OF EUGENE / SPRINGFIELD

RELAY FOR LIFE

Season of Giving Giving Tuesday may be over, but the season of giving is just beginning!

It’s a wonderful time to give to others or to encourage others to donate to your Relay team to end the year on a giving note. Amazon’s Smile

program is a great way to donate to a charity of your choice (American Cancer Society, of course!) each time you shop. The Amazon Smile

Foundation will donate 0.5% of the purchase price of eligible products to the charitable organization of your choice.

DECEMBER 2018 MONTHLY NEWSLETTER

Resources There are over 140 resources in Oregon to assist cancer patients including smoking cessation programs, hotel partnerships, free wigs, Look Good Feel Better programs, support groups, patient housing, grief support, food pantries, transportation assistance, and more! For more information, check out the local resource list at cancer.org.

ACS Fun Fact The American Cancer Society has raised over $4.6 billion in research

since 1946. The goal is to double their annual

research investment to $250 million by 2021 in order to accelerate progress against all

cancers!

2

Since 2009, the NFL has been partnering with the American Cancer society, in its commitment to saving lives from cancer. Crucial Catch focuses on prevention and

early detection of multiple cancers. In addition, it addresses the burden of cancer on underserved communities.

Money raised supports the American Cancer Society’s Community Health Advocates implementing Nationwide Grants for Empowerment and Equity (CHANGE) program,

which promotes healthy equity and addresses cancer early detection disparities through community-based cancer prevention programs that increase access to

necessary cancer screenings.

DID YOU ALSO KNOW… v Since 2009, the initiative has raised over $18 million! v 632,000 individuals have been reached with education,

screening reminders, and patient navigation. v Since 2012, the NFL has contributed to 209,900 cancer

screenings overall. v 64 community health systems reduce the unequal burden of

cancer through increased access to cancer screenings and timely follow-up and specialty care if needed.

THE NFL HAS CONTRIBUTED TO: v 191,700 breast cancer screenings

v 9,800 colorectal cancer screenings v 8,400 cervical cancer screenings

v 1,600 HPV vaccinations v 129 cancer diagnoses since October 2017

Want to go to Super Bowl LIII? Support the American Cancer Society and win the Super Bowl trip of a lifetime! Proceeds benefit ACS’s CHANGE grants. Simply visit https://www.fanthropic.com/collections/super-bowl-liii and donate! The more you donate, the more chances you have to make the epic trip!

3

Fundraising Ideas! Needs some ideas on how to jump start your fundraising? Here are a few to consider:

COFFEE CAN LOWER CANCER RISK?

SAY WHAT?

Ask. The easiest way to raise money is to ask family, friends, co-workers, or neighbors. Tell them why you relay. Chances are, cancer has affected them in some way.

1.

2.

3.

Watch for more ideas next month!

Ask a local retailer to donate $1 for every wreath or tree sold to support your Relay team. Or make your own wreaths and sell them!

Get your craft on! Make holiday ornaments, stockings, or other holiday decorations and sell them at a local bazaar or craft fair.

Plan Ahead Tips for Holiday Parties This time of year is full of get-togethers, which also includes plenty of food. Staying healthy can be a challenge, but here are some tips: Ø Don’t Go Hungry: Snack on healthy foods at home first. Ø Get Water First: Drink a glass of water when you arrive Ø Eat the Good Stuff: Focus on fruits and veggies. Ø Indulge Last: Leave very little space on your plate for the unhealthy options. Ø Position Yourself for Success: Don’t stand by the snacks or turn your back to the

table. Ø Limit Alcohol: Alcohol has plenty of calories and can weaken your resolve to eat

better.

Well, let’s not get too excited. It so happens

that coffee is brewed from beans that contain

antioxidants, which may have a protective

effect against cancer.

More than 1,000 studies have been done to

research this topic, with mixed results. Some

early studies showed that coffee might

increase risk of some cancer types, but more

recent, larger studies have indicated that

prostate, liver, endometrial, and some nose &

throat cancers may have a reduced risk of

occurring with some coffee.

The studies vary on how much coffee is

beneficial. Some indicate that the greatest

benefit is found for people that drink 4 to 6

cups per day. Drinking that much coffee can

have other adverse health effects. In addition,

there is much debate about a chemical found

in coffee called Acrylamide, which is also

found in French fries, chips, and cookies.

Bottom line? The benefits of coffee reducing

cancer risk are still in question. So follow the

American Cancer Society’s recommendations

for the best ways to reduce your risk of cancer:

don’t smoke, eat well, and be physically

active.

WINTER HOLIDAYS! (from National Geographic Kids)

Winter brings many celebrations, a time for families to celebrate their history, honor traditions, and have fun!

HANUKKAH is a special time for Jewish people to honor the Maccabee’s victory over King Antiochus who forbade Jews to practice their religion. Hanukkah is celebrated for 8 nights, with prayer, the lighting of the menorah, and food. This year, Hanukkah starts the evening of December 2nd and ends on December 10th.

WINTER SOLSTICE is the shortest day of the year and takes place on either December 20th, 21st, 22nd or 23rd in the Northern Hemisphere. Historically, people have celebrated the solstice with lighting bonfires and candles to coax the sun to return. Today, festivals and celebrations take place all over the world.

CHRISTMAS is the celebration of Jesus Christ’s birth. Families decorate trees, put lights on their home, and hope Santa visits from the North Pole with gifts. Many people attend church on either Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.

KWANZAA is celebrated December 26th through January 1st and honors African heritage. People celebrate with family and friends to exchange gifts and light black, red, and green candles, which symbolize the 7 basic values of African-American family life – unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith.

NEW YEAR’S DAY, the first day of the year, is often celebrated with fireworks at midnight to ring in the New Year.

THREE KINGS DAY is also called Epiphany and comes at the end of the Twelve Days of Christmas. This is celebrated as the day the three wise men first saw baby Jesus and brought him gifts. In Spain, many children receive their Christmas gifts on this day.

CHINESE NEW YEAR is the most important traditional Chinese holiday. Each year, it falls on a different day, between January 21st and February 20th. Celebrations include visits with family and friends, New Year’s Eve dinner, and the colors gold and red, thought to bring wealth and luck.

Whichever holiday you celebrate, enjoy it to the fullest! HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!