Cancer Survivors

The joint was jumpin' as Glendale Memorial Hospital hosted its 15th Annual tribute to cancer survivors. It was a “Star Spangled Salute” to more than 110 community members and their guests who have played a role in the fight against cancer. On July 28, the cul-de-sac circle on Eulalia Street, in front of the Glendale Memorial Cancer Center, was the colorful setting. The Marcia Ray Breast Center also played host. Its staff, supervised by Maryann Robertson, helped hang lanterns, flags and posters of the stars and strips to represent the evening's patriotic, USO theme.

Cancer Survivor Day was celebrated as "Life is a Dance" at Glendale Adventist Medical Center on Friday with a healthy roasted-chicken lunch and a decadent fruit tart for dessert. Keynote speaker Chris Erskine regaled his audience with the home-spun humor found in his "Man in the House" Los Angeles Times column. More than 200 cancer survivors, their families, hospital oncologists and administrators present also got a dose of sobriety when Erskine described his father's battle with cancer.

More than 100 cancer survivors celebrated their victory over cancer at Glendale Memorial Hospital Thursday evening during a patriotic themed event. Each survivor wore a red, white and blue-striped ribbon and enjoyed a meal with friends and family as they were served dinner by hospital oncology staff and volunteers. Maryann Robertson, the supervisor of the Marcia Ray Breast Center who helped establish the annual celebration said it's a time for cancer survivors to come together and inspire those who've been recently diagnosed.

Tim Willert NORTHEAST GLENDALE -- Telly Young can't stress enough the importance of getting a routine mammogram. Four years ago, the Glendale Adventist Medical Center nurse was diagnosed with breast cancer. "Fortunately for me it was discovered early enough that they could catch it in time," Young said Friday. "Personally, I thought it was a death sentence." Young, who manages the hospital's neonatal intensive care unit, underwent a lumpectomy and radiation and made a full recovery.

The 2010 Tournament of Roses Royal Court paid one of its first ambassadorial visits Tuesday to cancer patients at Glendale Adventist Medical Center. Flanked by their queen, Natalie Innocenzi, a student at Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy in La Cañada Flintridge, the court made its rounds at the hospital, injecting a sense of glitz and glamour to the sterile hallways in the weeks leading up to the Rose Parade in Pasadena on Jan. 1. The court had lunch with cancer survivors, toured rooms and told patients “they’d be waving to them” on the Rose Parade route, said Alicia Gonzalez, a hospital spokeswoman.

One of the area’s most meaningful events of the year will occur at 9 p.m. Saturday night at the Clark Magnet High School track. That’s when hundreds of candles in decorated bags — or luminaries — will be lit and names read in honor of those who have survived or lost their battle with cancer. Cancer is the leading cause of death in America for people under the age of 85, touching most families in some way. That’s why so many local residents and businesses plan to take part in this year’s Foothills Relay for Life, of which the Luminaria Ceremony is a small, but meaningful, way to remember, reflect and respond.

Dozens of cancer survivors and their friends and family filled the main auditorium of Glendale Adventist Medical Center on Friday to lunch and listen to ABC7 Eyewitness News weekend weather anchor Danny Romero Danny Romero recount his experiences as a three-time cancer survivor. Cancer Survivor Day celebrated all people diagnosed with cancer and those who have experienced cancer through family or friends. Glendale City Councilwoman Laura Friedman also described her experience as a cancer survivor.

Continuing the tradition of recognizing those who are fighting the fight and those winning the fight, the first lap of the 7th Annual Foothills Relay for Life 24 Hour Cancer Walk will be made by cancer survivors, people living with cancer, and their caregivers. Their fortitude will provide the inspiration for teams of walkers from the communities of North Glendale, Montrose, La Crescenta, La Cañada, Sunland and Tujunga who will continue walking for 24 hours to raise funds to fight cancer.

Karen S. Kim MONTROSE -- The Wall of Hope, a queen-size bedsheet decorated with handprints and inspirational messages of cancer survivors, is on display at the Montrose-Crescenta Valley branch of the Glendale Public Library. The "wall," which stood on display at the Glendale Public Library's central branch for the past month, is part of an effort drum up support for the Foothills Relay for Life. The relay, a 24-hour walk April 27 and 28 at Crescenta Valley High School, will raise money for cancer research, education, advocacy and patient services.

City officials and American Cancer Society representatives want cancer survivors and the friends and family of victims to lend a hand, so to speak, in raising money to combat the deadly disease. People touched by the deadly disease are invited today at noon to put their hand print and their names on a wall display that will be shown at the Glendale Central Library, at 222 E. Harvard St. The honorary chair, Mayor Bob Yousefian, will attend. The event is a prelude to the Glendale Relay For Life fundraiser for the American Cancer Society in October.

A record number of supporters decorated a record number of bras this year at the ninth annual Bras for a Cause on Saturday (April 28). It was wall-to-wall bras at the newly refurbished Oakmont Country Club as several hundred Glendale Soroptimists, their guests and what looked like half of Glendale were present to support the bra of their choice. Ornately decorated bras went to winning bidders during the silent auction. Bras were also voted upon and gently teased by emcee/auctioneer Rick Lemmo of Caruso Affiliated.

The joint was jumpin' as Glendale Memorial Hospital hosted its 15th Annual tribute to cancer survivors. It was a “Star Spangled Salute” to more than 110 community members and their guests who have played a role in the fight against cancer. On July 28, the cul-de-sac circle on Eulalia Street, in front of the Glendale Memorial Cancer Center, was the colorful setting. The Marcia Ray Breast Center also played host. Its staff, supervised by Maryann Robertson, helped hang lanterns, flags and posters of the stars and strips to represent the evening's patriotic, USO theme.

More than 100 cancer survivors celebrated their victory over cancer at Glendale Memorial Hospital Thursday evening during a patriotic themed event. Each survivor wore a red, white and blue-striped ribbon and enjoyed a meal with friends and family as they were served dinner by hospital oncology staff and volunteers. Maryann Robertson, the supervisor of the Marcia Ray Breast Center who helped establish the annual celebration said it's a time for cancer survivors to come together and inspire those who've been recently diagnosed.

Former Burbank Police Capt. Janice Lowers walked in memory of her mother and two former colleagues, and to celebrate the fight for survival of two dear friends. Laureen Endoso did it as a tribute to her late husband, Kenny, who lost his battle with cancer last August. As for Cheryl Pranskevich, Vanja Strojnik and Julieanne Courtenay, a trio of physical therapists from Providence St. Joseph Medical Center who are all cancer survivors, they did it to prove that there is, in fact, life — a happy and healthy life — to be lived after beating the disease.

Dustin Hucks crossed his own personal finish line beat up and tired. The run from Burbank to Lubbock, Texas in 2009 was supposed to take a month, was supposed to raise $1 million for cancer research and was supposed to begin with a media sendoff in Johnny Carson Park that could bolster his spirits for most of his 1,120-mile journey. But on the day he left, his 29th birthday, no reporters came to Johnny Carson Park. And instead of raising $1 million, the screenwriter and journalist from Hollywood raised $1,000.

GLENDALE — Five years ago, Glendale Water & Power employee Keisha Fulton-Guerrero was at a planning meeting for the city's annual Relay for Life event when she learned her mother had been diagnosed with breast cancer. "It made me push a little more to get my team motivated," she said. "Normally our teams were raising about $3,000. My first year we raised almost $8,000. " Five years later and with her mother in remission, Fulton-Guerrero is now co-chair of this year's seventh annual American Cancer Society Relay for Life, a 24-hour event starting at 9 a.m. today at Scholl Canyon's baseball fields.

If you see a spunky gal stepping lively down Kenneth Road, it could be Theresa "Terri" Ulbricht. The Glendale resident is training for a marathon and a half in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer on Sept. 11 and 12 in Santa Barbara, and in New York Oct. 16 and 17. It is presented by the Avon Foundation for Women. Ulbricht has not only walked, but brought in more than $48,000 in donations over the last three years. Participating in the walk is a tradition she's kept since 2007, soon after she completed her own battle with the disease.

The Glendale News-Press June 22 article "Teacher sues Glendale Unified," and the letter to the editor titled "Toll teacher should not have been fired" on June 29 paint a very disturbing picture of the actions and attitudes of district administration. To fire a teacher for a legitimate cause may be occasionally necessary, but the facts presented in the above articles strongly suggest that there was nothing legitimate about this particular action. The fact that her peers elected Jennifer Pakradouni "Toll Teacher of the Year" creates a strong presumption that her character and competence are exemplary.

Cancer Survivor Day was celebrated as "Life is a Dance" at Glendale Adventist Medical Center on Friday with a healthy roasted-chicken lunch and a decadent fruit tart for dessert. Keynote speaker Chris Erskine regaled his audience with the home-spun humor found in his "Man in the House" Los Angeles Times column. More than 200 cancer survivors, their families, hospital oncologists and administrators present also got a dose of sobriety when Erskine described his father's battle with cancer.

When doctors 10 years ago diagnosed Mary Strauss with breast cancer, the retired bookkeeper was forced to confront a condition that for much of her life went unnamed. “Growing up, we never talked about cancer,” said Strauss, 76, of La Cañada. “It was the big C. You didn’t tell people you had the big C, this dreadful, terrible disease. Who tells people about a looming death sentence?” This weekend she joined more than 1,000 survivors, their supporters and people who lost loved ones to cancer at American Cancer Society Relay for Life events in La Crescenta and Burbank.