Breast Cancer Survivor and Providence Cancer Center Patient Looks Ahead to Set Sail for a Cause
The diagnosis of breast cancer means the beginning of many questions and many worries. What are the treatment options? What are the side effects of undergoing treatment? What happens next? With Providence Cancer Center, Oregon women have an answer to where to go to receive state-of-the-art, compassionate cancer care.
Alice Kienberger-Iverson
When Alice Kienberger-Iverson, mother to Set Sail for a Cause Chair Annette Kienberger, was diagnosed with breast cancer five years ago, she turned to Providence Cancer Center for her treatment. “The level of caring from the staff was incredible and so comforting,” said Ms. Kienberger. “My mother was never just a number.”
Providence Cancer Center is part of a prestigious network of community-based cancer centers offering exceptional cancer care in Oregon communities. Patients and families benefit from some of the finest, most comprehensive cancer services in the world, including the best in diagnostic imaging, cutting-edge treatments, nationally renowned research, and counseling and support. Their doctors, nurses, researchers, patient advocates and other caregivers work together to treat cancer aggressively and to ensure that no person has to face the challenge of a cancer diagnosis alone.
As one of only 30 sites nationwide – and the only one in Oregon – to participate in the National Cancer Institute’s Community Cancer Center Program, Providence Cancer Center has developed programs to reduce health care disparities, improve access to clinical trials and link with national computer networks to support cancer research. The Robert W. Franz Cancer Research Center is a world-class cancer research program and one of only a few research centers in the Pacific Northwest focusing exclusively on immunotherapy.
When Ms. Kienberger approached the Oregon Women’s Sailing Association (OWSA) board to suggest Providence Cancer Center as the first Set Sail for a Cause beneficiary, the favorable response was overwhelming. “Many board members had each had their own positive experiences with Providence,” said Ms. Kienberger. “It confirmed that we had a great match for our event.”
Mrs. Kienberger-Iverson has been in remission since 2008. She began participating in the OWSA charity sail two years later and is excited to attend again and support the organization that provided first-class support, treatment and answers when she needed them.
A New Look and a Very Personal Gift: Make the Kindest Cut at Set Sail for a Cause
For many women, their hair is many things—a “crowning glory,” a “mop” or a “bird’s nest.” They wash it, style it, primp it, curse it, but on September 23, a group of women will cut it off and call it something else…a gift, to make a cancer patient feel like herself again.
For the fifth year, Oregon Women’s Sailing Association (OWSA) will be collecting ponytails for Pantene’s Beautiful Lengths program. Through a partnership between Pantene and the American Cancer Society, Pantene’s Beautiful Lengths helps women undergoing cancer treatment by donating free real-hair wigs. Real-hair wigs are expensive and many women with cancer can’t afford them. Pantene has relied on ponytail donations from women, children and even men to make the 18,000 wigs that have been distributed across the country since 2006.
Former OWSA member Anne West organized the collection campaign, The Kindest Cut, after her sister was diagnosed with breast cancer. Since then, 89 ponytails have been donated—enough to provide free wigs to 14 women undergoing cancer treatment. The day of the event, professional stylists bring their equipment, set up stations and give hair donors a haircut and style—free of charge. Shirley Sanders, coordinator of The Kindest Cut, gave 10 inches of her own hair at last year’s event. “The stylists’ dedication has been amazing,” Ms. Sanders said. “One of them will be volunteering for the fifth time.”
To be eligible for donation, hair must be at least 8 inches long, free of permanent color, bleach or other chemical treatments, and no more than 5% gray. It takes at least six ponytails to make a wig. Ponytails are combined and then processed and dyed to the same shade.
Start growing your hair to make your own donation and make a difference to a cancer patient! Join us on Facebook to share your progress!
Sail for the Cure takes a new tack, becomes Set Sail for a Cause
After 12 years and more than $270,000 raised, family sailing event “goes local,” will benefit the Portland-based Providence Cancer Center
For 12 years, Oregon Women’s Sailing Association (OWSA) has mobilized volunteers to put on a first-class, family-oriented event that not only promoted sailing, but also raised money for the fight against breast cancer.
For our 13th event, on September 23, 2012, we plan to do the same, but for a different organization. In November 2011, the OWSA Board took a new tack, hearing from our membership that there were many causes worthy of our support. As a result, our 2012 event will benefit Providence Cancer Center and has a new name: Set Sail for a Cause.
Thanks to our generous supporters more than $270,000 has been donated to Susan G. Komen for the Cure® over the last 12 years. With your help, we can achieve great success for this year’s recipient.
Providence Cancer Center offers some of the finest and most comprehensive cancer services in the world, including the best in diagnostic imaging, state-of-the-art treatments, nationally renowned-research, and compassionate counseling and support. And all right here in our own backyard.
The kickoff meeting in January, hosted by Providence, included tours of the R.W. Franz Cancer Research Center and Cancer Support Services center and was a great inspiration for this new venture. Visit their website to learn how Providence has made so many advances in various cancer treatments including breast cancer research.
Help us make the 2012 Set Sail for a Cause another success—join our event committee, consider making a donation or plan to sail with us and join in all the fun on September 23.
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