Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Keszler vows to turn Pennies in to Action


Article on Ice network .org
News
Keszler vows to turn pennies into action
Palm Beach-area fans can skate with the stars for cancer research
Uschi Keszler is determined to make pennies add up for cancer research funding
By Lynn Rutherford, special to icenetwork.com
(07/20/2010) - It was at a 1981 choreography seminar that Uschi Keszler swirled into Brian Orser's life, impressing the athlete and his coach, Dough Leigh, with her theories on movement and "feeling the energy" of skating.

She was "a vital, demonstrative and very attractive German-American blonde who...talked about energy flow [and] capturing an inner feeling" Orser wrote in his autobiography, A Skater's Life.

The Canadian great, who now coaches Olympic champion Yu-Na Kim, ended up working with Keszler en route to two Olympic silver medals and the 1987 world title.

Nearly 30 years after that fateful seminar, Keszler has lost none of her enthusiasm and drive. As one of the owners of the four-surface IceWorks facility in Aston, Pa., site of the annual Liberty Summer Competition, she keeps things humming with style.

And as a cancer survivor, her most heartfelt efforts are devoted to her foundation, Pennies in Action, dedicated to raising funds for medical research.

"This is a concern to every person in world," Keszler, a 1965 German champion and one-time star of Holiday on Ice, said.

"They are estimating that by 2030, 13 million people will die of cancer each year. My goal is this will not happen."

Keszler -- who also coached world ice dance champions Shae-Lynn Bourne and Victor Kraatz and was an integral part of two-time Olympic silver medalist Elvis Stojko's success -- started Pennies in Action two-and-a-half years ago, after having an epiphany at her rink one morning.

"I found a penny on the floor, and I thought, what if everybody does their part and takes ownership in solving this problem, instead of hoping the top two percent [of income earners] do it," she said.

Keszler's logic: loose change, when multiplied, makes a huge impact. So she started the Penny-a-Day Club, comprising a donation of $5 for a one-year membership.

Pennies in Action's efforts center on raising funds for cancer vaccine research at The University of Pennsylvania under the direction of Dr. Brian Czerniecki and his research team. Dr. Czerniecki receives National Institute of Health support, but it falls $14,000 short per patient, and Pennies in Action helps to close that gap.

Right now, the current trial is for the breast cancer diagnosis of DCIS/Her2/neu. Next year the vaccine trial is being expanded to include those with invasive breast cancer.

At Liberty, Keszler and friends worked tirelessly, manning an information table and soliciting small donations via a 50/50 raffle, which coincidentally was won by a medical practitioner.

"I asked him, 'How charitable are you feeling?' and he donated back," the persistent, but charming, Keszler laughed.

"One of the big things is we need 50 more patients to go into this [vaccine] trial, and because people are coming [to Liberty] from all over, we can get the message out. It's still in a clinical trial, so it's not openly advertised, but it's as easy as somebody going to lunch and learning that one of their friends is diagnosed with breast cancer, and suggesting they find out about the trial."

Several of the youth hockey teams that train at IceWorks have pitched in with fundraisers; a tournament held during the Christmas season raised $2800, and a visiting Minnesota team contributed $1400.

The figure skating community is also getting involved. In Florida, adult skater and breast cancer patient Melissa Nicholas has teamed up with Shelley Dodt, breast cancer survivor and Director of the Florida Chapter of PIA, to hold Skate with the Stars on August 7th at the Palm Beach Skate Zone in Lake Worth.

This event, held in honor of local news anchor Kristin Hoke, who recently passed away after a courageous bout with cancer, gives fans a chance to skate with well-known skaters prior to the Skate Zone's Summer Sizzler Skating Show. At press time, expected participants include two-time U.S. pair champion (with Rocky Marvel) Calla Urbanski, among others. The show will be headlined by U.S. pair silver medalists Amanda Evora and Mark Ladwig, and will also feature Michael Chau, who won the 2010 U.S. junior pair title with Tracy Tanovich.

Admission is $5 per person, including skate rental. For tickets call the Palm Beach Skate Zone at (561) 963-5900. Admission for the Summer Sizzler Skating Show is $10 for adults and a jar of pennies for children and students.

To find learn more about Pennies in Action, including information on the vaccine trial, see Penniesinaction.org.

icenetwork.com

Saturday, July 17, 2010

Olympians to skate in Benefit show in Forida...



Contact: Jacqueline Walls
Phone: (561) 649-6674
Email: jaci@alacartemarketing.biz
www.penniesinaction.org
www.shelleydodt.com
Two local women, two different forms of breast cancer, unite to organize fundraiser to benefit Pennies in Action Breast Cancer Vaccine Research and the American Breast Cancer Foundation
‘Skate with the Stars” event to be held on August 7th at the Palm Beach Skate Zone
July 8, 2010 Lake Worth, FL – A Skate with Stars Fundraiser is planned as part of the Summer Sizzler Skating Show to be held at the Palm Beach Skate Zone in Lake Worth, Florida on August 7th from 4:10 p.m. to 5:10 p.m. The event will benefit the Pennies in Action (PIA) Breast Cancer Vaccine Research and American Breast Cancer Foundation and will precede the Skate Zone’s Summer Sizzler Skating Show that starts at 6 p.m. Admission to the Skate with Stars and Auction event is just $5 per person and includes a skate rental. Admission for the Summer Sizzler Skating Show is $10 for adults and a jar of “pennies” for children and students. The Palm Beach Skate Zone is located on Lake Worth Road just west of the Turnpike Entrance.
Local breast cancer patient, Melissa Nicholas has teamed up with Shelley Dodt, breast cancer survivor and Director of the Florida Chapter of PIA to organize and raise money for Pennies in Action. Since being diagnosed with breast cancer in March of this year, Nicholas knew she was on a mission to inspire others while fighting this disease. Since the passing of news anchor, Kristin Hoke of Channel 25, Nicholas is now even more intent on this mission.

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PAGE 2 – SKATE WITH THE STARS fundraiser
Nicholas, 44, took up skating just 4 years ago with her 10-year-old daughter, MacKenzie, now she is training for the U.S. Adult Figure Skating Championships. Nicholas, currently receiving chemotherapy, plans to skate with her daughter in the Skate with the Stars event.
Nicholas was introduced to Dodt through her skating coach, Samantha de Laski, who had attended a previous Pennies in Action event. Dodt, a recipient of the breast cancer vaccine herself and local to South Florida, received 6 shots in 6 weeks and found that she was cancer free. The vaccine however comes with a large price tag of $83,000.00 and all cancers are not treated through this vaccine. The Pennies in Action organization directly funds cancer vaccine research at The University of Pennsylvania under the direction of Dr. Brian Czerniecki and his research team. He receives NIH (?) support but it falls $14,000 short per patient and Pennies in Action helps to close that gap. Right now, the current trial is for DCIS/Her2/neu (is this a particular type of breast cancer?). This summer there are plans to expand the trial to pancreatic cancer. The vaccine is also being considered for ovarian, brain and other cancer trials.
“I want to do my part to help the next generation be rid of this awful, physically maiming, life threatening disease,” says Nicholas. “I found out about Pennies in Action, founded by Olympic Skating Coach and breast cancer survivor, Uschi Keszler. My love skating led me to this organization and I thought it was a perfect avenue to raise money for a great cause that is going to touch so many lives,” continues Nicholas.
About Pennies in Action
Pennies in Action is a philanthropic organization and was founded in 2008 by Olympic figure skater, coach, inventor of the ice-skating term hydroblading, and choreographer Uschi Keszler who is herself a breast cancer survivor. The Pennies in Action fund recognizes, along with many experts, that vaccines, rather than chemotherapy remain the most advantageous avenue for dealing with cancer. It has consequently targeted as its initial project the breast cancer vaccine research of surgeon and researcher in endocrinology and oncology Brian Czerniecki, M.D., Ph.D. on the staff of the Abramson Cancer Center of the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. Czerniecki has had success in clinical trials and a history of gaining patents on inventions that increase antigens against cancer.
For more information on this event or to be a sponsor, call Jacqueline Walls at 561-649-6674. You may also visit us at www.penniesinaction.org to see how you can make a donation or organize a fundraising event in your area.
About The Palm Beach Skate Zone
The Palm Beach Skate Zone is one cool place to chill. Palm Beach Skate Zone Ice and Inline Center is a premier twin indoor ice skating, entertainment, and roller-skating complex. Both ice rinks have spectator seating and climate controlled "warm zone" areas. Call or click for information at: (561) 963-5900 or info@pbskatezone.com .

Crusade to conquer breast cancer is taking off...


I am so excited to see all the people that are coming forward and are joining this crusade.
Pennies in Action is an all volunteer army…
We are giving every Penny possible to the research on hand.
Melissa Nichol, an adult figure skater who is now in treatment for breast cancer , is helping with an Ice show at the Skate Zone in West Palm Beach, which is benefitting Pennies in Action.
Amanda Evora /Mark Ladwig ( members of the 2010 US Olympic team)
Michael Chau ( two time national champion)
Have graciously excepted to skate in the show…
Thank you sooooooo much.
Please come out and see them
About Pennies in Action
Pennies in Action is a philanthropic organization and was founded in 2008 by Olympic figure skater, coach, inventor of the ice-skating term hydroblading, and choreographer Uschi Keszler who is herself a breast cancer survivor. The Pennies in Action fund recognizes, along with many experts, that vaccines, rather than chemotherapy remain the most advantageous avenue for dealing with cancer. It has consequently targeted as its initial project the breast cancer vaccine research of surgeon and researcher in endocrinology and oncology Brian Czerniecki, M.D., Ph.D. on the staff of the Abramson Cancer Center of the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. Czerniecki has had success in clinical trials and a history of gaining patents on inventions that increase antigens against cancer.
For more information on this event or to be a sponsor, call Jacqueline Walls at 561-649-6674. You may also visit us at www.penniesinaction.org to see how you can make a donation or organize a fundraising event in your area.
I cannot thank everyone enough for helping in this amazing cause. WE WILL SEE THE END OF BREASTCANCER IN OUR LIFE TIME.

www.penniesinaction.org

Monday, July 12, 2010

Youth for Pennies in Action





It is so exciting how many people jump onto our crusade to wipe out breast cancer by helping to fund the dentritic cell vaccine.
This week a team of 14 year olds played in the Hockey tournament at Ice Works " One Hockey", on the "Team Mass 96". They surprised me by having a banner, T-shirts, stickers on the helmet and many , many collected coins for our cause.
I was sooo touched by all of this. I will take the money to the bank today and find out how much they collected. Thanks to their coach Joe Redfearn, who has been an amazing supporter of our cause....
This is the second Hockey team that has taken on our fight ( Ridley youth hockey club)
also sepa Lacrosse and numerous other youths, like Katie and Jennie, that have been helping us.
I know it will be our young people that will push this over the top......