Carewell Community

Dear Friends of Carewell,

As we head into the rainy season (though, at times, it can still feel like summer!) here are some photos to bring some sunshine into your day. Please click on the link above to check out some scenes from our June outing in Anilao, Batangas! Thanks very much to the Beautiful Balai Resort for hosting us! Come join Carewell soon so you can participate in our next outing.

Teofila at JRMMC

We would like to convey our sincere thanks to our latest partner, Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center, for taking such good care of our dear community member, Teofila.

As you can see in the photo, she’s smiling and up and about despite the challenges of her cancer.

When you become a member of our community, I’m sure you will be inspired by Teofila and others like her.

Dra. Marie Belle, volunteer Tori, and Carewell member Peter

Carewell would like to welcome the newest member of our team, Dra. Marie Belle Francia.

Marie Belle graduate cum laude from UP Manila where she earned her BS and medical degrees. She completed her residency in Internal Medicine at UP-PGH and her Master’s Degree in Pain Management from Tufts University School of Medicine where she was awarded the Saltonstall Award for Academic Excellence.

She is available at Carewell for consultations on pain management.

Vets Hospital Room

Coming very soon: the Carewell room at Veterans Memorial Medical Center! Thanks to a generous grant from Bubba Gump, we will soon have a nice and comfortable space for support group meetings, talks, and other wellness activities at the VMMC. We are very grateful to all our partners and supporters in the private sector who are helping Carewell be of better service to persons with cancer and their loved ones. Special thanks, too, to Carewell volunteer, Lance Feliciano, for his very helpful interior design suggestions.

Vets Hospital Room

Chel Birthday

Last June 10, volunteer Chel Tenorio celebrated her birthday at Carewell.

As you will see from the photos, we all had a great time! We welcome volunteers with varying skill sets, experiences, and interests.

Please contact us if you would like to join our team of talented and selfless volunteers!

Chel Birthday

Now, here are some events in July: on the 8th of this month, Wednesday, Dr. Alfonso Lagaya and his medical team will conduct a seminar on Acupressure for pain and stress relief at Carewell. This will start at 10am and end at about 12 noon. Please contact Jane Beate at 751-0242 or 815-1294 if you would like to join us!

On July 10, we will have a Carewell outing to Valle Verde Country Club in Pasig. We’re looking forward to yoga sessions, games, prizes, and even a Hawaiian Luau! “Oh we’re going, to a hukilau…”

Fuda Cancer Hospital in China is fast becoming known as a regional center for both alternative and conventional treatments (and combinations of the two) for cancer and other diseases. For those of you who are interested, a Filipino, Nestor Bonifacio, who states that he was successfully treated for advanced cancer, will be in Manila to share his experience at the Fuda Cancer Hospital. The hospital's chief doctor will also be with him to conduct a seminar on cancer cure technologies. This event will be held in Vivere Hotel (Alabang) on July 14 from 1 to 5pm. Entrance is free for those interested - please just kindly call 809 4453 and look for Emily to confirm, or email msalunga@gmail. com. Seats are limited, so please call early if you are interested. This is not a Carewell event, so please contact the organizers directly.

On July 30, Carewell and New Balance will hold a press conference at The Manila Polo Club to kickoff the 2009 Raising Hope Power Run scheduled for September 20 at The Fort. If you are interested in coming in as an event sponsor or partner, please email us at info@carewellcommunity.org so we can send you the Carewell rate card and participation form for this, as well as other Carewell events for 2009. Remember: Carewell is a volunteer driven organization and we offer all our resources and services free of charge to persons affected by cancer. Thus, we rely on the generosity of organizations, groups, and individuals whose lives have been touched by cancer. Please consider supporting our FUNdraising events in 2009!

Click to view NB Power Run Raising Hope Ad

Finally, here’s a preview of events for the second half of 2009:

28 August: 75th anniversary of the Mu Sigma Phi medical sorority of the University of the Philippines. The highlight of this celebration will be a fashion show led by professional models as well as cancer survivors and oncologists wearing outfits especially made by some of Manila’s top designers. The event starts at 7pm at the NBC Tent in The Fort.

27 September: The New Balance Raising Hope Power Run 2009 at The Fort. This event will benefit specific projects and activities of Carewell, The Philippine Cancer Society, and the icanserve breast cancer network. Come join this fun and healthy event and help us assist people affected by cancer.

23-25 October: A Collection of Hope – starring the beautiful pieces from the Legaspi Collection, this Carewell FUNdraiser will combine sales of exclusive Asian furniture and accent pieces, as well as paintings and photographs by well known Filipino artists and photographers. We will also have a raffle, cocktails, and musical entertainment. A Collection of Hope will be held at the LRI Design Plaza along Nicanor Garcia street, Bel-Air II in Makati.

22 November: the I Am Ninoy Foundation will lead the Tarlac to Tarmac FUNdraiser for the benefit of Carewell. This 100+ kilometer bike ride will start at the Hacienda Luisita and will end at the foot of the Ninoy Aquino statue on Ayala Avenue. Teams of bikers will lead off the ride from Tarlac. Please contact us at: info@carewellcommunity.org if you would like to join or need more information.

18 December: Please come to the annual Carewell Christmas Party and Open House at our Makati Center. Join us – members, volunteers, partners, benefactors, family, and friends – as we celebrate the completion of our 3rd full year of operation!

Last, but certainly not the least, we will be starting a new support group at Carewell. This group will be comprised of people affected by cancer (whether newly diagnosed, in treatment, in remission, or cured) and their loved ones (family members, friends, or caregivers). We will meet every Wednesday at Carewell from 11am until 1pm. Of course, you are always free to come earlier and stay later! Please contact Jane Beate at 751-0242 or 815-1294 if you would like to join us!

Whew! That’s a mouthful! Come join our community so you can take part in all these events and more! That’s it for now, my friends. Until August, always Care well…every step of your way.

Best,

Bobbit
Robert A.S. Suntay
Managing Director