Countdown

Well, it's only 6 days until we start our run.  Don't forget to subscribe to the blog as we will have lots of pictures and stories from our run.  And, it's not to late to donate if you haven't already done so.  Don't forget the reason we are doing this ....

Run for the Reason Website

Getting started for 2013

Alabama Power and Run for the Reason are back for 2013.  We wrapped up the week which included our official kick off meeting.  Hopefully, everyone's individual pages are up and ready for donations.  According to Trey, our chairman for 2013, our teams should be put together shortly and maybe we can get some friendly team competition going.

Our 17 runners are all training getting ready for our 350 mile voyage across the great state of Alabama on April 19th.  I believe next week might include some training stories.

Don't forget to donate to our team, we have a goal to raise $40,000.  It's really all about raising money for the American Cancer Society.  Donation Page

Reason to Believe

Run across Alabama raises funds to fight cancer for 10th year

Runners and Drivers at the Finish Line. Dauphin Island, AL

"All of us in one way or another have been impacted by cancer,” said Market Specialist Bryan Coley. Coley was among more than 30 employees taking part in the annual Run for the Reason April 26-28, beginning on the eastern border of Alabama and ending 350 miles south at Dauphin Island.

Plant Miller Electrical & Instrumentation Journeyman Rosa Boston lost her brother-in-law to cancer in 2009. “I donate to the American Cancer Society and volunteer my time in his memory,” she said. “During the event, it touched me deeply when I would look over and see someone watching us saying ‘Thank you so much.’ It just made me want to do even more to help.”

It is that type of determination and dedication that made the 2012 Run for the Reason another success with more than $30,000 added to the more than $200,000 the event has raised in the past 10 years. “Run for the Reason is a perfect opportunity to showcase what it means to be an employee of Alabama Power Company,” said Distribution Engineer Trey Hayes. “If someone wants to get a grasp of the vastness of our service territory, I challenge them to run across it. Likewise, if someone wants to see our influence on life in the state of Alabama, I challenge them to run across it and count the number of homes, businesses and communities that we impact every second of every day. Using that influence to help win the war that the American Cancer Society fights every second of every day is a wonderful thing.”

“I like to focus on the good that the donations do for cancer patients and survivors,” said Run for the Reason organizer Kevin Manogue, whose grandparents are cancer survivors. “Research to find prevention and cures is extremely important but that work often seems distant to donors. Knowing that the money raised by this event goes to help cancer patients in our own state who are coping with the reality of fighting cancer daily is rewarding.”

Manogue, an engineer at Gorgas Steam Plant, has participated in run for eight years. This year, three teams ran in 4-mile segments during 12-hour shifts. In addition to runners, each team included four drivers. “While we become tired and weary from a few days of running, we realize this is nothing in comparison to battling cancer,” said Coley. “We are glad to do what we can as we remember friends and family who have been impacted by this disease.”

Participants in this year’s event included:
Runners:	Drivers:	Volunteers:
Matthew Abbott Shane Bailey Holley Caldwell Jonathon Carroll Kevin Chappell Bryan Coley Nicole Faulk Butch Guimond Trey Hayes Ashley Kent Steve Mothershed Michelle Mozena Terry Mozena Waymon Tullis Robby Wentz Kevin E. Williams Melissa Williamson	Drew Ayers Rosa Boston Ben Creel Ramsey Glenn Denise Harris Cherie Hill Kerry Jones Delacio Spencer Bob Spotswood Sandy Walker	Palmer Gatlin Lee Hagler IV Chesley Hughes Kevin Manogue Christina Nix Stacy Simmons Tim Townes

By Theresa Helms

Thank you 2012 Sponsors!!

2012 Sponsors Title:             Gold:                            Silver:                                    Bronze:

Cancer Facts

Having cancer is hard. Finding help shouldn’t be. The American Cancer Society is in your corner around the clock to help you through every step of the cancer experience. We are here every minute of every day and night at 1-800-227-2345 and cancer.org.  These facts demonstrate the work the American Cancer Society has accomplished and reminds all of us that together, we can create a world with less cancer and more birthdays!

• The American Cancer Society combines a never-ending passion with the wisdom of nearly a century of experience to save lives by helping you stay well, helping you get well, by finding cures, and fighting back. Learn more at cancer.org.
• One of the many ways the American Cancer Society saves lives is by finding cures through groundbreaking research. In 2008, the American Cancer Society spent $138 million on cancer research and has invested more than $3.4 billion in cancer research since its research program began in 1946.
• More than 11 million Americans who have a history of cancer will celebrate another birthday this year. The American Cancer Society knows how special a birthday can be: a celebration of life, a marker of progress. Join us, and together we’ll save more lives and help everyone celebrate more birthdays. Find out more at 1-800-227-2345 or morebirthdays.com.
• Nearly half of all cancers could be prevented. Learn how to stay well and reduce your risk of cancer by making healthy lifestyle choices at cancer.org/GreatAmericans.
• When you support the American Cancer Society, you are helping create a world with more birthdays and less cancer a world where cancer can’t steal another year from anyone’s life.
• Having cancer is hard. Having to travel out of town for treatment can make it even harder. The American Cancer Society provides free temporary lodging to patients and their caregivers who must travel far from home to get quality cancer treatment at our Hope Lodge® facilities. To find out if there is a Hope Lodge in your area, call your American Cancer Society at 1-800-227-2345 or visit cancer.org/hopelodge.
• Sometimes you just need to talk to someone who has "been there." The American Cancer Society Cancer Survivors NetworkSM is an online community for cancer survivors and their family and friends where people can connect with others who have been through the cancer experience. Visit cancer.org/csn to learn more, get support, be inspired by people’s stories, and even share your own story.
• Lack of health insurance and other barriers prevent many Americans from receiving quality health care. To learn more about what the American Cancer Society is doing to help all people have access to health care, visit cancer.org/access.
• One of the ways the American Cancer Society saves lives is by helping people stay well and taking steps to prevent cancer or detect it early. Learn how making healthy lifestyle choices can help reduce your cancer risk at cancer.org/GreatAmericans.
• To stay well and reduce your cancer risk, strive for at least 30 minutes of exercise in addition to your usual activities on 5 or more days each week.
• Get help quitting smoking for yourself or a loved one, or join the fight against tobacco as an advocate for smoke-free communities at cancer.org/GreatAmericans.
• Want to learn ways to have more energy, feel better, and lower your stress level … all while staying well from cancer? Find activities to fit your lifestyle and get ideas for raising active kids at cancer.org/GreatAmericans.
• Don’t think you have time for a workout? Many people don’t know that they can benefit from small amounts of moderate activity throughout the day. Regular physical activity is easier to fit in than you may realize and can help lower your lifetime risk for cancer and stay well. To learn more, visit cancer.org/GreatAmericans.
• You can take charge of your health! One-third of all cancer deaths could be prevented with proper diet and exercise. Learn more about how you can stay well at cancer.org/GreatAmericans.
• Obesity is the fastest growing health problem in the United States. Being overweight or obese can increase your risk of developing or dying from several diseases, including certain types of cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. Learn how to stay well and reduce your risk of cancer and other diseases at cancer.org/GreatAmericans.

A worthy cause...

Photo courtesy of American Cancer Society

We help cancer patients get well and stay well in Alabama.

Through our various support groups and programs, we reach dozens of families in your community.

31,796 trips for cancer patients to get to their cancer treatments.

1,498 patients received free wigs, prostheses or other gift items this year.

886 women took part in the Reach to Recovery program, which matches newly diagnosed breast cancer patients with survivors.

815 women attended Look Good...Feel Better, a makeover session for female cancer patients to teach them how to deal with skin and hair changes.

1,536 patients attended monthly support group meetings.

29 cancer survivors received college scholarships.

892 patients and caregivers stayed for free at the American Cancer Society’s Hope Lodge in Birmingham while seeking treatment at local facilities, totaling 19,701 nights. That service saved these families an estimated total of nearly $2,462,625!

We help find cures right here in Alabama.

The American Cancer Society funds 7 researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, for a total of more than 4 million dollars in research grants.

The American Cancer Society has funded three billion dollars in research since 1946, helping fund such cancer discoveries as the breast cancer drug tamoxifen, surgeries like the bone marrow transplant, and cancer screenings like the PSA test.

44 American Cancer Society funded researchers are Nobel Prize laureates. This is more than any other non-profit organization in the world.

We help cancer patients fight back.

In this past fiscal year, volunteers with the American Cancer Society helped persuade the Alabama state legislature to restore more than $300,000 to the state's Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection program, after it had been cut entirely from the governor's budget for the third year in the row. The program gives free mammograms to women who are underinsured or not insured at all. Also in this past fiscal year, local leadership council member and state representative Mary Sue McClurkin honored the Joe Lee Griffin Hope Lodge and also recognized cervical cancer awareness through a joint resolution. American Cancer Society volunteers advocated for cancer patients covered by Medicaid, supporting several efforts involving coverage for prescription drugs and hospice care. We are geared up for the this year’s legislative session focusing on educating legislators about the importance of passing comprehensive smoke-free legislation.

For cancer information 24 hours a day, call 1-800-227-2345 or visit cancer.org.

Support the American Cancer Society in Your Community

We help cancer patients get well and stay well in Alabama.
Through our various support groups and programs, we reach dozens of families in your community. More than 1280 patients received help getting to their treatments.

1219 patients received free wigs, prostheses or other gift items this year.

922 women took part in the Reach to Recovery program, which matches newly diagnosed breast cancer patients with survivors.

857 women went through Look Good...Feel Better, a makeover session for female cancer patients to teach them how to deal with skin and hair changes.

327 men attended Man To Man meetings, a support group for prostate cancer survivors.

447 families from across Alabama stayed for free at the American Cancer Society’s Hope Lodge in Birmingham while seeking treatment at facilities there, for 9710 nights total. That service saved these families an estimated total of $1,165,200!

We help find cures right here in Alabama.
The American Cancer Society funds 8 researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, for a total of more than 4 million dollars in research grants. The American Cancer Society has funded three billion dollars in research since 1946, helping fund such cancer discoveries as the breast cancer drug tamoxifen, surgeries like the bone marrow transplant, and cancer screenings like the PSA test.

We help cancer patients fight back.
Volunteers from across Alabama rallied with the American Cancer Society to support a comprehensive statewide smoke-free law. Volunteers from the American Cancer Society attended a Breast Cancer Lobby Day, which helped bring attention to a funding crisis for the Alabama Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program. That program gives free mammograms to women who can’t afford them. Eventually $400,000 was restored to the budget for these services.

A new law extending the ABCCEDP was passed, thanks to the support of the American Cancer Society.

For cancer information 24 hours a day, call 1-800-227-2345 or visit cancer.org.

Promising Research

American Cancer Society researchers are making tomorrow’s breakthroughs in the fight against cancer. Dr. Warner Huh, gynecologic cancer surgeon at UAB and one of seven researchers funded by the American Cancer Society in Alabama, is working on a new Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine. HPV, a very common virus, is the leading cause of almost all cervical cancer cases. In the United States, over 6 million people get an HPV infection every year. Currently, two vaccines available to the public, Gardasil and Cervarix, protect against four types of HPV (6, 11, 16 & 18), Huh’s vaccine would cover all forms.
“This vaccine has the potential to protect against ALL HPV types that cause cervical cancer. The implications are considerable,” said Huh. “If the vaccine does demonstrate this level of efficacy over an extended period of time, one could argue that Pap screening is no longer necessary.”

Last year, 4,070 deaths occurred due to cervical cancer. However, mortality rates have declined steadily over the past several decades due to prevention and early detection as a result of screening. Huh says this disease is the one cancer in women that can be dramatically impacted by the HPV vaccine and consistent screening. In countries where women cannot get routine Pat tests, death from cervical cancer is much more common. In fact, cervical cancer is the major cause of cancer deaths in women in many developing countries. This is where Huh says the vaccine will have the greatest impact…in developing nations.

In Alabama, the American Cancer Society is funding more than $4 million dollars in grants to researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Huh, who says he’s always had an interest in prevention strategies, thanks the organization for helping him complete the work on his vaccine. “The grant allows me to clinically test our vaccine product and hopefully bring it to the public in an expeditious manner,” said Huh. “We plan on initiating a Phase I trial at UAB this year.”

“Without these funds (American Cancer Society), it is nearly impossible for many researchers to further advance their discoveries and in the end, positively impact and improve the lives of cancer patients,” said Huh.
Huh’s amazing research won him the American Cancer Society’s Life Inspiration Award in 2009. He credits the organization’s dedication to cutting edge research, education, and awareness to making a real difference in the fight against cancer. “No other group has such a palpable impact in this fight.”

For more information on the American Cancer Society’s research program, call 1.800.227.2345 or visit cancer.org.