Support systems help survivors move beyond the ... - Main Line Today

Special Promotional Supplement
The Butterfly Ball
Co-chairs and honorees prepare for a “green” event.
Living Beyond Breast Cancer is “going green”
at its annual gala, The Butterfly Ball, on
Saturday, Oct. 3, at the Loews Philadelphia
Hotel. Co-chairs Jacki and Eric Blumenfeld
of Gladwyne, Howard and Emily Cutler of
Blue Bell, and Byron and Paulina Hewett
of Bryn Mawr are meeting fundraising
challenges by bringing eco-friendly changes
to this year’s event. To conserve paper and
printing costs, they replaced the traditional
ad book with a “virtual” album, where tributes
in honor or in memory of loved ones will be
viewed on a screen during the event. The cochairs
sent electronic save-the-date cards and
replaced the paper auction preview
catalog with an online version.
“Going green is not only good for the
environment, it’s also economical,” Jacki Blumenfeld
says. “These changes will help make
this year’s Butterfly Ball a financial success
by raising more money to support LBBC’s
programs and services.”
The night’s festivities begin with a cocktail
reception and silent auction. Guests will
enjoy dinner, music, dancing, and silent and
live auctions, where they can bid on items
like a one-week stay at a villa in Tuscany and
a three-course tasting dinner for 10.
Until Oct. 2, the public is invited to visit
lbbc.org to purchase chances for the gala
drawing at $50 for one chance, $100 for three
and $250 for 10. The grand prize is a diamond
tennis bracelet donated by Govberg Jewelers.
The second prize is an escape package for
two at the Loews Philadelphia Hotel.
You do not need to be present to win.
The evening will feature an awards
presentation recognizing five women
for their dedication to helping
women and families affected
by breast cancer:
King of Prussia’s Aundreia
Alexander is an ordained minister
serving Saints Memorial Baptist Church in
Bryn Mawr. After she was diagnosed with
breast cancer four years ago, she began helping
other women cope by sharing information
about faith and spirituality at LBBC events.
When Wendy Jonas, of Fort Washington,
attended LBBC’s gala for the first time with
her friend, Tracey Brazier, she never imagined
that a few years later she would be diagnosed
with breast cancer. She often shares LBBC’s
resources and supports fundraising events.
Phyllis Markoff, of Cherry Hill, N.J., was
only 36 years old when she was diagnosed in
2006. In her doctor’s office, she met her best
friend, Emily Scattergood, of Haddonfield,
N.J., who was diagnosed at age 34. They
have traveled together to LBBC conferences
and have raised awareness of breast cancer
in young women by speaking to the media.
LBBC will bestow the 2009 Founder’s
Award on the organization’s education director,
Elyse Spatz Caplan, of Lafayette Hill.
Since her diagnosis 18 years ago, Elyse
has dedicated her career to educating and
supporting women affected by breast cancer.
The evening would not be possible without
the support of generous sponsors, including
Gold Sponsors Comcast-Spectacor Foundation,
Lisa D. Kabnick and John
H. McFadden.
To support LBBC or for more information
about the gala, contact development director
Sandy Martin at sandy@lbbc.org.
15 Living Beyond Breast Cancer
Programs to Keep in Mind
1. The toll-free Survivors’ Helpline at
(888) 753-LBBC (5222) offers confidential
guidance, information and peer support.
2. Conferences like “News You Can Use:
The Future of Breast Cancer Care” in
Philadelphia on Nov. 14 keep women
informed on medical and quality-oflife
issues.
3. The LBBC Community Connection
newsletter focuses on local programs and
special events, and celebrates volunteers.
4. Networking meetings in West
Conshohocken, Cherry Hill, N.J., and
Center City cover medical and practical
topics like pain management (October).
5. Lbbc.org delivers breaking news and
access to LBBC’s programs, all at the click
of a mouse.
6. Project Connect outreach events keep
African-Americans empowered about
breast health.
7. Teleconferences address issues like
treatment and quality-of-life updates for
women affected by advanced breast
cancer (October), follow-up testing
(November) and research updates (January).
8. Local providers can get healthcare
provider training to enhance
communication with patients.
9. The quarterly newsletter Insight
sheds light on complex medical and
emotional concerns.
10. MP3 podcasts and transcripts bring
women to LBBC’s education events, no
matter where they live.
11. Guide to Understanding brochures
explore life after diagnosis, emotional
health, lymphedema, treatment decision
making, insomnia, fatigue, triple-negative
breast cancer, clinical trials and
financial concerns.
12. The books Getting Connected and
We Celebrate Tomorrow share the
experiences of local African-Americans
and Latinas who have faced breast cancer.
13. The Paula A. Seidman Library and
Resource Center, open to the public, offers
comprehensive info on breast cancer.
14. The brochure series for women
affected by advanced breast cancer
explores treatment options, symptoms and
side effects.
15. Newly diagnosed women with financial
difficulties may apply for the Cis B. Golder
Quality of Life Grant to offset expenses.
(Top, from left) 2009 LBBC gala award recipients are
Emily Scattergood, Wendy Jonas, Phyllis Markoff,
Elyse Spatz Caplan and Aundreia Alexander.
(Below, from left) 2009 LBBC gala co-chairs are
Howard and Emily Cutler, Byron and Paulina Hewett,
and Eric and Jacki Blumenfeld.
L8 www.mainlinetoday.com october 2009