Hearts In Hope

4 th Annual Walk for Hope 5K

Sat
4/19

Balance Point Spa Goddess Night

Thurs
4/24

COH May Meeting

Wed 5/7

Santa Clarita Memorial Garden Tour

In 2004, when Christi Larsen lost her son, Private First Class Cole William Larsen, her way of coping and enduring the loss was gardening. While digging in the garden where her son used to play as a child, she found one of his toy plastic army trucks, and the idea of a creating a garden in his honor was born. As she became involved with the TAPS organization (Tragedy Assistance Programs for Survivors), Christi realized the garden’s potential to help other families who were grieving. Her personal memorial garden for her son developed into the Memorial Garden Tour in Santa Clarita. Each year, tour participants are invited visit a variety of distinct, beautiful gardens in Santa Clarita. Participants can stay as long as they wish at each garden, and donations are collected at each location. Proceeds go to TAPS and to the Wounded Warrior Project. Both non-profit organizations assist families who have lost loved ones in war.

Now in its third year, the Memorial Garden Tour features ten distinct Santa Clarita gardens to behold. This year, the impressive garden of Circle of Hope’s Colleen Shaffer will be included. For Colleen, who is a n avid gardener, the seasons of her garden are a metaphor for the stages of coping with breast cancer. She says, “I knew the winter of barren landscapes and knew that spring would show new life and hope. I made a little garden out of my life.” This year, the Memorial Garden Tour will also coincide with Colleen’s sixth year anniversary of living with metastatic breast cancer. Colleen says that her garden has always shown her hope and has taught her to nurture her passions.

This year’s Memorial Garden Tour will take place on Sunday, June 8 th, from 10-5pm. The tour is free, but generous donations are greatly appreciated. For more information, log on to memorialgardentour.com.

Meet Our Board Member

By sheer coincidence, Sal Suarez met Colleen Shaffer in the parking lot of Providence Holy Cross Medical Center. In a serendipitous moment, they exchanged a few words which lead Sal to share with Colleen that he was the marketing director of Tower Imaging. He also shared that his aunt had died of breast cancer and expressed interest in working with Circle of Hope. Through his leadership and direction, Tower Imaging became a sponsor for the 5K Walk for Hope this year. The business not only generously donated $500, they also donated 1,000 mini bottles of perfumed body lotion which were given to participants at the Walk.

Sal was active in leadership and student government even in high school, but moving away from home to attend Cal State Northridge is what he says made him a man. He explains, “ Everything that I have done since those years, I have tried to do my best and with respect for my peers.”  

Sal and his lovely wife Tish are the proud parents of their one year old son Donovan Jay. Sal says, “ To me life is a blessing, and I do not take it for granted. Every chance I get to do good for someone, I will jump at the opportunity because my family has been very blessed. I truly cannot think of anything more special than having people in your life to share special moments with, and that is what I want to do for the rest of my life—spend time with good people, and share my blessings with others.”

Circle of Hope is delighted to introduce its new board member, Sal Suarez. We are grateful for his generous commitment to the mission of COH: assisting uninsured or underinsured individuals who live or work in Santa Clarita.

Congratulations to the Woman of the Year

Circle of Hope’s new president Judy Penman has been named the 2008 Santa Clarita Woman of the Year. She was one of twenty-three nominees who were recognized during a gala dinner at the Hyatt Hotel attended by many of Santa Clarita’s most dynamic citizens. Judy’s son Jim flew in from Oregon to surprise his mother as part of the celebration to honor her.

Judy, who was nominated by both the Circle of Hope and Zonta, has been enthusiastically committed to volunteer organizations in the Santa Clarita Valley for many years. She is actively involved in Circle of Hope, the American Association of University Women, the American Heart Association, Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital, the City of Santa Clarita, the COC Performing Arts Center, the Domestic Violence Center, Zonta, and the Boys and Girls Club (who named her 2007 Volunteer of the Year). Judy credits her mother as inspiring her to grow up and give of herself to others.

Taking the podium as her name was announced, Judy said, “This is the Oscars of the Santa Clarita Valley. It really is an honor to be nominated. Thank you all. To say that we do a lot of good in the Santa Clarita Valley is barely scratching the surface. Each one of tonight’s nominees has donated an astounding number of volunteer hours and raised mountains of dollars.”

Circle of Hope would like to join in acknowledging Judy whose leadership, energy and hard work benefits our organization and our clients.

My Testimonial by Connie Green

Connie Green’s passion is writing, which is a good thing because she has an incredible story to tell. Connie is a three-time cancer survivor who has overcome tremendous hardships and encourages others to follow their passions.

Connie was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1992 while living in Florida. While she was recuperating from a radical mastectomy, Hurricane Andrew ravaged the coast and Connie lost everything. She returned to Los Angeles feeling homeless and destitute, but needing to continue her treatment since a biopsy revealed cancer in her lymph nodes. She lived with friends whose kindness supported her while she underwent chemotherapy.

Two years later, just as Connie was getting back on her feet, she was diagnosed with lung cancer. Doctors removed one lobe of her lung, and she underwent radiation. Displaying remarkable courage and fortitude, Connie didn’t give up. She says she just had to deal with it and carry on with life. Since she was sick and could no longer work, she began investing in real estate which she could do from home.

Six years after her second ordeal, Connie was diagnosed with colon cancer. Again, she underwent surgery and chemotherapy, and again she demonstrated resilience and stamina. Connie views herself as a pragmatic person. She says, “You can’t be afraid of things that happen. Life can be difficult, but you choose how you will experience those difficulties. You have focus on what you can do and do things you always wanted to do.”

Connie has been cancer free since 2000. Regarding her encounters with cancer, she says that she has come to view them less as life-threatening and more as difficult and inconvenient. She has residual pain, but she eats healthy, exercises, has regular check ups, and takes care of herself. Connie says she no longer does what she doesn’t want to do. She is a writer, having published an e-book on writing and marketing secrets, and she has a successful online business providing consultations and seminars on how to get online businesses started.

Connie is actively involved with life and with the passions of her heart. When she met Colleen Shaffer at a Rotary Club meeting almost two years ago, she was interested in the work that Circle of Hope does. When asked to join the COH board of directors, Connie enthusiastically consented. Having experienced more cancer than most, she brings a particular kind of vision, compassion, and resolute steadfastness to the board. We are delighted that COH is what she is passionate about, and we extend our welcome to new board member Connie Green.

Founder’s Corner by Colleen Shaffer

Springtime is my favorite time of year. My garden that has lain dormant is now a mass of color and scents. It’s a reminder that life bursts forth from the soil in its season. It’s very much like cancer patients stripped of their hair and energy whose essence begins to re-emerge after treatment. The seeds of hope are planted when it’s cold and bleak but will sprout in warm weather.

I celebrated six years living with metastatic breast cancer on April 19 th. Monitoring my chemo keeps me in a constant state of flux, trying to maintain the fine balance of stability. Taking care of my garden is a metaphor for taking care of myself. For my flowers to grow, I need to water and fertilize and take extra time out of my schedule to attend to what has grown weak or overcrowds other plants in the garden. I’m no different. I need to devote time to my mind, body and soul and examine what needs assistance. In the Nurse’s Health Study, results showed that those who exercised/walked 9-14 hours a week increased their survival rate by 50% and reduced reoccurrence by 43%. Just taking an hour a day basically perks up the immune system. Exercise reduces fatigue and depression too. But how many of us slack off and say we’re too busy. As we see the signs of stress in a neglected garden, we see the signs of stress in ourselves if we don’t monitor the gardens of our hearts. “Take time to smell the roses” is a quote that speaks volumes to me.

Spring is associated with rebirth. It is a time to focus on what nurtures us. Find what makes you passionate, and that energy will help you burst forth in bloom. Volunteering is a great way to “feed” ourselves by attending to others. Our Walk for Hope 5K was one patient’s idea, and Angels have come up with other ideas to help COH grow and assist others. If one volunteers just an hour a week, that’s fifty-two hours of creativity and energy a year that will germinate the seeds of hope. No idea is too small or simple. It has the potential, as a seedling in one’s garden, to grow into a successful project. Like flowers in full bloom, the rewards will be breathtaking for all to admire.

Volunteering benefits all of us. Through it we can learn, make friends, encourage others, or even develop a career. Sharing your ideas and dreams and watching them grow not only fulfills you, but inspires others around you. Every Angel should be proud of his or her assistance to Circle of Hope. Like the gardener devoting a little time each week to keep the garden beautiful, these Angels give of themselves and bring beauty to others. Thank you all for encouraging me and helping me celebrate my survivorship and my life…without you I would not be able to grow.

President’s Corner by Jordana Capra

THE BOUNTIFUL HARVEST OF SPRING    

Spring has sprung and it has brought an unexpected bounty for me.  No, I’m not pregnant.

The title of my last President’s Corner was “Dream Big.” And so it seems, the G-ds are joining me in this effort.  Before I tell you of my recent good fortune, I would like to share the splendid news of one of our own.  Mary Petersen, the editor of Circle of Hope’s newsletter and general Angel, has produced two lovely, talented daughters: her first born, Katie, a dancer and the youngest, Kara, an athletic little sprite of a gal.  Kara approached me for some coaching in her pursuit of a role in a movie about an American girl who visits her Australian grandfather, a circus clown, and ends up staying and joining the circus.  Well lo and behold, young Kara won this lead role and her big sister will also be in the film as one of the circus acts!  Brava to both!

My surprise harvest came when the producers of the film “Red Dust to Colors” (a reference to the red clay earth of Australia) offered me the job of directing this movie.  I’m still catching my breath in disbelief.  I am now going into hyper-tutorial mode, learning everything I can about film directing.  Actors - I know, the rest of it will be new territory for me to conquer.

So after my meet and greet, contract negotiation, location scouting and final casting in Australia in early May, I will be spending the rest of the year breaking down the script, planning my storyboards, and camera shots and getting to know my crew -- as well as one can get to know one’s crew, over half a globe away.

And so it is with a great sense of melancholy that I turn the reins of the Presidency over to the very capable hands of Judy Penman.  So the next time that you see Judy, hopefully at one of the planning and work parties for our Walk For Hope 5K on April 19, please give Judy your heartfelt Congratulations and Mazel Tovs!