Treasure Your Health Gallery
Let the games - and the empowerment - begin! This June, the Komen Philadelphia Affiliate teamed up with grantee, Practice Without Pressure, for a special educational event at the 2010 Special Olympic Delaware Summer Games.
Our initiative, “Treasure Your Health,” embraced nearly 1,000 people with disabilities, as well as their caregivers, in a unique, fun and interactive opportunity to learn how about breast health.
“Treasure Your Health” marked the first time in recent years breast health would be a component of the Healthy Athletes program at the Special Olympics Delaware Summer Games.
Designed for both Special Olympic athletes and their caregivers, “Treasure Your Health” created a comfortable environment where men and women of all ages could learn about important breast health topics.
Opportunities were available to learn about topics ranging from “understanding key breast cancer facts” and “being aware of risks and warning signs,” to “performing breast self-exams” and “the importance of mammograms.”
Plenty of volunteers and healthcare experts were on hand to answer questions and customize the “Treasure Your Health” learning experience for each guest.
Deborah Jastrebski, Founder and CEO of Practice Without Pressure, proudly presents one of the future leaders in the breast cancer movement, Adriano Pino.
Making learning fun, correct answers to questions about healthy life style choices could be discovered on the feet of some feathered friends.
Guests were encouraged to visit four learning stations, receiving a token at each one, which was cashed in for a “treasure” at the end for completing the entire program.
“Treasures” included everything from pink boas, to celebration beads, to Classic Cake’s famous “hope pink” cupcakes for everyone!
Breast self-exam shower cards and hands-on learning of how to feel “what is normal for you” allowed visitors to make this important step in breast health awareness a part of their routine at home.
Visitors were also given literature to take home so they could share their new-found power over breast cancer with family and friends.
Dozens of volunteers devoted their hard work and heart for two very busy days to help embrace women and men with disabilities in the Komen promise to end breast cancer forever.
Many came “prepared to be aware,” donning pink attire and ribbons, as well as bringing friends to share in the learning.
All age groups found something to learn and “treasure,” enjoying the fun and appreciating the hope that one day soon all generations will be living in a world without breast cancer.
Volunteers from the Special Olympic Delaware Summer Games also took time to “treasure” their health—participating in the activities and declaring their dedication to advancing the fight against breast cancer.
For two full days, the flow of traffic into the “Treasure Your Health” exhibit was almost non-stop—demonstrating a passion for ending breast cancer that is sweeping the Delaware community.
In addition to immediate rewards and prizes, the long-term importance of what we had to offer for a richer, healthier life was certainly not lost on anyone participating in “Treasure Your Health.”
Practice Without Pressure Founder & CEO, Deborah Jastrebski, takes time out to help communicate important breast health awareness messages to those unable to attend the event.
Now being looked at as a pilot program for Komen Affiliate’s nationwide, “Treasure Your Health,” is being applauded for it’s innovation… and impact… in empowering this special group to live in a world without breast cancer.
