A Group of Cancer Moms Making an Impact on Their Community

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When Rae’s daughter, Sofia, was diagnosed with High-Risk Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia at age 7 in January 2016, she quickly learned how isolating it can be to have a child with cancer.

She learned that there was no family support group or mentor family available at Levine Children’s Hospital or elsewhere in the Charlotte area. After connecting with a supportive online group called Momcology, Levine Children’s Hospital agreed to partner with Momcology to bring their peer-to-peer support group model here. Levine became just the second hospital in the country to offer it. Since the success of Levine Children’s Hospital Momcology, the program has spread to other children’s hospitals across the country.  

“Meeting other cancer moms in person and forming real connections and friendships was a wonderful experience and I wanted to bring that opportunity to other pediatric cancer caregivers in Charlotte,” said Rae. “My hope is that it will continue to catch on and eventually all pediatric hospitals will see the importance of offering a place where their patients’ families can meet, connect and support one another.”

In addition to the Levine Children’s Hospital group, Rae started a Facebook group called Charlotte Pediatric Cancer Support Group so that ALL primary caregivers with a child with cancer could connect with one another regardless of where their child was treated. This enabled families affected by pediatric cancer to share information, opportunities, fundraisers and ideas with one another.

Whether it’s the ISF 5K/10K race in September, the LLS Moms in Training program, Cookies for Kids Cancer bake sales, CureSearch’s Ultimate Hike or hosting blood drives, these cancer moms try to spread the word about the organizations they believe in and help them in whatever ways they can. Several of them recently attended the Levine Children’s Hospital gala on ISF’s behalf where they enjoyed a fun “Girls Night” and supported what Rae says is “the best children’s hospital that means so much to us and our families.”

Adds Rae, “I hope the biggest thing we’re doing collectively is raising awareness about the fact that pediatric cancer isn’t as ‘rare’ as people think and they will be moved to take action against it. We were once just like everyone else until one day we were thrown into this elite club we never wanted to join. None of us thought it would ever happen to our kid; we never imagined we would one day actually know some of the children and families in those St. Jude commercials.”

MARK YOUR CALENDARS: Join these dedicated cancer moms and help support pediatric cancer research at any of these upcoming local fundraisers:

Jersey Mike’s Raises Over $167,000 for Isabella Santos Foundation

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Record-breaking year for 9th Annual “Month of Giving” in greater Charlotte

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – April 4, 2019 – Jersey Mike’s Subs served up record-breaking fundraising for its “Month of Giving” campaign in greater Charlotte. Jersey Mike’s Subs 9thAnnual March “Month of Giving” and “Day of Giving” campaigns raised more than $167,000 for the Isabella Santos Foundation (ISF).

During the month of March, 39 Jersey Mike’s Subs restaurants throughout the greater Charlotte area collected over $13,750 in customer donations and cookie sales. The campaign culminated with Jersey Mike’s “Day of Giving” on March 27, when eight local Jersey Mike’s owners and operators donated 100 percent of the day’s sales – totaling over $153,500 – to the Isabella Santos Foundation. In addition, over 8,000 Giant 14” subs were served by more than 550 team members in the greater Charlotte area on “Day of Giving.”

“As a brand, Jersey Mike’s is very passionate about giving back. We don’t give to get, we give to give. With that being part of our culture and being a dad myself, it was a natural fit for the greater Charlotte franchisees to partner with the Isabella Santos Foundation,” said Nick Smith III, a local franchise owner of Jersey Mike’s Subs. “Erin [Santos] and her amazing team’s commitment to finding a cure for pediatric cancer is so contagious. We are honored to be part of that team and look forward to many years of partnering with them during the ‘Month of Giving’.”

Last year’s “Month of Giving” campaign raised more than $6 million for 170 local charities nationwide.  Since 2010, Jersey Mike’s locations throughout the country have raised more than $34 million for worthy local charities and distributed more than 2 million free sub sandwiches to help numerous causes. For more information, visit https://www.jerseymikes.com/mog or https://isabellasantosfoundation.org/jersey-mikes-mog/.

“We were blown away by all the support from the community. It really is incredible to see how this campaign can bring a community together for something bigger than us,” said Erin Santos, executive director and president of the Isabella Santos Foundation. “We are honored to be the charity partner for this campaign and greatly appreciate our partnership with Jersey Mike’s, the greater Charlotte franchise owners and amazing team of employees. The efforts and generosity of everyone involved will make a huge impact on our local pediatric cancer community.”

About Isabella Santos Foundation

The Isabella Santos Foundation (ISF) is a 501(c)3 childhood cancer foundation dedicated to raising funds for research for rare pediatric cancers, and charities that directly impact the lives of children with cancer. ISF was founded in honor of Isabella Santos from Charlotte, N.C. who lost her battle against neuroblastoma. ISF is committed to improving rare pediatric cancer treatment options in an effort to increase the survival rate of kids with cancer so they can live their dreams. ISF has donated over $3 million to date to expand the scope of pediatric cancer research and treatment, and to fill various needs surrounding childhood cancers.

For more information, visit https://isabellasantosfounda][=tion.org/ or follow ISF on Facebook (www.facebook.com/IsabellaSantosFoundation), Instagram (www.instagram.com/theisfoundation), Twitter (www.twitter.com/TheISFoundation) and LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/isabella-santos-foundation/)

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CONTACT:

Jenni Walker – Walker PR Group – 980-339-8041-office/704-649-6571-cell

jenni@walkerprgroup.com

Jersey Mike’s Subs Month of Giving Impact on Greater Charlotte

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Jersey Mike’s Subs Month of Giving raised a total of $167,319.87 for pediatric cancer research!

We are blown away by the support on this year’s Jersey Mike’s Day of Giving. Blown away by how many new faces, constant faces, businesses and foundations showed up to eat subs! It really is incredible to see how one day can bring a community together for something bigger than ourselves.

Thank you, Jersey Mikes, the greater Charlotte franchise owners and your teams. We are honored you believe in our mission enough to make us your charity partner. We appreciate the long hours, the conversations and laughs you had with customers. We love that your 400+ employees wore our Cancer Messed With shirts and took pride in doing so. The impact this one single day will make on pediatric cancer in our region will be tremendous.

Saving Local Lives the “Long” Way

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Jim and Mike Long, loyal platelet donors

Meet Jim and Mike Long; two amazing superheroes! When it comes time to saving local lives and their commitment to blood and platelet donation, this father-and-son duo goes above and beyond for local patients.

What started out as bi-monthly whole blood donations through Community Blood Center of the Carolinas (CBCC) has morphed into two loyal platelet donor superheroes who have given a combined 456 platelet donations through CBCC over the past 10 years. Platelets are vital to patients who are fighting cancer, other diseases and traumatic injuries as they form clots to help stop bleeding. 

We wanted to see these two superheroes in action and had a chance to catch up with Mike (son) and Jim (father) in person during their recent platelet donation at the Isabella Santos Center in Ballantyne.

When did you start donating platelets?

Mike: I started donating whole blood in 2007 and then started donating platelets in 2008

Jim: I started donating whole blood in 2005 and then platelets in 2009

Jim Long & his donor spreadsheet

How many donations have each of you made?

Mike: 230 platelet donations as of March 13, 2019

Jim: 226 platelet donations as of March 13, 2019

For the past two years, Mike and Jim have been holding a friendly platelet donation competition. “He [Jim] has a slight advantage because he’s retired,” jokes Mike who has continually held the lead. Because Mike travels a lot for work, it’s more challenging for them to donate at the same time. Their goal is to give their 250th donation together.

How did you get involved in donating?

Mike: My granny had open-heart surgery so my family banked blood for her. I was only 15 years old and was too young to donate blood. So I started donating when I was eligible at age 16. I was a plasma donor in college so I was familiar with the donation process when I got involved in donating through CBCC. 

Jim: I got involved through my job at Frye Electronics, which held a CBCC community blood drive every other month before the company sold. I donated whole blood at these drives and then CBCC asked me to donate platelets; I have been a CBCC platelet donor ever since. I have been made aware of all the need for platelets for cancer treatment, etc. and realized that donating is one of the best things I can do. 

Erin Santos & Jim Long

“Long” time Dedication

When it comes time to platelet donation, Mike has the full support of his company – Sterigenics, which sterilizes surgical kits for hospitals. Mike is such a dedicated platelet donor with CBCC that he arranges his travel schedule so he can still donate platelets every two weeks in between trips. He also won’t do business travel to places with malaria or other areas that could get him deferred from donating.

Adds Jim, “I am so glad that Mike and I can share in this donation experience together as we are both dedicated to this. It’s something we can both do to help someone in need and to give back to the community.”

The passion for donating extends to other Long family members. In addition to Mike’s sister being a donor, all three of his kids started donating whole blood at their high school drives and have donated platelets. His son and nephew each marked their first blood donation on their 16th birthday. 

The Impact of the Isabella Santos Center

Rachel Wood & Mike Long

Last fall, the Isabella Santos Foundation and CBCC teamed up to open the Isabella Santos Center in Ballantyne to offer blood and platelet donation for donors in South Charlotte and down into South Carolina. This is where Mike and Jim regularly donate platelets. 

Mike: The Isabella Santos Center is an example of hard work and the support of community coming together to make it happen.

Jim: I love the convenience of the Isabella Santos Center. Knowing what the Isabella Santos Foundation is doing is great; this center is another step to get more donors.

For those who haven’t donated blood or are nervous to do so, here is some advice from Jim:

“You have to at least try to donate,” said Jim. “Start with whole blood first then try donating platelets. Donating is simple and safe. It’s one way you can save a life without money.”

Erin Santos of ISF Receives National Award (Scoop Charlotte)

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Erin Santos, executive director of the Isabella Santos Foundation (ISF) has received the “ABC Larry Frederick Award” from America’s Blood Centers (ABC) for her commitment to raising awareness of the need for blood donation.

“I am incredibly honored to receive this recognition from America’s Blood Centers,” said Erin Santos, executive director and president of the Isabella Santos Foundation. “Community Blood Center of the Carolinas has been near and dear to our hearts since Isabella received numerous blood and platelet transfusions to help her stay strong and fight neuroblastoma. I am deeply committed to raising awareness about the importance of platelet and blood donation to honor Isabella’s legacy and to support local patients who need these lifesaving products.”

Santos was presented the award on Monday, March 25 at the ABC Awards of Excellence ceremony in Arlington, Va. The award honors an individual for their community leadership in raising awareness of the need for blood donation. 

For the full article please go here.