Media Contact:
Yolanda Weaver, “Ragin Cajun”, Marketing Publicist
(866) 862-7270
www.healingtherapiesfoundation.org
email: htinfo@healingtherapiesfoundation.org

Pleasanton, California, December 1 2011:

The Sandra J. Wing Healing Therapies Foundation (SJWHTF) will hold their 4th annual “Ragin Cajun”,  a Mardi Gras themed dinner, dance, silent and live auction on Friday, March 2, 2012.  Each year, the attendance has increased with this year’s “Ragin Cajun” event selling out with over 300 attendees.

SJWHTF is seeking corporate and individual sponsors, gift basket and raffle ticket donations and public awareness of the popular “Ragin Cajun” Mardi Gras themed dinner, dance and silent and live auction fundraiser.  Next year’s 4th annual “Ragin Cajun” event is on Friday, March 2, 2012 from 6:30 pm – 11:00 pm at the Palm Event Center in Pleasanton. The cost is $85 per person. The event will be hosted by Jessica Aguirre and Mike Inouye, television hosts of NBC Bay Area news. With music provided by Pleasanton’s Brad Kinney.

SJWHTF provides financial grants ranging from $500 to $1000 to cancer patients for complementary healing therapies; acupuncture, acupressure, therapeutic massage, guided/visual imagery and deep breathing meditation.  Many insurance companies do not provide coverage on complementary healing therapies for cancer patients dealing with pain and stress during chemotherapy and radiation.  These therapies lessen their pain and assist them, in most cases, with a speedier recovery than conventional medical treatment, while helping to alleviate neuropathy, anxiety, stress, aches, fatigue, nausea and pain.

As of August 2011, 83 cancer patients have received grants. Beneficiary statistics are:  Average age is 52, the youngest 4 and oldest 75, 84% are female and 16% are male, 38% are breast cancer patients, 76% are unemployed.

The following criteria must be met in order to be eligible for funds:  Currently be under the care of an Oncologist treating them for any type of cancer and undergoing chemotherapy and/or radiation and their insurance does not pay for these complementary therapies.  They must reside in Danville, Dublin, Livermore, Pleasanton and San Ramon.

In a recent Mayo Clinic newsletter and website, healing therapies were acknowledged as a means to complement traditional medical therapies.  The Sandra J. Wing Healing Therapies Foundation concurs and provides funds to pay for such therapies.  A recent thank you note from a beneficiary says it all, “I have been blessed to have massage therapy.  It helped reduce a lot of pain and gave me a piece of heaven. Thank you so much.” These notes of thanks encourage and energize the Foundation’s volunteers and supporters.

Milestones:

• August, 2008         Originally founded as a Charitable Fund under the Tri-Valley Community Foundation.
• July 1, 2009           Began granting funds to cancer patients.
• October, 2009        Received its first grant from Kaiser Permanente.
• December, 2009    Received a grant from The Lloyd Symington Foundation.
• July, 2010              Received a second grant from Kaiser Permanente.
• August, 2010         Received its own 501 (c) (3) status with a tax ID number of 80-0476824.
• August, 2011         Has granted funds to 83 patients.
• August, 2011         Has over 100 volunteers.
• November, 2011    Received $5,000 donation from Safeway Inc.

Past sponsors include:  Atlantic Complementary Medical Solutions, Axis Community Health, Blue Cross of CA, Contra  Costa Oncology, Epic Care, Partners in Cancer Care, Humana, Kaiser Permanente, LifeStyleRX, Pleasanton Family Wellness, Robert Half International, Safeway, Inc., Takeda San Francisco, The Lloyd Symington Foundation, Tri-Valley Community Foundation, Valley Care Health System, Valley Medical Oncology Consultants, Wellpoint and Whole Foods.

In September 2011, a group of Amador Valley high school students created a Facebook page, “AV Cancer Society,”and have partnered with the Foundation to bring awareness and support to those affected by cancer.  They currently have nearly 150 members.   It’s the first Facebook cancer support group at Amador Valley high school.

Sandra J. Wing resides in Pleasanton and is an ovarian and uterine cancer survivor, who celebrated a five year remission milestone this year on November 16, 2011.

Video clips of Sandra J. Wing, cancer patient testimonies, event photos, as well as additional  information may be found at:  www.healingtherapiesfoundation.org.

The Foundation originally was founded as a Charitable Fund under the Tri-Valley Community Foundation in August 2008.  On August 2010, it became a 501 (c) (3) status non-profit foundation based in Pleasanton, CA.  It currently has just over 100 volunteers.