Event Spotlight: Catch the Spirit 5K

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Children’s Cancer Connection is proud to present the 4^th annual Catch the Spirit 5K as this week’s spotlight event. The Koepke family of Waverly, Iowa, has been with Children’s Cancer Connection since 1999, and their daughter Megan lost her battle to cancer in 2007 – spurring on this fundraising event for Camp Heart Connection. To date, the run/walk has raised almost $12,000. 

"After Megan's first experience at camp, we felt like we were part of a very large support network and extended family," says Rhonda, Megan's mom. "It was so wonderful to allow all of our daughters a "normal" camp experience, a time to not worry about our lives with cancer in it. We were fortunate to also be able to put together our own fundraiser for the camp program at Megan's school."

Shortly after Megan passed away, Waverly-Shell Rock Junior High created a day to recognize students for their character, complete with a Catch the Spirit award for students that exemplify integrity and good character, a run/walk though the town of Waverly and a barbeque at the end. All proceeds from the event go to Camp Heart Connection Oncology Camp, and participation costs $10.This year, Catch the Spirit 5K will be held on May 5 from 3:30-5:30 pm.

“It is an amazing day, and we can't think of a better way to honor our daughter's memory than to reward good character of junior high students and to support the camp that has meant so much to us over the years,” says Rhonda.

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Executive Director Spotlighted in Des Moines Register

Today, Mark Slocum, Executive Director at Children's Cancer Connection, is being featured in a Des Moines Register article entitled, "Director: new name tells group's goal." 


Click here to read the article which features news about the name change, our programs and services and more about our very own Mark Slocum! Please pass this story on to friends and family. 


(Photo credit: ANDREA MELENDEZ / THE REGISTER)

Drake Relays Street Painting

Today a few staff members from Children's Cancer Connection went out into the community to help celebrate this year's Drake Relays by participating in the first ever Drake Relays Downtown Streeting Painting. The sky was blue, the sun was shining and over 40 teams came out to support the event.

Our Task: To create an awesome 4 x 4 square on Court Avenue outside of Spaghetti Works that captured the essence of Children's Cancer Connection while supporting the 2010 Drake Relays.

Our Team: While our task was great, an expert team helped to lead the way to the finish line. Now, let's meet the players:

• Emily Beckmann, Official Design Sketcher and Color Coordinator
• Meridith Sayler, Trim Fixer Extraordinaire and Co-Professional Paint Mixer
• Mark Slocum, Coffee Connoisseur and Logo Outlining Specialist
• Tiffany K. Spinner, Design Generator and Bubble Letter Creator
• Cindy Stuedemann, Co-Professional Paint Mixer and Positive Thinking Captain

Theme: The theme for our square was based off of the Drake Relays theme this year, "Drake Relays 101." We decided that we definitely wanted to get our new logo and motto (The entire family. The entire journey) out there, while adding a little Drake flare. Therefore, we painted our logo alongside a few lanes of the Drake track with three Drake hurdles. We tied Children's Cancer Connection into the Drake Relays theme by adding our tagline for the square, "Helping families...one hurdle at a time!"

Challenges: We overcame a few a few "hurdles" of our own...

1. The wind and blowing debris - Ok...so it was a few pieces of grass and leave here or there...
2. Distraction - All of the other squares looked awesome! It was fun to go and look around at all of the different ideas that people had come up with.
3. Meatball the Bulldog - He's soo cute! It's really hard not to want to watch him walk around in his little Drake jersey and crown! Okay, so he was more of a distraction really...
4. Needing the "Drake blue" color - Thanks to our awesome friends at the Downtown Neighborhood Association and from a friendly ask from Mark, we overcame this obstacle and obtained a little "Drake blue" for our square.

Overall, the day was a success and all of the street paintings turned out really well. While we didn't come home with the top prize, our team assures you that our square "seriously rocks." So now you're probably saying, "Show us your square already!" Here goes nothing:

Starting off the day with a blank slate and ready to paint!

Our Street Painting Team working on the beginning stages of the new logo and background colors!

This is Meatball. He's this year's Drake Bulldog and he is also a reason that we got distracted for a few moments, but don't worry we got right back to work to make our beau-ti-ful square happen!




















Drumroll please....and this is the finished product! Our square (in all its glory) is located on Court Avenue right outside of Spaghetti Works in downtown Des Moines. Make sure that stop by and admire it next time you are downtown!

Volunteer Spotlight: John Bisenius

This week’s spotlight is stellar volunteer John Bisenius. In June, John will celebrate six years with Children’s Cancer Connection – and through those years, he has taken part in Club HOPE, Family Camp, and the Children’s Oncology Camp Association International Conference.

“With all the different programs, it’s my favorite to able to watch the kids in a place where cancer doesn’t really exist – watching the kids being kids, also watching how they support each other, knowing they’ve all been through the same thing,” says John.

And not only do the kids impact him, but John feels like he’s making a difference in their lives as well. “These kids can do anything while we’re here – we’ll find a way to make it work for any child no matter their diagnosis,” he says. John feels that, after Club HOPE meetings, parents can even provide for their children better after the support the Club offers.

“I look at the kids – siblings, children diagnosed, as well as families and parents – and there’s so much of what we go through every day that are really just annoyances,” John says. “But you look at what they go through, what they have gone through…They face everything with a smile on their face, without showing any ill will toward anybody.” And that’s a common thread through Children’s Cancer Connection volunteers’ experiences.

John, Respite Service Supervisor at ChildServe, lives in West Des Moines.

Cancer Twitter Feeds

We know that, during a battle with cancer, there are many more important things to do than surf the internet. But for those spare moments, here are four great Twitter feeds to give you quick tidbits of information and inspiration along your journey.

@AlexsLemonade offers heartwarming stories about kids raising money to fight childhood cancer. It all started when 4-year-old Alex Scott started a lemonade stand to raise money for "her" hospital -- and the foundation continues to this day.

@Bear4kidscancer is based out of Chicago, IL. They, like Children's Cancer Connection, provide hope and support for those battling kids cancer, and their twitter feed also comes with inspiring stories and timely ideas, like Mother's Day gift ideas that give back to children's cancer.

@superbigsmile isn't cancer-related. Instead, it offers pictures, videos, and stories that match well with its name -- and give you a superbigsmile.

@Coping_cancer shares content from Coping with Cancer magazine -- straight from its editor. Directed toward all cancer survivors, not just pediatric, this feed shares survivors' stories and more.

What Twitter feeds do you follow?

Spotlight: Celebrations Send Kids to Camp Heart Connection

While Children’s Cancer Connection prepares camp staff and our campers get excited to head to Boone this summer, another piece of the puzzle is also falling into place: funding.

Last week, Dr. Braxton Pulley, our board president, hosted another successful “30 Kids to Camp” event at the Capital Room in Des Moines’ East Village. More than 100 people attended the event – and over $10,000 has been raised to date! Dr. Pulley has raised enough to send more than 33 kids to Camp Heart Connection.

Within the office, our very own Meridith Sayler is hosting her own birthday celebration, too: “24 Kids to Camp.” She has already surpassed her end goal, and still has her birthday celebration event to come at the end of April.

Since celebration-style events like these began in Children’s Cancer Connection in 2008, over 100 children have been provided the chance to go to camp.

If you would like to get involved and host your own birthday or anniversary type event, contact Tiffany K. Spinner at tiffany@childrenscancerconnection.com.

Connect to More Resources

Last week, we revealed four pillars of the new and improved Children's Cancer Connection -- and resources that went along with them. Today, please feel free to explore another: Growth.


As an organization constantly evolving to meet the needs of the families that come to us, we're always looking to expand our knowledge, our programming, and our reach.

Cancer Blogger provides cancer information and updates from cancer-cure enthusiasts to experts in the field. It can be a very informational website to grow your understanding.

Check out Children's Cancer Association out east in Oregon -- an organization similar to Children's Cancer Connection but with different programming. We're always looking to improve upon our programs.
What websites have helped you grow through your journey with cancer?

Communications/Copywriting Intern Needed!

Title: Communications/Copywriting Intern (8 – 10 hours per week)
Reports to: Director of Marketing and Communication
Duration: Part-time, Summer, Fall Semester or Academic Year
Organization: Children’s Cancer Connection - 1221 Center Street, Des Moines, IA 50309-1014

Children’s Cancer Connection, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, has provided support services and programs for children with cancer and their families since 1988. The organization sponsors two week-long summer camps for children with cancer and their siblings, provides support groups, family outings, weekend retreats and hospital based programs.

Organizations Mission Statement: We enhance the quality of life for children and families affected by childhood cancer by providing programs for recreation, education and support.

Qualifications:
• Academic major in Communications, Journalism or Graphic Design
• Proficiency in MS Word, Outlook and Excel
• Ability to multi-task and work well on a team
• Strong organizational skills, time management skills and attention to detail
• Knowledge of layout design; Working knowledge of Adobe products including InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop a plus
• Copywriting and editing skills
• Knowledge of social media networking tools

Position Summary:
This un-paid position will, under the direction of the Management Team, assist in the design of semi-annual newsletters, regular e-newsletters, weekly press releases, copy write and edit print pieces, and assist in the development of brochures and other print materials for program and fundraising activities. Also, this position will assist in maintaining the organizations website and Social Media Networking tools- Facebook, Twitter, Blog, ect.

This internship will provide a student the ability to increase their portfolio with press releases, marketing pieces and website development. Because of the part-time nature of this opportunity, a student could potentially hold another job/internship. We offer flexible scheduling and a fun, fast-paced environment where students can directly impact the lives of children dealing with cancer.

Responsibilities:
• Design and develop organizational newsletters
• Create brochures as needed
• Develop e-newsletter artilces and spotlights
• Research articles and conduct interviews as needed
• Seek opportunities for and write weekly press releases
• Calendar Updates, Event Photo’s, etc.
• Develop opportunities for use of social network tools (i.e. Facebook, Twitter, Blog etc.)
• General administrative support

Contact Information:Children’s Cancer Connection

Emily Beckmann- Director of Marketing and Communication
1221 Center Street, Suite 12
Des Moines, IA 50309-1014
515-243-6239 ext. 1102
Emily@ChildrensCancerConnection.com

All interested students – freshmen through seniors – are encouraged to apply. Submit cover letter and resume to the address or email address above.

For more information about Children’s Cancer Connection, please visit our website at: http://www.childrenscancerconnection.org/

Volunteer Spotlight: Leah Fenchel

Children’s Cancer Connection is proud to introduce Leah Fenchel as this week’s spotlight volunteer. She’s been working with Children’s Cancer Connection for eleven years, and continues to maintain the commitment and care that make her such an asset to Camp Heart Connection. A cancer survivor herself, Leah gives back by being part of our camp staff.

“The bonding, the fact that everybody gets to leave and be imprinted upon with all the memories, the friends, everything,” make up Leah’s favorite part of being a Children’s Cancer Connection volunteer. She feels like she makes a difference when campers come back for a second or third summer and come to look for her since she’s connected with them over the years.

After camp, Leah says, “You don’t take anything for granted.” And with camp coming up in a couple months, Children’s Cancer Connection is excited for another summer with Leah and the rest of the amazing camp staff.

Mark's Take On Why We Changed Our Name

"By now you are aware, we have changed our name and look. When we began pondering this change I was reluctant. We’ve always been The Heart Connection and we have always had the cute rainbow as our logo. My logical side understood the why, my emotional side didn’t like it. Let’s face it, change is hard.

As we worked through the process, nearly eighteen months, I began to understand better. I understood because it is all I ever have known. But to the family whose child has been recently diagnosed – they have cancer – not a heart problem. Friends that I have known since starting with the organization nearly 18 years ago still ask me, “How’s it going at Iowa’s Heart Foundation for Kids with Cancer”. The need for change became clearer.

So what about the logo? The new logo is part of the branding process, which includes a total make over, creating a look and feel that is consistent. We were very fortunate to receive support and guidance from the Integer Group, a world leader in promotions and retail marketing. Best of all, they were able to help us keep the name and logo as part of the organization.

Children’s Cancer Connection is the umbrella under which each of our four program areas will have a name and logo: Survivorship, Hospital Based, Support Services, and Camps and Recreation. The Camps and Recreation program area is now known as Camp Heart Connection and the rainbow is its logo.

Change is hard for those of us who have always known the organization one way. But as I have learned over the past eighteen months, we need to always be aware of the obstacles that keep those who both need and support our programs from finding the services that we provide, and strive to overcome these obstacles."

Mark Slocum
Executive Director

Connect to Resources

Improving in more than just our name, Children’s Cancer Connection is upgrading our blog, too.


Starting today, Mondays on the Children’s Cancer Connection blog will be about more than just our organization and what we do – the blog will connect to resources, stories, research and more to greater serve your needs.


Children’s Cancer Connection operates under seven pillars: passion, strength, understanding, growth, laughter, bravery and compassion. Here, we have related four of those core values to outside articles and information. Please peruse the links and let us know what you’d like to see more of in the future.

Strength
Everyone’s journey with cancer is different – and this page affiliated with the Children’s Cancer Research Fund at the University of Minnesota shares the inspirational stories and touching tales of children’s strength through the disease.


Understanding

During a child’s cancer journey, it’s important for the caretakers, friends, siblings and loved ones that surround them to try to understand what they’re going through. This Curesearch page boosts understanding with statistics, overviews and more.

Laughter

This site is full of silly jokes for kids – because laughter might not be the best medicine, but it sure is fun!


Compassion
Empathy is an important part of the cancer journey for all involved – but this page of community Top 10 lists from Re-Mission especially helps those living with cancer support one another.