From the executive director
Dear Friends,
Little Red Door Cancer Agency is looking forward to an exciting 2005, as we continue to help new clients and celebrate 60 years of serving Indianapolis.
Little Red Door serves 10,000 people in central Indiana annually, thanks to the hard work of our staff, volunteers and other supporters. The agency aids those who can’t afford medical care by providing quality health services and helping them cope with the physical, emotional and financial burdens of cancer.
We’ve set clear and measurable goals and objectives for each of our program areas this year. This will allow us to stay better focused in client outreach and in the use of our resources. We’ve also increased the number of collaborative partners who provide discounted services to those we serve.
With your continued support of Little Red Door, we’ll continue helping the medically underserved in our community for another 60 years and beyond.
John Aleshire
Executive Director
Little Red Door Cancer Agency
Join Team Little Red Door for the Komen Indianapolis Race for the Cure
Mark your calendars – the 2005 Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation Indianapolis Race for the Cure® will take place on Saturday, April 16, on the IUPUI Library lawn. We encourage everyone to participate, and better yet, join Team Little Red Door as a race participant, sleep-in for the cure entry or volunteer. Help Team Little Red Door repeat as the largest non-profit team in 2005.
The Indianapolis affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation is the primary source of funding for Little Red Door’s Mammography Assistance Program, and we’re dedicated to having a strong team presence to support the race.
By joining Team Little Red Door, not only do you get a feeling of camaraderie, but you also get a great Team Little Red Door T-shirt (in addition to the Race for the Cure T-shirt), team photo and reduced registration fee.
Team members’ registration fees are:
- Participant entry: $23
- In the Pink participant entry (includes In the Pink gift): $75
- Competitive entry: $32
- Competitive In the Pink entry (includes In the Pink gift): $75
- Sleep-in for the Cure entry: $23
- Children aged 8 and under free
Click here to register with Team Little Red Door (click on “Join Team Little Red Door” at the bottom) or get more information by contacting Nancy Griffith, Little Red Door’s director of special events and volunteer services, at 317.925.5595, ext. 350, or ngriffith@littlereddoor.org.
Remembering Marjorie WilliamsLittle Red Door lost a devoted friend and supporter when Marjorie Duncan Williams died in December. Mrs. Williams served Little Red Door for more than 50 years with tireless energy. She was the first female president of the board, chaired numerous committees and volunteered countless hours.
Mrs. Williams' vision and leadership helped transform Little Red Door from an education table in a barrack to a vital community service organization that serves 10,000 people each year. She helped the agency establish its screening and detection program. Today, Little Red Door conducts free screenings and detection programs for breast, cervical, colorectal, oral and prostate cancers and runs its flagship Mammography Assistance Program.
In October, Little Red Door awarded Mrs. Williams with its inaugural Lawrence H. Einhorn, M.D. Award, which honors a person who has made a difference in the lives of people in central Indiana living with cancer. Mrs. Williams is an inspiration to us all.
Race Against Prostate Cancer gets new honorary chair
Indianapolis lost a great leader when Rev. Charles Williams died of prostate cancer last July. One of his most enduring legacies is his two-year crusade to educate men – particularly African-American men – about the importance of prostate screening and the early detection of prostate cancer. He served as honorary chairman of the inaugural Race Against Prostate Cancer in 2003, and again in 2004. The event took place just two days before his death.
We are grateful that community leader Bill Mays, a long-time friend of the late Rev. Williams, has agreed to serve as honorary chairman of this year’s Race Against Prostate Cancer, which takes place July 9. It will be one of the kickoff events of Indiana Black Expo’s Summer Celebration. He led the second-largest team at last year’s race for Mays Chemical Co., where he is the president.
Mays also is publisher of the Indianapolis Recorder and is a dedicated community volunteer. We thank him for stepping up to the plate to help ensure the race’s continued success. Our goal this July is to attract 5,000 runners and walkers in support of the nearly 5,000 Hoosier men estimated to be diagnosed with prostate cancer this year. Stay tuned to future issues for event details.
January isCervical Cancer Screening Month
January has been designated Cervical Cancer Screening Month. Little Red Door’s education department provides information to the community about cancer prevention and early detection. Here are some guidelines from the National Cancer Institute on cervical cancer screening:
- The human papillomavirus (HPV) is recognized as the major cause of cervical cancer. It’s transmitted through sexual intercourse.
- Cervical cancer screening is important to detect significantly abnormal cell changes that may arise before cancer develops.
CANCER FACTPrecancerous changes of the cervix usually do not cause pain. In fact, they generally do not cause any symptoms and are not detected unless a woman has a pelvic exam and a Pap test.
Symptoms usually do not appear until abnormal cervical cells become cancerous and invade nearby tissue.
– National Cancer Institute - Cervical cancer screening should begin about three years after a woman begins having sexual intercourse, but no later than her 21st birthday.
- Women should have a Pap test at least once every three years.
- Women aged 65 to 70 who have had at least three normal Pap tests and no abnormal Pap tests in the past 10 years may decide, upon consultation with their health care provider, to stop cervical cancer screening.
- Women who have had a total hysterectomy do not need cervical cancer screenings, unless the surgery was done as a treatment for cervical precancer or cancer.
- Women should seek expert medical advice about when they should begin screenings, how often they should be screened and when they can discontinue screenings.
Client thanks Little Red DoorThe following is an excerpt from a letter Little Red Door received from one of the 10,000 people it serves each year.
“… I’m writing this letter to thank you for everything you have done for my son and me. I’m 40 years old; I’m a single parent of two boys. I was diagnosed with colon cancer 16 years ago. My husband left me at that time. I have struggled my whole life to give my kids a good life; I thought I succeeded when my youngest was a senior in high school. But then he was diagnosed with the same thing I have. But his is a lot worse than mine was. … His has spread to his liver and other places. He has to go through chemo and radiation for six to seven weeks then a big surgery to remove his colon. Then after he heals from that he has another one for his liver. Then once that heals he will undergo one more surgery to hopefully put him half way back to normal. With all the doctor appointments I have missed a lot of work, and I will be missing more work, because this is just the beginning. We have a long road to go. … I just wanted to thank you and the Little Red Door. They have helped me so much throughout the years. … I hope one day I can repay you all for your kindness. Because if it wasn’t for you and the Little Red Door it’s hard telling what would have happened in the future.”
Words like these validate the work we do to serve the uninsured and medically underserved residents of central Indiana coping with cancer. To help us serve more people, think about contributing to Little Red Door. Of every dollar you donate, 86 cents directly benefits programs that help people in your community.
Simply click here to make an online donation or pledge.
Send comments to jjarvis@littlereddoor.org
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