Symposium addresses breast cancer

The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation sponsored a breast health symposium and luncheon at the Hyatt Regency in Irvine. More than 350 people supported the event, which featured two speakers who addressed both the science and the psychology of breast cancer. Dr. Lisa D. Curcio, a breast cancer survivor and a surgical oncologist, told the crowd why medicine must treat the whole person, not just the disease. Curcio, who happens to be the only female surgical oncologist practicing in South Orange County, is the founder of Advanced Breast Care Specialists, serving patients in all aspects of breast care and breast cancer. Dr. Merry Tetef, author of some 70 publications on the subject, delivered the keynote address.

Marie Blash chaired the event for the fifth year. Organizers working with Blash billed the gathering as “Life In Bloom,” a day-long symposium on the myriad issues surrounding breast cancer. Curcio told the audience, “It is important to understand and address the emotional issues that accompany a diagnosis of breast cancer.”

Following lunch, a fashion show presented by Talbot’s included 12 models, all breast cancer survivors. The Orange County affiliate of the Komen Foundation has granted $1.1 million to local nonprofit organizations working to cure or to assist breast cancer patients and their families.

Assisting dedicated Chair Blash was a committee including Lisa Wolter, Sandra Rose, Deb Carver, C.J. Calderon, Sally Coombe, Leslie Whitfield and Michelle Pantanella. Also fighting breast cancer were Lili Curran, Cece Landise, Sandy Firestone, Sherry Birtley, Heather Gilbert and Jane Hill, to name only a few.

Share Our Selves, a Costa Mesa-based organization dedicated to the humanitarian pursuit of assisting those in need once again threw their annual Wild and Crazy Taco night. Some 650 Newport-Mesa residents went to the Save Our Selves Superior Avenue facility to sample the tacos prepared by 18 celebrity chefs. Inspiration was the theme of the night as tacos included “drunken” lobster chile verde, Peking duck taco with hoisin barbecue tomato salsa, and a deep-fried tortilla filled with cheesecake and salsa.

More than $22,000 was raised at the event to support Save Our Selves’ Orange Aid Project, which collects retrievable food from restaurants, grocery stores, bakeries and caterers to distribute to needy residents. Sponsored by generous chefs, including Michael Kang from 5 Feet; Alan Greely from the Golden Truffle; Carlito Jocson from Yard House; James Andres from Waterfalls; Franco Barone from Antonello Ristorante; and many more, the evening has become one of the most anticipated community rallies. Local activists including Marla Bird; Ed and Anne Hirschman; Nancy and Geoffrey Stack; Cindy and Steve Schrank; Jill and Matt Stewart; Mark Smitt and Anne McInnis; Jennifer Keller; Dennis and Janet Shannon; and Sheri and Ted Hoover also made an enormous difference financially, physically and emotionally supporting the Save Our Selves cause. For more information, call Karen Harrington at (949) 642-3451. No one should spend even one day hungry in this community of abundance and resources.

The 12th annual Ocean Institute Golf Classic was a big success. The recent weekend event began with a gala party at the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Laguna Niguel, with dinner in the grand ballroom. Gala tickets sold out at $175 per person, and the theme of the night was, of course, golf. Some 100 items relating to the links went up for bid.

The two-day event culminated with the Golf Classic played at Coto de Caza Golf and Racquet Club. The event was chaired by Quiksilver Vice President Mark Daly with support from Newport-Mesa locals including Bob McKnight, honorary chair; Mel Chambers; Suzanne Akullian-Perez; Ray Carrasco; Chris Copps; John Dravinski; Scott Evans; Jeroen Gerrese; Gregg Hemphill; Eric Hinkelman; Michael McKennon; Tim McMahon; Rick Ohl; Gregg Soloman; John Warner and John Williams.

It was the 22nd Ocean Institute Classic, raising an impressive $200,000 in support of institute programs that enable Orange County schoolchildren to interact with marine life.