Heidi Kaisand
Good morning and welcome to create with Heidi. I'm Heidi Kaisand, owner of Hen and chicks studio in Conrad, Iowa, and lover of all things creative. Each week here on create with Heidi, we like to cover topics that educate and inspire you about how people are being creative, whether it's quilting, scrapbooking food wall, or just hanging out with others who seem to have their creative Mojo groove and in all the right directions, we are excited to share these things with you. Each week, I like to start with a quote. And today's topic is going to be a little bit more serious than sometimes our fun loving attitude is. But the quote is from john F. Kennedy. When written in Chinese, the word crisis is composed of two characters. One represents danger, the other represents opportunity. And today's topic is very near and dear to my heart. For the last two years, I have had, I usually do it during the month of July, that's my birthday month, and I have a little fun with it. But we have had what were we referred to as a store sample sale. And each of the last two years, we have donated 100% of the money except for the taxes. So when you buy a store sample, you have to pay taxes, that tax money goes to the state just like it should. But 100% of the retail price of the quilt has been donated to somebody or to a cause. In 2019, we donated about $4,000, half of that went to the BCLUW school fund for some needs for kids. And the other half went to a l A l s as a staff members husband had died of that. Last year in 2020. We donated almost $7,000, or we did because it was exactly $7,000. And that went to a young boy who was fighting leukemia. And I do know a little update on him. I do know he has finished his leukemia treatment and things are going very well. So that is very exciting. So for the third year in a row, we will be during the month of July July 1 through the 31st or until there are no quilts left. In July, we will be selling all of our stores samples. And this year, we are selecting two recipients. The first is our guest today. Her name is Alex golar. And the organization that she works for is the American Cancer Society. And we'll be talking with her in just a minute more about that part of the donation. So half of it is going to go to that. And then the other half is going to go to a local woman, Chris Rhinehart, who is a bcluw teacher, and she is currently fighting her own battle of cancer. And of course, you'll learn more about her as the week's go on as well. So today, I would like to introduce Alexx goeller. Good morning, Alexx, how are you today? Good morning. I'm doing good. How are you?
Alexx Goeller
Oh, I am good.
Heidi Kaisand
Cancer is such a topic that I think touches so many people. And so this year, we have decided when I heard you speaking recently at a at an organization that we both were attending, you were talking about a kind of a special program that the American Cancer Society has been doing. And I want you to talk a little bit about the researchers, the women fighting for cancer fighting cancer program. So would you do that for me?
Alexx Goeller
Yeah, absolutely. Thank you so much. So yeah, we are we launched this year for the first time in the state of Utah, which is where I'm calling in from, but it's also a nationwide campaign called research hers. All proceeds from this campaign go to support female cancer researchers. As we're all aware, for the most part, women in every field are typically at a disadvantage, especially women who are scientists, researchers, when they go to start a family or when they are dealing with other obligations, they often have to pause their research. There's not typically grants to help support childcare in that realm. And that's what this program is really trying to go against is making sure that women that are going into cancer research and making these incredible scientific breakthroughs are able to do so while still maintaining a family while still having a fair playing field. Um, and that's the whole goal of the campaign, Really.
Heidi Kaisand
It is, is so interesting, I think that you're you're right, that women so often are added, you know, at a disadvantage, we'd like to think not, but it happens. And so there are so many programs like stem, I know that, you know, are so those programs are so active in our schools today, trying to encourage, you know, young women and young, you know, girls to have more interest in science and math. And, and so the American Cancer Society is involved in that as well, correct?
Alexx Goeller
Yes, yes, absolutely. We're definitely trying to encourage that we actually just launched a new internship program. That is maybe not quite available nationwide yet, but that will give young scientists and, and we're specifically doing a diversity focus. So women, minorities, to have a chance to do an internship in an actual ACS researchers lab. So that'll be really neat coming up. And we've got a pipeline of young researchers, ambassadors that are their goal is to become a cancer researcher. And there's videos that we've shared of them, and they're these young women that are just so excited about their opportunity to potentially try and cure some type of cancer, find some type of treatment that would make it better for people and that we're really encouraging. Yeah, that pipeline, just all the way from middle school is not here. Some of them are so young, and wanting having these big dreams, all the way up into college and be able to take these prestigious internship.
Heidi Kaisand
That is so exciting. Well, we I know, we want to talk more about this, we're going to take a quick commercial break, and we'll be back right after this.
Heidi Kaisand
Welcome back to create with Heidi, this is Heidi Kaisand. And I'm talking with Alexx Goeller of the American Cancer Society. And the the focus today that we're talking about is that we're going to be selling quilts in July, and 100% of that money will be donated, I'm going to split the money between the organization of and you say it researchers, but at the HERS, you're emphasizing in the in the copying will of course put a link to that. And your goal is $2500 for me to raise, is that correct?
Alexx Goeller
Yes, yes. And we have ambassadors is what we're calling our fundraisers, all throughout the country that have Yes, that a 2500 goal that ideally, if we reach that goal nationwide, it will be a pretty big amount.
Heidi Kaisand
Can you imagine that and so, you know, as I start this sale in July, I have no idea what is going to come up this but I know that the support of our community and the support of my followers and listeners and my customers is unbelievable. And I have no doubt in my mind that we should be able to, to raise that money through the sale of the quilts, which will be very exciting, cuz there's everything from everything from table runners, to bed size quilts, so and a variety of prices. So not, you know, not everybody has to feel like they have to come up with a lot of money for quilts. And I actually don't even put the quilts at full price, I bring the price down so that we hopefully can get the move to a home that is much better than that a storage box. And and in the mean. And in the meantime, we're also helping him benefiting other people. And so if people are listening to this, and they are they think you know, they want to become a part an ambassador, you know, is that? Is it something that's open? It's open to everybody? And how do people get involved? You know, what kinds of things would they need to know?
Alexx Goeller
Yes, it is absolutely open to everybody. We started in May, but the campaign will go all the way through December of 2021. And yeah, as you're doing the month of July is a great focus. I mean, people can really choose any time that works for them and in their lives. They would basically just have to register on our website. It's very easy, but I think the easiest way would be for people just to directly reach out to me, and I'm happy to help through the entire process. And I don't know if you want me to say my email or if you guys just want to link it, but
Heidi Kaisand
you can do both you you say it and then we will also link it in the information on the website. But absolutely say your email. Also.
Alexx Goeller
Yeah, so it's Alex with two x's a l e x x .goeller. G as in golf, o e l l e r as in robert@cancer.org.
Heidi Kaisand
And yeah, I absolutely am working through you to do this. I mean, it's, again, cancer affects, I think on the website, on the American Cancer Society website or on something that I read. Am I correct that one in three American battle cancer in their lifetime.
Alexx Goeller
Yes, that is exactly right. And their whole point of research and it's just a harder thing to fund typically, because people aren't seeing those tangible benefits right away, you know, you're not providing a homeless person with a bed that you can see that happened that night. But funding just one research breakthrough, or one study with the right outcome could potentially save countless lives. I mean, the reason we have better outcomes for so many types of cancers, because of the research that's gone into those Prevention's and those treatment options.
Heidi Kaisand
And, and, you know, when you start thinking one in three people, and of course, I think all of us know, somebody who has been affected by cancer, and absolutely any kind of research any kind of, you know, data, you know, even even with a COVID. And, and I'm not a scientist, and I'm not gonna pretend to be a scientist at all, but somebody, you know, pointed out to me, you know, a doctor did that, when we're talking about vaccines, for example, you know, a lot of times it takes years to get a vaccine, because they only have a case here or a case there or a case, you know, study the studies, the opportunities to learn about that are few and far between, whereas with, like, for example, COVID, there were so many cases that they had the opportunity to research things faster, they had the opportunity to test things faster. And when I think about cancer, you know, we don't want we don't want those multiple cases, we want fewer cases of answer. So the more we can research and understand, I guess, my when I look at that, and understand the cases that are out there, the better off future people will be when they're diagnosed with that.
Alexx Goeller
Exactly. And I'm glad you mentioned that, because that is the reason honestly, that there is more that has happened for lung cancer. And for breast cancer, for example. I mean, there is better screening, there is better treatment options. I'm not saying that people still don't get those cancers, and unfortunately, don't always survive them. But there are a lot more options because those are so much more prevalent than say, pancreatic cancer, which is actually what my father passed away from two years ago. And there's that one is just, it doesn't happen enough. There's not enough early detection. But ideally, with more funds towards research, specifically, those kind of more rare cancers can start to be looked at more closely to but yeah, they are they have really tried to focus on those that have, you know, affected larger amounts of people. So, yeah, I'm glad you mentioned that.
Heidi Kaisand
And, and you obviously have a personal connection. Is that why you got involved in american cancer society? Or? Or is it just something really,
Alexx Goeller
I started in January of 2020, which was an interesting time to start a new job. But yeah, he had passed in August of 2019. And I've been doing nonprofit work before, but with refugee populations, it's quite different. And then this opportunity came up in 2019. And I just thought, signs from the universe, I guess, and yeah, have been doing it since 2020. And ideally, fighting in his memory.
Heidi Kaisand
Absolutely. And again, I think so many things that people do, when they hear the word cancer, you know, they know somebody and so I think that we'll be able to generate a lot of, of people coming in to buy quilts to, to donate to these causes, you know, to both, again, I'm gonna say bar at the national level with this particular research that we're talking about with you. And then on the personal level, when we have a local teacher, that, you know, she's, she's been teaching middle school for years. And, and so she affects family after family, and she touches family after family. And, and she wants to keep teaching, and she wants to be there. So research, like the things we're talking about will affect her future, as well. So that's important.
Alexx Goeller
Absolutely. Just want to say to thank you for doing this, it's really, really generous of you. And when I first met you and heard you do this every July for some cause that's really inspiring, and we're super appreciative to be one of your chosen charities.
Heidi Kaisand
Well, hey, my pleasure to be able to do this, I again, I've been very fortunate not to have cancer, be a part of my immediate family, and we're lucky for that,you know, to be able to, to not have it touch just a message just directly to us. So that's certainly, yeah, that makes a difference. You know, one of the things that I think is interesting that I was on the website just a little bit, are there any of the particular women researchers that that you would like to highlight as to any of the work that they might be doing? Cuz I know there were there were some that were talked about on there, or is that something that you can address? And we Yeah, and we may have to talk a little bit more about it. We've got about a minute before we go to commercial break, so why don't we get started and then we'll Then we'll take a little break and come back. Yes, great.
Alexx Goeller
So these are all Utah based. But we also have women that are researchers throughout the country, nearly half of our researchers are women throughout the entire nation. But in Utah, we've got one doctor who's focusing on melanoma specifically, and how a particular protein contributes to the spread of the tumor and how they could potentially isolate that tumor, isolate that protein, and then ideally inhibit those tumor cells from spreading and or growing larger.
Heidi Kaisand
Wow, that's, that itself is very interesting. We're gonna take a quick commercial break, and we'll be back right after this.
Heidi Kaisand
Welcome back to create with Heidi, this is Heidi Kaisand, at hen and chicks studio in Conrad, Iowa. And our guest today is Alexx goeller. And she is with the American Cancer Society. And is here today specifically, it's the year title is community development. Is that is that correct?
Alexx Goeller
Yes. Community Development managers by really works, you engage with the communities, and you at large corporations, individuals, foundations, and helping them come in and support the American Cancer Society monetarily through in kind donations through volunteering events, hopefully, that we'll be able to have later this year. And yeah, really just working on that community engagement.
Heidi Kaisand
And that's wonderful. I think anytime that communities come together, they could do amazing things, there's, there's something about the power of masses, it can work very well. And so yeah, um, you know, again, there's gonna be several ways to get involved, we're going to be having our quilt sale. And that will be something that people can buy, say, contact us during July, and purchase the store samples and donate the money through there. But of course, they can contact you directly, you've already given us your email. And we'll of course, put that in our story notes, and in contact information as we're promoting this particular show, so that people can also get involved directly to the American Cancer Society. Yes, perfect. Absolutely. So let's go back to right before the break, you were telling us about one particular researcher now, if you have more information about that her, or is there are there others that you would like to share with us?
Alexx Goeller
Yeah, that to others that are working on other things, there's actually three that I can talk about, but I'll do my best, I have to have them send me their research in like the most layman's terms, because I'm not from a scientific background, I'm probably working on inhibiting certain proteins that are responsible for breast cancer growth, as well as how to provide less toxic treatment that will have better long term survival. So a lot of them are working with particular protein. And then a third is investigating the linkage between cancer cells and then surrounding cells in the tumor, as as often the reason behind the failure of cancer therapeutics, that she wants to understand that kind of communication or what happens there in order to overcome those barriers. And then we actually also have another researcher who's a social worker with kids who have had cancer. And she's kind of working on various ways of what types of treatments and therapies work best for kids that have gone through these really traumatic cancer diagnoses. Yeah, she's, they're all wonderful and so willing to share. And typically in a normal world, they do lab tours, and I actually can send you if you want to, to link to it, as well, a video of one of the researchers talking about her research more eloquently than I. And we also have a video of an actual lab tour of an ACS lab that is not a new type, I forget where it is exactly. But they're both just two minute long videos that are super interesting,
Heidi Kaisand
We would love to have the links to those because we can again, we can put them on the website. For people who are listening, our show obviously airs every Wednesday morning. But after the show is done, then we actually make it into a podcast and put it on our website. And so you can always go back to our website and find all of our shows, and all of the information connected with those shows. So that like links to what you're talking about Alex, the videos, your email address, those kinds of things are always on our website, literally under the tab that is podcast. It's a podcast tab, and then you'll find both the Google player podcast player that we have there, and then all of the links to the individual shows. So absolutely send, send those links over we'd be glad to include those. I think the more awareness I mean, one of the things that just as you were talking about a couple of those different researchers, and and I can only imagine I'll say the layman's term that you used, even as you were talking, I'm like a little bit like, I'm not quite sure what that means. But the one thing The one thing that did just touch me and I know last year, it touched all of us as we were raising money for the little boy with leukemia. Cancer does not, is not selective.
Alexx Goeller
No,
Heidi Kaisand
and it touches all ages, all races, all, you know, sexes. I mean, you I mean, there is there is no, there's nothing off limits when it comes to cancer. And I think that is, is powerful to know that when we're talking about the American Cancer Society and nor raising money and the research is your, if we help the American Cancer Society do more research, we're helping everybody, everybody. I mean, not just one person, not just because there's so many different kinds of cancer and, and to even understand like the social worker, like, I can't fathom how you have to adjust for kids that are having cancer to mothers that are having cancers fathers, sons, daughters, I mean, everybody's got a different angle of that.
Alexx Goeller
Yeah, that's absolutely true. And I think that's a very important thing to remember, I had honestly never even really thought about childhood cancer until I started working here. And that's another big program that I typically talk about and work to raise funds for pediatric cancer research specifically. But this, this program, obviously still ties into that. A lot of those researchers are females. Yeah, I had no idea how prevalent it is in children. But in everyone, like you said, and we actually do a lot of work in cancer equity as well and looking at why is it that communities of color are getting screened less? Why is it that there is not as much access to clinics or you know, things like that, so we're doing a bit of quite a bit of work in that realm, as well to really understand better and provide opportunity, equal opportunity for everyone to have access to the treatment and the prevention that they deserve. And
Heidi Kaisand
well, we are very excited to be a part of this, I wish I could say that, we you know, we're raising money to do I'm gonna say go on a trip and you know, sit on a beach. But and this is critical. This is important, and I hope that our listeners will visit our website, there'll be more information linked in our show and and in July, we'll be having lots of links to all of our quilts that are on sale. And we hope that we can raise lots of lots of money for both American Cancer Society and for Chris Rhinehart. So in the meantime, we hope you'll visit hen and chick studio and Conrad online at henandchicks studio.com to find everything you need to know about quilting and all things creative. And until next week, be creative