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 .