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Tri to Beat Cancer: Sunday, August 19th Tri to Beat Cancer sprint triathlon, duathlon and aqua bike is entering its ninth year!
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Spring 2018 Newsletter
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Tri to Beat Cancer sprint triathlon, duathlon and aqua bike is entering its ninth year! You can help The Cancer Foundation celebrate this happy occasion by signing up to participate or volunteer in Athens’ only outdoor triathlon (one of the top 3 largest in the state)! Tri to Beat Cancer raises over $85,000 annually to benefit northeast Georgia cancer patients who are struggling to pay for their basic living expenses. This ninth annual race will be held at Sandy Creek Park and will start at 7:00 AM. TCF expects a minimum of 650 racers and 200 volunteers!
It’s the Journey!
Mail completed form to: TCF P. O. Box 49309 Athens, GA 30604 Visit cfnega.org to register as an athlete. Contact volunteer coordinator, Camilla Bracewell, at tri2beatcancer@gmail.com to learn more about volunteering!
The Cancer Foundation was awarded a grant in the amount of $30,000 by It’s The Journey, Inc., producer of the Georgia 2-Day Walk for Breast Cancer. The grant will fund the Financial Assistance Program in TCF’s 19-county service area. This grant is one of 33 grants awarded by It’s The Journey this year to breast cancer programs across Georgia. “We are proud that our grants remain focused on local needs and impact the lives of Georgians, providing crucial access to services ranging from clinical breast exams, screening mammograms, diagnostics, genetic counseling and testing, to direct financial assistance,” said Kimberly Goff, Executive Director of It’s The Journey. Last year, 29% of The Cancer Foundation’s total financial assistance given went towards direct financial assistance for breast cancer patients. The It’s The Journey grant to TCF’s Financial Assistance Program will continue to assist those patients who are struggling with a breast cancer diagnosis pay for their basic life needs while undergoing treatment.
Plan to Give to the Cancer Foundation! Planned Giving We will work with you and your professional advisor to create estate planning strategies that will preserve your charitable wishes long beyond your lifetime. Through a variety of deferred options, you and your loved ones can enjoy financial security and provide resources for northeast Georgia cancer patients for decades to come.
Bequest
Donors can specify a gift in their will or revocable trust. All assets are retained during life and the donor’s estate may receive a tax deduction for the bequest. The gift is made upon death which creates a permanent endowment fund for TCF.
Charitable Remainder Trust (CRT)
Create a CRT, name a fund at TCF as the beneficiary, and receive an immediate tax deduction. Receive income from the gift for life or for a specified number of years, after which your TCF fund will receive the remaining assets.
IRA / Retirement Plan
If you have already created a sound estate plan that achieves all objectives and takes care of your family, using an IRA to make a current gift or a gift-by-will could avoid both income and estate taxes. And by using an IRA to establish a Donor Advised Fund, your family can remain involved in the grant making process.
Give Where You Work Many different companies allow their employees to participate in different match giving programs, which allows your employer to match your gift to TCF! Here is a list of some companies with employee match giving programs: AAA, Aetna, Amgen, Bank of America, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Coca-Cola Company, Genentech, General Mills, Georgia Power, Home Depot, Merrill Lynch & Company, Morgan Stanley, Pfizer, Wells Fargo. Ask your employer if your company has a match giving program that you can take advantage of!
“As a cancer survivor I know what it takes to beat cancer and that is a great team. A team starting with faith in your lord, great doctors, loving family and good friends. With this team behind me, I was able to put all my focus on winning my battle. Not once did I worry about paying bills, or insurance, supporting my family or any other financial problems – only getting better. It was during my treatments, sitting in the waiting rooms, where I saw the burden of the financial load people are dealing with – and I still see it on my yearly checkups and I can’t imagine their stress.”
We are blessed to support The Cancer Foundation and their mission to help those less fortunate in our community “Diane and I were initially involved with a national foundation, but when we found out about The Cancer Foundation and how it helps families right here at home, in our community, it was an easy choice for us to make the switch. We are blessed to support The Cancer Foundation and their mission to help those less fortunate in our community so they might be part of this great team and have a better chance to win their battles with cancer.”
Jeff Blake enjoying time outside while visiting a friend, Tracey Schmidt, in Ashville, North Carolina. Photo credit: Tracey Schmidt
Finding Light in the Battle of Cancer A positive outlook and battling cancer do not usually go hand in hand, but Jeff Blake, at the age of 70, radiates a bright perspective throughout his challenging times.
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efore Blake was diagnosed with cancer, he dedicated his life to serving others from working at Goodwill to helping the colleges of Berea and LaGrange fundraise for their students. Just a few months after Blake’s retirement, he was diagnosed with melanoma, a dangerous type of skin cancer. His doctors believed that they had caught the cancer in the early stages. But one or two lymph nodes metastasized to countless more throughout Blake’s body. Over the past few years, he has been through multiple surgeries, trial studies and immune therapy in order to combat his stage four melanoma. While many would have lost hope during this difficult time, Blake found a way to view life as a blessing.
“Cancer changes everyone’s life, and it has significantly changed mine,” said Blake. “My diagnosis has helped me focus on what matters in life.” Blake has found elation in what life has to offer. Gardening gives Blake an escape from his treatment. He loves tending to his sunflowers and tomatoes. Blake appreciates every second he can spend outdoors. Another immense source of light in Blake’s life is his nine grandchildren. Although Blake doesn’t get to see them as often as he likes, they give him endless laughter and inspire him with their optimistic curiosity of what life has to offer. “They are so thoroughly alive with their explorations of life. They live spontaneously in the moment, the way I think we may all
I could not be more grateful for the generous donors who provide the resources and the extraordinary staff that facilitates the support to help so many people,” said Blake. Patients like Blake, are why The Cancer Foundation was created, and their ultimate mission is to relieve the financial burden of patients. By lessening this weight, patients can focus on life’s joys.
“There are so many amazing people fighting the battle of cancer. The Cancer Foundation just wants to minimize the stress of patients.”
Blake remains positive in the situations he faces. After a recent visit to Winship Cancer Institute at Emory in Atlanta, Blake learned that he was facing more challenging times ahead. But with all of these struggles, Blake still sees the gifts life has given him. Blake is a great reminder to everyone that a positive perspective can make all the difference. Finding the light in challenging times is a lesson that many can learn from Jeff Blake. Life is too precious to dwell on the negative.
More than $191,000 Raised at Cocktails for Local Cancer Patients!
The ninth annual Cocktails fundraiser on Saturday, March 3rd was a true achievement, hosting over 400 attendees bidding on more than 75 silent auction packages, including trips to Cabo San Lucas, Siesta Key and Highlands and concert tickets to see Elton John, Taylor Swift and Justin Timberlake! This fun and fast-paced event raised over $191,000 for local northeast Georgia cancer patients. We had a great Event Committee, chaired by Suzanne Yoculan Leebern, who worked diligently to ensure the success of this ninth year milestone. Also deserving of special thanks for making Cocktails a must-attend spring event are the sponsors who support the TCF mission to provide financial assistance to cancer patients struggling financially while undergoing treatment. Around 382 patients will receive financial assistance because of the success of Cocktails in 2018. We hope you’ll join us next year for the tenth anniversary of Cocktails on March 2, 2019.
”Financial toxicity” caused by high cancer drug prices is harming people’s ability to fight the dreaded disease, a new report from the President’s Cancer Panel warns.
Editors Note: This is a reprint of an article published in Healthday. March 13, 2018 by Dennis Thompson, Healthday Reporter
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he report, released Tuesday, argues that urgent action is needed to stem the growing price tags associated with new cancer drugs, particularly if the price doesn’t match the amount of benefit the drug offers. “Drug costs are accelerating far faster than costs for other components of care, which, together, can result in a significant financial burden on patients and their families,” the three-member panel wrote. “When financial resources are strained, patients are less likely to follow treatment regimens, potentially worsening health outcomes drugs are intended to improve.” Tri to these Beat Cancer sprint triathlon, duathlon and aqua bike is The its panel recommends a series of actions minimize the impact entering ninth year! You can help The CancertoFoundation celebrate of costs on patients while up also of thisdrug happy occasion by signing topromoting participatevalue-based or volunteerpricing in Athens’ newer drugs. triathlon (one of the top 3 largest in the state)! Tri to only outdoor Beat Cancer raises over $85,000 annually to benefit northeast Georgia cancer patients who are struggling to pay for their basic living expenses. This ninth annual race will be held at Sandy Creek Park and will start at In 2013, cancer patients paid $207,000 a year, 7:00 AM. TCF expects a minimum of 650 racers and 200 volunteers!
PhRMA, which represents the pharmaceutical industry, responded to the panel’s findings. “Today’s cancer therapies were unimaginable just a decade ago. These new therapies attack disease at the molecular level and are tailored to the unique needs of individual patients,” Holly Campbell, deputy vice president of public affairs at PhRMA, said in a statement. “Thanks to these breakthroughs, the cancer death rate in the United States has fallen 25 percent since its peak and two out of three patients diagnosed with cancer are living at least five years after diagnosis,” she added. But, “too often insurance companies don’t cover the newest cancer breakthroughs and if they do, they often put all medicines to treat certain types of cancer on the highest cost-sharing tier,” Campbell explained. “This concentrates costs on the sickest patients, which is the opposite of how insurance is supposed to work.” “And the cost of treatment doesn’t reflect the full range of factors that contribute to the financial hardships faced by patients with cancer,” Campbell added. “Research shows that physician and hospital fees, Visit cfnega.org to register as an athlete. transportation expenses and the inability to work, among Bracewell, other medical Contact volunteer coordinator, Camilla and non-medical factors, are driving the cost burden on patients.” at tri2beatcancer@gmail.com to learn more about In volunteering! the report, the panel recommends: •
Promoting value-based pricing so that drug costs are more
on average, for their medications, compared reflective of their benefits and effectiveness. with $54,100 a year in 1995, according to the • Providing patients with better information and clearer communication about the cost of their treatment options, so report. theywas can make the best-informed their care. The Cancer Foundation awarded a grantdecisions in theabout amount • Maintaining access to high-quality health insurance that of $30,000 by It’s The Journey, Inc., producer of the minimizes the impact of cancer drug costs on patients. Georgia 2-Day Walk Breastcompetition Cancer.that promotes the development of • for Stimulating
It’s the Journey!
The panel reported that much of the increase can be attributed generic and biosimilar versions of pricey cancer drugs. to new cancer drugs coming on the market. • Arming the FDA with the resources needed to assess cancer More than half of new cancer drugs approved by the U.S. Food The grant will fund the Financial Assistance Program in TCF’s 19-county service drug safety and effectiveness. and Drug Administration from 2009 to 2013 were priced at more area. This grant is one of•33 grants awarded by It’s Thethat Journey this yearthe to breast Investing in new research will promote development than $100,000 for one patient’s treatment for a year. In 2015, cancer cancer programs across Georgia. “We are proud that our grants remain focused on of innovative and high-value cancer drugs. patients were paying from $7,484 to $21,834 a month to take new local needs and impact the lives of Georgians, providing crucial access to services breakthrough drugs that could help them survive. ranging from clinical breast exams, screening mammograms, diagnostics, genetic “All Americans should have the opportunity to purchase reasonably These prices are causing financial toxicity—a term the panel used counseling and testing, to direct financial assistance,” said Kimberly Goff, Executive priced, high-quality health insurance with prescription drug coverage to to describe the negative impact of cancer care costs on the well-being Director of It’s The Journey. facilitate affordable access to cancer drugs,” the report states. and survival chances of patients. Last year, 29% of The Cancer Foundation’s total financial assistance given went The American Society of Clinical Oncology issued a statement “We have patients every day who need to take medication and towards direct financial assistance for breast cancer patients. The It’s The Journey applauding the panel “for calling for urgent collaborative action to align may be facing very difficult decisions about whether to take their grant to TCF’s Financial Assistance Program will continue to assist those patients cancer drug prices with value.” medicine as prescribed or making adjustments based on financial who are struggling with a breast cancer diagnosis pay for their basic life needs while “This is a societal problem, and our nation needs to tackle rising drug concerns,” said Ann Geiger, an adviser to the panel. She’s deputy undergoing treatment. prices, together with other major drivers of increasing health care costs,” associate director of the Healthcare Delivery Research Program at the the group’s chief executive, Dr. Clifford Hudis, said in the statement. U.S. National Cancer Institute.
Sponsor Highlights Fitness @ Five
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The community of Athens is personally important to us, that’s why we opened Fitness @ Five in the summer of 2010 with a simple concept, to provide Athens with the type of fitness experience we personally wanted and that others wanted but was not available in the Athens area. We desire to provide a clean facility with the newest and nicest equipment, a friendly and welcoming environment, and none of the hassles often associated with “gyms” like long-term contracts and unneeded additional fees. We feel strongly that Athens deserves locally owned businesses where people feel like individuals, where their needs matter, and where they feel comfortable and confident to achieve their goals. This focus on our community is why it is so important to us to work with The Cancer Foundation of Northeast Georgia. We are proud to be a local business, to be a part of this community, and to support The Cancer Foundation of Northeast Georgia since 2010 and for many years to come! ~ Gisela Hodgson & Ben Fitzpatrick – Owners, Fitness@Five
Georgia Crown
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Don and I are happy to partner Georgia Crown Distributing Co. with The Cancer Foundation. The family business was started in Columbus, Georgia and is now operated out of McDonough, Georgia. As residents of this area we want to give back to our community in a way that can impact the most people right here at home. Thanks to Kirk Smith who put us in touch with Kimberly Liebowitz, we discovered The Cancer Foundation and realized it is the perfect fit for our personal and business contributions. Georgia Crown Distributing Co. has supported The Cancer Foundation’s Cocktails for a number of years, and we look forward to continuing our support of this fun and meaningful event as we begin planning for the 10th anniversary. Money being given directly and quickly to people who need it most is what got our attention, and we hope that The Cancer Foundation’s mission impacts your giving as well.
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choose to live – not looking back or too much into the future,” said Blake about his grandchildren. “All we have is this moment and my grandchildren are my mentors in this amazing truth.” Blake absorbs his grandchildren’s outlook to simply live life. Even in the midst of treatment, when Blake was faced with financial hardship, he viewed the situation as positive Francie Pastor assisting a patient like Blake at as he saw the blessing of people The Cancer Foundation. wanting to help. “Helping people, like Mr. Blake, gives my job purpose,” said Cancer Foundation employee, Francie Pastor. “There are so many amazing people fighting the battle of cancer. The Cancer Foundation just wants to minimize the stress of patients.” The Cancer Foundation was able to give Blake a helping hand, and alleviate some of the cost of his housing, food and transportation. “The Cancer Foundation is a wonderful resource for people who want to give with a desire to help others who are struggling with cancer.
Tri to Beat Cancer: August 19th Presidential panelSunday, says high-priced cancer drugs harm patient care Tri to Beat Cancer sprint triathlon, duathlon and aqua bike is entering its ninth year!
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Finding Light in the Battle of Cancer (continued)
~ Suzanne Yoculan Leebern