The degree of separation of knowing someone who is battling cancer or has lost that battle is, for most, one. Cancer is bordering on epidemic proportions, with the Center for Disease Control predicting that one in two men and one in three women will face a cancer diagnosis in their lifetime. The SAVOR Run on Sunday, Sept. 29, part of the celebratory weekend Sunset SAVOR the Central Coast event, will help local cancer survivors by raising fund for Cancer Well-fit, a FREE 10-week fitness program for local cancer survivors.
The City of San Luis Obispo will present their proclamation on Tuesday, Sept. 3 at City Hall, 990 Palm St. in San Luis Obispo at 6 p.m. The County proclamation will be presented after 1:30 p.m. at the Board of Supervisors weekly meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 10.
“We have so many great cancer resource organizations in San Luis Obispo County,” Heather Hellman, SAVOR Run race coordinator said. “We want to raise awareness and funds so if people are faced with a cancer diagnosis, they know where to turn for help.”
There are many local San Luis Obispo County organizations that are contributing to cancer research and support services locally and nationally. The Central Coast Cancer Challenge, now producing the SAVOR Run has raised more than $32,000 since 2010 for support services locally. Runners and walkers who register for the race can celebrate the day with exercise, a ceremony to honor survivors and those who have been lost, as well as toast to life at the on-site Mimosa Bar and a voucher for a pancake breakfast from San Luis Obispo area restaurants.
It’s a long, tough journey to feel well again after cancer treatment and Cancer Well-fit gets survivors on their feet again. They have graduated 300+ survivors locally and, with the help of the SAVOR Run, will expand their services into the North County this year.
The American Cancer Society is enrolling participants for their newest research study, the Cancer Prevention Study-3 (CPS-3) in San Luis Obispo County this October. Individuals may choose to participate if they’re willing to make a long-term commitment to the study (completing surveys periodically over the next 20-30 years), are between the ages of 30 and 65 years old and have never been diagnosed with cancer. For more information or to find an enrollment site near you, visit www.cps3slocounty.org.
Following is a list (partial) of local cancer organizations providing resources (information and programs) available for San Luis Obispo County citizens:
Accredited Cancer Program at Sierra Vista Hospital
American Cancer Society: SLO Chapter
Cancer Connections of SLOCancer Support Community
Cancer Well-fit
Hearst Cancer Resource Center at French Hospital
Jack’s Helping Hand
Jacqualyn Palchak Cancer Fund
Kid’s Cancer Research Foundation
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
Mission Hope Cancer Center
The Wellness Kitchen