22nd Annual Beth C. Wright Walk for Life ~ May 22, 2022

Happy Mother's Day Month &

Get Ready for the Walk for Life!

Saturday, May 21, 2022 - Addison, Maine

Hi All!

We are so happy to be connecting with you all again, it has been a couple of months. Lots of activities going on here and one of the most momentous is the preparation of the retirement of the long-standing and only Executive Director, Michael Reisman. Michael will be leaving some big shoes to fill as he moves into his next phase of life and the Center does too.

The Center has also been buzzing with Zoom events, programs - our own and those that are in collaboration with the Dempsey Center, support groups and the the 1st Annual Spring Bangor Region Cancer Conference presented by the Maine Cancer Series. The conference can be watched on the Beth Wright Facebook page where is it was live-streamed on April 28, 2022 at 9:00 am and will eventually be on the Maine Cancer Series webpage. Thanks to the planning committee, our valuable sponsors and to all who were able to participate in the conference.

Remember that the 22nd Annual Walk for Life will be taking place on Saturday, May 21, 2022 in Addison! You can choose from a 1, 2 or 5 mile-walk or a 5-mile road race, along with will lots of fun family activities including a local vendor craft fair, children's games, a Chinese Auction, and BBQ lunch.

Cheryl Pritchard from A Special Place in Portland will be joining us again on Thursday, June 2, 2022 to offer post-mastectomy breast forms and/or bras here at the Center.

Please check out our updates below to the Beth C. Wright Resource Center Transportation & Lodging Fund made possible by a grant from the Maine Cancer Foundation, and the Home Cooked Healing meals program, sponsored by Stanley Subaru.

Everyone who enters the Center must properly wear a mask AND follow social distancing practices whether or not you have been vaccinated for the time being. This is the current recommendation from the Maine CDC. We will be following these guidelines until further notice.

We hope you all enjoy a very Happy Memorial Day weekend!

If you have any questions, need assistance or just want to say hi, please feel free to call us at the Center at 207-664-0339 or email us at info@bethwrightcancercenter.org

All the Best, Everyone at the Beth Wright Center

It's not "Goodbye" It's "See you later, my friend!"

Longtime Executive Director Michael Reisman to Retire July 1

Michael Reisman, the face of the Beth C Wright Cancer Resource Center for the past 18 years, will be retiring on July 1, 2022. He has welcomed folks through the Center doors to a place of safety and comfort during a difficult time in their lives.

Before his days at the Beth Wright Center, Michael served as the Program Director at Island Connections in Bar Harbor from 1997 to 2004. In March 2004, he accepted the offer of the Executive Director position for the Beth Wright Center. At that time, he worked double-duty for both organizations during his transition.

Initially, Michael worked out of a small office in Ellsworth until space at 3 High Street became available. Lorraine (Allen) and Joe Saunders gave the unused Allen family home to the Center to use rent free.

The BWC got its new home in 2011 at 23 Commerce Park in Ellsworth when Wayne Wright, Beth Wright’s widower, purchased a building and land and donated it to the Center to use at its headquarters. Through a capital campaign the organization raised money and repaid Wayne for his thoughtful and generous gift, and then in 2014 another capital campaign was launched to build an addition on to provide a library, 3 additional offices, a kitchen, and another lavatory.

The seed organization for Beth Wright Center, Choose Life, was started by Beth Wright to provide support to those who had cancer in Downeast Maine. She herself was diagnosed with cancer at the time. Beth Wright Center has grown into a powerful, supportive, and caring advocacy organization for our family, friends, and neighbors across the state because of her vision, Beth would be proud.

This could not have come to fruition without Beth’s husband, her two children, her entire family, friends, and the rest of the community pulling together to make it happen. Michael has continued to serve as the dedicated, diplomatic, caring, and compassionate leader that has been able to carry on Beth’s mission to help others far and wide.

The time has come to bid farewell to this very special man as he moves to the next venture of his life. His dedication will live on. He will move forward to enjoy gardening, jogging and travel. A trip to Portugal is in the works plus spending more time with family. He says he is open to any new hobby ideas.

The Beth C Wright Board of Directors has chosen Angela Fochesto to serve as the next Executive Director. She was formerly the Patient Navigator at Healthy Acadia. Michael says," I believe the Beth Wright Center will be in good hands with Angela."

We are not saying goodbye, Michael, we are saying we’ll see you later, my friend, and have a great time! Thank you for all you have done, we love you and wish you all the very best.

A retirement party will be held for Michael on Thursday, June 16, 2022, at 3:00 pm at the Beth Wright Cancer Resource Center, 23 Commerce Park in Ellsworth. Feel free to join us to celebrate all of Michael’s work over the years and to wish him the best.

Through the years, Michael and his wife Amy at their Bagel Shop in Bar Harbor (L) and in front of the Christmas tree at the Beth Wright Center in 2019 (R)

The 22^nd Annual Beth C. Wright Walk For Life will be taking place on Saturday, May 21, 2022, at the Addison Town Hall & the Tuscan Lodge in Addison. Activities will begin at 9:00 am and end for the day at 2:00 pm.

The Walk For Life is a special day to remember and honor those who have been affected by cancer. This year we are encouraging walkers and their families to make signs honoring their loved ones who have battled or are currently battling cancer to post along the Walk route.

Activities for the 2022 Walk will include 1-mile, 2-mile or 5-mile walking route options, a 5- mile road race (separate registration), a Chinese auction, a craft fair, children's activities, a lobster raffle, music & BBQ lunch, and just plain family fun!

Saturday, May 21 will be a day full of community, wellness, and fellowship, at the same time raising money for a very good cause. All proceeds from the Walk will go directly to the Beth C. Wright Cancer Resource Center to help carry out their mission of bringing support services, and guidance to those affected by cancer living in Washington and Hancock Counties. You can Donate anytime!

If you would like to donate by cash or check, have any questions, or need any help, please feel free to call us here at the Beth C. Wright Cancer Resource Center at 207-664-0339 or reach out to us at info@bethwrightcancercenter.org.

Our Valuable Sponsors for the Walk this year are:

PLATINUM - Casella - Darlings Chevrolet, Machias Savings Bank - Bar Harbor Bank and Trust - Wayne Wright & Family - Mark Wright & Family - Faith Mountaineers - DEFY Aquarobics

GOLD - AC Inc. Shellfish - Pleasant River Drive-In - Tuscan Lodge - Cohen Robert Alley - Mrs. Maine International 2022 - MBS Walking & Running Club - Robert's Dudette Walkers - Jonesboro Grange #357 - Crush Cancer

SILVER - Downeast Community Hospital - Friend and Friend - Friends and Family Market - Manafords - Signs By Deano - The Greene Family

BRONZE - Twyla and Joe Charczynski - Dwight and Patti Carver - Jeanine & William Wright - Coastal Drilling and Blasting, Inc - T. A. King & Son - Toppin's Diesel & Marine Service - Woodland Studios

Upcoming Spring/Summer Program Updates

Please Check Out Several Spring/Summer Program Updates

Gentle Yoga with Mary Cline will end on May 18 and resume on July 6 at 3 pm at the Center with a Zoom join option.

Gentle Yoga with Hannah Horecka classes will be held outdoors for the summer, each Thursday from 5 - 6 beginning May 19 at the Knowlton Park in Ellsworth, by the amphitheater.

Qigong and Reiki will be coming back to the Center LIVE on Monday, June 13, 2022 and will be lead by our regular facilitators Nancye Files, Connie Wagner and Trudi Johnson in the Activity Room here at 23 Commerce Park in Ellsworth.

Walking Your Way to Mindfulness with Jen Harry will be starting back up on Friday, June 17, 2022 from 9:15 - 10:00 am here at the Center and will be held on the 3rd Friday of the month.

We just want to remind everyone that our mask policy

is still in effect here at the Center of the time being.

Congratulations Mrs. Hodgson!

2022 Mrs. Maine

HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to Rebekah Hodgkins for being named Maine's representative to the Mrs. International 2022 Pageant which will take place on July 22 & 23, 2022 in Kingsport, Tennessee. Rebekah is a valuable member of the Beth C. Wright Executive Board of Directors. Feel free to cast votes for Rebekah here. Good luck in July Rebekah!!

Special Opportunity ~

Certified Mastectomy Fitter to Visit Beth Wright Center

We are offering a special opportunity for any women that are in need of post-mastectomy breast forms and/or bras here at the Center.

We will be providing a professional Certified Mastectomy Fitter (CMF) right here at the Center in a relaxed, private setting to take care of your post surgical mastectomy needs.

Everyone is invited, regardless of length of time from surgery. This special offering will take place on June 3, 2022. If you would like to make an appointment or find out more, please call the Center at 207-664-0339.

We are so very grateful for the generous donation from Stanley Subaru to help support our Home-Cooked Healing program.

The program provides healthy, nutritious meals to those living with cancer and currently going through treatment for an eight week period. This program provides comforting relief for those receiving the meals during a very difficult time in their lives.

The generous donation from Stanley Subaru will be used directly to purchase the food for these meals.

The Beth Wright Center is happy to be able to offer the Home-Cooked Healing Program as one of its many programs and events to support people living with cancer in Hancock and Washington Counties.

Please support Stanley Subaru next time you are considering the purchase of your next car, or one for a new driver in your family or anytime they are doing all they can in their dedicated effort to support our community!

Do you or a loved one need help with meals during cancer treatment?

Home Cooked Healing is a service of the Beth C. Wright Cancer Resource Center that provides nourishing and appetizing meals for cancer patients undergoing treatment and their families in Hancock County. Our free home cooked meals provide a respite from daily cooking, allowing clients to focus on healing and recovery. We recognize that cancer treatments, side effects, surgeries and doctor’s appointments can leave little time and energy for cooking.

~ Home Cooked Healing provides up to 5 nutritious dinners per week to cancer patients and their families for up to 8 weeks during their cancer treatment.

~Volunteer cooks prepare appetizing meals according to the individual dietary needs and preferences of each cancer patient.

~Cooks use organic ingredients whenever possible and follow ServSafe guidelines for food preparation.

~Volunteer drivers deliver meals directly to clients’ homes on a weekly basis.

~Confidentiality is strictly maintained for everyone receiving meals.

For more information or to sign-up for meal service, please call the Beth C. Wright Cancer Resource Center at 664-0339 or email: akurman@bethwrightcancercenter.org

Beth C. Wright Transportation and

Lodging Assistance Program

We would like to let you all know that the Beth C. Wright Cancer Resource Center can offer direct reimbursements of up to $350.00 annually to cancer patients living in Hancock and Washington Counties for costs incurred while traveling to treatment, through its Transportation and Lodging Assistance Fund. This service is made possible through a grant from the Maine Cancer Foundation.

Often times patients in Hancock and Washington counties must travel long distances to get to a major cancer treatment centers in Ellsworth, Brewer, Portland, Boston or beyond.

The Beth Wright Center eases the financial and emotional stresses of accessing cancer treatments for people living in Hancock and Washington counties.

For more information or to obtain an application, call the Center at 207-664-0339.

The forth offering in the 2022 Spring collaborative is Managing Cancer Treatment Side Effects with Cannabis/CBD and will take place Friday, June 3, 2022 on Zoom or in the Activity Room at the Beth Wright Center if you do not have access to Zoom at home.

The discussion will include from treating pain and nausea to helping to ease the symptoms of neuropathy, more and more studies are coming out that demonstrate positive benefits from the safe use of CBD and other cannabinoids. Join the Dempsey Center and experts Dr. Dustin Sulak and Shari Berman to discuss alternative and adjunctive ways to manage the side effects of cancer and cancer treatments. Find out more...

Please Check Out Our Calendar for Our

LIVE/Hybrid & Zoom at Beth Wright Center!

PLEASE CHECK WITH THE CENTER AS

WE ARE UPDATING SOME OF OUR MANY PROGRAMS

Mindfulness: Tools for Well Being with Jen Harry returns to the Center, on the 3rd Friday of each month from 10:30 am - 12:00 pm. This is a Hybrid Event meaning you can join Face-to-Face in the Activity Room at the Center or on Zoom via the new Poly Studio X50 video bar with superior video and sound. Call 207-664-0339 to find our more or to register.

SUMMER ONLY

Walking Your Way to Mindfulness with Jen Harry returns to the Center this June and will meet on the 3rd Friday of each month at 9:15 to walk with intention and mindfulness. Each walk will begin at the Center. Call 207-664-0339 to register.

Safe Harbor Cancer Support Group

is a Cancer Support group that is open to all regardless of cancer type. The Group will be meeting on Zoom at a new day and time - on the 2nd and 4th Monday of the month from 3:00 - 4:00 pm. Call 207-664-0339 to register.