Tour de Pink 2013… a message from our Ride Director, Margaret Shelton

Now that registration for Tour de Pink 2013 is open, we all start an intense focus on generating funds to further breast cancer education as well as to provide mammograms and follow-up care for those in need.

The Pink Ribbons Project staff are heroic in their dedication to our mission and are tireless on managing multiple events.

For the Tour de Pink leadership, we begin our work of re-energizing the wonderful volunteers who are key to Tour de Pink being an excellent and safe bike ride.  Our dedicated subcommittee leaders will be reaching out to our core volunteers to get everyone set for September 15, 2013.

For me, as the ride director, I am humbled by the passion of so many folks who are connected to Pink Ribbons Project and Tour de Pink.  Folks [both men and women] dealing with some stage of breast cancer, folks who provide loving care for family or friends living with some impact of breast cancer, and folks with large hearts who step in to help because they can!

Losing a grandmother to breast cancer, agonizing with my mother whenever she had a breast cancer scare, sharing the joy of friends in remission are keystones to my commitment and passion for Tour de Pink and Pink Ribbons Project.

Come and join us for 2013 Tour de Pink:  ride [7 routes available], be a Pink Phantom Rider [a relaxed way to participate], and NEW – join a Pink Spin initiative – either on your own or with one of our sponsored gyms.  SO many ways to join in … and consequently help others!!!

Margaret L. Shelton,
Tour de Pink Ride Director

“I will Survive” – Gloria Gaynor

“I will Survive” – Gloria Gaynor

I have no idea why songs keep becoming a point of reference for me but they do. I have been reminded lately that we never go through anything that we can’t truly handle. Too, there are some true survivors out there that have beat some pretty bad odds and come across on the other side, better than ever.

I know that we recently celebrated Mother’s Day and I am so thankful for all of the great Moms, Sisters, and Friends that have made it through the battle against breast cancer or any struggle that they may have faced. My youngest sister is one of those people.

16 years ago, not only was there a chance that she would not be here today but a huge chance that she may not have walked again yet alone have children. My sister, Haley, was diagnosed her senior year in high school with Guillain-Barre Syndrome. It is a serious disorder that occurs when the body’s defense (immune) system mistakenly attacks the peripheral nervous system. My sister became a full quadriplegic (paralyzed from head to toe) before eventually making a full recovery. She was in the Neurosensory ICU unit at The Methodist Hospital for two months and eventually went to TIRR to learn to walk, eat, tie her shoes and all other day-to-day activities. She came home in a wheelchair and was in outpatient for over a year at TIRR until eventually making a full recovery. Today she lives a full and normal life and Tuesday, she gave birth to a new baby girl, London Kyla Clark. This is her third child, third daughter and all three are my pride and joy.

Haley’s Girls – Chloe – 13, Sage – 3 and London – 3 days old

I have seen many people survive many illnesses including friends who have battled breast cancer. I am in awe of each and every one of them and their ability to fight their hardest, make it through and are now true survivors. This week I have been reminded about the simple joys of life and how true miracles happen. This weekend as we celebrate Memorial Day and those who have served this country, I will be reminded of how many people have survived the toughest obstacles in life.

You are all survivors and my heroes. Kudos to the Survivors!

-Kristi

“A Change Gonna Come” – Sam Cooke, 1964

“A Change Gonna Come” – Sam Cooke, 1964

I love old school soul music and I have a habit of singing a song in my head (because out loud would be terrible for those around me) that relates back to what is happening in my life. Lately, Sam Cooke’s “A Change Gonna Come” has been the song that sticks with me.

There is so much change happening in my personal life and at the Pink Ribbons Project office. I have often been scared of change because I am slightly, yes just slightly, OCD and I usually don’t adapt to change well. This time the changes happening in my life make me excited!!!

My BFF and her two awesome daughters are living with us for a while and we are embracing it and having a BLAST! We got a new puppy (if a one year old, 90 lbs. Alaskan Malamute can be considered a puppy). She is full of life and very active…very different from other dog Kelly, the sweet, lazy, older schnauzer mix. Too, getting used to not having my wonderful grandmother, Mammaw, around has been a change that has come with a lot of emotional struggles. She lived with us for 8 years and I miss her every day.

One of the biggest professional changes in my life is the change of leadership at Pink Ribbons Project as well as our upcoming office expansion. Exciting!!!! Our new Executive Director, Jonita Fair-Payton, has joined our team and hit the ground running. She is one tough cookie but I think her “toughness” is good for us as a staff and certainly good for the organization and its potential growth. When I say tough I mean that she is determined to see Pink Ribbons Project’s soar to new heights by serving more people and going places that we have never gone before. She is passionate about the organization, its mission, and the people we serve. I see Pink Ribbons Project developing in multiple ways over the next few years. Watch us work!

Too, our office is expanding. Yay!!! I am so excited that we are taking over two office spaces down the hall which will allow us to have a volunteer/meeting room, program room and each staff member to have their own office space. I know my colleagues will be thrilled that they won’t have me yelling in their ears when I am on the phone. Yes, I know I talk loud. Oops! I think Faye will be the only disappointed person because I am not moving down the hall so she will be stuck listening to me. Sorry Faye! We look forward to showing you all our new digs after the “move” the beginning of June.

We all deal with changes on a daily basis. Some changes are scary, some are fun and some can be good. The reality is that “Change is Gonna Come” so how do we deal with it? I have learned that the best way to adapt to change is to embrace it and go with the flow! I am ready for the changes coming. Let’s do this!

Cheers!
-Kristi

Reflections from our new Executive Director

Introducing…. Executive Director, Jonita Fair-Payton!  ”It amazes me how life’s wonderful journey can take you down an unexpected path filled with so many fascinating turns. As I reflect back to this time last year, there are so many things that were unforeseen. I would have never imagined that I would have been at this place, at this time. Last year around this time I was planning a wonderful Mother’s Day retreat for my Mom, Johnna (my sister), and our daughters and at that time all I could think about was how good it would feel to just relax and get away from my busy schedule. Little did I know that by the end of the summer all of our lives would be altered by the news that Johnna had with Stage 1 Breast Cancer. And so our “new normal” began in August 2012 and is still in motion. This journey with my beloved sister has taught me that you can never really be totally prepared for what life has in store. You just have to do the best you can, trust in something greater than yourself and embrace the one’s you love. Although her journey is not over, we celebrate that Johnna is cancer-free and doing well.

My sister Johnna, our Mom and myself

My journey with Pink Ribbons Project has just begun and I will embrace every fascinating twist and turn along the way.”

Blessings Abound,

Jonita

 

Sisters and Founders: Susan Rafte and Jane Weiner

 

It’s all about the People…

Pink Ribbons Project is gearing up for Pink at the Brown taking place on Thursday, May 16, 2013 at the Wortham Center’s Brown Theater. The talent that is showcased on one stage in one night is remarkable. I am always in awe of the hard work put into the performances by the artists from the Houston Theater District Performing Arts Companies. Our sweet Founder and Artistic Director, Jane Weiner, works well with these talented artists to put together a performance that moves me to tears every time. I can’t wait to see what this year has in store.

There are so many people that volunteer and dedicate tons of hours to make this event happen. We are so blessed to have the volunteers that show up and work for us and the fight against breast cancer. There are people who volunteer their time and talent to coming up with ideas, helping secure underwriting, the talent down to working the silent auction or tying on ribbons to glasses in honor or memory of those touched by breast cancer. Our community supports us in endless ways and it makes what we do in the community that much more rewarding knowing that so many people care and are willing to lend a hand. This year, our event Chair, Jo Furr, has done an outstanding job leading our committee on putting together what is to be an elegant and special evening.

It always feels special to honor people and organizations who are making a difference in the community we serve. This year our honorees include Margaret Alkek Williams (Arts Advocate Honoree), Dr. Frankie Ann Holmes (Physician Honoree), Dr. Margo Hilliard Alfred (Survivor Honoree) and Softlayer Technologies (Corporate Honoree). I have had the pleasure of working with each of our honorees through this process and when reading their bios and learning all they have done and continue to do for the citizens of this great city makes me proud to say that they live here…in Houston, Texas and making a difference in the lives of many.

The people involved in Pink at the Brown are truly what makes this event outstanding. The funds raised from Pink at the Brown help Pink Ribbons Project continue its mission to promote breast health, save lives and improve the quality of life for those touched by breast cancer. The people are what make this happen. I am proud to be just one person of this fine group of people that make Pink at the Brown and Pink Ribbons Project as a whole a success.

Power to the People!!
- Kristi

Journal of Hope

Here at the Pink Ribbons Project office we have a wide array of education and awareness programs including -  Pink Alive, Pink Aware, Pink Paint, Drink Pink, etc…

One of my personal favorites is Pink Aware – a traveling dance program and performance titled “Journal of Hope”!  Pink Ribbons Project presents a 30 minute demonstration that uses dance and art as the vehicles to introduce the topic of breast health awareness!  The program brings a message of breast health, self-care and well-person awareness to teens AND adults, both male and female.

Photo by Simon Gentry

The program is performed by students from Houston Ballet’s Ben Stevenson Academy and is followed by a short lecture from a medical professional.  “Journal of Hope” tells the story of one woman’s journey through breast cancer and… well,  I won’t spoil the surprise by telling you too many details but it is one that can touch many hearts!

I have seen the performance time and time again and it never fails… I tear up every time!  The dancers are just fabulous and the story hits close to home even for those who do not have a famiy history of breast cancer.

Photo by Simon Gentry

Pink Aware travels to schools, community events, churches, etc. all within the greater Houston area.  Here is a link to learn more about the program!  Click here for a short video about Pink Aware!

If you are looking for a unique breast health awareness program – this is the one for you!  To schedule a perfomance or for questions, email Megan@pinkribbons.org!

Here’s to a wonderful Friday and weekend ahead!

Cheers!
-Megan

The big metal trash can…

If you have ever been to the Pink Ribbons Project office, you may have noticed a big metal trash can in the volunteer room. It’s the kind of thing you would expect to see outside of a building with trash in it, but ours is inside and it is not for trash… it’s where we store all the magazines collected for a donation to Harris Health System (formerly Harris County Hospital District) mammography clinics.

Sometimes waiting to see a doctor can seem like it takes all day… you forgot your book  at home and all you need is a small form of entertainment to help the time go by faster and possibly ease the nerves while you wait!  Many years ago, Pink Ribbons Project partnered with Harris Health System to donate gently used magazines to their waiting rooms.  We collect the magazines here at the Pink HQ (2449 South Blvd. #100, Houston, TX 77098) and our interns get to work making sure to cover up any names or addresses and preparing the stacks to be delivered!

Sandy Walker, the Office Manager of Mammography Case Management for Harris Health System is the Pink Ribbons Project contact point for distributing the magazines to the following clinics: Quentin Mease, LBJ, LBJ Mobile Unit – which services 5 additional clinics, Strawberry Clinic, MLK, Peoples Clinic, El Franco Lee and Aldine. Ms. Walker said that this past year those mammography clinics reached 39,750 patients.

I wanted to know more about the patients’ reactions to the magazines so she referred me Jane Rodriguez, a Radiology Support Specialist at the Aldine Clinic. Ms. Rodriguez has worked at the Aldine Clinic for 8 years and sees first hand how much the patients appreciate the magazines. “They help entertain the patients while they are waiting,” said Ms. Rodriguez.  She has a personal connection with breast cancer as her older sister is going through treatment right now and is a patient at Harris Health System.

We invite you to help this great program by dropping off your used magazines to the Pink Ribbons Office.  Just think… this small act of kindness could make a world of difference in someone’s day!

Have a great day!!

-Stephanie