Running for the Fight

Susan is the cute girl in the blue :)

This week for my Oncology Nutrition segments, I wanted to feature my dear friend, Susan Angerholzer! Susan is running the Rock'n'Roll half marathon in New Orleans benefiting American Cancer Society this coming up weekend on March 4! She ran the same race last year and accomplished a tremendous goal of personal achievement but this year her motivation is more than just another personal goal, she's running for the fight, the fight against cancer. Susan joined the American Cancer Society DetermiNation Team and is raising money to create a world with less cancer and more birthdays.

Cancer is something that affects everyone, it doesn't just stop at the cancer patient but extends to their families, friends, and to their communities. Think of someone that you know who has cancer and how it has affected those around them. Since working on the oncology unit in the hospital and having a close friend's father die recently of cancer at a young age, I have seen how it affects everyone around them. Cancer continues to grow and touch more and more lives around the world.

According to the American Cancer Institute:
-In 2012, about 1,638,910 new cancer cases are expected to be diagnosed and 577,190 Americans are expected to die of cancer (more than 1,500 people a day!)
-Cancer is the second most cause of death in the US (heart disease is the first) and accounting for nearly 1 of every 4 deaths
-Cancer survival has improved to 67% between 2001 and 2007 from 49% in 1975-1977.
-Childhood cancer incidence rates (rates of new diagnoses) continued to increase while death rates in this age group decreased (19 years of age and younger).

Susan will run another 1/2 marathon this weekend and with the money that she raises her race will not stop at the finish line this year but will continue and help those suffering with cancer have a fighting chance.

Join Susan and the efforts of the American Cancer Society! Ways you can help in the fight against Cancer:

1. Support Susan and her desire to make a difference by raising money for research so that they can find cures and save lives, provide better services for those with cancer and their loved ones affected, and so much more! Support Susan this weekend by making a donation: Donate

2. Participate. Join a DetermiNation team or Relay for Life in your area or go to a different place in the country you've been wanting to visit, for more info go to http://determination.acsevents.org/ or Relay for life. 

3. Do everything you can for yourself to prevent cancer - maintain a healthy weight by eating smart and being active, know when you should get screened for cancer and get screened then, and quit smoking. Go to www.cancer.org for more information.

4. Get more involved in your community and help those with cancer and those affected. 

If you're living in the Nashville area, one way to get involved is by visiting the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center website to find out ways you can help and volunteer. Go to: VICC support.

Please provide any comments on other ways to get involved in your community. 

Good Luck Susan on your race this weekend!!! We will be cheering for you!!