From the
Executive Director

Dear Friends,

In 2004, Little Red Door served 15,500 people in central Indiana. That number astounded even my colleagues. More than 10,000 were touched by our education outreach. Nearly 4500 received a cancer screening. More than 200 received transportation to cancer treatments and more than 300 received various cancer-related supplies. You probably know someone we served last year.

While numbers are important, Little Red Door is really about people. Behind every number is a person who has a story. Continually we hear stories of when Little Red Door was the “only hope” for someone dealing with cancer. Little Red Door continues as that source of hope because people like you support us.

So when you participate in the Race Against Prostate Cancer or for the Bruce Kopp Open or an Evening with The Manhattan Transfer, you help us make the most of life and the least of cancer. You become part of our door of hope for the community. You help save lives. Having you as part of the Little Red Door family means more than I can express.

Until there is a cure, Little Red Door will strive to provide hope.

John Aleshire
Executive Director
Little Red Door Cancer Agency


So That Black Men Might Live

On April 25, Indiana Black Expo-Indianapolis Chapter, Marting University, and Little Red Door are putting on an evening entitled "So That Black Men Might Live." Vernon A. Williams will be the special guest speaker. The event will be held at Martin University Gathertorium, 2171 N. Avondale Place from 5:45 - 7:00 p.m.

Vernon A. Williams is co-author of Rev. Charles Williams' Book, "That Black Men Might Live - My Fight Against Prostate Cancer." Rev. Charles Williams was Honorary Chair of Race Against Prostate Cancer during its first two years.

For more details, please contact Tisha Reid at treid@littlereddoor.org or 317.925.5595 ext 341.

Circle of Friends
Second 'Inaugural' Meeting

The Circle of Friends is a newly formed organization of women whose mission is to support the work, service, and outreach of Little Red Door. We are excited that more than 20 women were part of the first organizational meeting on March 23rd!

Because of great interest, a second orientation meeting is planned for Tuesday, April 19 at Little Red Door. The group will gather for coffee and dessert at 1:00 p.m. with a program and tour from 1:30 to 3 p.m. All are welcome. Pat Ritz, who is chairing The Circle of Friends, will join staff and board members in hosting the afternoon. For further information, contact John Aleshire at jaleshire@littlereddoor.org.


Team Little Red Door Packet Pickups

Thanks to all 270 people who have joined Team Little Red Door to Race for the Cure!

Individual packet pick-ups for our team members will be available at Little Red Door on April 12 -15 during regular office hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Little Red Door is located at 1801 North Meridian Street, in Indianapolis. On race day, Saturday April 16, we will meet on the steps of the IUPUI Library at 8:20 a.m. for our Team Little Red Door picture.

Race for the Cure Schedule – April 16th, 2005

7:00 - 11:00 a.m. Health Fair Expo. Be sure to visit Little Red Door’s Booth!
7:30 a.m. Opening Ceremony with Pink Parade
8:20 a.m. Team Little Red Door Photo (steps of IUPUI Library)
9:00 a.m. 5K Competitive Run/Walk Start
9:10 a.m. 5K Non-Competitive Run/Walk Start
9:45 a.m. 1-Mile Family Walk Start

Visit www.komenindy.org for the complete schedule, race course map and race day site map.


Race Against Prostate Cancer
Team Captain's Meeting

Create a team for the 3rd Annual Race Against Prostate Cancer on Saturday, July 9th in downtown Indianapolis. Teams are great for camaraderie in your office, church, or any group of friends. You can all run in the same race, or cheer each other from the side-lines! It’s up to you. Start rallying your friends together – awards will be given to the three largest teams!

The Team Captain’s meeting will be held at Little Red Door from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 28th. Please RSVP to Nancy Griffith at ngriffith@littlereddoor.org or 317.925.5595 ext. 350.

Our goal is 5,000 participants in support of nearly 5,000 Hoosier men who will be diagnosed with prostate cancer this year. Proceeds from the race will go to support the Men’s Health Services of Little Red Door and the Indiana Cancer Research Foundation.


Bruce Kopp Little Red Door Open

Do you enjoy golf? Know someone who does? Join us on Monday, June 13th for a great afternoon of golf, fun, food, and prizes. The Bruce Kopp Little Red Door Open is a charity golf outing that benefits Little Red Door, and takes place at Prestwick Country Club in Avon - one of Central Indiana’s finest Country Clubs. Reservations are $150 per individual or $500 for a foursome. Bruce Kopp will broadcast live during Eyewitness News at Noon with a 1:00 p.m. Shotgun Start.

To register, please download this form, print it off, fill it out and mail it to Little Red Door Cancer Agency. If you need further information, please contact Nancy Griffith at ngriffith@littlereddoor.org or 317.925.5595 ext. 350 to register before it’s sold out.


Minority Cancer Awareness

April 17 - 23 is National Minority Cancer Awareness Week, dedicated to increasing awareness among racial/ethnic minority groups about the importance of early cancer detection. Recent published reports indicate that African-Americans and other medically underserved minorities have significantly higher cancer incidence and mortality rates than white Americans.

For example:

• The cancer death rate among African-Americans is 44 percent higher than among whites.
• The cervical cancer death rate among Asians is 83 percent higher than among whites.

A special program of Little Red Door is the Minority Cancer Awareness Coalition (MCAC), which combats racial health disparities, with the goal of reducing the rate of cancer incidence and deaths among African-Americans and Hispanics in Marion County. The coalition provides educational programs and screenings and distributes cancer education to organizations and individuals.

MCAC programs include:

• That Men Might Live – A traveling prostate cancer educational program conducted at churches, schools and other local organizations.
• Stay Beautiful – Stay Alive – Presented at local African-American beauty salons to encourage women to do what it takes to stay beautiful and stay alive. It focuses on prevention, detection and treatment of breast and cervical cancers.
• Down Home Healthy Living – An educational program aimed at helping people decrease their risk of developing colorectal cancer by promoting healthy diet, physical activity and early detection. Presentations include cooking demonstrations, cookbooks, exercise/dance classes and free Hemoccult kits, which test for blood in the stool, an early warning sign.

For more information on the Minority Cancer Awareness Coalition and Little Red Door’s educational programs, contact Tisha Reid, director of education, at 317.925.5595, ext. 341 or treid@littlereddoor.org.

Related Link:

• Cancer Health Disparities: Fact Sheet

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For more information on how you can help prevent, treat and
fight cancer here in central Indiana, visit
www.littlereddoor.org

Little Red Door Cancer Agency
1801 North Meridian Street
Indianapolis, IN 46202

~Celebrating 60 Years as a Door of Hope~