25 Hour Fence-A-Thon 2012

TDS Fence for Cancer Treatment 25-Hour Fence-A-Thon

Trovare Di Spada, the traditional fencing school of Midtown St. Louis, will host a 25-hour Fence-A-Thon to benefit local breast cancer treatment services.  This non-stop, sponsored fencing event will be the first of its kind in St. Louis, so please join us in making fencing history and in supporting a very worthy cause.  Fencers of every ability level are invited to participate for any length of time.  Registration fees, sponsorships, and donations are tax deductible.  100% of all monies collected will go to support breast cancer treatment programs in St. Louis.

This promises to be a memorable and fun event . . . but we need your to help us make this 25 Hour Fence-a-Thon a great success!

• when = 7 am Saturday April 28th to 8am Sunday April 29th.
• where = TDS sala di armi
• what = non-stop sponsored fencing event
• who = the total donation will be given in honor of Mai Franklyn
• benefitting = The Hereditary Cancer Program (fund 11162) at the Saint Louis University Cancer Center

HOW CAN YOU PARTICIPATE?

1. come fence with us!
2. sponsor a fencer for the fence-a-thon
3. make a donation to our donor service provider
4. volunteer time and/or food to assist fencers during the fence-a-thon

FOR FENCERS

We will provide space at our home sala di armi for you to fence and interact with the other participants in a safe and fun environment.  The purpose of the event is twofold:

1. keep the fencing going non-stop for 25 hours
2. raise money and awareness for breast cancer treatment

To this end we are asking for a minimum registration of $100 to participate.  Fencers can raise this donation amount in any legal way they see fit.  Of course we encourage you to raise as much money as you possibly can confidant in knowing that 100% of the money collected will go to local use in providing services for the treatment of breast cancer.

There is no required amount of time you must fence.  Our goal is to have continual fencing happening for one 25 hour period of time.  This will allow individual fencers to take as many breaks for rest and food as they feel necessary.  This is not an individual endurance event!  Also, unless self-organized by participants, this is non competitive, non tournament event.

Fencers wishing to participate must observe the following:

1. minimum registration fee of $100.
2. equipment check will take place after the fencer has registered.  all equipment must be in excellent condition free from defects and rust (as necessary).  TDS reserves the right (according to our indemnification and waivers) to prevent the use of any weapon or equipment judged as unsafe in any way.
3. all fencers will conduct themselves according to the TDS Sala Code.
4. fencers may come and go freely from the TDS sala as needed throughout the duration of the event, but must do so in a way which does not interfere with the operations of other users of the All Saints Arts Community property.

In addition to the space we will also provide some basic calories and hydration, but feel free to bring what you feel you may need.  This may include a sleeping bag (if you plan on staying with us for all 25 hours) and necessary toiletries.  There are bathrooms on site but no showers.  If needed we can facilitate lodging for your extended stay.

If you cannot attend physically, please consider sponsoring any of our home fencers.  A full list of participating fencers will be posted soon.  You can choose to sponsor one or all!

All weapons will be allowed at this event (falling within traditional, classical and historical bounds) as long as the fencers using them have the required equipment generally regarded as necessary for safe play.  Honor bouts will be the norm but in some cases we will hold formal assaults as well.

ABOUT OUR DONATION

Cancers occur more frequently in some families than expected. This is often the case with malignant melanoma and with cancers of the breast, colon, ovary, endometrium, in which about 10 percent of cases are caused by a defective gene that is passed from one generation to the next.

…

Testing is now commercially available for genetic changes associated with hereditary risk for breast and ovarian cancer, as well as some colorectal cancers and melanoma. Those individuals who test positive for one of these defective genes have a greater than 90 percent chance of developing one of these malignancies. Testing for other hereditary cancer syndromes will undoubtedly become available in the near future. It is a very personal decision and often emotionally difficult for families.

The benefits of testing may include relief for those who test negative and the ability to make good choices about cancer prevention including preventive surgery (such as a prophylactic mastectomy to prevent breast cancer) and how to best detect the cancer early. Individuals also need to understand the risks associated with genetic testing, including psychological distress upon learning there is a very high risk of developing cancer, loss of privacy, job discrimination and insurance discrimination. If testing is chosen individuals will need counseling after testing to understand the results and provide further recommendations and emotional support.

All of these services are available to members of the community through the Saint Louis University Cancer Center. Thanks to funding from the Missouri Foundation for Health and the St. Louis affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Foundation, education and counseling services are provided free of cost by Suzanne Mahon, R.N., DNSc, AOCN, APNG. For those who are uninsured, underinsured or lack the financial resources to pay for genetic testing, financial assistance is available. For more information, please contact Dr. Mahon at (314) 577-8854.

from Hereditary Risk of Cancer at http://www.slu.edu/x24274.xml