October 10, 2024 • 25 mins
Enjoy a Sunday stroll and help fight breast cancer! Sunday, October 20th, from 1 to 3 p.m. at Riverfront Stadium, it's the American Cancer Society's Making Strides of Wichita event! ACS Senior Development Manager Melissa Easterberg stops by to tell us all about this fun, rewarding, family-friendly event, presented by Ascension Via Christi. www.makingstrideswalk.org/wichitaks
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
Welcome to Wichita Weekend, the weekly public affairs program from
iHeartRadio Wichita ninety seven, ninety ninety eight, Well oh two
won the Bull Channel ninety six three and ALT one
O seven three.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Now that we're into October, we've got events going on
in Wichita every single weekend, multiple events. But one of
the finest events is coming up Sunday, October twentieth, and
that's with our good friends from the American Cancer Society
here in Wichita. It is the twenty twenty four Making
Strides of Wichita event. It's going to be happening at
(00:35):
Riverfront Stadium, and Melissa Easterberg, she's the senior Development manager
for the American Cancer Society, has joined us in the
studio today to invite us all to Making Strides. Welcome Melissa, Hey,
thanks Don for having me. Oh man, you guys all
ready for this?
Speaker 3 (00:54):
I think so.
Speaker 4 (00:55):
The weather's starting to turn finally to October. Yeah, looking forward.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
To it, looking forward to a nice crisp afternoon in
the fall. This will be Sunday, October twentieth, from noon
till two, all at Riverfront Stadium.
Speaker 4 (01:09):
Yes, completely enclosed inside the stadium so that we can
really make sure that that walk route is safe for
folks that are walking in wheelchairs, having strollers and wagons.
It's a very beautiful stadium.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
We're going to use that absolutely well, and that's great
too for the folks that so anyone can come participate
without any concern about traffic or you name it. Absolutely
so we're in a great contained environment and it's a
wonderful place to find out what the American Cancer Society
is all about. And obviously it's going to be a
(01:45):
gathering of survivors and thrivers and we've got some interesting
things that are going to be happening along the concourse
during this event, right, Melissa.
Speaker 3 (01:57):
We absolutely do. We've got a lot of new things.
Speaker 4 (01:59):
Since we are kind of transitioning from an actual route
to more of a lap situation, we're adding a lot
of things to the concourse this year so that folks
can engage throughout their laps. They can take as many
laps as they like. Maggie over their at Riverfront Stadium
has told us one third of a mile is one lap,
(02:21):
so folks can take as many as they like, and
then hopefully they can find something new along their route
each lap that they take.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
That's right. Okay, tons of information, tons of fun stuff too.
One thing that caught my ear we were talking a
little bit before we rolled here with our interview, was
the oxygen bar.
Speaker 4 (02:41):
Yes, so our friends over at Color Therapy and Salon.
It's a very unique salon. It's actually right across the
street from Napscar Park here. Okay, so they are bringing
out some folks that are going to be doing some
pink hair extensions and also a pop up ox bar.
If you haven't ever seen that, it's quite a thing.
(03:04):
So folks can stop by their pop up oxygen bar
and they can pick a flavor and you know, take
some oxygen and it's very very.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
Therapeutic flavored oxygen. If you haven't tried it, don't knock it,
but that will be available. It's one of the many
things you can check out at the Making Strides event.
And speaking of pink, we want to get the guys
involved and one of the sidebars, if you will, of
Making Strides is involves guys who wear pink. Men wear pink,
(03:36):
Men wear pink, and we've got a candidate for that
and hopefully maybe some more we do.
Speaker 4 (03:41):
So it's usually when we talk about pink. It automatically
goes to women, but we also have to remember that
there are twenty five hundred men every year that are
diagnosed with breast cancer, so it happens in every gender,
so we want to make sure that we're recognizing them.
But not only that, there are men out there that
(04:03):
are supporting those women that are going through breast cancer.
So they may be in a caregiver role, they may
be in a survivor role. But Men Wear Pink is
one of our platforms that we really want to get
those guys involved and so they can do their own
fundraising on the side, they can support their wives or
mothers or whoever they're out there walking for. But Menwar
(04:26):
Pink is a platform that the American Cancer Society really
wants those guys to get involved with.
Speaker 2 (04:31):
Okay, well, good to know, and of course, you guys
have a fantastic website. It's got virtually everything anyone would
ever want to know about the event. That would be
a Makingstrides walk dot org slash wichita ks. That's so
easy even I could remember, but Making Strides Walk dot
org slash wichita ks and you can go and check
(04:55):
that out and learn everything you need to know about
making Stride of Wichita. The twenty twenty four edition coming
up Sunday, October twentieth. There's no registration and there's no
registration fees, and there's no fundraising minimums.
Speaker 4 (05:11):
Absolutely, so we want this to be very much a
community celebration. We want folks to come out. It is
open to the public. They don't have to register to
be there, but we'd love for them to be able
to jump on our website and go through the registration process.
That way, we kind of have an idea of a headcount.
We know what to expect that day. No registration fee,
(05:33):
no fundraising minimums, and there's also no limits on how
many people can be on their team. So if they're
a team of one, if they're a team of one
hundred and one, we really want those folks to know
that they're not going to walk alone. Even if they
are a team of one, they're going to be out
there with a whole bunch of friends.
Speaker 2 (05:49):
All right. Well, As an occasional participant in events like this,
I can say that even if you come out as
an individual, you're going to meet people that afternoon that
you're gonna you're gonna make some new friends.
Speaker 3 (06:03):
Absolutely and have.
Speaker 2 (06:04):
That unifying theme, if you will, that ties it all together,
which is the fight against cancer and you know, particularly
breast cancer and making strides of Wichita is happening Sunday,
October twentieth, noon til three pm at Riverfront Stadium. And
uh Melissa, Melissa Easterberg's with us. She's the senior development
(06:28):
manager for the American Cancer Society. And we were talking
earlier about Hope and Hope is a good friend of
the American Cancer Society.
Speaker 4 (06:39):
Yes, Hope is a great friend, Hope for for all
those folks that are that are survivors. It's a fantastic word,
but it's actually becoming more than that. So our presenting
partner with Sinsion via Christi their mimography van, their mobile
mimography van is named Hope.
Speaker 2 (06:59):
Okay, mobile mimography.
Speaker 3 (07:03):
It's tongue twister, Isn't.
Speaker 2 (07:04):
It not easy to say? But the services they provide
with this are pretty amazing.
Speaker 3 (07:10):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (07:11):
So I believe it was last fall that Hope hit
the road, and so she's been traveling the state of Kansas.
She I say it as if she's a person, right,
It's okay, she becomes She's been taken on a new life.
So she's traveled the state of Kansas really hitting those
rural communities that don't have those mimmography opportunities. So I
(07:35):
personally live in Wellington. I saw her yesterday down at
the Ascension via Christie Clinic in Wellington, so that was
pretty exciting to see her out in the wild. But
they are those folks at Ascension to be a Christie.
They're making sure that those mimmographies are available to folks
that are in those rural communities, the underinsured, the uninsured,
and you know even everyone can make those appointments and
(08:00):
in and have a get their mimographies done on site
when they can find it.
Speaker 2 (08:04):
So you can come on out to making strides and
check out Hope up close and in person.
Speaker 4 (08:09):
You can take a tour, Yeah, we can take tours
that day. We'll also drop some links on our Facebook
and all of our social media accounts on our website
on how folks can make an appointment to do a
mimmography that day. But then other than that, we'll have
some tours of the van so that we say van,
she's an RV.
Speaker 3 (08:30):
She's a big girl, so.
Speaker 4 (08:32):
That if they have never had a mimography before they
can feel more comfortable about going in after they've taken
the tour of the van, like, okay, this is what
to expect, because we really want to encourage those folks
to get screened.
Speaker 2 (08:49):
There you go. Making Strides of Wichita the twenty twenty
four event coming up Sunday, October twentieth at Riverfront Stadium,
all contained within Riverfront Stadium, which is so smart and
so convenient for everyone who's involved. It'll be going on
from noon until three. We're inviting individuals to sign up
(09:11):
as a team of one. We're inviting individuals to gather
up friends and family, maybe put a team together. There's
still time you can put a quick team together and
come on out and have a great time that afternoon,
just kind of fellowship and fun and smiles all the
way around. At the Making Strides of Wichita event at
(09:35):
Riverfront Stadium, We're going to take a quick break and
when we return, we'll visit some more with our guest,
Melissa Easterberg, Senior Development Manager for American Cancer Society. This
is Wichita Weekend this Sunday, October thirteenth, at one pm.
Can Vets United invites all veterans and their families to
(09:57):
a Veterans Appreciation barbecue at the war And Riverview Park
Recreation Area in Derby. Come out, have some great food,
including Kaboom wings from Strouds, visit with other vets and
accept our community's gratitude. That's Sunday, October thirteenth at one
pm Warren Riverview Park in Derby. The free Veterans Appreciation
Barbecue a public service from can Vets United and iHeart Communities.
Speaker 5 (10:24):
Have you just been diagnosed with cancer or do you
know someone who's recently been diagnosed. Keep this in mind
and pass it along. The American Cancer Society offers a
nationwide cancer information line. It's available twenty four hours a day,
seven days a week. Whether it's two BM or two AM.
We're there for you to answer questions, connect you to
(10:44):
the resources you need, or to just listen. As the
most credible source of information, we can answer your questions
about prevention, diagnosis, treatment options, and clinical trials. We can
also help you with everyday needs like emotional support and
lodging during treatment. To learn more, visit cancer dot org
or call your American Cancer Society toll free at one
(11:05):
eight hundred two two seven, two three four five anytime,
day or night. That's one eight hundred two two seven
twenty three forty five.
Speaker 2 (11:16):
Welcome back to Wichita Weekend. We're visiting with Melissa Easterberg,
the senior development manager for the American Cancer Society, and
Melissa's in the studio today because we've got the Making
Strides for Breast Cancer Wichita event that's coming up Sunday,
October twentieth, from noon till three at Riverfront Stadium. Melissa,
I'm curious how long has Making Strides been around.
Speaker 4 (11:41):
Making Strides Against Breast Cancer has been an American Cancer
Society event.
Speaker 3 (11:45):
For over thirty years. Wow, so it is all the
time all October.
Speaker 4 (11:53):
You think of pink, but Making Strides has really made
a push, like they have events in May around mother Yeah,
but obviously the majority of AMRI in October across the country.
And so this is actually the tenth anniversary for the
Making Strides of Wichita. Wow, we were double digits now,
(12:14):
so we're really excited about that. But it's kind of
moved around a little bit across the city over the
last ten years, and I hope we've found a permanent
home at Riverfront Stadium.
Speaker 3 (12:24):
Because it's a beautiful.
Speaker 2 (12:26):
Place, beautiful place to be, and like we say, it's
nice to have everything kind of contained within that space
for security and convenience, and it just makes it easier
and more fun for everybody. And yes, great time to
come out.
Speaker 4 (12:40):
Last year on our route, the very first person took
a wrong turn, and so this year we have completely
eliminated that possibility. And there is it's like Nascar, you
turn left. We're turning left and that's it.
Speaker 2 (12:55):
There's only one direction you need to remember, and that's
left for them left end turn for the Making Strides
of Wichita Events Sunday, October twentieth, from noon till three.
Riverfront Stadium a beautiful place to be. If you've never
been there, you are in for a treat. And if
whether you intend to come as just an individual to
(13:16):
kind of show your support or show your support for
a friend or relative with cancer, or maybe you want
to put some family members together or a group of friends,
please we are welcoming one and all to come be
a part of this. And probably the best way to
sign up, because as we say, there's no registration fee,
but the best way to sign up to let them
(13:38):
know you're coming is to go to makingstrideswalk dot org,
slash Wichita ks.
Speaker 3 (13:45):
Absolutely, and the event is open to the public.
Speaker 4 (13:47):
You don't have to register to come, but we would
like for them too so we can kind of figure
out a headcount. We do have a catered survivor thriver
lunch that day, so just kind of help us figure
out that headcount. It is free for any cancer breast
cancer survivors and thrivers. So but again and it's open
(14:08):
to the public. Throw on a pink shirt. I'm sure
Don has a pink too too.
Speaker 2 (14:13):
I've got one somewhere.
Speaker 3 (14:14):
Yeah, doesn't everybody.
Speaker 2 (14:15):
Yeah, yeah, for just such an occasion, Yep.
Speaker 3 (14:19):
Pink BoA's whatever you got.
Speaker 4 (14:22):
But yes, it is completely open to the public, and
so we're just we want everyone to come out and
just kind of see.
Speaker 3 (14:28):
What it is.
Speaker 2 (14:29):
And by the way, on the costumes, we encourage everyone
to come out and have some fun. I mean, this
is this is a celebration and in a lot of ways,
it's it's an occasion to celebrate the progress that has
been made and the progress that is continuing to be
made in breast cancer research and all the good things
(14:50):
that are going on. So if you want to be
a little bit silly. We encourage it makes makes it
fun for everyone.
Speaker 4 (14:56):
You mentioned fun, which made me think of one specific
team that we have registered this year. So if folks
are familiar with the nationwide events of the Missus Roper Romps,
are you familiar with these?
Speaker 6 (15:13):
Now?
Speaker 2 (15:13):
Let's see, that would be Missus Roper from threes Company,
absolutely famous for her move moves, yes.
Speaker 3 (15:21):
The kaftans and the red hair. Yes.
Speaker 4 (15:25):
So a couple of weeks ago, the Wichita Missus Roper
Romps event was here in town. And so the the
Helen Ropers of this walk have now registered a team
for making strides wonderful. We're going to have a team
of Helen's that are gracing our walk route on that Sunday.
(15:50):
So if you were a Three's Company fan, which kind
of dates us, doesn't.
Speaker 2 (15:56):
It a little bit? Maybe? But an unforget character though,
you just need to see your.
Speaker 3 (16:02):
Once absolutely so.
Speaker 4 (16:03):
Right now, those team members are picking out their pink
MOUs to wear and getting their wigs ready.
Speaker 3 (16:09):
So MoU moos kaf tess pretty excited.
Speaker 2 (16:13):
And do they have the little the glasses holder thing,
the rope that holds the glasses all be jeweled and stuff.
Speaker 3 (16:21):
We're going to find out, aren't we.
Speaker 6 (16:23):
I guess so. But again, it's all in the name
of fun and all in the name of fellowship with
regard to making strides against breast cancer. And it is happening.
This is a wonderful event, and we encourage you to
come on out to Riverfront Stadium Sunday, October twentieth. Should
(16:44):
be a gorgeous day noon to three. That's why scheduling
because if there's a football fans in the group, you
can probably get to your favorite football game after the event.
Speaker 4 (16:57):
True, we kind of dropped it in there so that
it will be a time that folks are It's after
church and before dinner, and so we really want them
to come out and just enjoy the weather and enjoy
the stadium that day. And it's some fellowship and roattery
out there.
Speaker 2 (17:14):
That's kind of thing that ten years of experienced gets you.
Speaker 1 (17:18):
Right.
Speaker 2 (17:18):
It sure is in your in your event planners there
at the American Cancer Society. Now, Melissa, one more time.
There is no registration fee, which is important to keep
in mind, and no fundraising minimums.
Speaker 4 (17:30):
Right yeah, absolutely, so right now, we've got we've got
some folks that are We've got some teams that are
raising over ten thousand dollars right now. We have some
individuals that are you know, five hundred one thousand dollars.
So fundraising is not required, but it is certainly something
that we're that we do. Of course, we say that
(17:52):
fundraising isn't all we do, but all we do depends
on it. So we're always looking for for folks to
you know, to throw a donation in once or twice
and you know, just kind of do some fundraising out there,
but it is not required. We we've got folks that
just come out that day that don't ever register, and
(18:14):
so they if they do sign up, that kind of
helps us send them an invitation next year for our
kickoff and for you know, for the save the date
for next year. And even if they don't register this year,
they may not have any connection of breast cancer. Maybe
next year they will, and so we really want them
to have that contact information of where to go if
(18:36):
they have questions and you know, how the American Cancer
Society can help them in their journey.
Speaker 2 (18:40):
It's a good connection to make, yep, because you never know,
whatever point you are at in life, these could become
very close friends of yours, American Cancer Society, and of
course Making Strides Wichita Strides all over social media. Right,
We've got a great Facebook page if you're a Facebook person,
(19:00):
that you can check out. And again, that website is
very easy to find. Making strideswalk dot org slash Wichita ks.
Go ahead and check us, check it out and put
it on your calendar to join us on Sunday afternoon,
October twentieth. I can just imagine it'd be about I
don't want to predict too much, but I'm guessing about
(19:22):
sixty five degrees in sunshine. Who knows.
Speaker 3 (19:25):
I'm going to hold you to that.
Speaker 2 (19:26):
Okay, well, I'll watch my phone that day. If the
weather's the opposite, I might avoid answering any calls you might.
That's right, but please consider being a part of this.
It's a great, great event, and the whole family's invited.
Come on out and again Making Strides walk dot org
(19:47):
slash wichita ks. Melissa, I got to ask you, how,
what's your personal story? What's your personal involvement with the
Cancer Society?
Speaker 4 (19:57):
So about and again date myself. I've advocated for this
organization for over half my life, so about twenty five
years ago, I had a friend that threw me under
the bus and said, hey, we're going to do this event.
So from that I actually started to learn once we
(20:20):
in that time, it was the Relay for Life done
in Sumner County. Once I started doing that event, I
realized that there were so many people that I was
related to that I had had cancer that I didn't
know about until you started actually being that advocate and
raising money. So I've had a ton of family members
(20:41):
that have that we've lost from cancer, some from breast cancer,
some from you know, different diagnoses. But over the last
almost twenty years on this job, I've come across a
lot of friends, a lot of folks that I wouldn't
have known otherwise. So I'm really here for those folks
(21:03):
that are walking and they feel like they're alone and
they're not. So we are here as that organization that's
going to help them through their journey but also help
them not just physically but emotionally get through this. And
a lot of my friends now I wouldn't have met
if it wasn't for this organization, and they've really just
(21:26):
become my new family.
Speaker 2 (21:28):
There you go, yeah, there you go very well. Put
You're not alone in your struggle. Get to know the
good folks at the American Cancer Society, and by all means,
make plans right now. Put it on your calendar for Sunday,
October twentieth, Riverfront Stadium, noon till three pm, twenty twenty four.
Making Strides of Wichita event. We're all over the internet,
(21:54):
like we say, making strideswalk dot org, slash Wichitaks. You'll
find us on Facebook, and by all means, get your
pink ready and come on out and join us. It's
going to be a big day at Riverfront Stadium.
Speaker 4 (22:07):
Yeah, we've got a lot of sponsors that are really
getting behind this event, not just financially, but they're also
throwing in teams. They're using it as a community engagement
for their corporations. They really want that camaraderie of their
employees to come out and walk that day. So Ascension
via Christy obviously is our presenting partner this year. We've
(22:29):
got a lot of great companies like Pratt Industries in
Kansas Surgery and Recovery Center. They're really encouraging their employees
to come out and walk and just come out as
a group. Advanced Physical Therapy Elite Compression Embracing Cancer Center
of Kansas. We've got some great friends over out west
at Davis Moore. They are actually hosting a fundraising barbecue
(22:54):
the following Saturday, on the twenty sixth, and it's their
fundraiser for Making Stride. So they're doing a barbecue.
Speaker 3 (23:02):
They're at Davis Moore under the big American flag out
on Westkello.
Speaker 4 (23:06):
Oh yeah, and so I believe it's ten dollars a
plate and you can come out and just kind of.
Speaker 3 (23:12):
Enjoy that.
Speaker 4 (23:13):
So that's they have been a tremendous supporter out there.
Walmart has always really turned this into a way their
associates can get involved in the communities, not just through
financial sponsorship, but also in engaging their employees to get
them out there. So there will be a ton of
(23:33):
Walmart folks out there walking that day for Making Strides.
Speaker 3 (23:38):
Two men in a truck.
Speaker 4 (23:39):
I can't physically think about doing an event without two
men in a truck.
Speaker 3 (23:45):
They are pretty amazing.
Speaker 4 (23:47):
They meet me in my storage unit and they help
clean that out and they deliver everything.
Speaker 3 (23:51):
They stay all day.
Speaker 4 (23:52):
They help set up signs and banners, and they load
it all up and take it back and it's They're
a tremendous resource for us and a great partner. So
we've got some good folks that make it easy. So
we really want everyone to come out and really support
them as well as the American Cancer Society.
Speaker 2 (24:11):
We got a lot of great companies and individuals who
are literally walking the walk.
Speaker 4 (24:15):
Absolutely, they're not just saying it, they're doing it, yep.
Speaker 2 (24:19):
So hey, come out and be a part of it.
Come out, even if you're just curious. It's going to
be a great event and it is happening again on Sunday,
October twentieth right around the corner noon till three pm,
Riverfront Stadium. Check it out online at Making Strides walk
dot org. Slash Wichita ks Melissa Easterberg, Senior development manager
(24:45):
from the American Cancer Society and a tireless worker man.
You are always every time I see you, you're on
your way to do this or that, and you're always
working and really putting out a ton of effort and
a ton of PASSI So we appreciate all your work
and what can I say but keep it up?
Speaker 4 (25:04):
Well, you appreciate iHeart you knows have been great partners
for us.
Speaker 2 (25:08):
Okay, Well, we'll see out of Riverfront Stadium on Sunday,
October twentieth making strides of Wichita.
Speaker 3 (25:14):
And Donn'll be wearing a pink tutu.
Speaker 2 (25:16):
Maybe depends on the weather.
Speaker 1 (25:19):
Thank you for listening to Wichita Weekend, a service of
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nine B ninety eight. Listen every Sunday for Wichita Weekend.
Welcome to Wichita Weekend, the weekly public affairs program from
iHeartRadio Wichita ninety seven, ninety ninety eight, Well oh two
won the Bull Channel ninety six three and ALT one
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Speaker 2 (00:13):
Now that we're into October, we've got events going on
in Wichita every single weekend, multiple events. But one of
the finest events is coming up Sunday, October twentieth, and
that's with our good friends from the American Cancer Society
here in Wichita. It is the twenty twenty four Making
Strides of Wichita event. It's going to be happening at
(00:35):
Riverfront Stadium, and Melissa Easterberg, she's the senior Development manager
for the American Cancer Society, has joined us in the
studio today to invite us all to Making Strides. Welcome Melissa, Hey,
thanks Don for having me. Oh man, you guys all
ready for this?
Speaker 3 (00:54):
I think so.
Speaker 4 (00:55):
The weather's starting to turn finally to October. Yeah, looking forward.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
To it, looking forward to a nice crisp afternoon in
the fall. This will be Sunday, October twentieth, from noon
till two, all at Riverfront Stadium.
Speaker 4 (01:09):
Yes, completely enclosed inside the stadium so that we can
really make sure that that walk route is safe for
folks that are walking in wheelchairs, having strollers and wagons.
It's a very beautiful stadium.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
We're going to use that absolutely well, and that's great
too for the folks that so anyone can come participate
without any concern about traffic or you name it. Absolutely
so we're in a great contained environment and it's a
wonderful place to find out what the American Cancer Society
is all about. And obviously it's going to be a
(01:45):
gathering of survivors and thrivers and we've got some interesting
things that are going to be happening along the concourse
during this event, right, Melissa.
Speaker 3 (01:57):
We absolutely do. We've got a lot of new things.
Speaker 4 (01:59):
Since we are kind of transitioning from an actual route
to more of a lap situation, we're adding a lot
of things to the concourse this year so that folks
can engage throughout their laps. They can take as many
laps as they like. Maggie over their at Riverfront Stadium
has told us one third of a mile is one lap,
(02:21):
so folks can take as many as they like, and
then hopefully they can find something new along their route
each lap that they take.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
That's right. Okay, tons of information, tons of fun stuff too.
One thing that caught my ear we were talking a
little bit before we rolled here with our interview, was
the oxygen bar.
Speaker 4 (02:41):
Yes, so our friends over at Color Therapy and Salon.
It's a very unique salon. It's actually right across the
street from Napscar Park here. Okay, so they are bringing
out some folks that are going to be doing some
pink hair extensions and also a pop up ox bar.
If you haven't ever seen that, it's quite a thing.
(03:04):
So folks can stop by their pop up oxygen bar
and they can pick a flavor and you know, take
some oxygen and it's very very.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
Therapeutic flavored oxygen. If you haven't tried it, don't knock it,
but that will be available. It's one of the many
things you can check out at the Making Strides event.
And speaking of pink, we want to get the guys
involved and one of the sidebars, if you will, of
Making Strides is involves guys who wear pink. Men wear pink,
(03:36):
Men wear pink, and we've got a candidate for that
and hopefully maybe some more we do.
Speaker 4 (03:41):
So it's usually when we talk about pink. It automatically
goes to women, but we also have to remember that
there are twenty five hundred men every year that are
diagnosed with breast cancer, so it happens in every gender,
so we want to make sure that we're recognizing them.
But not only that, there are men out there that
(04:03):
are supporting those women that are going through breast cancer.
So they may be in a caregiver role, they may
be in a survivor role. But Men Wear Pink is
one of our platforms that we really want to get
those guys involved and so they can do their own
fundraising on the side, they can support their wives or
mothers or whoever they're out there walking for. But Menwar
(04:26):
Pink is a platform that the American Cancer Society really
wants those guys to get involved with.
Speaker 2 (04:31):
Okay, well, good to know, and of course, you guys
have a fantastic website. It's got virtually everything anyone would
ever want to know about the event. That would be
a Makingstrides walk dot org slash wichita ks. That's so
easy even I could remember, but Making Strides Walk dot
org slash wichita ks and you can go and check
(04:55):
that out and learn everything you need to know about
making Stride of Wichita. The twenty twenty four edition coming
up Sunday, October twentieth. There's no registration and there's no
registration fees, and there's no fundraising minimums.
Speaker 4 (05:11):
Absolutely, so we want this to be very much a
community celebration. We want folks to come out. It is
open to the public. They don't have to register to
be there, but we'd love for them to be able
to jump on our website and go through the registration process.
That way, we kind of have an idea of a headcount.
We know what to expect that day. No registration fee,
(05:33):
no fundraising minimums, and there's also no limits on how
many people can be on their team. So if they're
a team of one, if they're a team of one
hundred and one, we really want those folks to know
that they're not going to walk alone. Even if they
are a team of one, they're going to be out
there with a whole bunch of friends.
Speaker 2 (05:49):
All right. Well, As an occasional participant in events like this,
I can say that even if you come out as
an individual, you're going to meet people that afternoon that
you're gonna you're gonna make some new friends.
Speaker 3 (06:03):
Absolutely and have.
Speaker 2 (06:04):
That unifying theme, if you will, that ties it all together,
which is the fight against cancer and you know, particularly
breast cancer and making strides of Wichita is happening Sunday,
October twentieth, noon til three pm at Riverfront Stadium. And
uh Melissa, Melissa Easterberg's with us. She's the senior development
(06:28):
manager for the American Cancer Society. And we were talking
earlier about Hope and Hope is a good friend of
the American Cancer Society.
Speaker 4 (06:39):
Yes, Hope is a great friend, Hope for for all
those folks that are that are survivors. It's a fantastic word,
but it's actually becoming more than that. So our presenting
partner with Sinsion via Christi their mimography van, their mobile
mimography van is named Hope.
Speaker 2 (06:59):
Okay, mobile mimography.
Speaker 3 (07:03):
It's tongue twister, Isn't.
Speaker 2 (07:04):
It not easy to say? But the services they provide
with this are pretty amazing.
Speaker 3 (07:10):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (07:11):
So I believe it was last fall that Hope hit
the road, and so she's been traveling the state of Kansas.
She I say it as if she's a person, right,
It's okay, she becomes She's been taken on a new life.
So she's traveled the state of Kansas really hitting those
rural communities that don't have those mimmography opportunities. So I
(07:35):
personally live in Wellington. I saw her yesterday down at
the Ascension via Christie Clinic in Wellington, so that was
pretty exciting to see her out in the wild. But
they are those folks at Ascension to be a Christie.
They're making sure that those mimmographies are available to folks
that are in those rural communities, the underinsured, the uninsured,
and you know even everyone can make those appointments and
(08:00):
in and have a get their mimographies done on site
when they can find it.
Speaker 2 (08:04):
So you can come on out to making strides and
check out Hope up close and in person.
Speaker 4 (08:09):
You can take a tour, Yeah, we can take tours
that day. We'll also drop some links on our Facebook
and all of our social media accounts on our website
on how folks can make an appointment to do a
mimmography that day. But then other than that, we'll have
some tours of the van so that we say van,
she's an RV.
Speaker 3 (08:30):
She's a big girl, so.
Speaker 4 (08:32):
That if they have never had a mimography before they
can feel more comfortable about going in after they've taken
the tour of the van, like, okay, this is what
to expect, because we really want to encourage those folks
to get screened.
Speaker 2 (08:49):
There you go. Making Strides of Wichita the twenty twenty
four event coming up Sunday, October twentieth at Riverfront Stadium,
all contained within Riverfront Stadium, which is so smart and
so convenient for everyone who's involved. It'll be going on
from noon until three. We're inviting individuals to sign up
(09:11):
as a team of one. We're inviting individuals to gather
up friends and family, maybe put a team together. There's
still time you can put a quick team together and
come on out and have a great time that afternoon,
just kind of fellowship and fun and smiles all the
way around. At the Making Strides of Wichita event at
(09:35):
Riverfront Stadium, We're going to take a quick break and
when we return, we'll visit some more with our guest,
Melissa Easterberg, Senior Development Manager for American Cancer Society. This
is Wichita Weekend this Sunday, October thirteenth, at one pm.
Can Vets United invites all veterans and their families to
(09:57):
a Veterans Appreciation barbecue at the war And Riverview Park
Recreation Area in Derby. Come out, have some great food,
including Kaboom wings from Strouds, visit with other vets and
accept our community's gratitude. That's Sunday, October thirteenth at one
pm Warren Riverview Park in Derby. The free Veterans Appreciation
Barbecue a public service from can Vets United and iHeart Communities.
Speaker 5 (10:24):
Have you just been diagnosed with cancer or do you
know someone who's recently been diagnosed. Keep this in mind
and pass it along. The American Cancer Society offers a
nationwide cancer information line. It's available twenty four hours a day,
seven days a week. Whether it's two BM or two AM.
We're there for you to answer questions, connect you to
(10:44):
the resources you need, or to just listen. As the
most credible source of information, we can answer your questions
about prevention, diagnosis, treatment options, and clinical trials. We can
also help you with everyday needs like emotional support and
lodging during treatment. To learn more, visit cancer dot org
or call your American Cancer Society toll free at one
(11:05):
eight hundred two two seven, two three four five anytime,
day or night. That's one eight hundred two two seven
twenty three forty five.
Speaker 2 (11:16):
Welcome back to Wichita Weekend. We're visiting with Melissa Easterberg,
the senior development manager for the American Cancer Society, and
Melissa's in the studio today because we've got the Making
Strides for Breast Cancer Wichita event that's coming up Sunday,
October twentieth, from noon till three at Riverfront Stadium. Melissa,
I'm curious how long has Making Strides been around.
Speaker 4 (11:41):
Making Strides Against Breast Cancer has been an American Cancer
Society event.
Speaker 3 (11:45):
For over thirty years. Wow, so it is all the
time all October.
Speaker 4 (11:53):
You think of pink, but Making Strides has really made
a push, like they have events in May around mother Yeah,
but obviously the majority of AMRI in October across the country.
And so this is actually the tenth anniversary for the
Making Strides of Wichita. Wow, we were double digits now,
(12:14):
so we're really excited about that. But it's kind of
moved around a little bit across the city over the
last ten years, and I hope we've found a permanent
home at Riverfront Stadium.
Speaker 3 (12:24):
Because it's a beautiful.
Speaker 2 (12:26):
Place, beautiful place to be, and like we say, it's
nice to have everything kind of contained within that space
for security and convenience, and it just makes it easier
and more fun for everybody. And yes, great time to
come out.
Speaker 4 (12:40):
Last year on our route, the very first person took
a wrong turn, and so this year we have completely
eliminated that possibility. And there is it's like Nascar, you
turn left. We're turning left and that's it.
Speaker 2 (12:55):
There's only one direction you need to remember, and that's
left for them left end turn for the Making Strides
of Wichita Events Sunday, October twentieth, from noon till three.
Riverfront Stadium a beautiful place to be. If you've never
been there, you are in for a treat. And if
whether you intend to come as just an individual to
(13:16):
kind of show your support or show your support for
a friend or relative with cancer, or maybe you want
to put some family members together or a group of friends,
please we are welcoming one and all to come be
a part of this. And probably the best way to
sign up, because as we say, there's no registration fee,
but the best way to sign up to let them
(13:38):
know you're coming is to go to makingstrideswalk dot org,
slash Wichita ks.
Speaker 3 (13:45):
Absolutely, and the event is open to the public.
Speaker 4 (13:47):
You don't have to register to come, but we would
like for them too so we can kind of figure
out a headcount. We do have a catered survivor thriver
lunch that day, so just kind of help us figure
out that headcount. It is free for any cancer breast
cancer survivors and thrivers. So but again and it's open
(14:08):
to the public. Throw on a pink shirt. I'm sure
Don has a pink too too.
Speaker 2 (14:13):
I've got one somewhere.
Speaker 3 (14:14):
Yeah, doesn't everybody.
Speaker 2 (14:15):
Yeah, yeah, for just such an occasion, Yep.
Speaker 3 (14:19):
Pink BoA's whatever you got.
Speaker 4 (14:22):
But yes, it is completely open to the public, and
so we're just we want everyone to come out and
just kind of see.
Speaker 3 (14:28):
What it is.
Speaker 2 (14:29):
And by the way, on the costumes, we encourage everyone
to come out and have some fun. I mean, this
is this is a celebration and in a lot of ways,
it's it's an occasion to celebrate the progress that has
been made and the progress that is continuing to be
made in breast cancer research and all the good things
(14:50):
that are going on. So if you want to be
a little bit silly. We encourage it makes makes it
fun for everyone.
Speaker 4 (14:56):
You mentioned fun, which made me think of one specific
team that we have registered this year. So if folks
are familiar with the nationwide events of the Missus Roper Romps,
are you familiar with these?
Speaker 6 (15:13):
Now?
Speaker 2 (15:13):
Let's see, that would be Missus Roper from threes Company,
absolutely famous for her move moves, yes.
Speaker 3 (15:21):
The kaftans and the red hair. Yes.
Speaker 4 (15:25):
So a couple of weeks ago, the Wichita Missus Roper
Romps event was here in town. And so the the
Helen Ropers of this walk have now registered a team
for making strides wonderful. We're going to have a team
of Helen's that are gracing our walk route on that Sunday.
(15:50):
So if you were a Three's Company fan, which kind
of dates us, doesn't.
Speaker 2 (15:56):
It a little bit? Maybe? But an unforget character though,
you just need to see your.
Speaker 3 (16:02):
Once absolutely so.
Speaker 4 (16:03):
Right now, those team members are picking out their pink
MOUs to wear and getting their wigs ready.
Speaker 3 (16:09):
So MoU moos kaf tess pretty excited.
Speaker 2 (16:13):
And do they have the little the glasses holder thing,
the rope that holds the glasses all be jeweled and stuff.
Speaker 3 (16:21):
We're going to find out, aren't we.
Speaker 6 (16:23):
I guess so. But again, it's all in the name
of fun and all in the name of fellowship with
regard to making strides against breast cancer. And it is happening.
This is a wonderful event, and we encourage you to
come on out to Riverfront Stadium Sunday, October twentieth. Should
(16:44):
be a gorgeous day noon to three. That's why scheduling
because if there's a football fans in the group, you
can probably get to your favorite football game after the event.
Speaker 4 (16:57):
True, we kind of dropped it in there so that
it will be a time that folks are It's after
church and before dinner, and so we really want them
to come out and just enjoy the weather and enjoy
the stadium that day. And it's some fellowship and roattery
out there.
Speaker 2 (17:14):
That's kind of thing that ten years of experienced gets you.
Speaker 1 (17:18):
Right.
Speaker 2 (17:18):
It sure is in your in your event planners there
at the American Cancer Society. Now, Melissa, one more time.
There is no registration fee, which is important to keep
in mind, and no fundraising minimums.
Speaker 4 (17:30):
Right yeah, absolutely, so right now, we've got we've got
some folks that are We've got some teams that are
raising over ten thousand dollars right now. We have some
individuals that are you know, five hundred one thousand dollars.
So fundraising is not required, but it is certainly something
that we're that we do. Of course, we say that
(17:52):
fundraising isn't all we do, but all we do depends
on it. So we're always looking for for folks to
you know, to throw a donation in once or twice
and you know, just kind of do some fundraising out there,
but it is not required. We we've got folks that
just come out that day that don't ever register, and
(18:14):
so they if they do sign up, that kind of
helps us send them an invitation next year for our
kickoff and for you know, for the save the date
for next year. And even if they don't register this year,
they may not have any connection of breast cancer. Maybe
next year they will, and so we really want them
to have that contact information of where to go if
(18:36):
they have questions and you know, how the American Cancer
Society can help them in their journey.
Speaker 2 (18:40):
It's a good connection to make, yep, because you never know,
whatever point you are at in life, these could become
very close friends of yours, American Cancer Society, and of
course Making Strides Wichita Strides all over social media. Right,
We've got a great Facebook page if you're a Facebook person,
(19:00):
that you can check out. And again, that website is
very easy to find. Making strideswalk dot org slash Wichita ks.
Go ahead and check us, check it out and put
it on your calendar to join us on Sunday afternoon,
October twentieth. I can just imagine it'd be about I
don't want to predict too much, but I'm guessing about
(19:22):
sixty five degrees in sunshine. Who knows.
Speaker 3 (19:25):
I'm going to hold you to that.
Speaker 2 (19:26):
Okay, well, I'll watch my phone that day. If the
weather's the opposite, I might avoid answering any calls you might.
That's right, but please consider being a part of this.
It's a great, great event, and the whole family's invited.
Come on out and again Making Strides walk dot org
(19:47):
slash wichita ks. Melissa, I got to ask you, how,
what's your personal story? What's your personal involvement with the
Cancer Society?
Speaker 4 (19:57):
So about and again date myself. I've advocated for this
organization for over half my life, so about twenty five
years ago, I had a friend that threw me under
the bus and said, hey, we're going to do this event.
So from that I actually started to learn once we
(20:20):
in that time, it was the Relay for Life done
in Sumner County. Once I started doing that event, I
realized that there were so many people that I was
related to that I had had cancer that I didn't
know about until you started actually being that advocate and
raising money. So I've had a ton of family members
(20:41):
that have that we've lost from cancer, some from breast cancer,
some from you know, different diagnoses. But over the last
almost twenty years on this job, I've come across a
lot of friends, a lot of folks that I wouldn't
have known otherwise. So I'm really here for those folks
(21:03):
that are walking and they feel like they're alone and
they're not. So we are here as that organization that's
going to help them through their journey but also help
them not just physically but emotionally get through this. And
a lot of my friends now I wouldn't have met
if it wasn't for this organization, and they've really just
(21:26):
become my new family.
Speaker 2 (21:28):
There you go, yeah, there you go very well. Put
You're not alone in your struggle. Get to know the
good folks at the American Cancer Society, and by all means,
make plans right now. Put it on your calendar for Sunday,
October twentieth, Riverfront Stadium, noon till three pm, twenty twenty four.
Making Strides of Wichita event. We're all over the internet,
(21:54):
like we say, making strideswalk dot org, slash Wichitaks. You'll
find us on Facebook, and by all means, get your
pink ready and come on out and join us. It's
going to be a big day at Riverfront Stadium.
Speaker 4 (22:07):
Yeah, we've got a lot of sponsors that are really
getting behind this event, not just financially, but they're also
throwing in teams. They're using it as a community engagement
for their corporations. They really want that camaraderie of their
employees to come out and walk that day. So Ascension
via Christy obviously is our presenting partner this year. We've
(22:29):
got a lot of great companies like Pratt Industries in
Kansas Surgery and Recovery Center. They're really encouraging their employees
to come out and walk and just come out as
a group. Advanced Physical Therapy Elite Compression Embracing Cancer Center
of Kansas. We've got some great friends over out west
at Davis Moore. They are actually hosting a fundraising barbecue
(22:54):
the following Saturday, on the twenty sixth, and it's their
fundraiser for Making Stride. So they're doing a barbecue.
Speaker 3 (23:02):
They're at Davis Moore under the big American flag out
on Westkello.
Speaker 4 (23:06):
Oh yeah, and so I believe it's ten dollars a
plate and you can come out and just kind of.
Speaker 3 (23:12):
Enjoy that.
Speaker 4 (23:13):
So that's they have been a tremendous supporter out there.
Walmart has always really turned this into a way their
associates can get involved in the communities, not just through
financial sponsorship, but also in engaging their employees to get
them out there. So there will be a ton of
(23:33):
Walmart folks out there walking that day for Making Strides.
Speaker 3 (23:38):
Two men in a truck.
Speaker 4 (23:39):
I can't physically think about doing an event without two
men in a truck.
Speaker 3 (23:45):
They are pretty amazing.
Speaker 4 (23:47):
They meet me in my storage unit and they help
clean that out and they deliver everything.
Speaker 3 (23:51):
They stay all day.
Speaker 4 (23:52):
They help set up signs and banners, and they load
it all up and take it back and it's They're
a tremendous resource for us and a great partner. So
we've got some good folks that make it easy. So
we really want everyone to come out and really support
them as well as the American Cancer Society.
Speaker 2 (24:11):
We got a lot of great companies and individuals who
are literally walking the walk.
Speaker 4 (24:15):
Absolutely, they're not just saying it, they're doing it, yep.
Speaker 2 (24:19):
So hey, come out and be a part of it.
Come out, even if you're just curious. It's going to
be a great event and it is happening again on Sunday,
October twentieth right around the corner noon till three pm,
Riverfront Stadium. Check it out online at Making Strides walk
dot org. Slash Wichita ks Melissa Easterberg, Senior development manager
(24:45):
from the American Cancer Society and a tireless worker man.
You are always every time I see you, you're on
your way to do this or that, and you're always
working and really putting out a ton of effort and
a ton of PASSI So we appreciate all your work
and what can I say but keep it up?
Speaker 4 (25:04):
Well, you appreciate iHeart you knows have been great partners
for us.
Speaker 2 (25:08):
Okay, Well, we'll see out of Riverfront Stadium on Sunday,
October twentieth making strides of Wichita.
Speaker 3 (25:14):
And Donn'll be wearing a pink tutu.
Speaker 2 (25:16):
Maybe depends on the weather.
Speaker 1 (25:19):
Thank you for listening to Wichita Weekend, a service of
iHeartRadio stations one O two won the Bowl Channel nine
sixty three at one oh seven three and ninety seven
nine B ninety eight. Listen every Sunday for Wichita Weekend.
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