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Posts Tagged ‘early detection pancreatic cancer’
Cancer Early Detection Fundraiser: Balls for Balls by Philanthro Los Angeles
July 10, 2013
Philanthro Los Angeles focuses on engaging young professionals in the community. On June 22nd, 2013, they hosted Balls for Balls — Eat Meatballs, Save Lives at Nirvana Bar & Grill in Downtown Los Angeles to benefit the Canary Foundation, dedicated to the funding, discovery and development of early cancer detection for the five most prevalent forms of cancer. Balls for Balls raised money for prostate cancer, the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men in North America. The funds raised assist the clinical trials currently underway as part of the Canary Prostate Program, which develops tools to more accurately discriminate lethal from non-lethal cancers, informing critical treatment decisions and sparing thousands from unnecessary radical prostatectomy treatments.
Prior to the event, teams of four registered with clever and oftentimes hilarious names to compete in Balls for Balls. On the day of the event, many teams showed up well before the start time to get pumped up and to change into their costumes. We saw teams dressed in banana suits, tutus, tuxedos, t-shirts bearing eagles with mullets, you name it. The contenders ate meatballs in a line: the first player had to finish chewing three meatballs and show the referees their tongues, before their teammate could continue, and so on, until the whole team of four had finished. Teams competed in a tournament-style bracket through multiple rounds to come out on top to win and take home a cash prize of $400. For that whole afternoon, Nirvana was filled with laughter, cheering, and excitement.
The afternoon had more than just meatballs, though. The event was graced by musical performances from Shane Kanoa and Priska. The competition and its moments of unexpected triumph (or loss) were emceed by the wonderful Kezia Norton. Guests were able to enjoy free health screenings by USC MAPSC, a coalition of USC’s health campus graduate students. The free event also boasted a photobooth sponsored by Snapfiesta and s’mores cookies baked by Philanthro’s own Claudia Chin at the Canary table filled with goodies and educational tidbits. More »
Canary Challenge: Changing Lives in Unexpected Ways
July 2, 2013
Something extra special happened to a Canary Challenge rider, Rachel, on her training ride this weekend – her boyfriend proposed! Rachel posted this incredible picture of her and her fiancé, Noah, on social media using the #CanaryChallenge hashtag, which is how we found out. We posted the photo on our Facebook page – check out the post and write Rachel a message of congratulations!
We are so thrilled that Canary Foundation and the Canary Challenge were part of this special, life-changing moment. We welcome you to share your special Canary Challenge moments using this same hashtag (details here).
Donate for Cancer Early Detection: Canary Challenge AMEX Points
June 19, 2013
Do you or any of your friends or colleagues collect American Express points? These points may now be translated into gifts to your favorite nonprofit, including Canary Foundation and the Canary Challenge.
Now you can make a donation just by transferring your points! Canary Challenge cyclists are busy drumming up donations for the ride, and this is another creative solution to add to the list.
Canary Foundation has just joined Members Give through American Express. For Canary Challenge, a gift of 40,000 points will provide the $400 donation needed to participate in the Canary Challenge.
Once you’ve chosen a gift level (again, 40,000 points for $400; 100,000 points for $1000 and so forth), please go on your own Canary Challenge fundraising page to update your fundraising efforts with this noted as an “OFFLINE GIFT” so that you receive credit for the fundraising. The check will be mailed to Canary Challenge through AMEX and Guidestar.
This is an easy new way to make a donation to Canary Foundation. If you plan to donate to Canary Challenge for a particular team or participant, please note that and send us an email with details of your contribution so that it can reach the right person’s fundraising efforts.
Train Together to Catch Cancer Social Photo Contest: #canarychallenge for Cancer Early Detection
This year, hundreds of Canary Challenge cyclists are training together to catch cancer at the earliest possible stage. In honor of their effort, we’re launching a social media contest to demonstrate the hard work and dedication that is required not only to cross the finish line, but also to cross cancer off the list of deadly diseases.
To participate in the contest, just share photos of your bike or ride using #CanaryChallenge and @CanaryFound on Instagram and Twitter. Your photo submissions will automatically appear on our live photo wall on the Canary Foundation Facebook page when you use the #canarychallenge hashtag. One a month, we’ll select one random winner and one “best photo” winner. Random winners will take home a GoPro camera, and best photo winners will get some great swag from our Partner, Vanderkitten Racing. Let the games begin!
Canary Challenge Team Contest: Is Your Team the Next Winner?
June 11, 2013
Hats off to the Alloy Ventures Team, who recently won a one night stay from our in-kind sponsor, the Palo Alto Sheraton. The Alloy Ventures Team Captain is Kate Fry, who added the most new team members in May, cinching their team for the contest win!
Alloy Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm with over $1 billion under management that invests in the entrepreneurs creating the next generation of ground-breaking Information Technology, Life Sciences, and Cleantech companies. We’re very excited and grateful to have employees from such an incredible company fundraising on behalf of the Canary Challenge.
The contest was such a raging success that we’re starting fresh with a brand new contest. For any team that adds six new members (first come, first served), the team wins:
- One complimentary gym membership generously donated by our in-kind sponsor, Equinox Palo Alto (Value $400), PLUS
- One Sunday Brunch for two at the four-star Soleil located inside the Westin Hotel in Palo Alto, generously donated by out in-kind sponsor, Westin Hotel, Palo Alto
It’s time to get out there and rally your team for the Canary Challenge! Remember that all funds raised go to benefit cancer early detection research at the Canary Center at Stanford and the Stanford Cancer Institute.
Don’t forget to text “Canary” to 99000 for the new summer discount code. The code will be sent to your phone immediately upon texting in. This gives $25 off the registration fee.
Canary Challenge Cycling Tips: An Exciting How to Descend Video
May 17, 2013
Watch this exciting and exhilarating “how to descend” video taken straight from Canary Challenge’s 75K route. A talented duo from Canary Challenge sponsor Mike’s Bikes plus the pro women’s cycling team Vanderkitten Racing SHOW how to safely descend on a steep curvy road like our route’s Highway 84, how to dress right in layers, and how to signal to other riders when cars are coming. Ride on!
Palo Alto Weekly Joins as Canary Challenge Sponsor to Support Cancer Early Detection
May 6, 2013
Canary is delighted to welcome the Palo Alto Weekly as a proud new media sponsor for the Canary Challenge.
The Palo Alto Weekly was founded in 1979 by a group of long-time local residents who believed that the Palo Alto community needed a high- quality newspaper to provide an alternative to the Peninsula Times Tribune. The Weekly is a most trusted source of community news for residents of Palo Alto, Stanford, East Palo Alto, and the northern Los Altos Hills. Readers turn to the Palo Alto Weekly for thoughtful news reporting, feature stories on the community and insightful arts and entertainments coverage.
In Jan. 1994, the Weekly was the first newspaper to publish its entire editorial content to the Internet.
We’re honored to have such a highly esteemed and forward-thinking publication in our corner. Join us in welcoming them to the Canary family!
Canary Out on the Town for Cancer Early Detection Awareness in May
May 3, 2013
Canary is hitting the road this month, attending several events to promote cancer early detection awareness and to promote the upcoming Canary Challenge on September 28. We welcome you to check out the list of events we’ll be attending below and invite you to come by and say hi. We’ll have booths set up with Canary Foundation goodies like hats and stuffed Edwins (our mascot, pictured at left), as well as collateral material for you to help us spread our message.
On May 4th, we’ll have a booth at the Cat’s Hill Classic in Los Gatos, also sponsored by our Canary Challenge sponsor, Mike’s Bikes. This is one of the toughest race courses in the U.S., and we’re excited to be there to cheer on the cyclists!
On May 8th, we’ll be present at the HP Health Fair in Palo Alto. On the same day, we’ll be promoting the Canary Challenge at the Stanford Radiology Meeting.
On May 9th, Canary is participating in Bike to Work Day, and we encourage you to participate as well! Join us by leaving your car at home and joining tens of thousands of your fellow Bay Area residents in biking to work.
Canary will have a presence at the Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition Energizer Stations in Palo Alto, located at Stanford, at the Palo Alto CalTrain station, VMware and HP. Lastly (bonus!) all 6,000 participants will receive a 15% coupon for parts and accessories from Mike’s Bikes because they’re a sponsor of the Canary Challenge. Just register for the Canary Challenge to receive your discount.
On May 15th, we’ll also have a presence at the Mountain View Fair. Come by and say hi!
Dedicated Canary Foundation Volunteer Continues to Support Cancer Early Detection
April 29, 2013
Dedicated Canary Foundation volunteer Lucille Marie Chiorazzi-Surdi, 61, passed away peacefully on Saturday, April 20, 2013 after a long illness. Lucille was born in Bayonne and spent her adult years in California where she was married to Louis Surdi and raised two children, Paul Anthony Surdi and Christopher Louis Surdi (of Palo Alto) along with her niece Janine Chiorazzi-Pierce of whom she was a surrogate Mother. She was grandmother to Truson Surdi, 1, of whom she loved dearly. Lucille is survived by her Mother, Mary Chiorazzi of Bayonne, brother Frank Chiorazzi of Secaucus and brother David Chiorazzi of Staten Island. Funeral mass was held on Saturday, April 27, 2013 in Brooklyn.
Welcome Back: Pacific Eyecare Specialists Rejoins Canary Challenge as a Corporate Sponsor
April 25, 2013
Bernd Kutzscher is an ophthalmologist whose daughter Lauren was diagnosed with cancer in 2009. The entire Kutzscher family, including Lauren, her mother and father, sister and brother have ridden in the Canary Challenge for the past three years. Bernd’s eye firm, Pacific Eyecare Specialist, has been a corporate sponsor of the Canary Challenge since the beginning, to show gratitude for the exceptional care Lauren was given at the Stanford Cancer Institute. Lauren was the impetus for starting Team Lauren.
Lauren was kind enough to share her story with us in 2011, an excerpt of which is below:
“As most of you know, I was diagnosed with Stage IV cancer in the form of a sarcoma in my hip in September of 2009. 14 chemotherapy treatments, 10 sessions of radiation, 100 days in the hospital, and 8 months in remission later, I’m proud to say that I am healthy and fully back in action! I could not have done it without my wonderful team of doctors, nurses, and more at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital and the Stanford Cancer Center – and I am forever grateful to them for their wisdom, kindness, and healing touch.
I know that we have all felt the devastating effects of cancer in one way or another. And despite advances in cancer research and treatment, there is still much work to be done. Please help me reach my fundraising goal so that we may all unite in the fight against cancer. Any donation – big or small – will make a huge difference. And for those that like to bike, I invite you to ride alongside me as I sail through the finish line.”
We’re incredibly grateful to Lauren, her family, and Pacific Eye Care Specialists for their continued support of the Canary Challenge. Her story has been an inspiration to many to participate, donate, and spread the word.
To learn more about Jill’s incredible story, check out this article on Sports Illustrated Online: “The Courage of Jill Costello.”
To see the Canary Challenge Team Lauren page, click here.
