Hoops for Hope

Mt. Carmel is known for a sense of community that exists beyond the basketball court. With that in mind, Coach Chris Vitous championed the expansion of the Annual Holiday Hoops Classic at the Mount to include a tribute to those families who, by no choice of their own, have become breast cancer warriors.

The Hopes for Hope event was held Wednesday December 26, 2018 at 7:30 pm to pay tribute to breast cancer warriors, before the first MC game against Incline High School at 8 pm. Our tribute included a few brief messages of grace and triumph from breast cancer warriors, a celebration of pink in the gym, a tribute poster, and a passing of pink donation buckets to benefit this year's breast cancer charity: Young Survival Coalition.

Fight Like a Girl

A few years ago six women decided to do their small part in helping to make some sort of a difference in this world. When they all stopped to think where to put their efforts, cancer (unfortunately) seemed to be the common thread that had affected each of them in a very personal way. With that said, their “We Fight Like A Girl” breast cancer fundraiser was born!

Although these women are just friends, they have become so close, they’re practically sisters. They now refer to each other as “sissy”. Breast cancer, well any cancer for that matter, has affected each member of the group. Unfortunately, it has really "hit home" with one member in particular. She dealt with lumps, mammograms, breast MRI's, and breast ultrasounds since she was 23 years old! Her mother successfully battled breast cancer twice and she made an ultimate, selfless decision to have a prophylactic bilateral mastectomy with reconstructive surgery when she was 27 years old (just like Angelina Jolie).

On October 5, 2018 We Fight Like A Girl celebrated their 5th year hosting their breast cancer fundraiser. It was an evening filled with dancing, laughter, story-telling, celebrating, remembering and honoring. They set the bar high, hoping to raise $10,000. They surpassed that goal and raised close to $13,000!

Les Visages du Cancer

Les Visages du Cancer | The Faces of Cancer was held on September, 13th at The Adolphus Hotel in downtown Dallas. Over 150 friends, family, colleagues and breast cancer supporters joined the soiree to dine on french inspired hors d'oeuvres and shop the luxury silent auction.

The art show for the evening focused on a model's journey through breast cancer. Through her lens, Radz of Radz D. Photography was able to display the many emotions a woman feels during such a health crisis. We are proud to have raised money for the Young Survival Coalition and look forward to giving back in more ways to the breast cancer community.

Jessica Harwick

In April 2017, my best friend, Lauren Massi, was diagnosed with breast cancer at 25 years old. I can't pretend to have any idea what that feels like. I do know that she has handled this news with the strength, grace and determination that makes her the wonderful woman that I have known since day one at Penn State. If you want to glimpse into her world, she's writing an amazing blog.

Cancer is a big word, and one that's hard for anyone to hear. To hear it at twenty five is especially unexpected. In Lauren’s words, "There’s childhood cancer and then there’s adult cancer, and being in your mid-20’s doesn’t quite fit into either category. I’m an adult, but this process makes me feel far too young."

When I found Young Survival Coalition, it immediately resonated with me. The fact that there is a whole organization that is dedicated to helping women who are battling cancer in this weird space as a young adult; is amazing.

I ran a Women's Only 10K in Central Park on June 10th, to raise money for this amazing cause. It seemed appropriate to run this race - designed for women to celebrate all that womanhood represents. As I trained to run in this race, I continued to think of Lauren, making training not so difficult to bear.

Within the first day my fundraiser I was able to raise all $500 of my goal. By the time the race and my fundraising had ended, I raised $1,025! I’m extremely grateful to have been able to raise this much money not only for YSC, but for Lauren.

Rachel Pittman Birthday

Through chemotherapy, radiation and surgery, that notebook (the Newly Diagnosed Navigator) was my guide. That’s why YSC is so important to me. By the time I had finished all of my treatment, other than the hormone therapy, I was about to have my 30th birthday. I thought what better way to celebrate than to bring all of my friends and family together and raise money for YSC?

Read more here.

DEBORAH A. LEVINE, MD – PINK LEMONADE STANDS

2015 YSC Champion of the Year Award
This award recognizes an individual who has shown exceptional personal dedication to YSC by creating fundraising and awareness opportunities to support YSC via his/her own personal network and initiatives.

When my twin boys were pre-schoolers, we used to host a lemonade stand at the end of our driveway and donate the money we raised to a local charitable organization. It became an activity the boys enjoyed and it hopefully taught them something about charity. Fast forward a year or two. My first cousin, who is like a sister to me, is diagnosed with stage IIB breast cancer, eight months after the birth of her second child.

I try to help her as best I can; I am a working mom, pregnant with my third child, and I live one hour away from my cousin. I contact doctors, research therapies, cook food and keep in touch with her family. She fights the disease and after surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy, she wins. But I still feel the need to help her and others with breast cancer.

One day, I am speaking with another mother after my son’s play date. She tells me she is going to In Living Pink that evening because her friend is very active in Young Survival Coalition. I research YSC and realize it epitomizes what I am looking for: an organization that benefits young women like my cousin.

I started supporting YSC in 2004 with our Pink Lemonade event. Young women and their kids are helping other young women with kids while they battle cancer. This grassroots event has raised over $75,000. We have had a stand every Halloween at our home in Port Washington on Long Island, and we have had stands throughout October (Breast Cancer Awareness Month) in our town, and many other stands in Manhattan, Bronx, Brooklyn, Westchester, New Jersey, Connecticut, Illinois, Ohio, Florida, Texas and California. One of our supporters actually hand-built me a beautiful pink lemonade stand, and numerous people have donated money, made flyers, baked goodies, created chocolates and stood at our stand with my family late into the night to raise money for YSC.

Daily Greens™ Retail Promotion

In 2014, Daily Greens™ partnered with Young Survival Coalition through a neck hanger campaign during the month of October. Coupons were placed on all product in stores during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, offering our customers $.50 off each purchase of a bottle of Daily Greens™. For each of these coupons redeemed, Daily Greens™ donated $.50 to the YSC. A total of 20,000 coupons were deployed, resulting in a $10,000 donation to YSC in 2014.

Why we partner with YSC: Daily Greens™ was founded by Shauna Martin, a 10-year breast cancer survivor. Shauna was diagnosed with breast cancer at 33. After two years of traditional treatment for breast cancer, including chemotherapy and a double mastectomy, she discovered the healing power of food, and – in particular – the benefits of drinking a daily green juice.

Compelled to share this healing power with others, Shauna founded Daily Greens™ in late 2012 when she took 60 bottles of her green juice to the farmers market in Austin, Texas. By 2015, Daily Greens™ had become a national brand with distribution throughout the United States in retail outlets such as Whole Foods, Kroger and Safeway. Shauna has committed to giving back a portion of sales to organizations that provide services to young women battling breast cancer. YSC is providing just such services to women across the nation.

Personal connection to YSC: During Shauna’s initial year of treatment for breast cancer, she attended the YSC annual conference . She was moved to tears when she walked into a room filled with 400 other young survivors. For the first time since starting her journey, she no longer felt alone. In the years that followed, Shauna attended several other conferences, sometimes with her younger sister, Tamara, also a young survivor who went through treatment the same year as Shauna. They both found an amazing sisterhood of other young survivors at each conference, many of whom they are still in touch with today.

About Daily Greens™
Founded in 2012 by avid juicer and breast cancer survivor Shauna Martin, Daily Greens™ is an Austin, Texas-based organic cold-pressed green juice company created to encourage a healthy and balanced lifestyle for all. Daily Greens™ is committed to creating pure, healthy and delicious green juices. Six pounds of certified organic and non-GMO produce – the equivalent of nine USDA servings of vegetables and fruits - are pressed into every 16-ounce bottle of the core greens juice line. Additionally, Daily Greens™ offers a line of 12-ounce bottles for the core greens and hemp milks lines, along with a kid-friendly line of cold-pressed smoothies. A portion of Daily Greens’™ sales is donated to organizations that assist young women battling breast cancer. To learn more, visit the website, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Dance for the Cure®

Dance for the Cure® is a performance benefit by Studio 10 Dance and Cheer. We hosted our 12th Dance for the Cure on July 17th and raised over $7,000! During the past ten years, we have raised more than $70,000 for breast cancer. We promote the event within our local community through social media, flyers in local businesses and word of mouth.

Each year, we have a large attendance of approximately 1,500 people. We partner with Young Survival Coalition because several of our Studio 10 mothers have been personally blessed by this organization, and one of our mothers, Kristin Rose, is the Missouri State Leader for YSC. Please visit the Studio 10 website for more information about us and Dance for the Cure®!

CVGS BREAST CANCER AWARENESS GAME

Cumberland Valley Girls' Soccer (CVGS) hosts an annual Breast Cancer Awareness/Pink-Out Game. They encourage all families, friends and fans to attend and participate in their fundraising activities, which include a raffle of gift baskets, concession stand, half-time shoot-out against the CV Eagle, and a 50/50 raffle.

In 2014, CVGS invited a YSC speaker, Cumberland Valley graduate and CVGS alum, Jenna Lawson, to share her remarkable story of breast cancer diagnosis, treatment and survival during their annual dinner before the CVGS Breast Cancer Awareness Game. Tiffany O'Donnell has joined Jenna and will give the pre-game talk to this year's team.

CVGS is honored to have received YSC's Circle of Support Award and shares this award with the Carlisle, Red Land and Cumberland Valley communities who have supported our Breast Cancer Awareness Game since its inception.

This year's eighth annual event will take place October 4th as CV takes on the Little Lions of State College. Please continue to check our website for further information on this exciting event!

BOWLING FOR BREAST CANCER

Bowling for Breast Cancer is an annual bowling tournament hosted by Kappa Epsilon’s Omega Chapter from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Pharmacy. Kappa Epsilon prides itself on participating in various breast cancer awareness projects throughout the nation. Our Omega Chapter hosts Bowling for Breast Cancer to increase breast cancer awareness on campus and within our local community. We are proud to take part in this every year, while supporting YSC’s mission for more than eight years.

In 2014, we hosted our eighth annual Bowling for Breast Cancer. During the weeks leading up to the event, we hosted a bake sale and a silent auction of gifts donated by local business owners. Our event gathered 16 teams on October 25, 2014, and raised more than $2,100 for YSC. Bowling for Breast Cancer has been one of our biggest events of the year, and we are planning to continue it for years to come.

For more information about us, please check out our chapter website and the Kappa Epsilon website.

THE BIG PINK COOK-OFF

After being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2012 at the age of 28, my husband and I decided we wanted to do something to help other young women facing this disease. With help from our family and friends, we started The Big Pink Cook-Off, a fundraiser benefitting Young Survival Coalition.

The Big Pink Cook-Off is a barbeque competition, with the South's best at-home grill masters cooking on Big Green Eggs. Those attending the cook-off are given the opportunity to sample and vote on the teams' pulled pork BBQ and homemade sauces. Thanks to support from local businesses, we also offer a silent auction and a raffle for a Big Green Egg.

In 2013, we raised $14,000 and in 2014, we raised more than $16,000 for YSC. The next Big Pink Cook-Off will be held in spring 2015, so get your taste buds ready for more great barbeque and your hearts ready to support your mothers, sisters and daughters in their fight against breast cancer.

For additional information or to become involved in the Big Pink Cook-Off, please email Laura.

DIVE INTO PINK

Dive Into Pink was founded by Allison Vitsky, a 13-year breast cancer survivor who was only 33 when diagnosed. Allison was diagnosed with breast cancer in the month of October, so she always felt compelled to participate in the breast cancer awareness events going on at that time of the year.Unfortunately, she always felt more drawn to diving since October is also considered one of the best times of the year to dive. Every weekend, she would guiltily pass up breast cancer awareness events to feed her guilty pleasure.

She eventually got tired of feeling guilty and decided to find a way to bring both things together. So in 2015, Allison Vitsky held her first Dive Into Pink fundraiser. Her and a few friends chartered a boat filled with pink dive gear. While doing what they love they were able to donate over $1200 to Young Survival Coalition and Project Pink Tank.

LADIES CHARITY GOLF

The Worthington Hills Country Club Women’s Golf Association sponsored the annual Ladies Charity Golf Event on June 7th, 2016 to raise funds for YSC. With the help of the Country Club, we were able to easily secure a location and audience, its members! I had our fundraiser featured in the club newsletter as well as different signs hanging around the club.

The event consisted of 18 holes of golf, light breakfast items, a luncheon featuring a survivor, Anna Cluxton and YSC staff, Medha Sutliff, as speakers as well as a raffle. We even had pink golf balls to raise awareness for the purpose of the event. Our first event was a huge success and everyone had fun time while raising awareness for YSC. We raised over $4,000 for YSC with participant fees and hole sponsors.

REESE WEIDEN BIRTHDAY

Over the past few years I have been interested in donating to charities. It started out by donating to this charity in Canada called WAG (Whistler Animals Galore), but sometime last year I expressed the desire to help out a breast cancer charity. I never really said anything to anybody, but spent plenty of time thinking of a way I could raise money. Donating to breast cancer slipped my mind for a bit, with me being so busy. Then, in May, I started thinking about what to do for my birthday…

I was thinking big: a limo, laser tag, the presents I would get! Then again, I thought to myself. I don’t really need anymore gifts. The money used to buy those presents could go to a cause rather than to satisfy my immediate wants and short-term happiness. What I did find, though, is that what I did this year instead of getting presents, did make me happy. In fact, it might have made me even happier than getting presents. Have my friends and family donate to YSC instead of buying me gifts was truly a blessing!

When I was looking for an organization to support, I found a lot that I liked, but YSC stood out - especially to me because it supports young women. And being a young woman who knows that “knowing is not enough”, I wanted to act and support YSC by donating by birthday money.

-Reese Weiden (age 12)

GET HITCHED GIVE HOPE

It seems like all good ideas are hatched over a bottle of wine. In late 2007 at a monthly networking event, a light bulb materialized above our heads. “Wouldn’t it be great if we could make an event that would bring members of the local wedding industry together AND raise money for a great cause?” Over the next couple of months, Get Hitched, Give Hope was born.

Get Hitched Give Hope’s (fondly, GHGH) mission is to bring the community together through niche events like our annual bridal auction gala while raising money for a great cause. Each year, Get Hitched, Give Hope hosts Seattle’s premiere bridal charity auction & gala — a swanky party presented by Seattle’s finest wedding vendors featuring donated goods and services up for auction with all proceeds raised benefitting select charities. We are 100% powered by volunteers so that we can give as much as possible. We are all colleagues and friends that love to have a good time and wanted to give back.

Visit us here to find our more information!