Midnight Sun fundraiser benefits county's breast cancer patients The Reporter - Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Keynote speaker for this year's Solano Midnight Sun Foundations
fundraiser Sept. 23 will be Dr. Thomas Hopkins, a board-certified
doctor of internal medicine who will speak about rapid advances in
breast cancer treatment.
The annual Midnight Sun fundraiser benefits Solano County women and men afflicted with breast cancer.
Hopkins completed his internship and residency at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, from which he
graduated with honors in 1992.
Also speaking will be teacher and artist Heidi Marble, who at
age 34 in 2000 was diagnosed with inflammatory breast cancer and was
given a very poor prognosis. Now considered a breast cancer survivor,
Marble is the founder of Undone-Home of Buttons-N-Dollars, a foundation
through which she creates art pieces out of costume jewelry and
buttons. Her striking artistic creations are sold and auctioned to
raise funds in the fight against breast cancer.
The Solano Midnight Sun Foundation was founded in the spring
of 2004 to assist male and female breast cancer victims who are
enduring severe financial difficulties because of the disease. To date,
more than $100,000 has been raised and numerous grants have been awarded to Solano County residents afflicted with breast cancer. Co-founders Elizabeth Fry and Debbie Wood are both breast cancer survivors.
Last
year, the organization funded free mammograms for uninsured or
underinsured Solano County women. The program, which was facilitated
through North Bay Medical Center, will be repeated again this year.
As in past years, this year's fundraiser will take place at the
home of Fry and husband Mark Shaw. Themed, "An Evening in the Valley,"
it will feature an elegant dinner served by the renowned Alex's
Catering from Vallejo, live music from Push Play, wine tasting by
Purple Pearl and St. Supery Wineries and a silent and live auction.
Well- known local auctioneer Joe Gates will facilitate the live
auction.
Tickets for the event are $125 each. Each ticket holder will be
entered into a drawing to win a $1,250 credit toward Princess Cruise to
the Mexican Rivera or the Caribbean. The prize was donated by Galaxsea
Cruises.
Tickets
are expected to sell quickly. For information and tickets, call 469-9909.
Raising Awareness Survivors continue battle against breast cancer
The Reporter - Saturday, September 25, 2004
By Patricia Valenzuela - Staff Writer
Elizabeth Fry and Debbie Wood spent weeks successfully fighting breast cancer with the help and support of family and friends.
The two Vacaville women, who fought the cancer recently but at
different times, are keenly aware that they were fortunate to have
resources and support during one of the most difficult times in their
lives. They also are aware that early detection allowed them to undergo
the most noninvasive treatments.
Now, both women say they feel driven to do something for other Solano County women and men who face the disease.
They've formed the Solano Midnight Sun Foundation, a nonprofit
organization created to assist Solano County men and women fighting
breast cancer, and are partnering with NorthBay Healthcare foundation
to provide free mammograms to low-income Solano County residents. The
women view the partnership as creating an additional resource important
in early detection.
According to the American Cancer Society, 230 Solano women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year.
Fry and Wood were diagnosed in the early stages of breast cancer, which
allowed each to undergo a lumpectomy instead of a mastectomy. Early
detection also is associated with women's survival rates. According to
the American Cancer Society, the five-year survival rate for women is
more than 95 percent of the cancer is confined to the breast.
Wood had her first mammogram at the age of 30 after being told she was
susceptible to breast cancer due to her family history. She returned
each year for the procedure and always had negative results until a
year and a half ago. Wood received a letter on Christmas Eve 2002
stating she had breast cancer, and she completed treatment in March
2003.
Fry had her first mammogram a year ago, at age 42. Although she should
have begun having annual mammograms earlier in life, the timing was
right. Fry was diagnosed a few weeks later.
"I thought. 'I have no family history and have no reason to think I
could have breast cancer.' " Fry said. Fry completed treatment in
February
2004. "The hardest thing for me was to feel as though I was making the
right decision. For the first time in my life, I felt like I couldn't
make a good decision....It was scary," she said.
Both women want to alleviate any fears related to breast cancer by
creating a database with information on other breast cancer survivors
along with information about procedures and doctors in the area.
Donations from fundraisers also will assist local men and women
experiencing financial hardships due to breast cancer. Wood said she
met numerous women too exhausted to return to work as bills increased.
The women plan to receive referrals from breast cancer counselors and
ultimately will make the decisions as to who receives funding.
One hundred percent of donations will be used to help others. The
ladies do not plan on hiring administrative staff and have said anyone
who wants to help the foundation will donate their time.
"We are going to be very accountable to all of our supporters." Fry said.
Solano Midnight Sun Foundation 198 Dobbins Street Suite D Vacaville, CA 95688 (707) 469-9909
