Would You Drive a Mile to Save a Life?

Road to Recovery

Road to Recovery is a service program offered by the American Cancer Society that strives to improve the quality of life for patients undergoing cancer care.  The program does this by providing patients with transportation to their treatments and medical appointments and home again.  Volunteer drivers donate their time and resources to help ensure that people with cancer get the lifesaving treatments they need.

Find a Road To Recovery program in your area

Lack of transportation sometimes leaves people with cancer with few options for completing their treatment schedules.  Many people need daily or weekly treatments over a period of months and simply have no way to get there.  Although family and friends may be able to help, there are many times when they're not available.  Road to Recovery provides transportation options for people in this situation.  Road to Recovery is a free service.  People with cancer do not need a physician's referral, but advance notice is required.

For more information about the Road to Recovery program, or to find out how you can volunteer to be a Road to Recovery driver, call 1.800.227.2345 anytime day or night, or visit www.cancer.org.

Transportation Assistance

The Transportation Assistance Program is designed to help with the financial costs of transportation for cancer patients who are in active treatment.  For more information and eligibility guidelines, call 1.800.227.2345.

Download these documents to share:
"Would you drive a mile?" Tear Off
"Road to Recovery" Brochure
"Road to Recovery" Flyer

Categories: acs programs , health initiatives , road to recovery , volunteer opportunity

Commit to a Healthy New You

As we blaze into the new year, our resolutions are generally along these lines:

• I'm going to work out EVERY DAY!
• For TWO HOURS!
• I renounce junk food!
• No more carbs! EVER!

You get the idea. Honestly, I think we have just set ourselves up for failure before we even started. Everyone knows (whether consciously or not) that if you set yourself "bite-sized" goals (pun loosely intended), you're more likely to succeed. So scrap the whole unrealistic New Year's Resolution. Ease up on the grandiose gestures. Sheesh.

Have you ever watched "Wall-E"—the Disney/Pixar film set in the future with humankind so out of shape, lazy and obese that they ride around on scooters with a video screen in front of them? Yeah...if you haven't, you need to. Every day, I see this movie coming true in more ways than one.

Here's the important bit:

© All rights belong to Disney PIXAR.

The great news? We have control over the most important change we can make to reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes and heart disease. As a matter of fact, these diseases are largely preventable through healthy lifestyle choices. You can take small lifestyle steps each and every day that could reduce your risk of cancer, diabetes and heart disease. It will also help you feel better, look better and have the energy you need to experience life.

You just need to be committed to being healthy. EVERY. DAY. Read this article for more in-depth discussion on some small changes you can do to start getting healthy.

Maintain a healthy weight throughout your life.

• Balance calorie intake (your fuel) with physical activity (the movement that burns the fuel)
• Avoid excessive weight gain throughout your life
• Achieve and maintain a healthy weight if currently overweight or obese

Adopt a physically active lifestyle.

• Adults: Engage in at least 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity, above your usual activities, on five or more days of the week; 45 to 60 minutes of intentional physical activity are preferable. Basically, try to break a sweat every day.
• Children and adolescents: Engage in at least 60 minutes per day of moderate to vigorous physical activity at least five days a week.

Eat a healthy diet, with an emphasis on plant sources.

• Choose foods and drinks in amounts that help achieve and maintain a healthy weight.
• Eat five or more servings of a variety of vegetables and fruits each day.
• Choose whole grains over processed (refined) grains. (Try looking for "100% whole wheat" or "stone ground" or "whole grain" as the first ingredient.)
• Limit intake of processed and red meats.

Limit your intake of alcoholic beverages.

• Drink no more than one drink per day for women or two per day for men.

Are you living smart?

Take this nutrition and activity quiz:
http://www.cancer.org/healthy/toolsandcalculators/quizzes/app/nutrition-activity-quiz

Good luck! Here's to a happier and healthier you by 2015!

Kari

Other great resources:
Eat This, Not That books
Changing your habits
Portion Size Plate Tool from WebMD
One Pound of Fat Versus One Pound of Muscle - Clearing up the Misconceptions

Categories: health initiatives , healthy lifestyle

Living with Treatment Far From Home

Hi, all my cancer-fighting, cheer spreading, wassailing merry makers out there.

December ushers in snow, hot chocolate, family, friends, good cheer and love.  Lots and lots of love.  Behind all the hustle and bustle of the holidays, there is a certain contentment and peace that can be found in the simple presence of loved ones.  Take a moment while enjoying that cuppa (whether it's tea, coffee or hot chocolate) and watch your loved ones without saying anything at all.  You'll find the comfort you seek in the smiles, laughter and warmth of the souls you cherish.  Take a moment to be quiet and feel it.

December's initiative is awareness of the American Cancer Society's Hope Lodge.  For those who must be far from home for their lifesaving treatments, Hope Lodge is a refuge (and that little bit of home that provides soul nourishment and soul strength) to help see them through the rough road ahead.

Check out more about the Hope Lodge with this video:

Hope Lodges are havens across the country, free of charge, for patients and their families.  The following items are in short supply at the Hope Lodge in Cleveland.  Helping them out with a few of these items is a wonderful way to do something good this holiday season (maybe in honor of someone or in memory of someone).

Download the Hope Lodge "Wish List"

Enjoy your holidays and know that you are never alone.

See you next year!

Categories: health initiatives , hope lodge