Let's Talk meets the third Monday of each month from 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. at The Inn at Brookline Village, 1900 Cliffside Drive, State College. Each month a different speaker presents information on a variety of topics to the entire group.

Following the presentation, we form small groups where members can discuss their concerns and receive encouragement and support from others.

Following are some of our program topics:

The Benefits of Yoga
How to Protect Yourself from the Sun
Ahhh! Feeling Great from a Massage
Managing the Distance Barrier When a Loved One Has Cancer
The Lighter Side of Breast Cancer
Acupuncture
Lymphedema

Our first Benefit dinner was held on Saturday, June 4, 2005. Seventy-five supporters enjoyed cocktails, hors d’oeuvers and a steak and chicken buffet.

President Judy Snyder welcomed everyone and provided a brief history of the organization. Jenny Sheetz and her husband, Michael Campbell, spoke about the importance of addressing your physical, emotional and spiritual needs during our daily hectic schedules. Jenny and Michael are the owners of St. Joseph Institute, a mountain getaway in Port Matilda.

Tammy Miller was the keynote speaker. Tammy emphasized the significance role humor played during her battle with breast cancer. From Tammy’s brightly colored boa, having guests clucking like chickens and magically making a chicken appear out of a napkin, to having guests don red noses and play “When the Saints Go Marching In” on their kazoos, it was a lively evening with a lot of “belly laughs.” Regardless of who we are or what we are doing, we all need to take time each day and laugh.

Guests were eligible for drawings that included Tammy’s book, The Lighter Side of Breast Cancer and a weekend getaway for two at the St. Joseph Institute.

Due to the generosity of those attending and others, $5,000 was received in pledges and donations. These funds will be used to help cancer survivors when they are faced with difficult situations.

Plans are underway for our second annual dinner that will be held in the spring of 2006. If you would like to receive an invitation, please contact us at 814-237-2120. You never know, you may get the opportunity to be the band director!

On June 5, 2005, we joined with the employees of Brookline Home Care & Hospice, Mount Nittany Medical Center, Hoag’s Catering and Wal-Mart #2230, Benner Pike Store, to sponsor the first Centre County National Cancer Survivors Day Celebration.

On this day, events were held in over 700 cities in the United States and Canada including 18 other Pennsylvania communities to celebrate the wondrous gift of life. The courage and determination of cancer survivors is an inspiration to all. A ‘survivor” is anyone living with a history of cancer – from the moment of diagnosis through the remainder of life.

The day featured public awareness, health care displays, “drumming” by Tr-HANDS-formation, line dancing by the Nittany Spurs, free food, door prizes, and children’s activities.

Dr. Jerry Derdel was the keynote speaker. He addressed the major advancements in cancer prevention, early detection and treatment.

Commissioner Scott Conklin presented Dr. Derdel with a Centre County Proclamation declaring Sunday, June 5, 2005, as National Cancer Survivors Day in Centre County.

National Cancer Survivors Day is held on the first Sunday of June. Please plan to join us on Sunday, June 4, 2006 as we again honor cancer survivors, their families, caregivers and professionals in the world’s largest cancer survivor event.

For more information or if you would like to help in our 2006 event, please contact us at 814-237-2120.

History of National Cancer Survivors Day

National Cancer Survivors Day is an annual, worldwide Celebration of Life that is held in hundreds of communities throughout the United States, Canada, and other participating countries. Participants unite in a symbolic event to show the world that life after a cancer diagnosis can be a reality.

In most areas, National Cancer Survivors Day is traditionally observed on the first Sunday in June, although this is not always possible due to scheduling conflicts and time differences. Celebrating its 18th year in 2005, NCSD is the world’s largest and fastest growing annual cancer survivor event.

In the beginning, cancer survivor Richard Bloch (co-founder of H&R Bloch) and his wife, Annette, held their first Cancer Survivor Rally in Kansas City to obtain media coverage that would demonstrate that a diagnosis of cancer was not an automatic death sentence. The idea soon caught on in other communities and has come to be known as National Cancer Survivors Day.

The National Cancer Survivors Day Foundation defines a “survivor” as anyone living with a history of cancer – from the moment of diagnosis through the remainder of life.

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