Run for your life

MANILA, Philippines – We have all been touched by cancer, either directly or indirectly,” says Robert “Bobbit” Suntay, founder and managing director of Carewell, the Cancer Resource and Wellness Community. Cancer touched Bobbit in a very personal way. His wife, the late Jessica “Jackie” Fernandez, was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. His late father had prostate cancer, while his late father-in-law had pancreatic cancer.

The late father-in-law of Anton S. Gonzalez, president of Planet Sports Inc., fought a three-year battle with colon cancer while an aunt succumbed to lung cancer after only three months. “For two years, a very close friend of mine struggled with lymphoma,” he relates.

“Everyone has been touched, whether directly or through relatives or friends,” Kara Magsanoc-Alikpala affirms. A survivor of breast cancer herself, Kara founded the I Can Serve Foundation, an advocacy group for early breast cancer detection. In December this year, the foundation is celebrating its 10th anniversary.

The Carewell Community, the I Can Serve Foundation, together with the Philippine Cancer Society, will be the main beneficiaries of the “2009 New Balance Power Run … Raising Hope,” a major fund-raising event to be held at the Fort Bonifacio Global City in Taguig on Sunday, Sept. 27. “We’ve been holding fun runs since 2002, but this one will be different in that this time, it will be for a very worthy cause,” Anton remarks.  

“These three organizations have been at the forefront of providing support to help improve the lives of men and women diagnosed with cancer,” Anton notes. “They work with business groups and individuals to raise cancer awareness. But there is still a lot of work that needs to be done to let individuals and their families know that there is hope and there is a better way to cope.”

“No single group can manage the fight and challenges of cancer,” Bobbit observes. Carewell, which was incorporated in 2005, provides support groups and counseling, medical consults and referrals, wellness and fun activities, lectures and workshops. From the time they first opened their doors, with just one support group with four members, one counselor, one doctor, and one office volunteer operating from their center in Makati, Carewell in the Philippines is now serving nearly 300 persons with cancer and their loved ones.

“We provide services at our Makati facility and in five major Metro Manila hospitals. We expect to establish partnerships with two more medical centers before the end of this year,” says Bobbit.

Internationally, Carewell has referral services and reciprocal programs with more than 40 partner medical centers and support organizations in the United States, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. 

“We take pride in Carewell being a volunteer-driven organization,” says Bobbit. “Every single professional, as well as each member of our core leadership team, is an unpaid volunteer. Because Carewell is committed to continue providing its activities, resources and services free of charge to any person affected by cancer, it must necessarily generate funds and keep its operating expenses low. Thus, Carewell relies on the generous contributions and support of organizations, groups, and individuals whose lives have been touched by cancer.”

Through high-impact information campaigns and Ating Dibdibin, its flagship community-based screening program, I Can Serve promotes regular breast self-examination, clinical breast examination, and mammography. “We are moving to the next level beyond awareness,” says Kara, a broadcast journalist by profession. “We need to do something about it and we need to do it as a community.”

In their pilot project in Marikina, they are training city health officers to teach residents how to do a manual self-examination to check for lumps, and to submit to clinical exams if needed. From training to treatment, that is the scope of their effort. “We are working towards having the provincial governments set up mammogram units,” Kara relates. “Early detection is critical.”

Kara gives this rule of thumb: regular self- examination in your 20s; clinical examination in your 30s; and mammograms in your 40s. “Do it for yourself,” she says.

They intend to replicate their work in Marikina nationwide eventually, eyeing Cebu City as their next site.    “Cancer, if found early, is curable,” says Dr. Kelly Salvador of the Philippine Cancer Society, which gives free mammography. Better yet, “Go for prevention,” Dr. Kelly says.

 A well-balanced and healthy lifestyle is the way to go. “Eat healthy, exercise regularly, live right,” is Anton’s advice.

New Balance running shoes promotes balance between work and exercise, between a stressful life and leisure. Recently, the brand introduced the latest addition to its collection of performance running footwear — the NBX 1225 and NBX 758 — which features the latest running footwear innovation that enhances the relationship between the runner and the sport of running. The “New Balance Power Run … Raising Hope” will feature these two footwear designs to help runners achieve their goal to cover distance and be part of the cause being supported by the running event.

 “We feel good about organizing this event for a worthy cause,” says Anton. “We invite one and all to come and participate and give their support.”

Registration is ongoing until Sept. 20 at New Balance outlets in Glorietta; Shangri-La Mall; Festival Mall; Planet Sports in Rockwell, TriNoma, and V-Mall; Secondwind in UP Diliman; and Runnr, Bonifacio High Street. Registration form is also available at www.new balance.com.ph. Registration fee is P500 for 21K; P350 for 10K; P300 for 5K; and P250 for 3K.

Proceeds of the “New Balance Power Run … Raising Hope” will help support Philippine Cancer Society’s endeavor to reach 25,000 participants for the lecture series; about 15,000 women for breast and cervical examinations; and schools for the youth anti-smoking campaign in 2010. It will also aid I Can Serve’s Ating Dibdibin project as well as the continuing efforts and activities of The Carewell Community.

“As an organization, we want to create a positive impact in our community,” Anton says, “and as a brand that embraces the love for running, we decided to do something about it. “From the past events, we saw the runners’ passion, especially during the New Balance Power Race. With their help, we aim to lead the way to direct this passion to something that is more valuable, something we can all be proud of.”

* * *

For more information, visit www.newbalance.com.ph.