2012 Evelyn Knapp 'Run to Remember' Video

Our 3rd Annual Run and Inaugural Wellness Walk video is just out. Enjoy!

 

Evelyn Knapp "Run to Remember" and Wellness Walk

You may remember, at that time we were all suffering the effects of Super-storm Sandy and Strength for Life was torn between canceling the event or carrying on in 'less that perfect' conditions. Our run is held at Sunken Meadow and the course needed to be changed due to the obliteration of the dam. We decided to go forward and justified our decision by sharing the proceeds with families hurt by the storm. Strength for Life was able to share $4100 with 11 families.

 

Strength for Life is a grassroots nonprofit providing FREE exercise classes and wellness retreats to cancer patients on Long Island. We hold the classes at many venues in Nassau and Suffolk - including Stony Brook Cancer Center and Mather Hospital.

 

For more information visit our website at www.strengthforlifeNY.org or call 631-675-6513.

 

 

Enjoy the video. Our youngest fundraiser Emma Thode is featured as well as the Green Vale Pacers - of the Green Vale School - both supporting Strength for Life by fund-raising to benefit our 'NO Cost' programs.

 

 

 

Thank you all for the help and support!

 

 

No one can whistle a symphony. 

It takes a whole orchestra to play it. 

~H.E. Luccock

Post Traumatic Stress After Sandy

Today, Zucker Hillside Hospital (ZHH) and The Katz Institute for Women's Health presented an incredibly informative and interesting presentation on the post traumatic stress after "Super Storm Sandy"

The panel:

• Victor Fornari, MD, Psychiatric Services, ZHH
• Peter D'Amico, PhD, Director, Child and Adolescent Psychology, ZHH
• David Hymowitz, Mental Health Association of Nassau County
• Gwen O'Shea, President / CEO Health and Welfare Council of Long Island

Honestly, each presenter had such valuable information, intensity and compassion - one was better than the next.

Dr. Fornari introduced the program and began with three questions to the audience - by a raise of hands who was directly effected by Sandy?  just a handful... the third question who is working in the community dealing with the families effected by Sandy?  most raised their hands

Later on it was addressed that, in fact, we were all directly impacted by Sandy.  However, we interpret that question to physical loss.

I believe it was Dr. D'Amico who pointed out one thing that I, personally,  ran across -  when people shared their story, somewhere in the next sentence was "but so many others lost so much more" .... which was a statement that in turn invalidates their situation.

After our Super Storm, where statistics are staggering, with the size and duration of the storm, the addition of a full moon  etc. etc. we still have 110,000 households  (registered) in need.

I will not go into the psycho/social attributes of the program - I could not express all that was said in a cohesive blog for you - I am still absorbing the ideas presented. However, what I can offer is the incredible services that are available to all. 

For children www.nctsn.org National Child Traumatic Stress Network
(even Sesame Street covered the hurricane and friendship and community)
* after Katrina 25 - 50% of the children needed counseling

Project Hope FREE confidential services, trained counselors available to "listen" to your needs, feelings and experiences.  They can guide you to the proper channels for help. Their resources are available for families, individuals, schools, businesses, community groups and organizations. The services are at your convenience - times that work for you...take advantage;  call and mention that you are calling for Project Hope...(these are Nassau numbers - but you will be directed to Suffolk/NYC numbers as needed)

• Central Nassau - 516-822-6111 x267
• FEGS - Health and Human Services 516-505-2003
• Hispanic Counciling 516-538-2613
• Long Beach Medical Center 516-897-4326
• Long Beach Reach 516-889-2332
• Mental Health Association of Nassau County 516-489-2322 x1322
• North Shore Child and Family Guidance 516-626-1971
• South Nassau Community Hospital 516-377-5400
• South Shore Association for Independent Living 576-297-6413
• South Shore Child and Guidance Center 516868-3030 x203
• YES Community Counseling 516-799-3203

Please reach out to a Disaster Case Manager, the Health and Welfare Council of Long Island
and United Way of Long Island are partnering to coordinate the Hurricane Sandy Unmet Needs Roundtable - call 211.

Once you have exhausted all available resources  such as FEMA, Insurance and the like - your case can be presented to the Unmet Needs Roundtable and IF your needs (for rent, mortgage, utility, car and home repair, household goods, job search and child care) when met - leave you in a position to sustain that- they can help. You must be registered with a Disaster Case Manager to access the Unmet Needs Roundtable so  REGISTER NOW   or visit  www.211longisland.org

I noticed  on the Health and Welfare Council website there is FREE tax preparation available

Nassau

Suffolk

Please understand, I am giving you information briefly explained to me - so I do not have all the answers - but there are answers and help for you! I will try to get Suffolk telephone numbers asap.

“It’s not the load that breaks you down; it’s the way you carry it.”

-Lena Horne

So much to learn...

Today, I attended a meeting at Southside Hospital (North Shore LIJ) with a phenomenal speaker, Dr. Eric Altman covering Afib (Atrial Fibrillation - or abnormal heart rythmn). When and if, I need a Cardiologist - I am on my way to him first (sorry Dr. Oz).  That's how good he is.

There is a new procedure (Southside Hospital was the first on LI to  use this) the Lariat heart procedure.  Just what it sounds like, a lariat - a loop, a lasso, ....a suture that is used to tie off the left atrial appendage.  Did you know you had an appendage at your heart?  I never learned that in Anatomy and Physiology - memorizing the flow of blood through the heart - they never mentioned an appendage.  In any event, this appendage may be a major source of blood clots that might lead to a stroke. 

Dr. Altman started with the dry erase board and drew the heart, valves and the appendage on the top left section - the left atrium of the heart - sounds elementary - well his drawings, explanations of the procedure and follow up with video - was unbelievable.  I wanted to be young and back in school to be a Doctor.  That is a good educator, and a great surgeon.

These are the handouts because I could not begin to go into this procedure, the second procedure Cryoablation - uses cold to freezer burn the inside of the valves to stop the electrical impulses. The past procedure uses heat outside of the valves - this is proving to be as effective with less recovery.

Fabulous.  

I, was not alone, in wanting more information from Dr. Altman. 

The Lariat Heart Procedure  (handout)

The Lariat Procedure (video)

 

Cryoablation (handout)

Cryoablation (video)

 

 

 

“Wherever the art of Medicine is loved,

 there is also a love of Humanity. ” 

~ Hippocrates

 

 

"Never believe that a few caring people can't change the world.

For indeed that's all who ever have. "

~ Margaret Mead

 

 

"Change" seems to be a recurrent theme of late, we experienced the need to accept change from Superstorm Sandy and we are debating the need for a change in "gun control" in light of the horrific events in Newtown. We are paralyzed by both these events but we must learn from them, embrace the messages and change.

 

The message of Strength for Life has been about change, how to empower yourself through strengthening your body, mind and spirit. In 2012, Strength for Life held 14 exercise sessions (in Nassau and Suffolk) and hosted a wellness retreat, in total supporting nearly 150 people - all eager to embrace and accept their new path after a cancer diagnosis. They were given the physical tools (resistance bands, stability balls and yoga mats), professional trainers, educational lectures, sampling of different healing classes (some lots of fun like Zumba!), a weekend getaway and the opportunity to form friendships with others who share their circumstances. All of these tools for healing, recovery and growth were provided at NO COST.

In order of Strength for Life to continue on it's mission to provide our programs free of charge to cancer patients and survivors we rely on fundraising efforts and private donations. As 2012 comes to a close, please consider Strength for Life in your end of year tax deductible gift giving, it will make a difference.

 

Thank you for your thoughtfulness and support. May you have a Blessed Holiday Season and a Peaceful New Year.

 

Debbie and Jacqui

Founders, Strength for Life

From our friend, Penni

It was March 2011, and I was divinely led to offer a fitness-dance class to Strength for Life during one of their weekend retreats donated to cancer survivors. Strength for Life is a not for profit organization that "brings fitness to cancer survivors" at no charge. Jacqui Errico and Debbie Hughes, the founders of Strength for Life, serve selflessly while they successfully organize, facilitate and engage in connecting with true survivors. It all seems so effortless as they give from their hearts as they would to their own family. I was blessed to receive the gift of understanding the depth of what Jacqui and Debbie receive as they compassionately and fully give... I was in awe as I witnessed mothers, daughters, wives, sisters, grandmothers, aunts and friends transform their hopelessness, pain, fear and sadness into Hope, Joy, Gratitude, Laughter, Connection and Love! To see pure delight and liberation shining from a person that has come back from their own physical, mental and emotional battle is the greatest blessing. I will forever be grateful for being a part of these inspiring and heart-warming experiences that Strength for Life and their members share with me. Thank you all who give and receive through Strength for Life!

It was at my next Strength for Life retreat that I was introduced to Dr. Dean Telano of True Living Yoga Healing Center. He taught a meditation class--specifically geared toward cancer patients and survivors. Dr. Telano's genuine and compassionate donation amazed me--physically, emotionally and energetically moving! As a healer, Dr. Telano brings rare and authentic gifts of insight and intuition while humbly delivering his own teachings. Dean teaches "Mind of Clear Light" Meditation, Reiki and Yoga, as well as teacher-training in these holistic healing techniques. For years I was in search of a Yoga school that didn't require consecutive weeks of attendance--and a flexible Yoga certification school was placed in my path! Rahini School of Yoga and all it encompasses came into my life at the perfect moment. I am now a recent graduate of the 200 hour Yoga teacher certification program, and beginning my journey in the 550 hour Yoga program, and the Meditation teacher training program. The gifts I've received are so many; most significant is my new found inner peace, emotional strength & empowerment. Just walking in the studio brings BREATH and life to my "True-self." Once again, I receive the gift of giving with others who genuinely wish to bring hope, healing and peace to all beings. Thank you Dr. Dean Telano and all who serve at True Living Yoga.

In an effort to comfort as well as share the hope and healing I have been blessed to receive through these two powerful organizations, I felt a strong pull to connect the endless healing and holistic resources of both truelivingyoga.com and strengthforlife.org. Please visit each site; discover what you might uncover in yourself, and share freely with others the gifts that you receive.

With loving kindness,

Penni N.

"Attracted" $1100 for our families...

YES!!!! Just put it out there and believe.

On my blog, I added (as a side note) "If you would like to adopt a family for the holidays - we can help you," because we really wanted to do more than we were able.  And I shared this blog with our run participants, lo and behold I was asked what 'adopting a family' involved? Being myself, I shared that "I just put it out there" ..... and todayI received a commitment of $1100 in gift cards, $100 for each of the 11 families.

Thank you Lord, Universe - whatever your belief is!!!!

“Nothing can prevent your picture from coming
into concrete form except the same power
which gave it birth – yourself.”
 

~  Genevieve Berhrend



 

$4300 shared with our neighbors....

Strength for Life was able to share $4300 in cash and gift cards to our neighbors who suffered losses in Hurricane Sandy.  Of course, we wish it were more - we wish someone would have matched our donation but we are happy to say we helped.

The whole experience was quite humbling and re-affirms our belief in friends and neighbors. When we decided to go forward with our run and share the proceeds - we had already heard of some severe losses but asked for your input as well. The flood gates could have opened but the responses were not overwhelming.  In fact, when I reached out to some survivors (that I know lost and suffered) they refused the offering wanting it to go to others who had lost more.  Debbie and I did not want to 'play God' and judge losses so we came up with a formula and criteria and let it go. 

We were able to help 11 families from Lindenhurst, the Rockaways, Bayville, Roosevelt and Long Beach; and although we know we could not ease the emotional trauma of the storm we hoped our gift would offer some relief.

When we mentioned that we were sharing our profits - many said "that is exactly what Evelyn would do",  we knew that....and we are blessed.

“It's not how much we give

but how much love we put into giving.”
~ Mother Teresa