NEW CHAPTER LEADER Sonia Hodgson Houston, TX
[email protected]
NEW CHAPTER FORMS We made a few minor changes to the education and fundraising event forms. The biggest change is probably creating an educational/ awareness event notification form – this is so you can order any materials you need, while also letting us know what you’ve got planned so we can brag about you. We also created a sign-up sheet for you to have at any tables for people to sign up for more information or to volunteer – this isn’t required, just a tool to help you out. You can find all of the new forms on the chapter tools page on the NCCC website.
NCCC BANNERS Interested in a banner for our event? Simply request one when submitting your event application form. They measure 6’ by 2.5’ and can be used indoors or outdoors.
CHAPTER LEADER
news
OCTOBER 2013
NCCC #STARTARYOT CHALLENGE WINNER Thank you to all of you who participated in our #STARTARYOT campaign. Jen Lee from our Iowa chapter raised nearly two hundred dollars by sharing her story with her support community. Way to rally them together Jen! Again, this effort is one of many ways we try to help you reach out and help your chapter accomplish its goals. If you have any innovative ideas on how we can work together to gain exposure and share our message, then please feel free to contact us, we are always looking for ideas.
CHAPTER LEADER SPOTLIGHT: JANET TERRILL, NCCC INDIANA How long have you been with the NCCC? I have been a member of the NCCC for four years now. What motivated you to become a chapter leader? I was motivated to become a chapter leader after my sister Jolene lost her battle to cervical cancer in February of 2009. My sisters and I spent 5 inspiring years by her side as she courageously fought for her life. However, Jolene was hardly just a victim of cancer; she was an innovator in the operation of spreading cervical cancer awareness and igniting “hope for a cure,” within her own community. Throughout the endless rounds of radiation, and debilitating doses of chemotherapy my sister headed up fundraisers for the American continued on page 2
Cancer Society by designing “Got Hope,” apparel and selling them throughout the community schools, businesses, and various other county organizations. She also traveled to a conference sponsored by the NCCC during her treatment, in an attempt to share her story with others, and gain more knowledge about the disease that had undoubtedly changed her outlook on life--and set a fire in her soul. Jolene’s enthusiasm and sincere desire to support other cancer sufferers never expired, no matter how weak she felt on the outside, or how desolate she was feeling on the inside. Her spirit was unyielding strong and only become stronger when she was diagnosed with cervical cancer. My sister knew that she was likely not to survive her battle, given the multiple reoccurrences over the years, painful complications, and loss of treatment options, but she never stopped fighting. Jolene lost her crusade to cervical cancer on February 9, 2009, but she hadn’t once given up hope for the other women still fighting, and future advancements in treatment of the disease. I became a chapter leader for the NCCC because I want to continue what Jolene started. I want to help transcend hope to cervical cancer victims, survivors, and the families of those who lost her fight. I believe in the power of knowledge, the ability of awareness, and the impact of society united through a common goal. I am proud to be a part of an organization that is dedicated to embracing this disease by providing a haven for communities everywhere, and by providing a multitude of resources to the destitute—one of which is, “hope.” Tell us some of your chapter activities. A few of the chapter activities that my family and I have been involved in, are the annual Relay for Life fundraisers in North Manchester, IN, participating in the annual North Manchester Fun Fest parade to spread awareness, selling Got Hope?, and Jo’s Hope attire throughout our community, and surrounding counties. My sisters and I have also attended local schools, two NCCC seminars, and other corresponding events when given the opportunity in order to talk about prevention and spread awareness. We are always looking for methods to expand knowledge about cervical cancer to others, and to bring hope to those who are steadily fighting. What is the most challenging thing in your chapter work? What is the most satisfying? The most challenging part of my chapter leadership is finding new ways to cultivate awareness. It is not always easy to grasp the attention of others, especially if the individual has never been personally affected by the disease. I strive to ignite an approach to developing cervical cancer awareness that will not only evoke a response from those who currently bear knowledge of the disease, but more importantly from those people who remain unaware. Therefore, if there are more who are knowledgeable, maybe there will be an increase in those who participate in preventative measures such as health screenings and vaccination. The most satisfying part of being a chapter leader in the NCCC is being able to reach other women by sharing Jolene’s story. My sister is my inspiration and I alongside my sisters Debbie, Jill, Missy, and Melanie have been able to experience firsthand how her courage brings strength to others fighting the same disease, as well as their families. Where would you like the NCCC to go in the future? In the future I would like the see the NCCC continue to raise awareness of the many new and developing methods to prevent, detect, and treat the cervical cancer. I would also like to see the continuation of support groups and resources for the victims and their families; present, past, and future of the disease.
