From the
Executive Director

Dear Friends,

Service organizations like ours are often judged by how many people served. We serve thousands each year, but behind each number is a person with a compelling story about cancer. One mid-January day, our staff delivered a care package to a woman who had stage three breast cancer. Her diagnosis had been made possible through out Mammography Assistance Program. The young woman has six children ranging in age from 3 to 12 years old, and no insurance or family support. Due to her chemotherapy, she struggles to make life work. As her oldest child knows, stage three breast cancer is bad news.

Can you imagine her reaction to a basket full of ordinary personal items that were simply beyond her financial ability? Her story is a typical one for our clients. People learn they have cancer and are without resource. So they turn to us. We turn to you to continue the work to make the most of life and the least of cancer. Thanks to the support of The Health Foundation of Greater Indianapolis, we are able to provide these tailor-made Care Packages to every newly diagnosed client. Each basket is full of personal items like skin cream, lotions, grocery cards, education material, etc.

If you ever wonder about the importance of your support, think of this young mother the next time you buy a bottle of skin cream. Could you ever think that something so small could mean so much to someone in need?

John Aleshire
Executive Director
Little Red Door Cancer Agency


Smothers Brothers

Mark your calendars, for we are excited to announce that The Smothers Brothers will headline our fall gala event this October!

With their singular blend of music and comedy, The Smothers Brothers are known for their timeless humor, warmth and superlative showmanship. We are excited to welcome them to Indianapolis, and look forward to them taking the stage at the historic Scottish Rite Cathedral auditorium on October 18th.

An Evening with The Smothers Brothers will not only inspire laughter, but it will also benefit our Mammography Assistance Program. Keep your eyes peeled for further updates. Early Bird Priority Seating will be available starting March 20th. Ticket details soon.


An Example For Us All

Every so often we receive a letter that both surprises us and warms our hearts. Bridget sent us one such letter. As you will read, she is truly an example of what can be accomplished when someone puts a simple idea into action. We thank Bridget, her family and friends for thinking of Little Red Door during the holidays. Thanks, Bridget, for taking the initiative to become part of the solution!

Here is Bridget's Letter below. Click the pictures to enlarge:

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Dear Little Red Door Staff,

Enclosed is a check for $86.25. We raised this money by putting on a program this past Thanksgiving

    

and Christmas. In order to see our play the tickets cost one dollar per person. A lot of my relatives contributed more when they knew that the money was going to Little Red Door. We appreciate all that you do for those in need. Keep up the good work.

Sincerely,
Bridget

p.s. Here are some flyers that I made to give you a better idea of what we did.


Join Team Little Red Door

Help bring hope to women in Central Indiana. The Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure will hit the streets Saturday, April 22, and promises to draw over 40,000 people that morning!

Two ways to join Team Little Red Door:

About the race:
Since its origination in Dallas, Texas, in 1983, the Komen Race for the Cure® series has grown from one local Race with 800 participants to a national series of more than 100 Races. [more]


Oral Cancer

While oral cancer is a largely preventable disease, approximately 31,000 people are diagnosed with oral cancer each year in the United States. Most types of oral cancer are related to tobacco and/or alcohol use, while other factors can include exposure to ultraviolet light, x-rays, and biological factors such as the HPV virus. The human papilloma virus (HPV) is a common sexually transmitted disease that is linked to both cervical and oral cancer.

Oral Cancer is most common in people over the age of 40, though it does occur in people of all age groups. The proportion of men to women affected had long been 6 to 1, but has now become 2 to 1 due to an increase in the percentage of women who use tobacco.

Symptoms:
Oral cancer is dangerous in that it can go unnoticed in its early stages, and then spread quickly once it develops. Initially, oral cancer can be painless, and the physical changes it causes may not be obvious. Fortunately, a dentist or doctor can see or feel the tissue changes in their earliest stages.

Symptoms include:

• A sore, irritation, lump or thick patch in the mouth, lip or throat
• A white or red patch in the mouth
• Unusual bleeding, pain or numbness in the mouth
• A feeling that something is caught in your throat or a sore throat that doesn’t go away
• Difficulty or pain with chewing or swallowing
• Swelling of the jaw that causes dentures to fit poorly or become uncomfortable
• A change in the voice and/or pain in the ear

These symptoms are not a sure sign of oral cancer, but if you experience them you should see a dentist or doctor for further evaluation, proper diagnosis and treatment.

Our next free oral screening is March 9th, at Crooked Creek Multi-service Center. During screenings, dentists feel for any lumps or irregular tissue changes in the neck, head, cheeks and oral cavity, and, by examining the soft tissues in the mouth, looking for any sores or discolored tissues. Call Little Red Door to get signed up.

Resources:
Oral Cancer Foundation
National Cancer Institute
American Dental Association
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research


Job Opening in Data Entry

Looking for a part time job? Want to make an impact in your Indianapolis community? Join our team! We are looking for part-time data entry support for our program services department.

Requirements:
The right candidate will have experience with Microsoft Office with proficiency in Access, Excel and Word, be detailed oriented and able to multi-task and consistently meet deadlines. Experience with a multi-line phone system and good customer service skills will be preferred.

Little Red Door has served the Indianapolis area for 60 years and has a mission driven team atmosphere with great synergy. For the opportunity to be a part of a mission to make the most of life and the least of cancer, submit your resume and three references to:

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

mail@littlereddoor.org


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Send comments to jjarvis@littlereddoor.org

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Forward the e-newsletter to family, friends and colleagues. To refer someone, reply to jjarvis@littlereddoor.org with the words “new subscription” in the subject line, and the person’s name, organization (if applicable) and e-mail address in the body of the e-mail.

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
Phone: 317.925.5595

~Celebrating 61 Years as a Door of Hope~