Thank you to our volunteers, sponsors, survivors, families, the media and the City of New Britain.

“No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another.”

-Charles Dickens

Now the real work begins of selecting breast cancer research projects to finance, in order to continue our mission to support leading edge breast cancer research in Connecticut.

It’s not too late to turn in your pledges! The Friends Asking Friends Pledge Program will remain open until JUNE 30TH for accepting online donations and turning in pledge money in order to qualify for incentive gifts.

Click here to Pledge!

Click here to view Race results!

Please click here to see the results!

If you have any corrections to your name or age, please send an email to info@ctrace.org. Thanks.

Below are the 2012 Grantees:

Yale Cancer Center: Michael DiGiovanna, MD/PhD - Awarded $50,000

Combination Targeting of IGF-I Receptor and HER2 in Breast Cancer

About this Project:  This project studies interactions between three receptors in the breast tumors. One of these receptors, IGF1R, may play a role in resistance to drugs such as Herceptin and Tamoxifen that specifically target the other two receptors, HER2 and ER respectively. In addition, HER2 is one member of a family of four similar receptors that work cooperatively to make cancer cells grow. It has been discovered that a cancer’s use of the other receptors in the family may play a role in resistance to drugs that only target one of these receptors. Therefore, it may be more effective to inhibit all of the receptors rather than just one.  CTBHI has been funding this project for the past three grant funding years and continues to support its progress.

University of Connecticut Health Center: Dr. Pam Taxel, MD and Dr. Regina Landesberg, DMD, PhD - Awarded $50,000

Investigation of the Ability of the UCONNS (University of Connecticut OsteoNecrosis Numerical Scale) to Predict the Risk for the Developing Osteonecrosis of the Jaw in Women Receiving Bone-Modifying Therapies for Breast Cancer.

About this Project:  Osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ), first reported in 2003, is a serious clinical condition where exposed bone in the mouth persists for more than 6-8 weeks in spite of conservative therapy.  This condition has been associated with the use of nitrogen-containing biophosphonates (BPs), and another medication, Denosumab, both of which are used in cancer therapy.  Thus, ONJ can interrupt this important treatment regimen.  Despite recent research, the ability to predict which patients will develop this condition has remained elusive.  The cause of ONJ is not clearly defined, and there are a number of clinical and possibly genetic risk factors that likely contribute to its development.

The UCONNS scale was developed by the investigators who took their research employers famous abbreviation and incorporated it into their work as a name for the assessment tool they are using in the study.

St. Vincent’s Medical Center in Bridgeport: Cindy Czaplinski, RN, MSN, NE-B - Awarded $25,000

Education Grant for The High Risk Women’s Clinic

About this Project:  The High Risk Women’s Clinic will provide a system of education and support for an underserved population of Bridgeport women who have limited access to healthcare and genetic testing.  This study will compare compliance in high-risk women who are seen at the Clinic to those who were not seen.  The project will also collect data on possible variables, including race, surgeon, and education level that may have affected access to interventions based on high-risk status.  The proposed research findings will be used to secure additional funds to permanently support a High Risk Women’s Clinic, which will provide individualized care for women at a greater risk for breast cancer.

University of Connecticut Health Center: Dr.Eric Avelar, MD, FACC - Awarded $50,000

Early Detection of Cardiotoxicity by Advanced Cardio-Imaging and a Novel Biomarker in Breast Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy

About this Project:  The advent of modern cancer treatment has significantly improved the outcome of patients with cancer and, for the first time, has introduced survivorship as a theme in their management.  Connecticut has the second highest rate of breast cancer in the country.  As more anticancer drugs are under investigation by the food and drug administration (FDA), there is a need for clear consensus or guideline to assure safe approval of these agents.  Cardiovascular disease has become a leading cause of death among breast cancer survivors; it is, therefore, imperative to investigate ways to prevent heart injury from anticancer medications, without interfering with the great benefit of that treatment.  There is a growing expectation for a newer, noninvasive, and highly predictive diagnostic algorithm that will detect early subclinical cardiotoxicity.  This can only be accomplished, however, with careful investigation utilizing both advanced imaging and novel biomarkers.

University of Connecticut Health Center: Dr.Susan Tannenbaum, MD

1st CT BHI-Funded Professorship for Breast Cancer

First Place – Terese N. Lagana

Our first place winner, Terese N. Lagana, is finishing her junior year at Central Connecticut State University where she is majoring in Communications. In her own words “I have know several people in my life that have suffered through (and survived) breast cancer. I have lost one of the most influential people in my life, my grandfather, to cancer. I think the RACE IN THE PARK is an amazing way to raise awareness for not only breast cancer, but for cancer in general. Knowledge is our most valuable tool for fighting the good fight. Overall the RACE promotes togetherness and promotes families to take part together…this is why I chose to include a family in my entry.” Terese will be receiving a check for $3000 to go toward education from the CT Breast Health Initiative.

Second Place – Hannah Purtell

Our second place winner, Hannah Purtell, is a senior at Cheshire high school. She runs year round and on her school’s track team. Hannah was compelled to create this video because her very close friend and fellow cross country captain recently lost her mother to breast cancer. “She had incredible spirit, optimism and a sense of humor that never faltered…I wanted to try to portray her spirit through my video.” Hannah will be receiving a check form $2000 to go toward education from the CT Breast Health Initiative.

Third Place – Brian McDuff

Our third place winner, Brian McDuff , is a junior at Quinnipiac University. He created this video because he loved the idea of an event that brings people together for a cause that means so much to so many families in Connecticut. Brian will be receiving a check form $1000 to go toward education from the CT Breast Health Initiative.

We are so honored to be chosen and are looking forward to working with an amazing organization! Please click on the picture above to read more about the Imperial Sovereign Court of All Connecticut.

The CT Breast Health Initiative is seeking 169 Town Ambassadors to serve as the voice of breast cancer research and education in their local communities.  Please click on the “Read More” link for more information.

Whether you are a survivor with a personal story to share or longtime supporter of breast cancer research and education, this is an opportunity to let your voice be heard and take an active role in helping to find a cure for breast cancer in Connecticut.
Please help us fill the entire state, below, in pink.  The form to sign up as a town ambassador appears at the bottom of this page.

• Educating friends, family, colleagues and neighbors on the importance of local breast cancer research and education
• Acting as a liaison between media and your community
• Sharing news from CT Breast Health Initiative across your social networks
• Encouraging local breast cancer fundraising in your community
• Increasing awareness of, participation in and support for CT Breast Health Initiative’s RACE IN THE PARK
• Participating in CT Breast Health Initiative events

To make your job easy, CT Breast Health Initiative will be providing each Town Ambassador with a toolkit of materials to help raise awareness and support for breast cancer research and education in Connecticut.

Please print the following form, and scan and email it to
ambassador@ctbhi.org, or mail it to:

CT Breast Health Initiative
185 Main St, room 201
New Britain, CT 06051

The form can also be faxed to 860-827-7105.

A Thoughtful Gift!

Yolanda Pucinski, Photographer and Owner of YC Photo Designs, has created a calendar that features survivors/ participants of the RACE in the Park with proceeds going to CT BHI. Cost for the calendar is $24.99, plus $6.96 S/H (the calendars will ship UPS). Calendars are also available at the CT BHI office.

2013 CT BHI 10th Anniversary Calendar, plus S/H

$24.99 + 6.96

Photo taken by Heather Fronczek

Suzanne Levy and her two daughters found a creative way to show their Pink Power and they’re calling it “Boobie Stones to Educate” (BSE); also standing for Breast Self Exams.

These stones represent our unique bodies & the importance of caring for ourselves. A Reminder to take power into your own hands and do your monthly Breast Self Exam. All proceeds go toward Breast Cancer Research funded by the CT Breast Health Initiative.

Available as a scared object to hold or magnet. Please visit Suzanne’s website for more information.

Photo taken by Heather Fronczek