When I sat down with Barbara Sciandra, co-founder of Paint Pittston Pink (PPP), I got the sense she’s a strong woman who knows exactly what she’s doing and how to get it done.
We are basically on the eve of the sixth annual PPP campaign where some serious money — to the tune of $330,000 — has been raised for research. That’s pretty incredible.
This year Barbara and Team PPP have a $100,000 goal and, if anyone can do it, it’s this group of driven individuals who would like to stop cancer altogether.
Getting to know Barbara and her husband Sal over the years has been a pure delight.
For a woman who faced adversity like a diagnosis of breast cancer, she offers a calming demeanor and makes you feel at ease.
If she’s bitter over being diagnosed with cancer, she masks it well. I don’t think that’s the case with Barbara, at all.
There are a few ways you can approach cancer — you can fight like hell, you can give up or your can take advantage of it and do something positive. Barbara is a fighter and she’s definitely making it her mission to do something positive. What she’s doing is and will make a difference for many.
When I was diagnosed with cancer, I didn’t form a foundation or wear a ribbon. What I did was use this platform to, hopefully, educate a lot of men out there that prostate cancer is not an “old man’s disease.”
I was very vocal and open when I was diagnosed, but not all people are like that. Some either keep it a secret. However a person chooses to deal with a cancer diagnosis must be respected.
Barbara is as proactive as anyone I’ve known in her position. After researching, writing and cover PPP, I’m surprised she doesn’t have a migraine the size of Manhattan.
Next week, the Sunday Dispatch will publish a special tabloid section on all things PPP, so keep an eye out for that next Sunday.
The first event up for PPP is something that will be published after the event.
PPP will present Dueling Pianos from 7 to 9 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 20 at the Knights in downtown Pittston.
The event is being held in honor of Lisa Jones Kutra, an Avoca resident who who succumbed to breast cancer this past March.
The piano event promises to be filled with fun, music and plenty of music to sing along – not to mention a lot of laughs and a chance to remember Lisa.
Lisa was a remarkable woman, mother, teacher, advocate and a champion in creating awareness about metastatic breast cancer.
She was so accomplished, she even ran the NYC Marathon for Ryan Lecky’s Ryan’s Run 6 in creating awareness for her cause.
Lisa left behind two beautiful daughters, Cassie and Caroline Kutra, as well as her loving parents, Ned and Mary Kay Brogan Jones.
Young Professionals
I covered the annual Young Professionals awards in Forty Fort this past week and was so impressed with all the young professionals in the hall.
It was a room full of professionals in their 20s and 30s who have their acts and their careers together.
I was in admiration of all of them in knowing just what they want to do with their lives. I didn’t know what I was doing in my life at those ages. I tease people when I say, “I still don’t know what I want to do when I grow up.”
I admit I was a late bloomer, really late. Not all of us have any idea what we want to get out of life and sometimes it takes a lifetime to figure it out.
It was a great time that night for the youth of America and I think we’ll be in good hands with the next generation of leaders — if, in fact, they are not leading already.
Birthday thoughts
One day out of the year I feel is special is your birthday. After all, it’s how we got here.
In my youth, I couldn’t wait for the mailman to arrive with cards from family and friends, but in today’s day and age, cards have been replaced by texts and emails and Facebook birthday wishes and “likes.”
We’ve lost the personal attention of a card, but you have to go with the times.
I’ll take what I can get, so to those of you who wished me a happy birthday, thank you!
Last week, I mention the other milestone in my life when I declared myself 14 years cancer free. My math teacher daughter informed me it’s 13 years.
No running from the number 13 now, so I get to celebrate 13 years twice
While looking for quotes for the column, I found this one and, man, it’s so true. I hated reading it, but it’s spot on.
“Unfortunately, the clock is ticking, the hours are going by. The past increases, the future recedes. Possibilities decreasing, regrets mounting.” – Haruki Murakami, Japanese writer
Make it a great week.
Quote of the week
“Those who make the worst use of their time are the first to complain of its brevity.” – Jean de La Bruyère, French philosopher
Thought of the week
“Don’t waste your time with explanations; people only hear what they want to hear.” – Paul Coelho, Brazil novelist
Bumper sticker
“Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana.” – Anthony G. Oettinger, German scientist
