What does that mean, exactly? It’s the time of the year when we

• renew our commitment to detecting—and fighting—breast cancer;
• review the latest information on how to help ourselves stay cancer-free;
• remember those who are working through recovery, and those who lost their battle;
• support those who work hard to research, to heal and to help those affected by breast cancer.

Did you know that >one in 100 breast cancer patients are men?

Did you know that according to the American Cancer Society, the chance for a woman to be diagnosed with breast cancer is 1 in 8?

Did you know that weight control is one way to decrease your risk?

For more information, here are some helpful links:

American Cancer Society

Centers for Disease Control & Prevention

Circle of Hope

If just one reader acts on this message by scheduling a mammogram, remembering a friend in need or making a donation, my time in writing it will be well spent.

Is it just me, or does just about everyone salivate at the mention of a glass (or three) of wine? Personally, I’m a lightweight when it comes to alcohol. I can take it or leave it. But then, I don’t have a good history with it. When I was in my early 20′s, I freely drank whatever—including Scotch—and it didn’t bother me. Until one night I really poisoned myself on Cutty Sark and passed out in the bathroom at the Summer House in Woodland Hills. Yeah, it was over a guy. What a waste.

From that night on, and we’re talking thirty-some years, I haven’t been able to drink more than a few ounces of any kind of alcoholic beverage without getting ucky. Not lucky, ucky. Not enough to get a buzz until it’s buzz-into-nausea. Today, I notice a lot of folks around me have a love affair going on with the fermented grape juice. Most, if not all, social events include or are centered around wine and other spirits. We tend to celebrate. A lot.

All that being said, wine can be good. At least that’s what they say. Red wine, in particular, is supposed to be good for your heart. I don’t drink red, it usually gives me a walloping headache. I do like Chardonnay, Riesling, Gewürztraminer, and Sauvignon Blanc.

Wine is also good for cancer. Yep, it’s true. How do I know? Well, it must be, when the drinking of it at a backyard party can raise over $5,000.00 for the American Cancer Society…which is exactly what we will be doing on May 7^th of this year. POP A CORK FOR A CURE is in its fifth year now, and we are full steam ahead with determination that this will be a banner year. This year, we’ll add a local slant:  proceeds from the auction of our famous (or infamous!) novelty cake will go to the Circle of Hope, providing badly needed support to courageous women and men battling breast cancer.

But you don’t have to be a wine aficionado, or even like it to join in the fun. There’ll be desserts, hors d’oeuvres, live entertainment, auctions and raffles and lots of joyful people to mingle with. There will also be that great feeling you get when you know that even though you’re having fun, you’re doing something good and right that will help someone else, someone with cancer who can’t help themselves.

Now that’s worth celebrating!

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Date:  Saturday, May 7, 2011, 2 pm to 6 pm

Minimum Donation:  $25.00

Click on the link above for more info!

Why? Because it’s all we can do. We aren’t the scientists, the doctors, the chemists. Most of us cannot fund major research projects or care facilities on our own. Instead, we support our loved ones, carting them to clinics, hospitals and doctors’ offices. We sit by their bedsides, offering what little comfort we can. We pray. We hope.

So when an opportunity comes along to add what little we can do to the collective efforts of others, it feels good. A modest $25 donation looks mighty good alongside 200 other modest $25 donations, because $5000 is significant. The American Cancer Society will spend 97% of that significant donation on research and patient care, along with their own fundraising efforts, to make sure the contributions keep on coming.

On May 8, 2010, my SCV Relay For Life Team Check ‘Em Out! teammates and I will be pouring wine, providing snacks and entertainment during an afternoon of fun and charity. As in years past, we’ll have silent auction items, raffle prizes and luminaria bags available. A little soft pop, swing jazz and rock ‘n roll. Sunshine* and flowers and fresh air. Neighbors and friends, all with a common goal—to eradicate cancer.

Music, wine and laughter. I know of no other event in town where you can have this much fun for a $25.00 donation. Please join us at Pop a Cork For a Cure. Auction items and raffle prizes gratefully accepted. Click link for more details.

http://www.scvrelay.org/2010/Fundraisers/WineTastingMay8.pdf

*PS – May weather varies! You may have to BYO sunshine.

Our local event boasted 140 teams this year and more than 5,000 attendees; around 220 booth spaces (many teams had multiple booths). The track was trapezoidal, as the old rectangle layout no longer works. Parking, as always, was a challenge, despite the seemingly endless chain of lots at Central Park. When I arrived at 8:40 am (late as usual) there were exactly 5 spaces left. I got lucky.

Opening ceremonies were organized differently this year, due in part, I’m sure, to the increased number of teams participating. Noticably missing was L.A. County’s huge ladder truck, which has, in years past, raised Old Glory during the Star Spangled banner and prompted more than a few patriotic tears. Instead, this year’s committee opted to release doves to kick-off the always moving Survivor Walk. After a truncated turn around the park, survivors joined their teams for the team walk,  which was a random line up this year. Whether by good fortune or planning, our team happened to get announced just as we passed by the microphone. I do know we cheered the loudest.

At 10:30 am, we gathered before the stage to listen to winners of the inaugural essay contest. My 17 year-old niece, who won in the 10-12 grade category, read her moving poem, “United”, and I couldn’t have been more proud. She was awesome, confident and deserving of the necklace and gift card she was awarded.

It was great seeing “old” friends, good folks I only see at this event. The weather was kind this year. Our family walked at 1 pm, and although the “track” was longer this year (.4 mile), it didn’t matter much as we walk for one hour regardless. We slowed briefly to give a listen to the 21st Century Blues Band, a great group of musicians reminiscent of the Allman Brothers. These guys are pro. We dutifully entered a few raffles and gratefully accepted free water.

Relay is so much more than just that one hour walk. Indeed, the walk itself seems almost inconsequential in light of the many other efforts and activities that precede it in order to make a good event successful. As the day progresses, you begin to feel the effects of the collective; the aggregate emotions, energy, and power that pervades the atmosphere in the Park. How can 5, 000 people, all of whom have been touched by cancer in some way, not create a massive aura?

It is with this collective spirit that we come to Luminaria in the evening. We are laid bare by our emotions, we express our grief–and our hope–openly. Stripped away are the pretenses, the thoughts of money, competition, raffle tickets and parking. Here we are united in remembrances, gratitude and in honor of each other and our loved ones.

The luminarias are a testament to the outpouring of love for those victimized by cancer. As we walk, those white paper bags beckon to us, ask us to read their names and remember their stories. Remind us to never give up the fight. Lots of tears, lots of hugging, lots of memories are shared.

Some go home, others camp out for the night, but all are left contemplative and solemn, for a time. We come close to truly understanding why we came, and why we will be back next year. If you have not been to a Relay For Life event, you owe it to yourself to attend.