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Archive for the ‘Birthday Cate’ Category

Happy Birthday, Antonio Banderas!

Posted by Birthday Cate on August 10, 2010 in Birthday Cate | General

Antonio Banderas

Today, we would like to wish a very happy 40th birthday to Spanish superstar Antonio Banderas!

Antonio’s acting career began in his native Spain, where he appeared in a number of plays before being introduced to director Pedro Almoóvar. Pedro was very impressed with the talented young Antonio and cast him in a number of films such as Laberinto de Pasiones, Matador, and La Ley del Deseo—providing him with his first introduction to the world of motion pictures.

Antonio’s breakthrough into American cinema came in 1993 after being cast alongside Tom Hanks in the film Philadelphia. Antonio’s fame skyrocketed in 1998 when he starred in The Mask of Zorro with Catherine Zeta-Jones and Anthony Hopkins.

A very versatile actor, Antonio found as much success playing a masked bandit as he did playing a boot-wearing cat (he was the voice of Puss in Boots in the Shrek series).

Antonio is currently working on a number of projects including the films Haywire, Dali and the much-anticipated Puss in Boots—a movie based on his character in Shrek.

Have a good one, Antonio!

Power the Flower: American Cancer Society and Ellen Pompeo Tell Women to Choose You!

Posted by Katie on May 05, 2010 in Birthday Cate

Yesterday, the American Cancer Society launched Choose You, a new program created to inspire women to make their health a top priority to stay well and help prevent cancer. The Choose You program is just one more way ACS is helping create a world with less cancer and more birthdays and we couldn’t be more proud to share it with you!

And what an amazing 2 days it’s been since the program launched in New York City! Between hanging out with Matt and Meredith on The Today Show to Ellen Pompeo inspiring comments on Good Morning America, The View, and Jimmy Fallon, Choose You has made quite a splash!

It all began bright and early yesterday morning when the American Cancer Society descended upon The Today Show to tell Matt, Meredith, Al, and Ann all about our new program. But it wasn’t just us – we had many supporters on the plaza rocking our blue Choose You shirts! Thanks to everyone for coming out!

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Then it was off to Good Morning America where Ellen Pompeo continued to inform viewers about the importance of making their health a priority! As we know, 1 in 3 women will get cancer in their lifetime, but 50% of all cancer deaths are preventable if we did what we know works – maintain a healthy weight through diet and exercise, quit/avoid smoking, and get our recommended cancer screenings. By taking control of our health today, we’ll help celebrate more birthdays with our loved ones!

But the day wasn’t over quite yet – there was still a launch event in Times Square! ACS executives were joined onstage by national sponsors, Walgreens and Sprite Zero, to help kick off the program, with help from Ellen Pompeo of course! Ellen gave an inspiring speech, reminding us all that no matter how busy life gets, your health comes first!

And then it was time for the moment we’d all been waiting for … to officially launch our new program, Ellen powered the Choose You flower via the world’s largest digital sign – the Walgreens Times Square billboard! I’ve never seen anything so big!

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We even had some of our dedicated Bloggers for More Birthdays on hand to capture all the action! Thanks Amie and Julie!

But before we all could say goodbye to NYC, we had one final event – a “Blue Carpet” luncheon for 100 VIP guests, kicking off Choose You in style :)

But the Choose You program – and these amazing launch events – wouldn’t have been possible without the support of so many! Thanks to Walgreens, Sprite Zero, Ellen Pompeo, and all of you for everything you did to make the Choose You launch such a success! Visit ChooseYou.com today to make your commitment to living healthy and let’s all create a world with more birthdays.

You can help prevent cancer and create a world with more birthdays — and it’s as simple as choosing you! Put your health first and make your Choose You Commitment today!

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Hope at the Holidays, and all year long

Posted by Birthday Cate on February 24, 2010 in Birthday Cate

One of my favorite things about the first few months of a new year is the renewed sense of hope that abounds. Whether focused on a healthier lifestyle, a more fulfilling job, or more quality time with family, commitments are made and renewed, all driven by hope and optimism.

Those people who stay committed to their goals will continue to feel hopeful as they see the results of their efforts. Others will lose hope and resolve to try again in 2011. Some people don’t need a holiday to have hope though, it’s simply a part of who they are and they share their hope every day with others who need it.

Some friends and I had the pleasure of meeting just such a woman several weeks back. Her name is Karen Seaberry and, most appropriately, she is the manager of the American Cancer Society Hope Lodge in Baltimore, Maryland.

For nearly 10 years, Karen has been sharing hope with cancer patients and their caregivers who stay with her at her 26-room “home away from home” during their treatments. The American Cancer Society Hope Lodge® is a safe place – with a 52-person family, as Karen calls it – for people traveling to facilities like University of Maryland, Johns Hopkins, and St. Agnes as they battle the disease by undergoing the best treatment options away from home.

md_hajw_campus_of_hope-1 As you would imagine, Karen is quite humble and not too interested in talking about herself. She’s more than happy though to brag about her recently renovated facility, the community she’s building inside the Hope Lodge, and the community outside it that supports her efforts and helps her give hope a home 24/7, 365 days a year.

The Baltimore Hope Lodge – one of 28 Hope Lodge locations the American Cancer Society operates nationwide – is one of the oldest in the country. The facility is as beautiful as any hotel a family could find. What’s more, Hope Lodge provides far more services and amenities than most any hotel, and they are all free – it’s the only lodging of its kind that doesn’t charge a penny—easing the financial obstacles many cancer patients find themselves facing on their journey to getting well. Residents at Karen’s Hope Lodge not only have a large, comfortable room, they also have spacious community living facilities, including a formal dining room, an activity room, a computer lab, cancer information library, and laundry facilities. There’s also a shared kitchen area where residents can cook meals for each other or just enough for themselves. Each patient is assigned a private refrigerator space so that they can shop for what they need and enjoy – replicating as many of the comforts of home as possible.

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When we visited we toured the beautifully decorated spaces, chatted with some residents, and really got an appreciation for what the Baltimore Hope Lodge (and all American Cancer Society Hope Lodge locations across the country) mean to their residents. As we walked through the facility we asked lots of questions about how it operated and how they handled demand. Memorably, Karen told us that, “Cancer doesn’t discriminate, and neither do we.”

In fact, unlike other facilities, Hope Lodge doesn’t ask their residents’ financial status. They accept residents on a first-come, first-serve basis, but they do try to reserve some space for patients who may have urgent treatment needs that could not be anticipated in advance. Many Hope Lodge locations even have rooms that are set up for immuno-compromised patients who must take special care not to get sick. While we were there, the Hope Lodge had a full house, including several bone cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer, and prostate cancer patients. Those we talked with told us how much the Hope Lodge meant to them and how they enjoyed the emotional support when they experienced when they became a part of the 52-person family; for those who stayed during the holidays, many said they had never enjoyed the holidays at home as much as they did at the Hope Lodge—amazing words from people fighting for their lives.

One guest, Miss Lorraine, shared her Hope Lodge experience with us.

The holidays may be over, but there are a few things Karen and her residents “hope” for all year long. If you’re interested in sharing some hope of your own, consider providing one or more of these commonly requested items to a Hope Lodge near you, or making a donation to the American Cancer Society:

  • Postage stamps
  • Calling cards
  • Gas cards
  • Gift cards for sundries
  • Disposable cups
  • Paper plates
  • Kleenex
  • Paper towels
  • Toilet paper
  • Lights bulbs

And if you happen to have a Ravens connection, the Baltimore Hope Lodge is hoping to replace a Ray Lewis-autographed football that they recently auctioned. Feel free to ask Ray for one!

We’re very thankful for Karen’s hospitality and offer a reminder that hope, compassion and family support can create a world with less cancer and more birthdays any time of year.

Have you joined the movement for more birthdays? If not, please visit morebirthdays.com and join us today!

A world with more birthdays: one vegetable at a time.

Posted by Birthday Cate on December 21, 2009 in Birthday Cate

First lady Michelle Obama talks to people in the crowd as she picks some fresh produce from a stall at the opening of the Freshfarm Market's new farmers' market on Vermont Avenue near the White House in Washington, Thursday, Sept. 17, 2009Now that we’re in full holiday furor, I’ve been thinking a lot about nutrition and how much our healthy habits change this time of year. I don’t know about you, but I’m in full indulgence mode and I don’t see a light at the end of the healthy tunnel for a few weeks. I’m being dramatic of course, but given how much women focus on their personal health—especially when it comes to weight—this time of year seems a little bit off the charts.

As I was pondering the best way to get back on a nutritious track, I was reminded of some statistics I heard recently about the impact of obesity on America. The National Institute of Health estimates that the annual cost of treating obesity-related conditions is about $120 billion. That’s big money, but it gets worse. Studies conclude that 1/3 of the children in this country are either overweight or obese, and a full third will suffer from diabetes at some point in their lifetime because of it. The numbers are even higher among African American and Hispanic kids.

As adults, we make our choices based on what we believe the relevant facts to be. But I wonder, do our children have that luxury? When it comes to understanding good nutrition and the importance of maintaining a healthy weight, do they have the information they need? My guess would be no, and that their food choices and consumption levels are dictated in large part by adults.

Obesity, beyond the dollars and cents it costs on the economic scale, is also a major factor in cancer diagnosis. The American Cancer Society estimates that 1/3 of cancer deaths that could be prevented result from poor nutrition, physical inactivity, and obesity. If you just want to talk obesity, it would be about 14-20 percent—that’s a major barrier to creating a world with more birthdays!

For years now, kids have been taught that smoking leads to cancer and that ultimately smoking kills, but do we view obesity in the same way? That’s why today, I’m sending a big more birthdays “thank you” to the First Lady and the newest White House chef, Sam Kass, for using their influence to spotlight the importance of good nutrition for our youth and for helping make obesity education a national priority. Whether encouraging people to plant their own gardens, thinking green and local, requesting more healthy school lunch choices, encouraging kids to exercise more every day (you may remember the First Lady’s hula hooping demo!), or fighting to make good-for-you foods more accessible in low-income and isolated communities, their efforts will surely help make our kids more aware of the benefits of good nutrition and the genuine dangers of obesity. Perhaps if kids are learning this early enough, they can all make better choices that will lead to a world with less cancer and more birthdays.

Now, if I could only figure out the best strategy for avoiding sugar cookies at holiday parties…

The Power and Influence of Women

Posted by Birthday Cate on November 23, 2009 in Birthday Cate

Last week, I was so fortunate to attend the American Cancer Society’s 96th Annual Meeting in Los Angeles. What a fascinating week it was! The Society’s Annual Meeting is an opportunity for the organization’s two governing bodies and their hundreds of volunteer leaders who are cancer experts and community advocates from across the country to come together to do the very serious work of fighting cancer.

There were discussions about health care reform (something that must happen if we are going to reach its goal of eliminating cancer as a major health problem), the rising tide of obesity and its potential impact on the cancer problem, and of course, the latest cancer screening news. It was both invigorating and comforting to see such passion, expertise, and talent being put to work to create a world with more birthdays!

But the session that was most energizing for me was the general session about “The Power and Influence of Women.” It was all about how important women like me are in the fight against cancer. Marketing expert Marti Barletta, the session’s keynote speaker, talked about the different segments of the female market – pre-family, family-focused, and post-family or “prime time” women. Each of these segments represent different life stages of women and each segment has something important to offer the cancer fight – whether it’s their time and talents, their considerable influence on family health habits, or their significant buying power.

After Marti’s presentation, a panel with representatives from Curves, Macys, BlogHer, and others talked about how their companies are reaching and serving women today. During the discussion, Curves CEO, Mike Raymond, said that “women need permission to take care of themselves.” So true! That really hit home with me. It’s clear that women are key to the fight against cancer, but part of that will require us to take better care of ourselves – something I know I need to do a better job of too.

All in all, spending time with so many passionate volunteers and learning how important women are in the fight against cancer left me inspired to do more for myself, my family, and my community to create a world with less cancer and more birthdays. I can’t wait to do more with the American Cancer Society!

Mammography questions, answered

Posted by Birthday Cate on November 20, 2009 in Birthday Cate

AC0504_JPG_72If you’re at all like me, you’re likely a little confused by all the back-and-forth about mammography screening guidelines this week. It seems like every day there’s been a different recommendation on the news. So I’m left with a lot of questions. Should I still get a yearly mammogram starting at age 40? What do the new guidelines mean for me personally? Will it affect my insurance? How do I get to the bottom of this?

Luckily, the American Cancer Society’s own Dr. Len Lichtenfeld hosted a live chat on his blog yesterday afternoon to clear everything up. He took on a slew of questions similar to mine and really helped clear things up for me.

If you weren’t able to make it for the live chat, check out the transcript on his blog here: http://www.cancer.org/drlen. I highly recommend it!

Thanks to Dr. Len for taking the time to reach out, listen to women’s concerns, and give us some straight-forward answers. That’s what this movement is all about – spreading awareness so we can all celebrate more birthdays.

Less Smoke = More Birthdays

Posted by Birthday Cate on November 18, 2009 in Birthday Cate

stop_smoking_357_7847691Did you know that your heart rate and blood pressure drop 20 minutes after you quit smoking? Seems crazy, right? But it’s true. When you quit smoking, the benefits to your body are almost instant.

Quitting smoking is tough (okay, that’s an understatement), but if you can commit to doing it, you truly can help create a world with more birthdays both for yourself and for others. Don’t believe it?  Here are some facts you may find interesting:

  • Smokers who quit by age 35 can add up to 8 additional years to their life and 8 more birthdays.
  • Smokers who quit by age 55 can add about 5 more years to their life and 5 more birthdays.
  • Quit at 65 and gain up to three more years and 3 more birthdays.

So what would you do with 8 more years? With 5? With 3? If that’s not enough to sway you, maybe you need a little more support. The American Cancer Society offers a variety of resources to help people of all ages quit smoking. This includes tips and tools and even personalized telephone coaching.

The first step in quitting smoking is to commit to doing it. People are most successful when they make a plan to quit. If you don’t have a plan yet, join thousands of other smokers nationwide who will participate in the American Cancer Society Great American Smokeout this Thursday, Nov. 19. When you make it through the 19th, congratulate yourself and then realize you can get through the 20th too. Taking it one day at a time and using the support resources available can help you become a non-smoker for life.

If you’re not a smoker, but have friends or family members who smoke, encourage them to join the Smokeout! No matter what their age or how long they’ve been smoking, it’s never too late to quit. In fact, people who quit smoking before they turn 50 cut their risk of dying in the next 15 years in half compared to people who continue to smoke.

Tell the people you love that you want them to have 3, 5, or 8 more birthdays to spend with you and tell them to start by setting the Great American Smokeout this week as their time to make a plan to quit!

We’d love to know what you’d do with 8 more years or if you have great tips to convince a friend or loved one to quit smoking.

And the kick (or catch) is good!

Posted by Birthday Cate on October 20, 2009 in Birthday Cate

nfl bcA big “More Birthdays” shout out to the National Football League for its commitment to creating a world with more birthdays by raising the profile of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I have to say that I never expected to see professional athletes sporting pink cleats or arm bands, but what a kick (or should I say “catch”) last Sunday when I watched the games!

It’s all part of the NFL’s “A Crucial Catch” campaign, focused on the importance of cancer screenings, especially annual mammograms for women age 40 and older. As part of the campaign, NFL games throughout October feature players, coaches, and referees wearing pink game apparel to raise awareness about breast cancer, as well as on-field pink ribbon stencils and special K-balls and pink coins.

Seeing pink flying across the field, huddled up, and piled up made an impact on me. I’ll definitely remember it for a while. I’m also pleasantly surprised by the level of individual commitment. Players like Brett Farve, Drew Brees, Larry FitzGerald, DeAngelo Williams, Ladainian Tomlinson, and many more made a personal investment to bring this campaign to life. Most of them have a very personal connection to breast cancer just like the rest of us, but unlike the rest of us, they have a status in our society that makes their efforts particularly effective.

So many thanks to all of those involved in the NFL’s “A Crucial Catch” campaign. The attention it’s brought to the importance of breast cancer screening will surely contribute to helping us create a world with more birthdays. I hope they’ll continue their good work by joining us at morebirthdays.com.

P.S.  All apparel worn at games by players and coaches and special K-balls and pink coins will be auctioned off at NFLAuction.NFL.com, with proceeds benefitting the American Cancer Society and team charities. According to the NFL, this is an issue that has directly touched the lives of so many in the NFL family, and they are committed to helping make a difference in helping people stay well from breast cancer.

P.P.S. Did you see pink flying across the field last week? What did you think?

A Celebration and a reality check

Posted by Birthday Cate on October 14, 2009 in Birthday Cate

getty_rf_photo_of_woman_writing_in_notebookI often find scientific information, particularly statistics, a little overwhelming. Today, however, the stats I’m looking at are quite clear.  According to the American Cancer Society, 15,000 more women will celebrate birthdays this year thanks to declines in breast cancer death rates that resulted from improvements in breast cancer early detection and treatment — clearly a celebration is in order!

This is not only great news for anyone affected by or at risk for breast cancer, but also clear evidence that a world with less cancer really does lead to a world with more birthdays!  In fact, women’s chances of dying from breast cancer have been dropping for more than a decade — steady progress by any standard.

But before we break out the cake (red velvet of course!) and champagne, we need to be realistic.  Progress doesn’t mean that we can stop paying attention to breast cancer risk factors or chalk it up as a “treatable” disease.  In fact, here’s a quick reality check:

The American Cancer Society estimates that nearly 200,000 women (192,370 to be exact) will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year and more than 40,000 will die from it.  That’s right, 40,000.

While it’s important that we take pride in our progress against breast cancer and celebrate the thousands more birthdays women will have this year because of it, there’s more we can do.  Let’s work to make next year’s statistics even better.  Here’s how you can help make it happen:

  1. Get a mammogram!  There is clear evidence that getting a mammogram reduces your risk of dying from breast cancer.  (There’s a very cool reminder tool here, so no excuses!)
  2. Eat right! Experts at the American Cancer Society remain very concerned that obesity could offset the progress we’ve made in the fight against breast cancer, so check out the nutrition recommendations here.
  3. Get active! Commit to at least 30 minutes of physical activity at least 5 days a week—and if you can do more, even better!
  4. Go easy on the alcohol! If you drink at all, the American Cancer Society recommends that women should limit intake to no more than one drink per day. And if you’re at high risk for breast cancer, you may want to consider not drinking alcohol at all. Be sure to talk to your doctor about what’s best for you.
  5. Spread the word! Share simple tips for healthier living and cancer prevention with your friends and talk about risk factors with your family.

The more aware we are, the more we can help each other make good choices and celebrate more birthdays.

A little more than a pink ribbon this year

Posted by Birthday Cate on October 01, 2009 in Birthday Cate

pink_ribbonToday we welcome October and kick off another National Breast Cancer Awareness month. Normally, I would do my part by buying a pink ribbon and then go along my way.  This year, though, as I work to create a world with more birthdays, I find myself thinking much more about how fortunate I’ve been to avoid a diagnosis and what I would do if that changed.  Who would I turn to and where would I go for support?

The go-to answer for me has always been mom. Once I realized that I actually wasn’t smarter than my mother – an epiphany  I didn’t have until I was in my twenties – I found myself turning to her for everything I couldn’t figure out on my own. She isn’t the most sympathetic ear in my family, but she’s always already dealt with some version of my latest struggle and can share her insights and lessons learned to help me get through it or get over it.

But a breast cancer diagnosis is a different story.

I imagine that women who have been newly diagnosed with breast cancer ask themselves a similar question. Who do they turn to if mom (or whomever they trust most in the world) doesn’t have the answer or the understanding to help them through it?

The American Cancer Society helps women with breast cancer cope with their diagnosis and provides support, resources, and help through every step of their journey to get well. In fact, one of their programs – Reach to Recovery – matches women newly diagnosed with breast cancer with other women who truly understand their concerns and can provide answers and empathy because they’ve “Been there. Done that.” And this year, Reach to Recovery is celebrating its 40th birthday – that’s quite an accomplishment.

Reach to Recovery is a nationwide program made up of more than 11,000 highly trained volunteer breast cancer survivors who dedicate their time to provide comfort and emotional support to women facing the disease by visiting with them either face-to-face or by phone. These volunteers come armed with up-to-date information, including the latest for family members and significant others (because even then a woman is likely more worried about someone else than herself!), and more importantly, living proof that it is possible to enjoy a productive and happy life and celebrate more birthdays during and after breast cancer.

Women who have experienced Reach to Recovery talk about the invaluable support they get in the program. One participant told the Society that none of her friends could match the compassion and understanding that she felt when she was able to connect with another woman who had been through the experience.  I can appreciate that.  I don’t know how I would respond to a friend’s diagnosis – I hope well – but I think the most value I could offer is to point her in the direction of the American Cancer Society and their programs like Reach to Recovery to help her get the best possible support so that her fears could be lessened by one of the committed volunteers.

So this year, instead of buying a pink ribbon and calling it good, my plan is to spend some time learning more about programs offered through the American Cancer Society like Reach to Recovery and other valuable screening and support services so that I can be a better, more educated friend – one who can help the women (and men) I love celebrate more birthdays. I encourage you to do the same.  I’ll keep you posted on my progress.