Coastal Breeze News

By Jane A. Marlowe Marco Island joined thousands of communities all around the country on April 13th in launching Relay For Life, one of the most successful and recognized events in American Cancer Society’s history. Ken Hobson, MC for the two-day Relay, welcomed survivors, volunteers and supporters to the opening ceremonies which began with Marva Sutt singing The Star Spangled Banner. Raul Medina of Suntrust Bank and Chair of Relay-Marco Island, described the phenomenal growth of Relay since its inception in 1985. More than four billion dollars has been raised worldwide, “to support the American Cancer Society’s mission to Save ... Read More »

Eight top area artists are giving to the Relay for Life cause by donating artwork. Each masterpiece includes the color purple, the primary Relay for Life color. Themed “Paint the Town Purple,” the initiative uses the color purple to signify the passion cancer survivors and their loved ones have towards finding a cure. The works will be given away during a raffle at the Relay for Life event on April 13th. Tickets are $1 each or six for $5.00. Creations include works by Inez Hudson, Lee Horton, Karen Swanker, Carolyn Burger, Jo-Ann Sanborn, Betty Newman, Judith Chinski and Maggie DeMarco. ... Read More »

By Lisa Honig What if you could personally participate in research that could help determine factors that cause or prevent cancer? What if your involvement, and that research, ultimately leads to eliminate cancer as a major health problem for this and future generations? What if you could make it so just one family never had to hear the words “you have cancer?” To better understand ways to prevent cancer, the American Cancer Society is recruiting 300,000 men and women across the US and Puerto Rico for a landmark new research study – Cancer Prevention Study-3 (CPS-3). If you are between ... Read More »

The Port of the Islands Gun Club is at it again. For the third year now, the club is prepping for its Annual Charity Sporting Clays Event, dubbed “Shoot Down Kids Cancer.” On Saturday, March 23rd, from 9 AM until 2 PM, the POI Gun Club hopes to break its record of $28,000 raised last year – aiming for $32,000. The whole thing started when, “a couple of us here have had bouts with cancer and we’ve always wanted to give something back,” explains Gary Landis of the POI Gun Club and one of the founding members of the event. ... Read More »

COLLIER COUNTY – Senator Garrett Richter has agreed to be auctioned off to the highest bidder for lunch!  When asked if he would participate in the fight against cancer, Senator Richter generously offered to be part of the live auction for the 2013 Imagination Ball by hosting a group of 8 people at their favorite restaurant on Marco Island.  We are happy to be holding this year’s Imagination Ball on February 23, 2013 at the beautiful Marco Island Marriott Beach Resort and Spa, also our presenting sponsor. “There are still opportunities for table sponsorships, and tickets, and we want to ... Read More »

By Jane A. Marlowe The Relay For Life committee met Tuesday evening, January 22, in the boardroom of Keller Williams Realty. Relay Chair, Raul Medina, of SunTrust Bank called the meeting to order and recognized Donna Cottrell of Keller Williams who is chair of Teams for Relay, which will be held on the Charter Middle School campus on April 13, 2013. To date there are 20 paid teams including several on-line teams. Donna recognized a number of committee members whose teams have achieved top fundraising goals in the last several weeks. Special recognition was given to Bonnie Geddis of Realty ... Read More »

By Danielle Dodder Members of Hideaway Beach have a long history of backing the efforts of the local chapter of the American Cancer Society, but this year, they raised the stakes, literally, with a Vegas-style fundraiser on January 27th. “In the past, we’ve done traditional golf outings with a silent/live auction and a dinner, but we wanted to do something different this year,” says event co-chair Debbie Shade. The committee researched casino-night fundraisers and found they had an excellent track record of raising money. The Hideaway Beach clubhouse was transformed into a casino game floor with card tables, horse racing ... Read More »

Submitted Beat cancer with fashion and smiles this March at Bistro Soleil restaurant by attending the fifth annual Hope Love Cure Fashion Show benefiting the American Cancer Society. Marco Island Clothing Company and Bistro Soleil restaurant are co hosting the Hope Love Cure Fashion Show on Tuesday, March 5 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Bistro Soleil at 100 Palm St. At the heart of the event are personal stories like Lisa Meurgue’s, the co-owner of Bistro Soleil. In remission from breast cancer for four years now, Meurgue said the big “c” has haunted her life for a long ... Read More »

By Coastal Breeze News Staff It’s called the “Imagination Ball”. Here’s why. The Marco Island Chapter of the American Cancer Society set the theme to imagine a world without cancer. The Ball, Marco Island’s most annual productive annual fund-raiser, brings islanders together to help contribute to curing one of the world’s most dreaded diseases. For many years the Marco Island Chapter has raised significant sums of money at the Ball. According to co-chairs Debra and Dick Shanahan, this year’s target is $100,000. They say, “We know it’s an ambitious goal, but we are confident that notably charitable Marco Islanders will ... Read More »

AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY CARES Lisa Honig Did you know that we have a local support group for cancer patients, survivors and caregivers? This wonderful group was started in 1989 by Jan Whitebook and she remains the leader of the group today. Jan has a very personal connection to cancer having been the loving caregiver for her sister who lived with lymphoma for 11 years. Her sister was so thankful for the love and support of her local group that Jan started the Marco Island Support Group in her memory. The mission of the support group is to support the whole person through ... Read More »

21st Century Oncology – the nation’s premier cancer treatment network and largest radiation therapy provider – is pleased to announce that Board Certified Gynecologic Oncologist James Orr, M.D., FACOG, FACS has been chosen to serve as Vice Chair of the Florida Board of Medicine. “It is a great honor to be appointed Vice Chair to the Florida Board of Medicine, notably because the selection is a reflection of the impressions of my peer members on the board,” says Dr. Orr. “The position allows me the opportunity to continue the important work of improving the efficiency, effectiveness and fairness of the ... Read More »

By Natalie Strom  [email protected]  “Sam is a nine-year old boy who goes to school, loves to play with his friends, rides his scooter, plays baseball, is into Legos and is a master WII gamer. He also is fighting for his life everyday against a vicious beast in his body; Neuroblastoma cancer. It’s a cancer that isn’t genetic, isn’t self prevented, and has no boundaries. It’s very rare and is known as the great masquerader. It usually presents itself as common childhood symptoms and by the time it is diagnosed it spreads throughout the body and is extremely hard to cure. ... Read More »

By Lisa Honig, Unit Exec. Director American Cancer Society, Marco Island This is the first of an ongoing series of columns dedicated to informing the Mar­co Island community about The American Cancer Society, the nationwide commu­nity-based voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, sav­ing lives, and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, ad­vocacy, and service. Our first installment will focus on the Unit Operating Board, a group of volun­teers who are leaders in the community and passionate about The American Can­cer Society. The role of the Unit Operat­ing Board is to ... Read More »

Sales are strong for the inaugural 2013 Marco Moms Against Cancer calendar. Stop by one of the distributors listed below to pick one up in time for holiday gift giving. The calendar makes a great gift and the best part is 100% of the proceeds will go to the local American Cancer Society unit. You can purchase the Marco Moms Against Cancer calendar at the following locations: the Marriott Gift Shop, Progressive Auto, the Snook Inn, Fred Kramer Law Firm, Realty Executives Of Marco Island, South Beach Hair at the Marriott and Marco Walk, Ricks Island Salon, Obsession Boutique, Georgie’s ... Read More »

ALL THAT GLITTERS Richard Alan [email protected] The 2012 holiday shopping season is off and running, and I can safely say giving a piece of jewelry as that special gift will become as popular as it once was. Notice I said jewelry – not fine jewelry. Since early October, certain items have been selling well, and there is a reason for this. The past couple of gift giving seasons for the jewelry business can be summed up in one word… Dismal. Even De Beers, the largest diamond conglomerate in the world that refused to spend millions of dollars on blanketing TV ads, ... Read More »

By Coastal Breeze News Staff  The Marco Island Unit of the American Cancer Society has a new Unit Executive Director, Lisa Honig. Prior to accepting her new role, Lisa had a successful 26 year career in Information Technology Management and in Computer Storage Sales and Consulting Services. Lisa has already hit the ground running, visiting area businesses and communicating with the Board of Directors. She reviewed progress on plans for two major upcoming events, the Relay for Life and the Gala, and attended last week’s Relay for Life Kickoff at the Marriott. If the Honig name sounds familiar, it is ... Read More »

By Jane A. Marlowe [email protected] The American Cancer Society Marco Island Unit kicked off Relay For Life at a reception hosted by the Marco Island Marriott Beach Resort on Wednesday, November 7. The event was held in one of the Marriott’s Lanai Suites offering a lovely view of the Gulf waters and lush tropical foliage along a private walk a few steps from the beach. A cocktail reception buffet was provided courtesy of Porky’s Last Stand, Publix Foods and the Marriott. Raul Medina, Chair of Relay For Life Marco Island, welcomed guests and committee members inviting them to view a ... Read More »

TO YOUR  HEALTH  C. Scott Campbell  [email protected] October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Originally launched in 1985, National Breast Cancer Awareness Month began as a partnership between the American Cancer Society and the pharmaceutical division of Imperial Chemical Industries. Initially, this focus on breast health was conceived to promote mammography as the most effective weapon in the fight against breast cancer—a goal that remains as relevant today is it did in 1985. About one in eight U.S. women (just under 12%) will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime. However, to those of us in the ... Read More »

Q&A WITH THE FITNESS DIVA  Crystal Manjarres  [email protected]  Now that you know that the colon is considered the sewer system of the body, it makes sense to pay even closer attention to what we eat. In part one we learned that smoking increases our risk for colorectal cancer, as does high amounts of red meat and alcohol. We learned the importance of knowing our family history, getting screened, and the benefits of colon hydrotherapy to cleanse the colon of toxic waste. Now we will go over a few simple tips that will also help to keep your colon healthy. Keep ... Read More »

By Jane A. Marlowe  [email protected]  Judy Mayo is my dearest friend, my support system, my sister in Christ, my neighbor, my sounding board, my hero. She is involved in many ministries in our San Marco Catholic Church, helping parishioners with practical and spiritual needs, assisting with the bereavement group, grief support, serving as a Eucharistic Minister and Homebound Minister bringing the Sacred Eucharist to members of the parish who are unable to attend Mass. She serves in all these capacities quietly and joyfully and when asked how she is doing, her response is always, “I’m just fine. Isn’t today a ... Read More »