Komen of Northwest Ohio, Power of the Promise 2015

On April 30, 2015, I attended the Power of the Promise Komen Grant Reception with my survivor sister, Jyll at the Inverness Country Club in Toledo, OH.  Komen announced over $500, 000 in community grants to 13 organizations supporting breast health services in Northwest Ohio. I was excited to see
Dr. Lisa Newman speak at this event and talked much about her research in Triple Negative Breast Cancer. Thank you again to Mary Westphal, Executive Director of Komen of Northwest Ohio for your energy you put into our community in educating the importance of breast health and providing funds to those in need of mammograms.

Melissa and high school classmate, Amy Thorpe Wiley

Melissa, Barb Oxner and Jyll

Chrys Peterson

"We have a promise to keep."

Melissa, Dr. Lisa Newman and Jyll

Mary Westphal, Miss Ohio, Melissa, Miss Teen Ohio and Chrys

(Click link to story)
Komen of Northwest Ohio announces 13 grant recipients

Ladies Night Out at Appliance Center's Susan G. Komen Benefit 2015

Us local breast cancer survivors sisters had a fun-filled "ladies night" charity event at the 52nd Anniversary of the Appliance Center Home Store in Maumee, OH. on April 19, 2015 benefiting Susan G. Komen of Northwest Ohio. We waited out in the rain for over a half an hour among some 2500 women to just get in the door but once inside, we enjoyed an evening of food tastings from local caterers,  local vendors tables with prize drawings, a violinist, ticket raffle, a fashion show with some local breast cancer survivors, a gift bag and our favorite breast cancer support, Chrys Peterson.  The Highlight of the evening is when the owner of the Appliance Center presented a generous $10,000 check donation to Mary Westphal, Executive Director of Komen of Northwest, Ohio in support of it'd mission. An additional $15,000 was raised at this event.

The Appliance Center's generous donation to Komen of 
Northwest Ohio

Joyce, Lori, Melissa J. Chrys Peterson, Areena, Melissa P.
and Mary Westphal

Lori, Melissa J., Jami, Melissa P. and Areena

Melissa and Chrys Peterson

 Lori, Melissa J. Tatum, Melissa P.
and Areena

Congrats to the Victory Center Honored with the 2014 Debra A. Green Community Service Award...

http://thevictorycenter.org

The Victory Center's gals get-together at Toledo's Hattitude breast cancer awareness brunch hosted by Medical Mutual of Ohio on October 18th 2014. Us breast cancer survivor sisters showed our support for The Victory Center as they were recognized and honored with the Debra A. Green Community Service Award for its ongoing dedication and commitment to those touched by cancer.  This award is so very deserving to The Victory Center (TVC) as I have been a member of their breast cancer support group since 2010. I have met so many courageous survivors through TVC and the staff there, they are amazing with their compassion and commitment towards cancer patients and caregivers. Congrats to The Victory Center for this great honor! 

Melissa P., Val, Barb, Diane, Rita, Melissa J. and Jamie
4 of us are TNBC survivors!

Melissa and Dianne Cherry, Executive Director
of  The Victory Center

Dianne Cherry, Melissa, Chrys Peterson and Barb

Komen Breakfast Race Kick-Off 2014

Us Sisterhood, The Victory Center gals come together at NorthWest Ohio's Susan G. Komen for the Cure kick-off breakfast 2014.  Emcee, Chrys Peterson recognized us 500 women breast cancer survivors present and applauded us all as we celebrate survivorship. Thank you once again, Susan G. Komen and Chrys Peterson for your continued support and love that you show us all!

Left to right standing: Michelle, Melissa P., Lori,
Wendy, Lynette, Beth, Joyce, Diane and Joyce B.
Seated from left: Rita, Judi and Melissa J.

Jill, Diane, Deb, Lori, Melissa J., Chrys Peterson,
Joyce, Beth and Melissa P.

Michelle, Chrys Peterson and Melissa P.

Fun Time at Toledo Rockets for the Cure 2014

 

The ladies and I had an exciting time at The Toledo Rockets for Cure game where the team auctioned off their game jerseys, helping to raise $13,582 for breast cancer research.  The Lady Rockets defeated the Ohio Bobcats in front of a season high crowd of 4,692 with a 62-58 win. I love having a girl's day out with my pink sisters and having a blast living life!

Capotosto’s skyscraping 3-pointer with 1:01 left helped Toledo rally to a 62-58 win.
Read more at http://www.toledoblade.com/UT/2014/02/16/Capotosto-comes-up-big.html#GgyFqg3xJ9Ae1hW8.99

Capotosto’s skyscraping 3-pointer with 1:01 left helped Toledo rally to a 62-58 win.
Read more at http://www.toledoblade.com/UT/2014/02/16/Capotosto-comes-up-big.html#GgyFqg3xJ9Ae1hW8.99

Us Victory Center Ladies!

Me and my favorite Lady Rocket, Andola Dortch

WTOL's Chrys Peterson and Melissa

Melissa and Andola Dortch
I'm sure gonna miss seeing her play

20th Annual Komen Race for the Cure 2013, Toledo OH.

17, 000 participants in this year's 20th Anniversary Race for the Cure of Northwest, Ohio on September 29, 2013. This is the biggest event in Toledo every year raising more than $1 million with 75% of funds remains in Northwest Ohio to help provide education, screening and support services.  In support of my "Pink Sisters" whom I met during this journey, TNBC sisters that I've known to battle to the end and to those that are still fighting fiercely, I continue to fight beside you all and in your honor. 

As of 2013, Susan G. Komen has invested more than $74 million in over 100 research grants focused on triple negative breast cancer since it was first identified as a distinct type of breast cancer in 2006.

We're all survivors!

Melissa Paskvan, Michelle Moore and
 TNBC sister Diane Pokrywka

TNBC sisters Genny Diaz,
 Melissa Paskvan and Kim Youster

Melissa with Sandy Liedel on far right,
mother of friend from high school

WTOL News Anchor Chrys Peterson
 and Melissa Paskvan

"I run for you and me, my friend"

Celebrating all of my TNBC sisters
that have touched my life

Melissa Paskvan and TNBC sister, Diane

Melissa Paskvan and
TNBC sister Genny Diaz

TNBC sister, Rita Hafner
and Melissa Paskvan

Former co-worker Charlotte Adams 
and Melissa Paskvan

Michelle Moore and Melissa Paskvan

Penny celebrates all of us
Victory Center ladies

Me with some of my fans!

4 years!

You find me among my fellow survivors?

http://www.13abc.com/story/23559244/komen-race-for-the-cure-turns-toledo-pink
(Click link to story)

http://ww5.komen.org/uploadedFiles/Content/ResearchGrants/GrantPrograms/TNBCFINAL.pdf

Susan G.Komen Breakfast 2013 with my Victory Center Sisters

Nancy Brinker's message
 to NW Ohio

Good times again with some of my local gals, my breast cancer survivor sisters of The Victory Center. All of these ladies are amazing and we try to get together a few times a year to support local breast cancer awareness events and celebrate LIFE together. Thank you Komen NW Ohio Executive President, Mary Westphal and WTOL's News Anchor, Chrys Peterson for another year of continued awareness and support in our local area, you both have really made a difference in our community and I appreciate it.

Victory Center's Breast Cancer Support Group

Victory Center ladies: Joanne, Melissa, Judi and Sandy

WTOL News Anchor and Emcee, Chrys Peterson,
Melissa Paskvan and breast cancer survivor,
Michelle Moore

Triple Negative Sister, Genny Diaz,
 Komens NW Ohio Executive President, Mary Westphal
and Melissa Paskvan

Us lovely ladies are all TNBC Survivors!
Jill, Diane, Diane, Genny, Melissa and Rita

TNBC Survivors: Jill,  Melissa and Deb

Melissa and fellow McAuley High School Alumni
 and breast cancer survivor, Bonnie

My signature...

 Melissa. Love this and love you. Thanks for all you do make a difference in the fight against breast cancer.
~ Mary Westphal, NW Ohio Komen Executive Director