Part Two: More Q & A with Melissa

We're getting EXCITED for the LA Marathon on March 21!



Welcome to the second installment of our Q&A with Melissa Hoff, a member and volunteer for Team Wellness. You can join Melissa as she runs for HOPE - click here to learn more.

TWCVV: What would you say to people who want to join the team but have never done fundraising and are nervous about asking people for money?

Melissa: Fundraising is an amazing way to connect with people. You are giving other people the opportunity to support a cause that has affected everyone in one way or another. During my fundraising, I found out that there were members of my family that I never knew had cancer. You have to remember that you aren’t asking for money for yourself. This is about helping other people.

TWCVV: Why do you think The Wellness Community is a worthy cause for Team Wellness members to raise funds for?

This is such an amazing organization. It not only helps the person with the disease but it helps their family members as well. Support is so important and being with people who are going through the same thing you are doesn’t really make it easier but it makes you feel like you aren’t alone and to me, that is scarier than anything out there.

TWCVV: What other racing events have you participated in and can you describe the experience?

Melissa: In 2007, I was part of a cancer charity team. During that time, I ran in the Great Race of Agoura 15k (the 5k and 10k in the same day) and the San Diego Rock n’ Roll Half marathon. I had never run before and I was skeptical that I would be able to complete a half marathon. Now, I run every day and I am always looking for new ways of challenging myself. The thrill of the race and the competition is exhilarating but crossing the finish line is better than anything I have ever experienced.

Our heartfelt thanks to Melissa for participating in Team Wellness and sharing her thoughts with us. Please consider joining, supporting, or raising awareness for Team Wellness. For more info visit our website or call 805.379.4777. And keep moving!

From the Stadium to the Sea

The Wellness Community Valley/Ventura is recruiting members for “Team Wellness,” a group of runners and walkers who will participate in the Los Angeles Marathon or 5K Run/Walk in March and raise money for cancer support programs.

Click here for details, and check out the Q&A below with one of our fantastic Team Wellness runners, Melissa Hoff. In addition to running the 5K with her brother, Melissa (pictured below) is helping to recruit team members around town.

TWCVV: How did you hear about The Wellness Community?

Melissa: My mom worked as a docent for the Holiday Homes Tour several years ago and she always raved about what a wonderful organization it is.

TWCVV: What made you want to volunteer?

Melissa: 2009 was probably the worst year of my entire life. During the last 2-3 months of the year, I started reflecting on what had happened and what kind of person I had become. I was just a blob on the earth who wasn’t contributing anything to society and I realized that I needed to make some serious changes. The time that I took to reflect enabled me to set goals that would not only better my life, but better the lives of other people. I decide to go back to school to become a nurse and to volunteer my time. Making those decisions and changing so much about my life has made me feel like I have a purpose.

TWCVV: Why are you excited about participating on Team Wellness?

Melissa: I LOVE RUNNING!! I love to be around the people that participate because of their energy and spirit for giving.

TWCVV: You've done several races for charities. What's rewarding about it?

Melissa: In 2007, I raised money for a cancer charity and ran the San Diego Rock n’ Roll Half Marathon. I will never forget being half way through and feeling like I wanted to give up. My ankles hurt, I was hot, and I had blisters on my feet… I was just miserable! When I looked at the people who were all around me that had photos of their loved ones on their t-shirts and names of people written on their arms that they were racing for, I was so inspired. I was a part of something that was so much bigger than me and bigger than the race itself. My blisters and ankles were nothing in comparison.

TWCVV: Was fundraising easier than you thought it would be?

Melissa: Absolutely! I have never encountered so many generous people in my life. I took advantage of as many fundraising tools as I could. I not only mailed letters to friends and family but I had a website, I had a pizza night at Lamppost Pizza where a percentage of the proceeds were donated to the charity, I knocked on my neighbors doors and I made a ton of phone calls. People who I never thought would give money were exceedingly generous.

Stay tuned for PART TWO of our conversation with Melissa...coming soon to The Hope Herald. In the meantime, you can register or learn more on our website.

In the News...

We're excited to share some recent news coverage involving people and programs at The Wellness Community Valley/Ventura:

Lance Orozco, award-winning News Director for KCLU 88.3 FM, interviewed TWC V/V Co-Founder and VP of Programs Marty Nason, RN, MN, and TWC V/V participant Linda Scott. The resulting story, "Holidays have special meaning for many facing health issues," is worth checking out. Click here to listen.

The Ventura County Star featured TWC V/V's new CAREing & COPEing programs for breast cancer patients and caregivers, on December 23. Click here to read the article, which features comments from Marty Nason.

If you attended our recent Holiday Homes Tour, or couldn't make it but want to know what it's all about, check out "Holiday Homes Tour raises funds for county cancer programs" in the Ventura County Star. The article is accompanied by a photo slide show. (Photos by Chuck Kirman.)

Here at TWC V/V we are looking forward to another year full of newsworthy programs to help people with cancer and their families fight for their recovery. Happy New Year!

The Supporting Role of a Lifetime

As a caregiver, I have been "through the ringer" on many levels, but am living proof that it can be done. I've learned how to be open to the abundant caring and support of others. I've learned, at new levels how to say "yes please" and "thank you" with deep gratitude.
-Mark, a breast cancer caregiver and Wellness Community participant



The role of cancer caregiver is a challenging one, indeed. Cancer caregivers devote time and energy to their loved one—providing physical, emotional, financial, spiritual or logistical support—and often do not take the time to focus on their own needs.

There is a great need to address the wellbeing of cancer caregivers and arm them with strategies and skills that enhance their ability to provide supportive care to their loved ones while avoiding burnout.

In response to this need, The Wellness Community – with support from The Breast Cancer Fund of National Philanthropic Trust – has developed the CAREing & COPEing workshop.

This exciting 4-week program, beginning January 12, 2010, will provide education and support to people with breast cancer and loved ones. Each week, participants will gather for two hours to learn more about how to live through and beyond breast cancer. Participants will join in a group setting working in pairs; each pair consisting of the cancer survivor and her support person. The series is free of charge.

We are currently seeking breast cancer patients, survivors, and their caregivers who are interested in participating in the CAREing & COPEing program. An interview and pre-registration is required. Early registration is encouraged as space is limited and will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Participants must register in pairs containing one breast cancer patient and one caregiver, whether spouse, sibling, child, friend or other family member. If you are interested in learning more, please contact Jodi McIntosh at (805) 379-4777.

Watch our Garden Grow

The Garden of Hope started as the seed of an idea. It sprouted thanks to the generosity of its supporters, and is now blossoming into the dream we envisioned so many months ago.

Located at the corner of Hampshire Road and Townsgate Boulevard in Westlake Village, the garden will be an outdoor sanctuary for cancer patients and their families who come to The Wellness Community for programs of support, education, and hope.

You can see photos of the progress on our Facebook page.

Thanks to Reyes Masonry, the Tribute Wall of Hope is taking shape. Mr Bob Reyes and his team constructed the footings and poured the foundation on Saturday, October 31st. On November 7th a team from Reyes was back at work volunteering their time to build the tribute wall. Special thanks to Reyes Masonry, Angelus Block, Gold Coast Steel & Supply, and State Ready Mix for donating the materials and labor to make this dream come true.

The Gazebo has been constructed, and badly-needed repairs to the south wall of our building were completed, thanks to Oltmans Construction and Agoura Sash and Door. Thanks also to Milgard for providing our new windows at a discount.

Conejo Complete Landscape has worked with teams of volunteers to maintain our grounds and prepare the site for installation of the irrigation system. They will contribute their time and expertise to install the irrigation system once the wall construction is complete. Installation of the walkway will follow. Hunter Industries has generously donated all of the irrigation equipment.

If you have an opportunity, please support these great companies who are making a difference in the lives of families affected by cancer and giving the gift of hope.

If you would like to volunteer and help lay the bricks or the sod, please let us know.

Time is running out! Only a few naming opportunities are available in the Garden. Please contact Maddy Sattler to learn more about naming opportunities in the Garden. You can also download the order form, or buy a brick at our website. Please note that quantities are limited.

Sugar & Spice & Everything Nice

We are gearing up for our 2nd Annual Gingerbread House Event on November 17! Chefs from our favorite local spots are bringing their amazing gingerbread creations to The Wellness Community. Last year, folks had a blast taking in each unique and awe-inspiring house. This is also a fun event for kids, who will get to make their own gingerbread houses to take home (reservation required; call 805.379.4777). And be sure to enter the Opportunity Drawing to take home a chef-built house.

In anticipation of the Gingerbread House Event we bring you a healthy and scrumptious recipe from the Wellness Kitchen at the California Health and Longevity Institute, Four Seasons Westlake Village. (Their gingerbread house from last year is pictured.) Bon Appetit, and we'll see you on November 15!

Apple Cranberry Crisp


2 pounds (about 6) of Granny Smith or Pippin apples, peeled, cored, and sliced

½ cup dried cranberries

1 Tbsp. lemon juice

1 Tbsp. sugar

1 Tbsp. flour

1¼ tsp. cinnamon

1 Tbsp. orange zest

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9x13 inch baking dish with non-stick spray.

2. Toss apple slices with remaining ingredients in baking dish.

3. Sprinkle oat topping over apples (recipe below).

4. Bake for 30 minutes, until topping is brown and crisp.

5. Serve warm with lite whipped topping or lite ice cream.

TOPPING

1 cup of rolled oats

½ cup of brown sugar

½ cup of flour (can use ¼ cup of whole wheat plus ¼ cup of white flour)

½ cup no trans fat margarine.

1 tsp. of cinnamon

DIRECTIONS

1. Mix all ingredients in a small bowl with fingers until crumbly.

Serves: 8

Calories per serving: 250

Calorie equivalent: 1 carbohydrate, 1 fruit, 1.5 fats

Why We're Celebrating Thanksgiving Early

We're taking this opportunity to give thanks to the contributors to our October fundraising events. Who better to do that than the event organizers themselves?

Past participants Bob Ferber and Steve and Karen Furnari worked hard as co-chairs to create a fun, successful event with the first-ever Paws 4 Hope charity dog walk. We are delighted to present a Guest Post from Karen Furnari:

Walking with your dog on a sunny day in the park! What could be better? However it takes on a whole new meaning when you think about doing it as an event with lots of people and lots of dogs. When Bob Ferber, my husband Steve and I went to Berniece Bennett Park last spring to scope out and plan, we crossed our fingers that all would work out. And it did!

To everyone who helped to make the recent Paws 4 Hope Dog Walk successful, my eternal thanks and gratitude!


Our volunteer committee took on the big tasks, calling on vendors, distributing brochures, and packing goodie bags, as well as lots of duties on the big day. It was such a thrill to see the actual walk around the park begin, with proud owners and their dogs with Paws 4 Hope bandanas. My heart was pounding and tears welled in my eyes to see it all come to fruition.

The Wellness Community was literally a lifesaver for me and Steve many years ago, when he faced a six-month terminal diagnosis from Stage 4 malignant melanoma. In desperation we turned to The Wellness Community to help us deal with our fears, questions and a quest for alternative treatments. Over the years, we learned to share with and support our fellow group members every week. We became strong and Steve continued to battle the illness with humor and optimism. Now 15 years after that diagnosis, we both know that we would not be where we are today if it had not been for Wellness. We are committed to doing what we can for this amazing group of people so that their good work carries on forever.

And don't forget to come next year to the 2nd Annual Paws 4 Hope!

You can see photos from Paws 4 Hope at our website.


Merv Kopp pulled off another successful and hilarious Stand Up for Cancer Survivors Comedy FUNdraiser, due in large part to his tireless efforts and passion for finding the humor in life. We are pleased to bring you a Guest Post from Merv:

As a cancer survivor, I originally did a tremendous amount of research after my diagnosis to find an organization that could provide the social and emotional support we survivors need when we're diagnosed, during treatment, and just as importantly, after treatment ends.Further, instead of reading the verbs stricken, battled, died, when newspapers write about cancer, the words I would rather see are diagnosed, treated, survived. And I think we should add another word: SUPPORTED. Yes, supported. And that's why I came to The Wellness Community, because that's what they do - they support their participants in a marvelous fashion, at no cost to them.

Another reason for producing the Comedy evening is that so many people only talk about cancer in the most serious and negative manner. I prefer to approach cancer with humor, with comedy, with laughter, and with a smile on my face. Ergo, the "Stand Up for Cancer Survivors Comedy FUNdraiser."

The success of the October 8th show is due in great part to the fabulous support given to me by The Wellness Community's wonderful, dedicated and hard-working staff and volunteers; Thank you very much!