News from the American Cancer Society SCV Unit

 It really does “take a village.”  Indeed, when a collective of caring people come together for the sake of helping others, great outcomes can occur.  And so it was on Saturday February 25, when a community of cancer research, treatment and support experts joined forces at College of the Canyons for its inaugural CARE SCV: Cancer Awareness & Resource Expo.
Volunteers from the American Cancer Society, Santa Clarita Valley Unit, were among the participants at the health education fair, which drew nearly 500 attendees.
CARE SCV, sponsored by Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital and created through the vision of COC biology instructor Dr. Kelly J. Cude, provided cancer facts and treatment panel lectures, on-site health (skin and breast) screenings, 3-D anatomy and physiology displays, activities, a City of Hope blood drive, and a plethora of informational handouts.  In addition to the ACS, other outstanding organizations present included City of Hope Santa Clarita, UCLA Health, Providence Holy Cross Medical Center, and Santa Clarita Radiation Therapy.
Sandy Ends, ACS SCV Unit Leadership Chair lauded the day-long event as a “wonderfully successful event.”
“We were grateful and proud to be an organizing team partner and participant of CARE SCV,” stated Ends, a longtime ACS volunteer and even longer cancer survivor.  “This was an event that offered the best of the best of cancer resources and cancer health care.”
The mission of CARE SCV – “Prevent. Treat. Survive.” – was in perfect sync with the ACS’ goals, Ends said.
“Our mission was to offer our local residents, free of charge, the opportunity to be up close and personal with several community organizations and physicians,” she stated.  “They were instrumental in answering questions, providing insights and helping with the understanding, prevention, current and cutting-edge techniques, and treatments for battling cancer and the path to survivorship.”
A viewing of the highly regarded film, “The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer,” also was on tap at CARE.
“Based on the book by Pulitzer Prize-winning author, Siddhartha Mukherjee, the eloquently written scientifically historical tome provides a timeline and understanding of the disease and modern efforts to cure, control and eradicate it,” the council leader commented.
The ACS group was thrilled to see attendees in such great numbers that day, Ends said, adding that guests enjoyed free drawings for several prizes that totaled $2,500.
Ends encourages community members to become part of the American Cancer Society “village.”
“We are also eager to welcome new community members into our very active ACS volunteer family … there is much you can do to make a difference,” Ends said.  “My personal involvement comes from my own history and dedication to ‘pay back and pay forward.’  As a 17½-year breast cancer survivor and 16½-year American Cancer Society volunteer, it is my passion.  I’m grateful every day, and I’m the luckiest person I know.”
The American Cancer Society is open 24 hours a day, seven-days a week, to help guide you through every step of a cancer experience.  Visit our website at cancer.org or call 1-800-227-2345.  To contact our local ACS SCV office, call 661-298-0886 option 3.  We are located at 25020 Avenue Stanford, #170, Valencia, 91355.