Homewatch Caregivers

The 5th Annual Race for Ellie will be held Sunday, June 13th, 2010, at Liberty Park in Powell, Ohio. There is a 5k, 1-mile Walk and a Kids Fun Run. All proceeds will be used to support research in hopes of finding a cure for Mitochondrial Disease (mito). Ellie Kovalcik, 8, suffers from mito, specifically Leigh's Disease. For more information regarding Ellie, please see her website www.caringbridge.org/visit/ellie. Stay tuned for more information regarding race information, registration, sponsorship and volunteer opportunities and more!

McDonald's will host the 2010 McDonald’s All American High School Basketball Games March 31, 2010 at Value City Arena, home of The Ohio State University basketball teams. The McDonald’s All American Games are recognized as the premier showcase for the top high school basketball talent in the country. Annually, 24 boys and 24 girls are selected from a pool of more than 2,500 nominees nationwide. The players will not only become part of the long-standing tradition of the Games, but will also raise money for Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC®) of Central Ohio. “It’s a great honor to be hosting this game in our own backyard,” said Shirley Rogers-Reece vice president and general manager, McDonald’s Ohio Region. “This opportunity is a huge coup for not only McDonald’s in central Ohio, but for the entire community. We can’t wait to show off our great city by hosting the athletes, families and fans here.” The McDonald’s All American Games tradition will continue with the following events planned for 2010: Team visit to Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Ohio: Every athlete who participates in the McDonald’s All American Games visits the host city’s local RMHC Chapter to experience first-hand how the Games impact the local community. ·        POWERADE® Jam Fest: Slam dunk, skills and 3-point competitions—March 29, 2010 ·        Fundraising Event for the Community: March 30, 2010 ·        The Boys and Girls All American Games: March 31, 2010 "We could not be more excited to have the Game here in Columbus," said Paul Thompson executive director of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Ohio. "This will provide us with even more opportunities to help families in and around Ohio and show off our beautiful new House.”

We're on the MOVE to end Alzheimer's! If you're the kind of person who's not going to sit on the sidelines when there's a chance to change the future, then you're the person we need. With more than 5 million Americans living with Alzheimer's, and nearly 10 million more serving as caregivers, the time to act is now! When you register for the Alzheimer's Association Memory Walk®, you're joining a nationwide community of thousands of people who are standing up and participating in the fight against this devastating disease. Your journey to the end of Alzheimer's starts here. It's easy: Register. It takes just a few minutes online. Form a team. Participating in Memory Walk is even more fun with a group. Ask your co-workers, family and friends to walk as a team. You'll be amazed at how many people want to help. Fundraise. Every Memory Walk participant is asked to raise money for the fight against Alzheimer's. Alzheimer's Association staff are ready to support you every step of the way with tips, tools and advice. Get Creative. Raise money with our online tools, hold a fundraising event or ask for a donation when you're face-to-face. Walk! Memory Walk is a unique experience. See the difference you can make as we walk to change the course of Alzheimer's together. Memory Walk is the nation's largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer care, support and research. Since 1989, Memory Walk has raised more than $300 million for the cause. All Memory Walk donations benefit the Alzheimer's Association, the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer care, support and research. The mission of the Alzheimer's Association is to eliminate Alzheimer's disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health.

Join us for the 2010 Komen Columbus Race for the Cure® on May 15, 2010 at the statehouse.  The Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure® Series, the largest series of 5K runs/fitness walks in the world, raises significant funds and awareness for the fight against breast cancer, celebrates breast cancer survivorship and honors those who have lost their battle with the disease. Since its inception in 1983, the Komen Race for the Cure® series has grown from one local Race with 800 participants to a global series of more than 120 Races with more than 1 million people expected to participate in 2009. The Komen Race for the Cure® is a unique event, designed and implemented to promote positive awareness, education and early detection of breast cancer.  It has proved to be an enormously effective way to reach many women and men with the message that breast cancer is not necessarily fatal if mammography and breast self-exam become routine. As well as being a road race for runners, the Komen Race for the Cure® is an emotionally charged event that attracts many first timers and recreational runners. It is is an opportunity for thousands of women, men and their families, running or walking, to spread the breast cancer message within their communities. Up to 75 percent of the funds raised at the Komen Columbus Race for the Cure® remain here in our 30-county service area to provide breast health research, diagnostics, screening, treatment, services and education for uninsured or underinsured women. The remaining 25 percent goes to fund national research to discover the causes of breast cancer and, ultimately, its cures. Why we need your support: Every step counts! Your donation provides women and men in Columbus and our 30-county area with services that have literally saved lives. You help make the following programs possible: Free mammograms and diagnostics Medical treatment for qualified breast cancer patients who cannot afford care, including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation Support services including support groups, assistance with finding financial resources, prescription refills and transportation to medical appointments Education about the warning signs of breast cancer, methods of early detection and the latest treatment options Cutting-edge research to find a cure for breast cancer.

The American Cancer Society Relay For Life is a life-changing event that gives everyone in communities across the globe a chance to celebrate the lives of people who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and fight back against the disease. At Relay, teams of people camp out at a local high school, park, or fairground and take turns walking or running around a track or path. Each team is asked to have a representative on the track at all times during the event. Because cancer never sleeps, Relays are overnight events up to 24 hours in length. Although every Relay For Life is different, there are certain traditions at all Relay For Life events. These traditions help participants celebrate, remember, and fight back. Celebrate - The Survivors Lap Relay starts with a Survivors Lap an inspirational time when survivors are invited to circle the track together and help everyone celebrate the victories we’ve achieved over cancer. The Survivors Lap is an emotional example of how Relay participants are creating a world with more birthdays like those of each individual on the track. Remember - The Luminaria Ceremony After dark, we honor people who have been touched by cancer and remember loved ones lost to the disease during the Luminaria Ceremony. Candles are lit inside bags filled with sand, each one bearing the name of a person touched by cancer, and participants often walk a lap in silence. Fight Back - The Fight Back Ceremony Last, there is a Fight Back Ceremony, where we make a personal commitment to save lives by taking up the fight against cancer. You can make a real difference today by signing up online to start your own team or by simply making a donation. Thanks to Relay participants and donors, we are creating a world with more birthdays a world where cancer can’t claim another year of anyone’s life.