Winter 2022

CHEERS TO YOU

 

As we turn 5 this year, we continue to be grateful for you, who choose to bring hope to others who need it most. Amidst global uncertainty, we give thanks in all circumstances. To close out the past year, HACU announced a new $14,000 donation to the Well Woman Clinic's Mammogram Initiative which brings our total donation to $50,000 to date. 

 

Of course, this would not have been possible without your support. Thank you! As we look forward with hope this year, a mammogram machine for the Well Woman Clinic continues to be our top priority. Giving up is simply not an option! Thank you in advance for helping us make this vision a reality.

 

THANK YOU for your support to date. 

THANK YOU for believing in this cause.  

THANK YOU for your continued support.  

 

#TogetherWeWill   #EarlyDetection

With your help, we have donated $50,000 to the Well Woman Clinic (Sierra Leone) over the last 5 years. Together, we can raise $50,000 in our 5th year. Look out for more information as we launch our #50@5 campaign.

 

Venmo: @hacusl

Cashapp: $hacusl

PayPal: Paypal.me/hacusl

Website: hacusl.org/donate

Please mail checks to: HACU, 70 Liberty Drive, Langhorne, PA 19047

 

 

FIND THE LIGHT - BE THE LIGHT

 

The theme for last year's gala, "Shine Bright Like a Diamond", was an attempt to encourage us to rise from the depths of the pandemic and be our best selves. The diamond was a reference to one of Sierra Leone's most precious resources. In the same vein, we are precious and can emerge from challenges even 'brighter' than before. This notwithstanding, challenges such as the pandemic or breast cancer can threaten to dim our light in many ways.  

 

This year’s theme "let your light shine", we hope, will serve as a reminder for two things: 1) find the light within you - no matter where you may be physically or emotionally; 2) be the light to others who may need it.  As always, our planned activities and events, while keeping our goals in mind, will focus on YOU. We hope to continue emphasizing the importance of self-care for it is often said that "you cannot pour from an empty cup". 

 

We look forward to hearing stories of how you find your light to share with your small corner of the world. 

 

 
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LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE

Dorinda Metzger

 

“You are the light of the world, like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house.” ~Matthew 5:14-16. 

 

This scripture reminds us to allow good deeds to shine out for all to see; to emulate, to adopt, and to practice such in our daily lives.

 

As the year unfolds and you tackle your goals, please take time out for yourself, indulge in

self-care, and let your light shine.

 

How can YOU be the light?

 

Smile: It is the simplest of acts yet one of the most impactful         

Be there for a friend

Be friendly          

Give genuine compliments            

Exude kindness and compassion           

Use your passion to improve yourself and others around you            

Share your optimism and gratitude   

Give what you can           

 

How can YOU help HACU shine?

 

Donate to our efforts

Spread the word about HACU’s initiatives/events

Support our events and projects

 

How impactful is YOUR light? 

           

You can and will end up helping others in ways you never imagined. Creating happiness for others also fosters your inner joy. By letting your light shine, you may help others conquer their fears/battles/obstacles.

 

Everyone is drawn to radiance. No one is drawn to darkness.

 

Let your light shine!

 
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"If I cannot do great things, I can do small things in a great way." ~Martin Luther King Jr.

We asked each Team HACU member to share their word(s) of the year (WOTY). We hope you will draw inspiration from these concepts and join us on our journey to being our best selves. 

 I believe knitting is in my genes, because my grandma and uncles did a lot of wool work, making "canvas slippers/shoes" as they are called in West Africa. My mom was a knitter and I learned by watching her. I can still hear her saying to me, "Don't knit so tightly. Keep your work nice and loose and before you know it, it will be big and long." I still repeat those words mentally to myself when I knit and they warm my heart with fond memories of my mom.  Every item I knit is special and I put a lot of love into it. 

 

I love babies so I have knitted more items for them than for any other age group. I have given away tons of booties, hats, and sweaters to many new families in the Sierra Leone community. As a teenager, I remember taking a baby bonnet and sweater to a friend's sister for her newborn and she was in awe. The smile on her face was priceless, more so to me than the million thanks she expressed. 

 

One of my favorite items was a gift I made my mom. I was so busy knitting for all and sundry in the community that I neglected my own family in that regard. Once, my Mom said to me, "You have never knitted anything for us." I was disheartened and immediately proceeded to make her a beautiful sweater in a two-tone green yarn with an exquisite pattern. The smile on her face when I gave her the finished cardigan was priceless. My sisters also took delight in it and borrowed it sometimes. 

 

The highlight of my knitting career was the ten years in Maryland that I belonged to a Knitting/Crochet Group. We made 6"x 9" rectangles for afghans that were put together and sent to hospitals in many European communities, with Afghanistan in the forefront. It gave me great joy to serve so many communities in that way. I have also donated a set of knitted items to the Palo Alto Clinic in Fremont, California and hope to do so again in the near future.

 

As much as I love knitting, it is not without challenges. Larger items can be especially tedious and time-consuming. There are also times when I am unable to complete items I started. The most common challenges are: too little time, patterns too problematic to follow, and proper yarn not available in the amount needed. That can be disappointing.

 

Knitting is certainly a labor of love for me. I fall in love with each piece but the joy my knitting has brought to others is my biggest thrill. One could say, knitting lights up my life while enabling me to send light to others in need. I am often asked "Where did you learn to knit so well?" My answer has always been "from the Lord, to bring joy to each of you."   

 

To God be the Glory!   

World Cancer Day

In the US, Team HACU spread hope and awareness on World Cancer Day (February 4) by hosting our third annual “Step To Beat” challenge. Participants were encouraged to get active and track their steps. Despite freezing temperatures in some parts and heavy rain in others, we got creative and recorded over 10,000 steps. Our winner clocked just over 6,000 steps. Team HACU thanks the StepToBeat winners for graciously donating their winnings to HACU.

 

We would love to hear from you.  To share your story, questions, and concerns, please send an email to: hematologyandcanceruntold@gmail.com or use the 'Contact Us' tab on our website.

 

  

Follow us on

Instagram: @hacu_sl

LinkedIn:  Hematology and Cancer Untold

Facebook: Hematology and Cancer Untold

 

 

HACU is a (501) (c) (3) organization which supports health care providers in Sierra Leone, who strive to increase community education and provide better health care for everyone affected either by

Sickle Cell Disease or Breast Cancer.

 

To find out more, please visit us at www.hacusl.org

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