Colbe Herr from Rep. Eugene DePasquale Team 1 – 1

The Lancaster Sunday News hung out for the day and grabbed some shots of Andrew Hackart and the Guns of Roses. Check out the story online.

It was great to see fans cheering on the batters and volunteers working together in the outfield.  The teams put up some high scores and it was a close battle all the way to the end!  Rep. Eugene DePasquale’s Team 1 ultimately scored the 4 hot pink bats, but everyone is a winner for coming out and supporting the fight against breast cancer! Take a look at the photos from our day in Lancaster!