🎠🎡 E-News January 2021 ⛲🎢

CRCFL ~ January 2021 E-News
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We are excited to announce the formation of the Emily Virkler Memorial Boutique Fund to support CRC’s boutique services. This fund was created in memory of Emily Virkler by her family and friends and due to their generosity, this fund has been started with $10,000. Emily was a beloved daughter, spouse, mother and friend, who died from cancer in November 2017.

Emily had a strong connection with CRC, attending support groups as well as volunteering. Emily’s smile and kindness had a profound effect on all who had the pleasure of meeting her. Supporting cancer survivors to look and feel good truly represents Emily’s spirit, caring, and goodwill toward others.

Contributions to this fund stay local in our community and serve as ongoing support for CRC’s Boutique, which includes free wigs, head covering, mastectomy bras and other personal items. Each Boutique item provided to clients comes with a card remembering Emily. We thank Emily’s parents, Barbara and Paul Eshelman, and Emily’s husband, Paul Virkler, for their support and generosity. If you would like to make a donation to the fund, click here.

Emily's family was featured in a Hospicare video regarding palliative care services.

Search process starting soon for CRC's next Executive Director
Watch our website for updated information!

Overstock of FREE items available in The Boutique
We have lots-n-lots of beautiful handmade winter hats available (and lots of other items available as well). Email info@crcfl.net to arrange a time to check 'em out!

Wellness classes open to cancer survivors
(including long-term survivors) and their caregivers:

- Yoga with Nick Boyar continues Tuesday mornings from 10-11 am. Drop-ins welcomed. Email info@crcfl.net for the zoom link.
- Lee Ginenthal’s Unconventional Training and Strengthening Class begins another 6 week series beginning Monday, January 11th. Class is held virtually via zoom and is 4:30-5:30 pm. Email info@crcfl.net to register.

CRC/CMC Living Well with Cancer Workshop
Meets virtually 5:30-7pm on the 3rd Tuesday of each month (email info@crcfl.net for the Zoom link.)

1/19 - Cancer, Covid & Coping: Intersection of our personal & public concerns. We will explore coping mechanisms, and reflect & set intentions for moving through conflict, fear & grief through presentation, discussion and personal reflection/exercises.

Presenter Kira Lallas, LCSW, CT, ACHP-SW; Kira has worked in chronic illness, palliative care, death & grief for over 10 years with people of all ages & circumstance. She has worked for Hospicare, Lifetime Care and now for Rochester Regional Health with a small private practice.

Miss a #LLWC? Check out past Workshop videos.

Are you under the age of 50 with a diagnosis of cancer?
Would you like to talk

to others who are also trying to raise a family, juggle cancer and a career? You are invited to join Beth’s Group on the 2nd & 4th Tuesday at 5:30PM. Email monica@crcfl.net for more information.

Here is our Activities Calendar & a list of our groups .

#Gotta Question?(CRC Question Of The Month)
Question: I sometimes hear cancer survivors talk about the “new normal.” What is this? (Click here for our response!)
To submit a question, please email us.

Diet & Health: 5 Ideas for Healthy Changes to Make in 2021
By Maya Zhou, Cornell Nutritional Sciences Major

Wishing a very Happy Birthday to these
fabulous volunteers: Bob Riter, Beth Lalonde

#VolunteerSpot light: Beth Lalonde grew up in Canada and came to the US to attend school. She and her husband moved to Ithaca in 1995, when she took a position as a biology researcher at Cornell. While raising two children, Beth was actively involved in her kids’ school, music, and sports activities. When she retired from Cornell in 2015, she started looking for a place to volunteer in the community. But life had other plans for her! Beth was diagnosed with breast cancer soon after retiring, and subsequently spent a year in treatment. She found the CRC staff very supportive while dealing with her own cancer diagnosis and was impressed with the variety of services they offer. So, once she felt better, CRC seemed like a logical place for her to volunteer. Beth started out as an office volunteer, then soon became a financial advocate for clients who need assistance with financial matters related to their cancer diagnosis. She feels like her experience with cancer has been an advantage in her interactions with CRC clients. She truly understands the toll cancer treatments take and finds it really rewarding to help support others during their own cancer journey.

Need Help with Grocery Shopping?
Kidney Disease Screening and Awareness Program (KDSAP) is a Cornell University student club dedicated to screening people in the Ithaca community, and beyond, for chronic kidney disease. During normal semesters, they hold free clinics where participants have their health evaluated by a volunteering physician (usually a kidney doctor). Unfortunately, they have not been able to hold clinics this semester due to the pandemic. Instead, KDSAP is focusing on how to improve community health through diet. They are excited to help you with your healthy grocery haul! To get assistance with grocery shopping and delivery, please contact Sharon Kaplan sharon@crcfl.net or call 607-277-0960.

A BIG thank you to our amazing community:

We are so appreciative of the Triad Foundation for its generous grant to update and renovate CRC’s office. Clients and volunteers will be able to enjoy a newly refurbished and comfortable space. We appreciate that Triad Foundation is providing a lift to our spirits and giving us this gift of renewal during these challenging pandemic times. We look forward to sharing our new office with you when the renovations are completed!

CRC was honored to receive the Robert J. Uplinger Distinguished Service Award by the Ithaca Lions

Club. Linda Shaff, President, and her husband Rich stopped by to present the beautiful plaque and pin to CRC director, Marilee Murphy. CRC was chosen as the recipient in "recognition of your staff and volunteers who provide support services to community members affected by cancer."
Thank you Lions Club for this honor and recognition!

Rachel and Nicole Shave their Big Heads for Cancer!
Here's a video and you can click here to learn more (you'll wanna check out their new 'do's). So far they have raised $2,145!

THANK YOU on behalf of our community to
CU's Grad SWE (Society of Women's Engineers) for the beautiful hats. We hope you know how much our clients appreciate all your hard work.

Thank you to everyone who helped us raise

over $4000 for #GivingTuesday and
over $750 for the Ithaca Alternative Gift Fair!

Red's Place has raised almost $2000.00 over the last
7 years with their Annual "Red's Goes Pink" event!

Last month, we were very grateful for the donations received in honor of:
Aafke Steenhuis, Andi Gladstone & Yvonne Fisher, Barbara & William Armstrong, Barbara Christian, Ben Hogben, Collen Schiefen, David Lester, Eamonn Murphy, Elaine VanDyke, Eleanor Deacon, Fran Manzella, Jan Zeserson, Janet Ernisse, Kate Whittemore, Sally O'Hanlon, Siobhan McClory, Steve Goggin, Susan Willemsen, Friends at CSP Management, Marilee Murphy, and the wonderful hardworking staff & volunteers at CRC
And in memory of:
Beth Jolles, Bob Parker, Claudia Ayers, Dalva Hedlund, Emily Virkler, Eric Ott, Fred Manzella, Janet Sweitzer, Jean Ford, Jeffrey Surine, John Strupp, Josephine Fabrizio, Joyce Petz, Lauren Brooks, Linda Collins, Meg Ambry, Miguel Angel Balsa, Mollie Berger Bell, Oliver Habicht, Patricia Austic, Patricia Foster Thonney, Penny Turco, Rich Hoffman, Ronald Weiss, Sarah Hays, Sandy Knewstub, Spence Silverstein, and Wes Wehmiller

Click Here to Donate

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We're proud that all donations to CRC remain in our community. Do you have a holiday or other life celebration coming up, but already have enough "stuff"? Help out a good cause instead!

Suggest that people make a contribution to CRC in honor of your birthday, anniversary, wedding, graduation, or in memory of a loved one. We'll thank them & let you know that they donated in your honor. And they'll even get a tax deduction. Everyone wins!

Cancer Resource Center Staff

Rocio Zepp, Jyl Dowd, Marilee Murphy, Sharon Kaplan, & Monica Vakiner