It's Team Sandy 2024 EDITION!

Same song, different verse! We are TRULY EXCITED to support a new LOCAL initiative in support of cancer patients and their families in our area! Read more below!

Life can get busy. Life can get crazy. Life can get HARD. But one constant, at least for me, is the memory of my mom, Sandy Riner, and her battle with breast cancer. October is going to come every year, no matter what happens. The need to end this horrible disease remains day after day, year after year. It is a hidden, ruthless, take-no-prisoners, don't care who you are, where you live, how much money you make, color of your skin, political parties thrown aside, relentless killer in our community and throughout the world. The only way that we're going to put an end to it is to research, support clinicians in the field, and let our friends and neighbors know that enough is enough.

After many years of supporting the American Cancer Society and all of the incredible work they do, I have been ABSOLUTELY THRILLED the past three years to partner with the RMH Foundation. THIS YEAR, we have a new campaign, one that is BRAND NEW, of UTMOST IMPORTANCE, and that needs our best efforts. We'll be partnering once again with Sentara RMH Foundation to help launch the Twila Showalter Supportive Care Clinic for cancer patients. This new goal of the RMH Foundation will supply care and support to survivors and their families as they continue to fight cancer to avoid recurrence stay in remission! 100% (YES EVERY DOLLAR) will go directly to providing VERY IMPORTANT support to men and women in need, and to expand the services at the about to be launched Twila Showalter Supportive Care Clinic. We could not be happier to join this groundbreaking initiative for our friends, family, and neighbors.

Why is this so important to me? Sentara RMH is where my Mom received her chemo treatment. I sat with her often, talking, eating lunch, laughing, crying… we did it all. And while we did, the wonderful staff, Doctors, Nurses, and Caregivers took great care of my Mom and so many others. I cannot put into words what it meant to her to not have to travel to receive chemo. To have a cancer-specific pharmacist on site. To get treatments, and be able to go home to rest. To know that there were caring, well-trained, and compassionate caregivers with her and out family every step of the way.

The campaign again this year, fittingly, is named “Be An Angel for Breast Cancer”. I consider everyone at the Hahn Cancer Center AND Funkhouser Women’s Health Center working to give all levels of cancer care to be angels among us because of the way they selflessly care for so many. This is our collective chance to “Be An Angel” and help them care for so many more and in so many NEW and EXCITING ways.

We hope you’ll join Team Sandy once again and “Be An Angel for Breast Cancer”.

That's where you all come in!

With Team Sandy during the month of October, there are so many ways to join the fight!

1. Donate. Your donations to Team Sandy in 2024 for go directly to START the Twila Showalter Supportive Care Clinic. Visit JoinTeamSandy.com to donate today!

2. Wear Pink. Whether it's every day, every Friday, special events, ZOOM backgrounds, a rubber bracelet, or a hair tie, let your pink show proud during the month of October. My favorite way to carry the cause is to wear pink shoes (I have a few pairs at this point). People will know that you stand shoulder to shoulder in the fight against breast cancer, and cancer patients, caregivers, and survivors will be encouraged. It's so simple!

3. Forward Emails and follow Social Media. If you think someone would like to be a part, forward them this post or page or link! If you want to see all the Pinktober hijinks, follow me on Instagram and Facebook. We'll have some fun, share some memories, and come together once again to throw our hats in the ring to fight breast cancer.

In this, Team Sandy's EIGHTH year, we have raised OVER $100,000!!. Will you help the cause this year? We aren't stopping at $100K, or at all, until we have done all that we can do to support our neighbors, friends, and family dealing with a cancer diagnosis. A little bit helps, a lot helps, it all helps. I know I say this every year, but my favorite donation is the one that my kids make in change every year for "Didi" (what Leonie called my Mom). This year, Leonie and Ray hope to make their largest donation yet. The Styrofoam cups sit in my office still, where I look at them often. It reminds me that it's not about how much, it's just about caring and giving what you can. If Leonie and Ray can donate their change, you can too! And if you've got more change than they do, we'll ALWAYS welcome those donations too (wink wink).

We're going to push harder than ever. Because we need to. Because we want to. Because we HAVE to.

To honor my Mom, to honor our friends and families and neighbors, to help Sentara RMH launch the Twila Showalter Supportive Care Clinic to provide continually EXCELLENT and COMPASIONATE service to men and women needing care, support, and follow ups, and to show the world that breast cancer, and ALL cancer, is on its' way to extinction.

With your help, we will get there.

Always Hoping and Still Praying for a Cure,

Paul Riner

JoinTeamSandy.com

Be an Angel for Cancer is a month-long effort, organized by the RMH Foundation, to raise awareness and money to support the fight against breast cancer. Individuals come together, spread the word to their family, friends and neighbors, and ultimately help save lives. 100% of donations raised stay here in this community to help more men and women receive the cancer care and support they need.