MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

A pat on the back for  every one. It had been a hectic time. But, we carried out our programme for the international breast cancer awareness month with panache.

* Kudos to Jessie and the organizing committee of the Wellness Runway and special thanks to our Health Coordinator, Quek, for their hard work to ensure the success of our activities.

Special mention must be made of

·         all who helped behind the scene to make Wellness Runway a success  especially, our dressers who not only dressed the participants in record time but did not get to see the show or enjoy the delicious dinner that night  and attended rehearsal after rehearsal. 

Special thanks to Peri and Rose who devised all ways to  make  sure we  looked “Bollywood” dancers

·         our members who took the school bus to Sungai Tiram instead of the ordinary bus to save the BCSG RM 400, even though they knew they had to wait a  few hours. The girls spent the time clearing the hall and after that, wowed  everyone with  their line dancing

·         Ah Miao for overtime work for the SMP.  

 WELL DONE!

HAPPENINGS

- OUTING TO KLUANG

16 August 2006

Sponsored by the JB Tourist Guides Association, 2 buses of 70 BCSG members had a great time.

Highlights of the trip included:

• Yong Peng to see how noodles are made the traditional way
• Kampong Tengah. Kluang – Lunch of traditional kampong food,

“Came, saw and were conquered” by the local delicacies

·                     Kluang Coffee Powder Factory – the best coffee in Johore and many say in M’sia – tasted and saw the process of how coffee powder is made.

·                     Zen Xin Organic farm of dragon fruits and  vegetables - very informative

What made the trip so unforgettable are the wonderful tour guides who held us enthralled all the way.

Many thanks to Mr. Jimmy Leong and his wonderful tour guides.

THE INTERNATIONAL BREAST CANCER  MONTH

Focus of The BCSG activities

- We want to show that life is still good after mastectomy and /or chemotherapy and/ radiotherapy.

-We look beyond ourselves to reach out to as many women as we can to raise awareness about breast health.

1. Event: WELLNESS RUNWAY

Date:  2^nd SEPTEMBER

Place:   Grand Straits Garden

“ … a fashion show with a difference - …every model you see walking down catwalk tonight is not a professional model or a celebrity, but a real person whom you know - family member – mother, sister, cousin – or friend. The fact is that the models are all members of The BCSG JB, survivors of breast cancer.

… We hope that Well ness Runway 2006 will reach out to others who have breast cancer because our performance tonight is testimony that breast cancer cannot force us into fearful or shameful silence. Our participation as fashion models serves to elevate our self confidence, knowing that we can be wholesome and beautiful.”

Jessie

Organising Chairperson.

It was a dazzling show, 36 survivors participating in the Fashion Extravaganza, 2 dances (a traditional Chinese Folk Dance and a “Bollywood” dance”) and The BCSG Choir; enjoyed by participants and audience.

2. Event: THE CoR and MMAF  SUBSIDISED  MAMMOGRAM PROGRAMME, BREAST CANCER AWARENESS  EXHIBITION and HEALTH SCREENING

Date:    9 Sept 2006

Time:    9am – 12pm

Place:    Dewan Raya, Kpg Sungai Tiram

A convoy of 15 cars from The Volkswagen Club, JB and The Malaysia Singapore Vintage Register led the way from JB to Sungai Tiram. Decorated with The BCSG stickers, “Reach Out To Wellness”, the convoy created publicity for the event and our girls were treated to a ride. The cars created much interest among the public who were thrilled to be able to see such beautiful cars at close range.

A 35-member team of survivors, nurses and supporters promoted breast cancer awareness through an exhibition and teaching breast cancer self-examination.

The CoR and MMAF subsidized mammogram  was launched by the president of The BCSG.

Dr Sariah bt Hj Musa gave a concise and comprehensive talk on breast cancer.

Pn Rashahadah bt Mohd, a member of The BCSG gave a testimony of her experiences when she underwent treatment for breast cancer.

The BCSG choir sang 2 songs.  40 ladies registered for the subsidized mammogram programme. A successful joint project with the Penghulu and Kampong Headmen of Mukim Sungai Tiram and the Health Clinics of Ulu Tiram and Sungai Tiram.

3. Event: Seminar & Pameran AIDS /HIV, Dadah & Kanser Payudara

Date:  17.9.06

Time:  8.30am – 1pm

Place:  Rumah Alumini , UTM

Our girls on duty taught BSE techniques to the students of UTM and emphasized the importance of doing BSE every month.

4. Event: Breast Cancer Awareness Activity, Kluang

Date:   23.9.06

Place: Hotel Anika, Kluang

Our members represented The BCSG in Kluang to support our sister organisation, the Kluang Breast Cancer Society on the occasion of their first breast cancer awareness activity.

5.Event: Breast Cancer Awareness JB

Date:  24.9.06 

Place:  Fo Kwang Shang Temple , Tmn Sutera 

Catherine and Siao Fong assisted Dr Chan in her talk on breast cancer.

 EVENTS TO LOOK OUT FOR

-Breast Cancer Awareness Road show

Place:  The Store  (opposite Carrefour)

Date :   14-15.10.06

Time:    10am-8pm

 Dr Hew will be giving a talk on what you want to know about breast cancer on Sat. 14.10 at 3pm.

- “Taking Care of Your Bones” by Dr Neo Chee Beng

Date:  28.10.06

Time:  2-4

Place: Zon Regency Hotel

If interested, please register with Ah Miau.

( ( 3357211) before 24^th October. Places are limited.

PARTY TIME

- Thank You Party from Christine, Hoon Im and Lee Soon.  A treat to our members who made Wellness Runway such a success!!  Our members had a fun time at Straits View Marina Restaurant on 16 Sept. Participants for the show were also give a VCD of the show.

- Mid Autumn Festival

 Come to the Centre on 8.10, 6.30pm for a Potluck Party. Tell Kiew, Luan Eng or Geok Hua what you want to bring. BCSG will contribute 2 boxes of New Hong Kong mooncakes. Bring your family.

UP-COMING ACTIVITIES

-CRAFT

1. If you are still keen to join the Knitting Club,  you are not too late.  It’s still on. Our excellent instructor, Sin Foong will make a  knitter of anyone. Ask Ah May and Geok Hua who are on their third   projects.

2. We will continue with making our decorative ketupat after Raya.

3. 31.10.06- Learn to make BCSG rag dolls with Sin  Foong. Materials  provided but bring your own scissors and  needles.

-DANCING

1. Line dancing for beginners is now on Wed., 12noon – 1pm

2. Mid October we will be starting traditional folk dancing classes.

   Line dancing: 2.30-3.30pm

   Traditional folk dance: 4-5pm

 AND …

- Talk on will-writing in The Centre– November.

2 sessions – 1 in English and the other, mandarin.

-Cooking with nutritional products – November

DO FREQUENT OUR CENTRE

Members who wish to keep abreast of what is happening at the BCSG are encouraged to visit our Centre (open Monday to Friday 9.00am to 1.30pm). Apart from this quarterly newsletter, mailers will not be sent to members for every activity organised. 

Please check the Notice Board at the Centre for the latest Happenings!

A GENTLE REMINDER

BCSG GARDEN

Members who come for their various activities, please water the plants!

U VOLUNTEERS REQUIRED

To do Gotong Royong to weed our garden. Sign up with Luan Eng.

PHOTOS

We are still waiting for orders for the CD of the various events (from January to June).

Please inform Ah Miau if you are keen to purchase a copy.

THANK YOU

Thank you for answering to our SOS:

-          Photographer – Lily Wong.

Please contact Lily for photos for our various activities. Before end of October.

-          Translators: Catherine and  2 of our members, Tong Ah Moi and Chang Siew who have roped in their daughters.

    - Luan Eng, head our Gardening Section  

Editorial Team:

-          Doris Boo

-       Nancy Khoo

-          Poh Luan Eng

-          Teresa Yeo  

Event: The Rainbow Connection

Place:   Fraser’s Hill

Date:   16-19.10.06

The Rainbow Connection ’06 was the first holistic support care performance for adult cancer survivors or cancer camps organized by Cancer link Foundation, PJ. There were many enjoyable dancing and singing sessions, exciting telematches and bird- watching experiences.

We also had plenty of fun creating our first ever batik print and acting out a comedy scene. The sessions on Qi Gong, yoga , nutrition and personal grooming were invigorating, educational and inspiring to us.

During the six hours up Fraser’s Hill and down to Cancerlink, we had lots and lots of jokes and hilarious laughter.  All in all, the whole concept of this programme was to renew and develop the physical, mental, spiritual, emotional ands social well-being of cancer champs.

Luan Eng, Siew Hua & Siao Fong  

10th Annual Taiwan Breast Cancer Support Group Convention

Venue :　The Grand Hotel，Taipei 台北圆山饭店

Date : 29-31 August 2006

Participants : Madam Chew Ah Moi  周章秀 Madam Cheng Seng Geok 曾成玉

Madam Tan Siew Poh 陈秀宝

很高兴能代表新山乳癌协会到台北参加第十届台湾乳癌支持团体年度大会。这次的活动让我们有机会和来自不同国家的乳癌病友分享经验，知识和资讯。

台湾乳癌病友协会为这次的会议安排了丰富的节目。会员和当地各团体精彩的文艺表演让我们叹为观止，医师及教授们的专题演讲和病友们的经验交流座谈更让我们获益不浅。此外，主办单位也安排了一系列的户外活动，促进病患的交流，大家共同勉励。这次的会议安排的非常成功。

Ms. Ranjit Kaur, Reach to Recovery International (RRI) 主席希望乳癌病友能透过训练，提供新病友在感情，实物，资讯及非医疗性质上给于支持，协助新病友适应在患乳癌之后的生活，减轻病患创伤后的压力及学习正面的适应能力。主席的这番话激发了我们身为病患的斗志，希望自己能有机会帮助更多的新病患。

感激台湾的病友们热情的款待。她们的热诚，对病患的付出及无私的精神是我们学习的榜样。这短短三天的活动让我们获益良多，深受感动也玩得非常尽兴。感谢新山乳癌协会给于我们这次学习的机会。希望能再有机会参加像这样有意义的活动。

We are delighted to have represented The Breast Cancer Support Group Johor Bahru at the 10^th Annual Taiwan Breast Cancer Support Group Convention. This convention , the only such conference in Mandarin in the world, has provided us with an opportunity to meet up with groups of women with breast cancer from countries all over the world, to share experience, knowledge and exchange news.

Taiwan Breast Cancer Alliance had organized a wonderful program in this convention. Members and the local communities put up impressive performances. Training conducted by doctors and professors and forums on experience sharing had enriched our knowledge.    Beside that, the organizer also arranged some exciting outdoor programs to enhance fellowship and motivation.  It was a successful event.

Ms. Ranjit Kaur, President of Reach to Recovery International (RRI) expressed her hope that women with breast cancer  are trained to offer our time freely to give emotional, practical and informational, non-medical support to newly diagnosed women, to help them cope and deal with life after breast cancer, reduce post traumatic stress symptoms and to learn positive coping skills.  This message had motivated us and we look forward to offer our assistance to the newly diagnosed women.

We truly appreciate the hospitality from breast cancer patients in Taiwan .  Their passion and contribution toward the patients and society is a leading example to us.  We were moved and enjoyed the wonderful program.  We thank The BCSG, JB for giving us this learning opportunity and look forward for many more for our members in the near future.

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