Newsletters

Dear Reader,

The overwhelming theme of this month has been partnership and generosity! Thank you.

It started with the Green Science Policy Institutes's Six Classes Videos debut in Marin County at The Sweetwater in Mill Valley, September 7th.  Generously underwritten by the Nancy P. and Richard K. Robbins Family Foundation and Pamela Polite Fisco & Dennis Fisco, over one hundred people enjoyed music, laughter and learning.  GSPI's Founder and Executive Director, Arlene Blum, PhD. was introduced by Martin Mulvihill, PhD, Founding Partner of SaferMade.  Arlene is an intrepid mountaineer, brilliant and passionate chemist, mother and fierce and effective advocate for the elimination of unnecessary and dangerous chemicals from everyday use. Arlene's serious message was punctuated by humorous songs written and performed by the talented Stephanie Hendricks and The Isoji Wizards. Zero Breast Cancer demonstrated how it links this important work to the Limit Chemicals 'chapter' of its Girls' New Puberty interactive website.

On September 14th, Zero Breast Cancer, Allstate and Hand & Hand collaborated to present a 'Creating Hope' event at Scott's Restaurant in Oakland.  The entire event was funded by a wonderful group of Allstate agents with support from Allstate Foundation. A new partnership, and an experiment, the goal was to bring together a diverse group of people with one thing in common - a focus on breast cancer patients and survivors and ways to serve them better. In attendance were survivors, co-survivors, philanthropists and donors, doctors, epidemiologists, researchers community members, public officials and non-profit support providers. Special guest rock guitarist, Earl Slick (think David Bowie and John Lennon collaboration) flew from NYC for the evening to lend his support.. 

As part of this event ZBC was extremely proud to honor Healing Professional Dr. Hope Rugo and Healing Partner Women's Cancer Resource Center.  Obie Scott of the Whitney Ranch Charitable Foundation introduced Dr. Rugo. WCRC's senior team member Dolores Moorehead and Friends of Faith, Inc.'s Jackie Mungo introduced WCRC. This was the first time these awards have been presented by Zero Breast Cancer at a venue outside of Marin.  Jain Thapa representing Congresswoman Barabara Lee presented both honorees with Certificates from the Congresswoman. 

Then it was the turn of Hand & Hand founder Dwight Devereaux and surgeon, Dr. James Hoyt, to speak about how life changing something as simple as a discrete and comfortable post surgical bulb drain system can be when designed by a breast cancer survivor, co-founder Sharon Devereaux, for breast cancer patients. 

Based on some lovely feedback via comment cards and emails the experiment was a success!  Please see selected photos in the next segment below.

September would not have been complete without the 15th Annual Dipsea Hike for Zero Breast Cancer. Suffice it to say that mother nature provided a glorious day - not too hot and not too cold - for over 280 participants and 67 volunteers to come together in a wonderful spirit of community to honor and remember loved ones afflicted with breast cancer and put energy into supporting ongoing efforts to promote breast cancer risk reduction information to future generations. Our youngest 'participant' was the 4-month old niece of one of our board members!  One of the almost-teen participants celebrated her 12th birthday with 6 of her best friends on the hike.  It was great to welcome back many regulars as well as many new faces. Mother's and daughters volunteered together and families hiked together.  Marin's beloved inspirational funny man Michael Pritchard warmed up our spirits and JT and Jake Peterson of Ripped Body Fitness warmed up our bodies.  Lead sponsor Marin General Hospital's CITO Mark “Z” Zielazinki shared an update on the opening and accomplishments of Marin's new Breast Health Center.

Thank you to the generous sponsors, donors of in-kind goods and services, volunteers and fundraisers.  You can still participate by donating to the event during October.  Hike photos have been posted for your viewing pleasure.

October promises to be almost as busy as September.  Please check the October calendar on the ZBC web-site to learn about activities you may be interested during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Included are FREE events that UCSF is organizing and some Marin events benefiting ZBC. Please support these local efforts - especially the Marin Professional Firefighters IAFF Local 1775 who will be at Lappert's Ice-Cream in Sausalito on Sunday, October 8th from 12 - 3 p.m. and Cavallo Point  who will be hosting a BFF evening at The Mercantile on Thursday October 12th from 5:30 - 8:00 p.m. - you can read more and register ahead of time for early bird pricing.

Your partnership is vital to the mission of ZBC which is to promotes breast cancer risk reduction through translation of scientific research and evidence-based recommendations that support health and wellness at key stages of life. Thank you for  making a difference. 

Yours in health,

Rose Barlow 

Executive Director

'Creating Hope' Guests of Honor, Awardees and Partners

The Blue Zones Solution by Dan Buettner from National Geographic was Ruth Baillie's favorite health books from last year. Dan's research reveals how the world's longest-lived people actually live their lives. It's all about adding life to years, not just years to life.

For more than ten years, Dan has been researching the Blue Zones around the world. The Blue Zones are longevity "hot spots" - where there are not only the highest concentrations of people living over 100 years, but also that these people grow old without the typical chronic diseases of heart problems, obesity, cancer or diabetes. And they prosper in the most meaningful ways.

The phrase 'blue zones' came purely from researchers circling these areas on a map with blue ink!

Ruth Baillie has reviewed several books for ZBC this year.  You can read the full review here

Rebecca has had an amazing life.  Born in China she became a Vietnam war refugee at the age of 2 and was given asylum in Sweden. Rebecca chose to settle in the USA at the age of 16 and attended university in Nashville.  Rebecca's mother died of breast cancer at the age of 49 and several of Rebecca's aunts in a large extended family have had breast cancer too.  Rebecca and her husband David Shao are very successful mid-career professionals from San Jose who are so grateful for their good fortune and want to give back. They are generous donors to ZBC and this year Rebecca reached out to ZBC to deepen her involvement by participating in the planning and preparations for the 15th Annual Dipsea Hike for Zero Breast Cancer.

Rebecca traveled from San Jose to the ZBC office in Marin to help stuff swag bags ahead of the event and she and David volunteered at the event as well.  Rebecca underwrote breakfast, snack and dessert items and supplies and joined in a Costco shopping expedition. Thank you Rebecca, David and iJoy Global Foundation!