Chemo Kit Drive to Benefit Sarasota Memorial Hospital Breast Cancer Patients

SARASOTA -- A group of local volunteers from the Florida Suncoast Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure¨, have joined forces with numerous other companies this summer to provide Sarasota Memorial Hospital breast cancer patients with key items for getting through their chemotherapy treatment. The volunteer group collected Vera Bradley Totes, Hanes socks, journals, tea, hand sanitizer, oral care items, and much more to help patients ease the stress and burden of cancer treatment.  These items will help comfort patients while receiving and recovering from  chemotherapy treatment.

These kits will be distributed through Sarasota Memorial Hospital’s Breast Health Navigator program.   The breast health navigator is a registered nurse (RN), with special oncology training, available to breast cancer patients and their families, and serves as an educator/ support representative..  There is no additional charge for this service. The breast health navigator can provide assistance to ensure patient care needs are met in a timely manner,  questions are answered correctly and without  confusion, as well as to address feelings of fear or anxiety..  The breast health navigator will provide women and men with free educational information about their  breast cancer, and sources of support and services available through the hospital /medical center and community.

As part of a new shoe and handbag concept store Grand Opening celebration, shoe professionals David and Molly Jackson of New Balance Sarasota donated 150 Vera Bradley Tote Bags to the Chemo Kit project. The bright Vera Bradley pattern of LOVES MEÉwas chosen by the Jackson’s since sales of this is Vera Bradley’s signature pattern helps raise money for the Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer.  The totes, each valued at $48, will carry the other donated items,  and will be given to newly diagnosed breast cancer patients at Sarasota Memorial. ”Our hope is that the Vera Bradley bright colored bag will give the newly diagnosed cancer patient a small ray of sunshine and HOPE each time she carries it knowing she has the support of our community,“ said Molly Jackson, volunteer for the Florida Suncoast Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen for theCure.  

The Chemo Kit committee will meet on  Wednesday, September 1at 5:30 p.m. to assemble the bags and present them to The Breast Health Navigator Program  at Sarasota Memorial Hospital.  The Jackson’s are hosting this event in their new shoe and handbag boutique located at 1874 Stickney Point road, Sarasota.

The Chemo Kit volunteer committee is made up of the following individuals:Fran Lambert, Ginny Cable, Molly Jackson, Anne Marie Young, Linda Ossenkop, Kathy Horowitz, Suzy Benjamin, Teri Ryan, Debbie Haspel, Kim Brylow, Kristina Calvin, and Harriet Maltz. These members are affiliated with the following companies who have generously supported this project: New Balance, Boar’s Head, TechHouse and Jacksons’ soon to be announced shoe and handbag boutique.

The companies listed below have donated the following products for the Chemo Kits:

Vera Bradley Designs                        Vera Bradley Totes

Quilts                                                     Friendship Knot Quilters Guild

Journals                                                 Boar's Head/Coastal Printing

Hand Sanitizers                                   Boar's Head/Inspirations Hair Salon

Socks                                                      Hane's

Sticky Notes                                         Susan G. Komen for the Cure¨ Advocacy Alliance

Breast Cancer Info Booklets            National Cancer Institute

Lipton Tea                                            Coastal Living Real Estate & Property Management

M&M'S                                                  Mission We Care

Mouth Care                                          Dr. Mary Porter/Glaxo Smith Kline

About Florida Suncoast Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure

The Florida Suncoast Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure¨ is working to better the lives of those facing breast cancer in our community. Through annual signature events like the Komen Florida Suncoast Race for the Cure, the affiliate has invested more than $10 million since 1999 in local breast health and breast cancer awareness projects in six Florida counties: Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, and Sarasota. Seventy-five percent of net proceeds generated by the Komen Florida Suncoast Affiliate each year are returned to the community, and 25 percent of revenue is directed to the national Susan G. Komen for the Cure Research Grant Program.  In 2010, the Florida Suncoast Affiliate awarded over $1 million to its service area to support screening and treatment for the underserved.  For more information about the Florida Suncoast Affiliate, visit www.komensuncoast.org, or call 877-506-6927.