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Newsletter

Author: Sonja Nitschke (ALF Volunteer and Editor Liver Life Chat)

This is the second issue of Liver Life Chat, a quarterly resource newsletter in which the American Liver Foundation (ALF) will share its experiences and progress being made in advancing ALF's mission: to facilitate, advocate and promote education, support and research for the prevention, treatment and cure of liver disease. Thank you for your past support.

In FY 2011, the American Liver Foundation (ALF) achieved a new programmatic milestone by reaching nearly 135,000 individuals through education programs, support services, and outreach activities thanks to the generosity of sponsors, donors, and volunteers. Our goal is to reach and educate even more individuals, and you can help by volunteering, making a donation now, or participating in one or more of our upcoming events.

To learn more, please visit our division website.

Sincerely,

Sonja Nitschke
ALF Volunteer and Editor Liver Life Chat

California’s Great America: Have the Walk of your Life

We are thrilled to announce the Liver Life Walk at California's Great America in Santa Clara on Saturday, September 22, 2012. Raise just $200 and earn free park admission for the day. Register now!

For the last couple months, ALF staff has been searching for the perfect location for the Silicon Valley Liver Life Walk. After scouting the South Bay, charting potential Walk routes, and searching for plenty of easy parking, our search has brought us to Santa Clara.

We greatly appreciate the dedication of our past San Jose Liver Life Walk teams, sponsors and volunteers. We look forward to many new teams joining our past supporters at this great new venue.

Choose from two great events, Liver Life Walk at California's Great America on Saturday, September 22, 2012 and the Liver Life Walk at Crissy Field on Saturday, September 15, 2012.

The Liver Life Walk website is now live.

Sign up today and be one of the first ten people to register and win an ALF surprise! For more information and/or to get involved, please contact Desiree Dela Pena at 415.248.1060 or email her.

Thank you so much for your hard work and support of the Liver Life Walk!

Liver Life Challenge: Climb Mount Shasta

Space is limited! Last day to register is May 1st!

On June 8-11, 2012, the American Liver Foundation will host its Liver Life Challenge Climb at Mount Shasta, the second largest volcano in the United States.

Participants will have access to expert training sessions, culminating in scaling the mountain itself while exhilarating in the knowledge that the climb team helped advance ALF’s mission to cure liver disease closer to reality.

"For me, [the climb] was a way to celebrate Michael's life, give our grieving family and friends something to rally around, and at the same time help others with liver disease. Selfishly, it was a lot of fun,” said Dave Hinman, who climbs in honor of his brother-in-law, Michael Ayala, a Yeoman First Class in the US Coast Guard, and who died of liver disease in 2005. This will be Dave’s fifth Liver Life Challenge Climb Mt. Shasta, and he hopes to continue the challenge for as long as he is blessed with the health to do so because it “just seems like the best thing I can do to help others.” The funds raised from the Liver Life Challenge Climb will be used to reach more people through education programs, increase advocacy activities, enhance support services, and to fund more research for the prevention, treatment, and cure of liver disease.

"ALF helped us understand what was happening. We didn't know anything about liver disease. It turns out that is true for a lot of people -- liver disease doesn't get the attention it should, considering all the people whose lives are impacted by it,” Dave said when he described the role and importance of the American Liver Foundation in his life. “The ALF became a source of comfort for our family. Now it feels like it's almost part of the family.”

Salute to Excellence Gala

The 13th Annual Salute to Excellence Awards Gala raised $200,000 for the American Liver Foundation. Special thanks to Frederick Dorey, the event Chairman, and the generosity of our benefactors, patrons, and sponsors.

Know More Hepatitis

The first ever Hepatitis Testing Day will take place in hundreds of communities across the United States on May 19, 2012. The American Liver Foundation will join local Departments of Health, hospitals, and community based organizations in raising awareness, directing people to testing locations, and offering education materials and information. The Northern CA division will be joining the Asian Heritage Street Celebration during this very special day along with the members of UC Berkeley’s Volunteer Health Interpreters Organization (VHIO). Together, we will be educating children and adults on the ABC’s of hepatitis and liver health in Cantonese, Mandarin, and English.

Free hepatitis testing will be available on site in collaboration with Hep B C Alliance, Hep C Task Force, Hep CA, and Hep B Free.

For more information, please click here. If you are interested in volunteering, give ALF a call at 415-248-1060.

It is estimated that 4.4 million Americans are living with chronic hepatitis; most do not know they are infected. About 80,000 new infections occur each year, and the age group most at risk are baby boomers, according to Dr. John Ward, hepatitis chief at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC estimates one of every 33 baby boomers are living with the hepatitis C infection.

Hepatitis C is called a silent epidemic as those infected have no symptoms for 20-30 years although damage is being done to their liver. This damage can lead to cirrhosis or liver cancer. Hepatitis is the leading cause of liver transplants.

People often think they do not need to worry about hepatitis C if they never injected illegal drugs on a regular basis. But even a one-time experiment with drugs back in high school or college could lead to infection. Before 1992, when widespread testing of the blood supply began, hepatitis C commonly spread through blood transfusions and organ transplants.

The National Testing Day provides an opportunity to learn more about hepatitis while providing a quick, easy, painless blood test to determine the presence of the hepatitis virus. Early diagnosis is essential so treatment can begin before more damage is done.

With the recent approval of new treatments, hepatitis is now more easily treatable in some cases. For more information on treatment choices, call your doctor or contact ALF at 415-248-1060.

Health Alliances

ALF Division leaders Priscilla Call Essert and Greg Martin were invited to attend the Hep B Celebration event by Fiona Ma, assemblywoman for California's 12th Assembly District, who is a strong advocate of Hepatitis B education and outreach.

Fiona Ma advocates with San Francisco's Hep B Free Campaign and has introduced legislation that would allow for early diagnosis, treatment, and support programs.

ALF collaborates with SF Hep B Free Campaign for advocacy, education, prevention, and treatment in San Francisco. Both ALF and SF Hep B Free are committed to eradicate Hepatitis B.

Oakland: All for One and One for All

In January, ALF was invited to join the Oakland Hep C Free march by Orlando Chavez from the Berkeley Free Clinic (BFC). Chavez is a member of the ALF Speaker Bureau and experienced in delivering ALF’s Treatment Choices Initiative (TCI) program, an education program developed by ALF to provide an overview of hepatitis C prevention, diagnosis, and treatment choices.

Fifty people attended the March that offered free hepatitis testing. BFC rolled their red, white, and gold truck into Oakland (near a doughnut shop) and provided convenient testing, diagnosis, and counseling for those interested in learning more about hepatitis C. Such convenience makes testing accessible to a greater number of people.

Dr. Sylvestre of the OASIS Clinic and recipient of the Vernelle Fox Award joined the march. She stated that she will continue efforts to increase hepatitis C awareness until all of Oakland is hep C free: "If one person in Oakland has hep C, then all of Oakland has hep C."

Bring ALF Programs to your Community

Bill Remak, ALF volunteer and former division board member, reached out to 150 attendees at the Rocklin Health Fair held by the Rocklin Unified School District in February. As a result, a number of participants requested ALF’s Love your Liver program for their organization. The Rocklin Chamber of Commerce also requested ALF’s liver wellness programs for their corporate breakfasts and health promotion talks.

Like Rocklin, you too can notify ALF about any health fairs, street fairs, and other community organizations.

Volunteer Meet and Greet: Gwen Kong

As a volunteer-driven organization, ALF is pleased to continue the tradition of introducing people who have volunteered their talents to the American Liver Foundation.

Gwen Kong led ALF’s Salute to Excellence Gala silent auction in March. Her skills were invaluable in procuring auction items and ensuring that the auction ran smoothly. Without her skills, dedication, and expertise, the auction would not have been the success it was.

ALF introduced Gwen Kong to the world of event planning that gave her the necessary experience to win a position with the San Francisco Giants as a sponsorship and promotions intern. Gwen says, “In Nov 2011, I knew nothing. At the end of Feb 2012—I’ve grown a career for myself.”

April is National Volunteer month, and Gwen embodies the spirit of volunteerism the month represents. National Volunteer Month is an occasion to inspire, recognize, and encourage people to seek out imaginative ways to engage in their communities, demonstrating that, by working together, individuals have the fortitude to be at the center of social change—discovering and actively demonstrating their collective power to foster positive transformation in the same way that Gwen was integral to the Salute to Excellence Awards Gala.

We’re thrilled to have had Gwen with us and we wish her the best in achieving her personal goals.

National News:

Tune In To Hep C

The American Liver Foundation has joined with Merck, a global health care leader, and GRAMMY®winners Greg Allman, Natalie Cole, and Jon Secada, artists who have a personal connection to liver disease, to raise awareness of Hep C through music and personal stories of hope of strength.

The campaign raises awareness while encouraging people to seek help.

Their message is clear: doing nothing is not an option.

Support ALF By Doing “Virtually” Nothing

You can help support liver health by joining the Virtual Rally to Fight Liver Disease, sponsored by Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals and Onyx Pharmaceuticals.

The Virtual Rally to Fight Liver Disease benefits the American Liver Foundation and there are no financial obligations to participants. Just register in support of Northern California. The three state rallies with the most participants will be awarded funding of $20,000, $15,000 and $10,000 from Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals and Onyx Pharmaceuticals. The money will be donated to the local American Liver Foundation office that serves the winning states.

Joining the Virtual Rally is quick, easy and fun! You even get to create your own Virtual Rally participant avatar online. Then share the link with friends and family to help us “Rally” nationwide in support of the fight against liver disease.

Thank you – by doing “virtually” nothing, your support means everything!

Rally now!

ALF Education Programs: Teaching Liver Wellness One Person at a Time

ALF’s Hepatitis C program, Treatment Choices Initiative, is reaching more and more Bay Area residents through presentations at organizations such as Covenant House – Oakland, West Oakland Health Clinic, and Saint Mary’s Center. One 24 year old man left a presentation saying, “There is nothing sexy about liver disease” and another participant had the chance to talk about the loss of his father to liver cancer and to find out how to avoid a similar fate.

An adult version of Love Your Liver was brought to Quan Yin Healing Arts Center in San Francisco where ALF is exploring the possibility of delivering liver wellness programs using an East meets West approach.

Retirement communities in Walnut Creek and Oakland will learn about NAFLD, a form of liver disease that affects up to 25% of Americans (old AND young), prevention tips, and incremental protective lifestyle changes that they can share with their children and grandchildren.

Give the gift of knowledge. ALF is available to present Love Your Liver, Treat Choices Initiative, or NAFLD programs in the workplace, community events, schools, health clinics, and hospitals. To arrange a presentation, call (415)248-1060.

Call to Action

Volunteer! ALF division has many dedicated volunteers but we are always looking for more. We encourage you to consider the following ALF volunteer opportunities::

Time

• Deliver liver health programs
• Create and/or lead an event
• Volunteer at the Liver Life Walk
• Join a committee
• Join the American Liver Foundation’s Division Board

Treasury

• Secure corporate partnerships
• Contact your company or community organization regarding hosting a program or event
• Form a corporate Liver Life Walk Team
• Notify ALF about health fairs or health advocates in your community, school, or business
• Press releases: have media contacts?
• Know someone to feature in a newsletter?
• Share your story!

Talent

• Are you a medical professional or know one who would like to lead a support group?
• Enjoy hiking? Join the Liver Life Challenge Mount Shasta Climb! Registration deadline is May 1st.
• Join the Liver Life Walk in September and help raise funds to support ALF
• Perhaps you love working in an office environment. Give us a call at (415) 248-1060

Archive:

January: 2012 Newsletter Archive 191.1KB An archive of the Northern CA/Nevada Newsletter

Page updated: April 24th, 2012

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