On The Calendar – May 2017

May 7: The 12th annual Walk of Champions to benefit the Baystate Regional Cancer Program at Baystate Mary Lane Outpatient Center in Ware will take place at the Quabbin Reservoir.

Since 2006, the Walk of Champions, founded by field-hockey coach John O’Neill of Quaboag Regional Middle High School, has served as a tribute to the compassionate care his mother received at the Baystate Regional Cancer Program in Ware during her cancer journey. Over the years, the walk has grown into a collection of teams and individuals, each walking for their own reason. There are friends and family members celebrating victory over cancer. Others are encouraging their loved ones in their personal fight over cancer, while others walk in memory of those who have lost their battle with cancer.

The Baystate Regional Cancer Program at Baystate Mary Lane Outpatient Center provides the majority of outpatient cancer services in the Baystate Health Eastern Region, which includes Ware, Palmer, and surrounding communities.

Since its inception, the Walk of Champions has raised more than $740,000 to assist, support, and instill hope in those facing cancer. All funds raised remain local to support those cared for in the Baystate Health Eastern Region at the Baystate Regional Cancer Program located at Baystate Mary Lane Outpatient Center in Ware.

The route offers a one-mile loop that allows walkers to choose the number of miles they walk among the comfortable walking terrain of the Goodnough Dike. Along the way, walkers will enjoy entertainment and refreshments.

Pledge forms, fund-raising resources, giving opportunities, and more are now available at www.baystatehealth.org/woc for businesses, community organizations, and individuals who wish to participate.

May 8: In recognition of National Skin Cancer Awareness Month, local dermatologist Richard Wyatt and physician assistant Mike Brown will provide skin assessments and prevention education at Cooley Dickinson’s free skin-cancer screening clinic from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Cooley Dickinson Hospital. The event is free, but space is limited, and registration is required. The screening location will be provided at registration. For more information and to register, call (888) 554-4234.

Those who are uninsured or underinsured are encouraged to attend this free screening. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, incidence of skin cancer grew significantly in white men and women between 2003 and 2012, the latest years for which data are available. Nearly 5 million people are treated for skin cancer each year in the U.S. UV rays from sunlight are the greatest during the late spring and early summer in North America, with the greatest exposure occurring between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Teens and young adults are at particular risk as they exhibit the lowest rates of preventive behaviors.

Skin cancer can be serious, expensive, and sometimes even deadly, but fortunately, most skin cancers can be prevented. Common risk factors include unprotected and/or excessive exposure to ultraviolet radiation; fair complexion; family history; occupational exposures to coal tar, pitch, creosote, arsenic compounds, or radium; multiple or atypical moles or severe sunburns as a child.

The free screening is a cooperative effort between the Mass General Cancer Center at Cooley Dickinson Hospital, Amherst’s Pioneer Valley Dermatology, and the American Academy of Dermatology, a national organization promoting leadership in dermatology and excellence in patient care through education, research, and advocacy.

May 9: Dr. Mark Gapen of Community Services Institute will present “Neurofeedback 101: A Workshop for Providers” at Techspring, Technology Innovation Center, downtown Springfield, from 3 to 5 p.m.

Gapen will present an overview of neurofeedback treatment and its effectiveness with treating children diagnosed with ADHD and ADD, and trauma and sleep disorders in adults. The workshop will include a demonstration of the treatment followed by a question-and-answer session and networking with Gapen and several other neurofeedback clinicians from Community Services Institute.

Last December, the Public Library of Science published “A Randomized Controlled Study of Neurofeedback for Chronic PTDS”, co-authored by Gapen with Dr. Bessel van der Kolk and several other clinicians. The study is the first of its kind to be published since 1989. Its findings show solid proof of the effectiveness of neurofeedback in the treatment of PTSD.

Community Services Institute, headquartered in Springfield, is beginning its fourth decade of offering community mental-health services as a tool in fighting the victimization of vulnerable children and families. It has been committed to keeping families together in the community using psychotherapy supported by psychiatric evaluation and medication backup.

May 10: As part of the ongoing BusinessWest and HCN Lecture Series, Comcast Business will host an informative program titled “Big Data … Your Strategic Advantage.” The event is part of a series of lectures, panel discussions, and presentations that address timely and important business information. This is an opportunity to meet industry leaders and network with area business professionals. “Big Data … Your Strategic Advantage” will be presented by Dennis Perlot, vice President, Enterprise Architecture at CleanSlate Centers, and former ‘technology evangelist’ at Microsoft and BI specialist master at Deloitte. It will take place at La Quinta Inn & Suites, 100 Congress St., Springfield. Perlot will address how other organizations are using their data to provide them with a competitive advantage. Attendees will learn how data can be analyzed for insights that lead to better decisions and strategic business moves. On-site parking is available. Registration is scheduled for 7:15 to 7:30 a.m., followed by breakfast and Perlot’s presentation from 7:30 to 9 p.m. To RSVP, visit businesswest.com/lecture-series.

May 18: West Central Family and Counseling (WCFC) announced the launch of a new interdisciplinary, cancer-informed therapy program. An open house will be held from 8 to 9 a.m. at WCFC, 103 Myron St., Suite A, West Springfield for cancer-treatment professionals interested in learning more about the new program. Meetings with clinical staff, gifts, raffles, refreshments and tours will be provided to attendees.

West Central Family and Counseling will partner with cancer-treatment facilities through Massachusetts to provide mental-health services for patients, family members, caregivers, and loved ones.

“The goal of the program is to provide patients and their families cancer-informed therapy. We can accomplish this in the clinic and as a home-based support when it seems needed,” said Jo-Anne Gaughan-Cabral, who serves as a clinic supervisor and clinical lead of the cancer-informed therapy program. “Clients and family members who are affected by a cancer diagnosis will benefit from this program.”

For more information or to RSVP, visit www.negeriatrics.com/wcfc-open-house.

May 20: River Valley Counseling Center (RVCC), an affiliate of Holyoke Medical Center and member of Valley Health Systems, will hold its sixth annual Run for River Valley fund-raiser to support RVCC in providing critical behavioral-health and other supportive services to individuals, families, and groups throughout the Pioneer Valley.

“Research shows that exercise improves mental health by reducing anxiety, depression, and negative mood and by improving self-esteem and cognitive function. This event helps raise funds for our programs, but it also promotes the importance of exercise and wellness for everyone in our community,” said Angela Lozano Callahan, RVCC’s Marketing and Development specialist.

The 5K run and 1.5-mile walk will take place at Ashley Reservoir in Holyoke. Registration starts at 8 a.m. at Elks Lodge 902, 250 Whitney Ave., and the race begins at 9:30 a.m. An awards ceremony will be held at the Elks Lodge following the race.

The registration fee is $25 ($10 for children 12 and under). Adults who pre-register will save $5, and the first 100 registrants will receive a free race T-shirt. To register online, visit accuspec-racing.com or download a registration form at rvcc-inc.org. The deadline for mail-in registration is Saturday, May 13, with online registration accepted until Wednesday, May 17.

Sponsors of the 2017 Run for River Valley include PeoplesBank, Palmer Paving Corp., Holyoke Gas and Electric, Hamel’s Catering, Laurel Pure, and Gallagher Real Estate.

For additional information, visit www.rvcc-inc.org or contact Angela Callahan at (413) 841-3546 or run4rivervalley@gmail.com.

June 22: The 11th annual 40 Under Forty award program, staged by BusinessWest, will be held at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House in Holyoke, honoring 40 of the region’s rising stars under 40 years old.

An independent panel of judges has chosen the winners, and their stories are told in the April 17 issue and at businesswest.com. The event is sponsored by Northwestern Mutual (presenting sponsor), PeoplesBank (presenting sponsor), Moriarty & Primack, Health New England, the Gaudreau Group, the Isenberg School of Management at UMass Amherst, Six-Point Creative Works, Renew.Calm, and the Young Professional Society of Greater Springfield.

Tickets cost $75. Some individual and standing-room-only tickets are available, but are expected to sell out quickly. To purchase tickets, call (413) 781-8600.