Nancy Rosman, Chairwoman for the Forest Lake Chapter of Relay For Life, has several reminders and up coming events for the 2007 Relay For Life.

• Monday, April 23 is the official Kick-Off of Relay For Life. The Kick-Off meeting will be held at Hosanna Lutheran Church.

New captains or individuals who would like to learn more about Relay should come at 6:30 p.m. Returning captains will meet at 7 p.m.

The meeting provides a tremendous amount of information regarding fund raising opportunities, Relay events and ACS services. Captains will receive team member packets at the end of the meeting.

Currently the Forest Lake Chapter of Relay for Life is ranked seventh out of 80 Minnesota relay teams in terms of fund raising for 2006.

Relay for Life hopes to have 40 teams in the relay this year working to reach their goal of $180,000.

• With rummage sale and graduation party season approaching rapidly, Relay For Life of Forest Lake would like to announce that they have 10x10 tent canopies for rent, $35 for 2 days.

Please contact Nancy Rosman, chair, 433-5150, to reserve your canopies.

• Relay will have a hair-cutting ceremony on stage Friday, August 3, with all of the hair going toward Locks of Love.

Locks of Love is a program where individuals donate their hair so it can be made into wigs for children with cancer. We encourage young and old to let their hair grow! You need at least 10 inches of hair to donate.

The majority of hair donated comes from children who wish to help other children.

Survivor Web site

The American Cancer Society has created a web site for cancer survivors, families and friends because only those touched by cancer can truly understand the experience.

Cancer survivors and those touched by cancer can join the worldwide community by registering and actively participating.

This site is completely non-commercial and provides a private, secure way to find and communicate with others who share similar interests and experiences.

Anyone can listen to pre-recorded discussions. However, registration is required to search the home pages of others or take advantage of the interactive features of the network.

Registered members can:

• View Cancer Survivors Network (CSN) members’ personal web pages to find others with similar experiences, e-mail other CSN members, post to the discussion boards and have private chats.

• Create personal web page to share your experience, thoughts and wisdom and even post photos.

• Receive monthly e-newsletter.

• Post poems, music, artwork, favorite quotes or other inspirational messages in the Expressions Gallery.

• Create personal support community using the friends list.

• Start new, virtual support communities of people who share similar concerns and interests.

• Post information about resources used and would recommend to other survivors or family caregivers.

The Cancer Survivors Network can be accessed from the ACS web site www.cancer.org under the “Support Programs and Services” section.

For more information about the Forest Lake Relay For Life visit www.acsevents.org/relay/mn/forestlake.

Men’s program

The Man to Man program helps men cope with prostate cancer by providing community-based education and support to patients and their family members.

In addition, Man to Man plays an important role in community education about prostate cancer; it encourages men and health care professionals to actively consider screening for prostate cancer appropriate to each man’s age and risk for the disease.

A major part of the program is the self-help and/or support group.

Volunteers organize free monthly meetings where speakers and participants learn about and discuss information about prostate cancer, treatment, side effects, and how to cope with the disease and its treatment.

Local programs may also include other services and activities such as:

• One to one visitation with a prostate cancer survivor

• Community education (speaker’s bureau)

• The Man to Man newsletter

• Outreach to high risk groups, such as African American men

• Outreach and collaboration with health care providers

Some Man to Man groups may invite wives and partners to attend meetings. In other locations, wives and partners may meet separately in a group setting called Side by Side.

For more information about Man to Man or to locate a program in your area, contact the American Cancer Society toll-free at 1-800-ACS-2345.

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