ABC11 Connecting with the Community

Connecting with the Community

 

Diabetes Awareness

There's a good chance you or someone you know is living with Diabetes.  According to the American Diabetes Association, more than 25 million Americans have diabetes, although about 7 million don't know it. I'm very proud that our station is supporting a local woman who's helping other women and families learn more about the disease and how to live a a full and healthy life.  Her name is Brandy Barnes and two years ago, she reached out to me to tell me about the non-profit support group she had started based on our own concerns and feelings of isolation when she was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes as a teenager.  It's called DiabetesSisters and focuses on women with diabetes and the specific health issues and complications they face throughout their lives (pregnancy, menopause, etc.).  Brandy provided all kinds of information and resources along with on-line peer support.  Now, her non-profit organizes face-to-face support groups in communities all over the world. For the third year in a row, she's organized a "Weekend for Women" Conference with speakers and education sessions and socializing for women with diabetes.  This year's event also offer support for spouses and families.  The conference wraps up with a Diabetes Awarness Walk.  It's Sunday, May 20th at 8am in Downtown Raleigh (starts at the Raleigh Convention Center on Salisbury Street).  The walk is free and open to the public, although donations are welcome along with teams who raise money to support DiabetesSisters. In fact, the walk has the support of Celebrity Chef Paula Deen, who recently announced she has diabetes.  Deen has prepared special diabetes friendly recipe cards for those who register for the walk.  ABC11 is a proud sponsor of this year's walk.  I hope you'll check it out and look for people wearing orange shirts. Brandy wants orange to become the official color for women with diabetes.  She's done so much in such a short period of time to educate and empower women about diabetes.  We can all learn from her example and her passion. You can learn more about DiabetesSisters by watching  Heart of Carolina Perspectives.

Play SPENT

If you like games, there's a unique one you should try.  I'll warn you, it's very challenging and it will make you do some soul-searching.  It's called SPENTand it was created by McKinney, a Durham based advertising agency.  McKinney partners with Urban Ministries of Durham, which helps thousands of people who are homeless or one step away from homelessness, get a hot meal, have a safe place to spend the night and get the tools they need to support themselves again. The game challenges players to pay their expenses for a month when they've lost almost everything and are down to their last $1,000.  Most people I know who've played haven't made it the entire month.  Talk about a wake-up call.  At the end of the game, people can make a donation to Urban Ministries of Durham. Obviously, UMD is grateful for the financial support.  But most of all,it's grateful for the awareness the game is raising.  It's even being used as a teaching tool in some schools and universities.  SPENT is educating people about homelessness and how it can happen to almost anyone.  SPENT is giving people new compassion for our neighbors in need.  You can learn more about SPENT by clicking the link above and by watching Heart of Carolina Perspectives. 

Red Kettles and Bell Ringing

It's a holiday tradition.  First you hear the bell and then you see the red kettles set up in front of a store. Volunteers are collecting money for The Salvation Army. Do you give?  For the second year in a row, I've spent a little time ringing one of those bells. My daughter has helped and loves singing Christmas Carols while we're there.  She's helped me get into the holiday spirit.
Of course, what helps even more is witnessing dozens of people stop by and put a little cash into the kettle. I'm amazed by people's generosity.  Often those who seem to have the least give the most.  And people give anything they can.  The Salvation Army is grateful.  I just interviewed Major Pete Costas who leads  The Salvation Army of Wake County for Heart of Carolina Perspectives (airs Sundays at 11am).He told me donations are down about 7% in Wake County compared to this time last year.  Eyewitness News Reporter Gilbert Baez reported that donations are down in Cumberland County as well and I suspect it may be the same story in many counties across our region. I'm sure there are many reasons.  The economy is still struggling and many people who used to give are now in need themselves.  Other people are shopping online and not stopping by the red kettles.  The good news is there's still time to make a donation.  You can do it online (see the link above) or you can stop by one of those red kettles.  You'll find them at many Wal-Marts (like the one at New Hope Church Road in Raleigh where The Rotary Club of Raleigh members volunteer to ring the bell). The campaign lasts another week. Money collected in those kettles helps to pay for toys and clothes for thousands of children (8,000 alone in Wake County) who won't get anything else for Christmas.  We live in a very prosperous and a very generous community.  If you can give a little more this holiday season, please do.  Merry Christmas.

Angela C Hampton's blog

25th Annual Food Drive

It's my favorite time of year at ABC11 - when we organize the Heart of Carolina Food Drive.  This is an extra special year because it's our 25th anniversary.  Our goal is bigger than ever.  We want to collect 5 million pounds of food.  What we collect, with your help, goes to the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina and the Second Harvest Food bank of Southeast North Carolina.  Both serve dozens of counties in our viewing area and both see an increased demand for food and basic necessities.  You, our viewers, have always been so generous in the past when it comes to our food drive.  Our sponsors, Kroger, CenturyLink, Leith and D. Hardison Wood Law Firm, are fantastic.  So please continue the tradition and do what you can to help our neighbors in need.  The final day of the Food Drive is Wednesday, Dec. 7th.  That's the Drive-Through day, when you can drive up and drop off your donations at one of four locations. There are other ways to get involved too. You can "Like" us on our ABC11 Facebook page and support the station's efforts to raise $5,000 for the Food Drive. Or you can make a financial donation.  Find all the details at www.abc11.com. Thank you in advance for anything you can do to help.  Our community is counting on us. To learn more about the need and the work the food banks do, watch Heart of Carolina Perspectives.

via angelahampton.typepad.com

It's my favorite time of year at ABC11 - when we organize the Heart of Carolina Food Drive.  This is an extra special year because it's our 25th anniversary.  Our goal is bigger than ever.  We want to collect 5 million pounds of food.  What we collect, with your help, goes to the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina and the Second Harvest Food bank of Southeast North Carolina.  Both serve dozens of counties in our viewing area and both see an increased demand for food and basic necessities.  You, our viewers, have always been so generous in the past when it comes to our food drive.  Our sponsors, Kroger, CenturyLink, Leith and D. Hardison Wood Law Firm, are fantastic.  So please continue the tradition and do what you can to help our neighbors in need.  The final day of the Food Drive is Wednesday, Dec. 7th.  That's the Drive-Through day, when you can drive up and drop off your donations at one of four locations. There are other ways to get involved too. You can "Like" us on our ABC11 Facebook page and support the station's efforts to raise $5,000 for the Food Drive. Or you can make a financial donation.  Find all the details at www.abc11.com. Thank you in advance for anything you can do to help.  Our community is counting on us. To learn more about the need and the work the food banks do, watch Heart of Carolina Perspectives.

Free to Breathe

This Saturday, Nov. 5th, is the 5th annual Free to Breathe  5K and 1 Mile Fun Walk.  It's the third year I'll be involved.  It's been that long since my Dad passed away after being diagnosed with lung cancer.  That is very hard for me to believe.  Anyone who's lost a loved one knows that there are moments when you simply can't fathom that they're not with you anymore.  I get those feelings frequently.  That's one of the reasons I am involved with Free to Breathe.  It supports the North Carolina Lung Cancer Partnership, which formed a few years ago to raise money for lung cancer education and research.  Many people don't realize that lung cancer is the leading cancer killer -- it kills more people than breast, colon and prostate cancers combined and accounts for nearly 30 percent of all cancer deaths.  Yet, lung cancer gets far less funding for research that other cancers.  That's in part because there's a stigma attached to lung cancer.  People blame the victim.  They smoked, so they brought the sickness upon themselves.  That's a horrible and ignorant attitude and it needs to change.  Clearly, smokers need to stop.  But so many lung cancer patients did quit smoking when the research revealed that it was bad and unfortunately, even after they quit, their risk remained.  Others who never smoked are at risk, from being exposed to second hand smoke.  And still others get lung cancer without even that exposure.  The bottom line is anyone with lungs can get lung cancer and no one deserves it.  It's a cruel disease.  Yet, there's promising research being done and new medications are shrinking tumors in a small population of lung cancer patients.  We have to put more dollars toward research in order to achieve the results we've seen with breast and other types of cancer in which the survival rate is high.  That's why I got involved with Free to Breathe.  My family and I will be at North Hills in Raleigh this Saturday, Nov. 5th at 8am to register for the races and take part in the rally.  We will celebrate the survivors who are sharing their stories and we will remember those, like my Dad, who fought the disease courageously.  Most importantly, we will raise money for research and raise awareness about lung cancer and how lives can be saved.  It's going to be a beautiful morning (Meteorologist Chris Hohmann has promised me).  Consider joining us and take a few minutes to learn more about the North Carolina Lung Cancer Partnership on Heart of Carolina Perspectives.  Thank you.

Ovarian Cancer Walk 9/17

Ovarian Cancer doesn't get the kind of publicity that other cancers, like breast cancer, do.  That's in part because it doesn't strike as many women.  But it still kills thousands every year, including a Raleigh woman named Gail Parkins.  For the past 9 years, her daughter, Melanie Bacheler, has been determined to spread the word about ovarian cancer. Like many cancers, ovarian cancer is treatable if it's caught early.  Unfortunately, it's often caught in later stages when there aren't as many treatment options.  There's another important message that Dr. Andrew Berchuck, who heads up the Gynecologic Oncology Department at Duke, is trying to spread.  He urges women to learn about their family medical history.  If there's a history of breast and ovarian cancer, he believes they should talk with their doctor about genetic testing.  That can give them information to make informed decisions about their health and to take steps prevent ovarian cancer. He says patients have to initiative these kinds of conversations.  There's much more information about ovarian cancer at, www.ovarianawareness.org a wonderful website started by Bacheler.  While you're there, consider signing up for the 9th Annual Gail Parkins Memorial Ovarian Cancer Walk and Run, which is named for her mother.  It raises hundreds of thousands of dollars for much needed research which all stays local.  While you're there, check out the educational forum that Dr. Berchuck will host.  It's all happening this Saturday, Sept. 17th from 8 until about Noon at Sanderson High School in Raleigh.  ABC11 is a proud sponsor.  You can also learn more in this recent interview I did with Bachelor and Dr. Berchuck on Heart of Carolina Perspectives. 

Computers for Needy Students

Imagine being a middle or high school student and not having a computer to help with your homework.  That's the reality for thousands of local students whose families can't afford them.  Sure, the libraries provide access for some, but it's limited.  That's where Kramden Institute comes in.  This non-profit in RTP was started about 8 years ago by Mark Dibner and his son, who refurbished a computer and realized how beneficial that could be for needy students.  Today, Kramden has helped thousands of students in the Triangle get refurbished computers, free of charge.  There are some guidelines.  There must not be a computer in the home, the student must be referred by a teacher and they must demonstrate a willingness to do well in school.  As if that's not great enough, Kramden relies on volunteers to rehab the computers. And thousands answer the call every Wednesday night, donating their time and expertise.  They even wear t-shirts that say "Geek" on them!  But you don't have to be a computer guru to help. There's a lot of on the job training and people of all ages pitch in. Mark Dibner hopes to expand this program across the state and nation one day.  Imagine how many underserved but deserving students could benefit.  In a recent Heart of Carolina Perspectives interview, he told me he gets letters and emails from teachers, almost every day, telling him how much the students' work has improved since they've had their Kramden computer. What a wonderful gift.  Check out the above link if you'd like to learn more about how to apply for a computer or how to donate one or volunteer to refurbish them.

Check Out ADF before it ends!

You've probably heard about The American Dance Festival.  That's because it happens in Durham every summer.  If you don't know specifics, it's the premier modern dance festival in the U.S. and it's right in our backyard! Now I have to admit, I have not been a huge fan of modern dance, largely because I haven't understood it.  I didn't take dance lessons as a little girl and even now, while my daughter takes ballet and jazz, I stuggle when it comes to naming all the dance moves and following the technique.  So attending modern dance performances has not been on my radar.  But I have had the privlege of interviewing the long time director of ADF, Charles Reinhart, and Co-Director, Jodee Nimerichter on Heart of Carolina Perspectives and their enthusiasm for the festival is infectious.  So this month, I took my daughter and my Mom to see a performance and wished I hadn't waited so long!  We went to see a children's show at DPAC put on by a very famous company called Pilobolus.  One of the Artistic Directors spent time explaining the three dances and introducing the dancers to the audience (and he was great when it came to relating to the children). The show was wonderful and full of surprises, including a dancer performing with two ROBOTS that flew all over the stage!  It's hard to describe or define modern dance and many people say there's no point trying.  Instead, just enjoy the creativity and athleticism and beauty of it, especially when it's so close to home.  We have a lot of artistic treasures in the Triangle and this is one of them.  It's also the last season Charles Reinhart will serve as Director and therefore, the end of an era.  Thank you Charles for bringing ADF to Durham and for supporting choreographers and dancers and exposing new audiences to this art form.  You will be missed!  ADF ends July 23rd. Don't YOU miss it! 

Jimmy V Golf Classic

It'll be here in no time.  I'm talking about the 18th Annual Jimmy V.Celebrity Golf Classic in Raleigh.  ABC11 is once again a major sponsor of this event.  It's a golf tournament that features famous people you know from the world of sports and television.  So it's always fun to watch them try to play golf (some are better than others).  More importantly, it's a fundraiser for cancer research.  The V Foundation for Cancer Research was started by former NCSU Men's Basketball Coach and Sports Commentator Jim Valvano and ESPN, right before Valvano lost his battle with cancer.  Jim's brother Nick runs the foundation and in 18 years, it's awarded more than $80 million dollars in research grants.  The Golf Classic is one of the signature events.  It's happening August 26-28 and you can learn more at www.golfclassic.org. This year, proceeds will go to the UNC Linberger Comprehensive Cancer Center in Chapel Hill to fund research on pediatric cancer.  The "Spirit of Jimmy V" Award is going to ESPN Anchor (and former WTVD ABC11 News Intern) Stuart Scott, who, as you may know, is fighting cancer for the second time.  I'll keep posting more information about events leading up to the Golf Classic. You can also learn more about the organization and the research it benefits by watching a recent interview I did with Nick Valvano and Dr. Shelly Earp (the head of UNC Lineberger) on Heart of Carolina Perspectives.

Caregivers Conference

Here's a wonderful opportunity for the so-called "Sandwich Generation". The Triangle Caregivers Conference 2011 is taking place at the McKimmon Center in Raleigh on Tuesday, June 21st. There are all kinds of educational sessions lined up for people who care for aging parents and other loved ones who have dementia and other disabling conditions.  Experts will be on hand to discuss therapies, treatments, relief services and even legal services.  The cost is minimal - only $5 for caregivers (for professional caregivers, it's $25). And if you need help caring for your loved one while you attend the conference, that's available as well. The conference is being hosted by an organization I've profiled on Heart of Carolina Perspectives before called Guiding Lights. Caring for an aging loved one is incredibly challenging and rewarding at the same time.  Just know that there are people trying to help.