WOMEN'S HEALTH ~ Caring Connections A Cooperative Health Program for Women offered by the Bangor Y and Eastern Maine Medical Center through the philanthropic activities of Healthcare Charities. Caring Connections has recently been notified the Avon Breast Care Foundation will assist Caring Connections with a supplemental grant in 2008 - the THIRD year Avon is assisting this need program. Download Caring Connections Newsletter September - October 2008 Download CaringConnections Newsletter November - December 2008 If you have trouble reading our newsletter, click here to download Adobe Reader CARING CONNECTIONS Breast and Cervical Health Program Provides no-cost pap tests, mammograms, and related services to women 40 years of age and older through the Maine Breast & Cervical Health Program. Women must qualify financially and be underinsured (have insurance with a high deductible) or uninsured. Call Ro LeGasse or Robin Long at 941-2808 to learn more about this program. Early detection is your best protection. Bridging The Gap Bridging The Gap (BTG) is a program funded by a grant from Susan G. Komen for the Cure - Maine Affiliate. BTG provides breast health exams and imaging to women ages 30-39 who are at high risk or have symptoms of concern. Women in their 20's with symptoms concerning them can also receive services at no cost. Women must qualify financially and be underinsured or uninsured. If you are a woman between 20 and 39 years old, and are concerned about your breast health, call Caring Connections at 941-2808.Through the 2007 grant weprovided breast screening and diagnostic services to 21 young women. Sixteen of those women contacted us with symptoms concerning them. Our intense outreach efforts result in these women finding Bridging The Gap. Bone Health Information & Discussion Groups These sessions are a combined project of the Health & Fitness Department and Caring Connections. Groups meet each month. Speakers on maintaining/improving bone health are scheduled monthly. Calcium-rich food samples and recipes are also provided. These groups are for you, whether you have strong bones, osteopenia (some bone loss), or osteoporosis. Learn how to enhance both your bone health and overall health though daily lifestyle choices. Call Caring Connections at 941-2808 for meeting dates and topics or to be placed on the mailing list. Bridging Books Bridging Books is a project that provides resource and information packets to women newly diagnosed with breast cancer. Over 40 surgeons and other breast health/cancer sites in Eastern and Northern Maine give a packet containing a foundation book and other resource materials to women on the day of or close to the day of diagnosis. Bridging Books is funded by the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation - Maine Affiliate. Bridging Books provided resource packets to more than 350 women (and some men) in fifteen counties in 2007. A unique collaboration with the Maine Breast Cancer Coalition helps us provide Bridging Books resources to newly diagnosed persons throughout Maine who have contacted the coalition. ENCOREplus ENCOREplus is a national YWCA program designed to assist women diagnosed with breast cancer. ENCOREplus offers a safe environment of support and understanding for women with questions and concerns that accompany a diagnosis of breast cancer. ENCOREplus groups meet regularly in Bangor, see times below, and in Calais, Ellsworth, Millinocket, and Pittsfield. We have trained group leaders in Ellsworth and Dover-Foxcroft who are available to assist newly diagnosed women. Call Caring Connections for meeting schedules and contact information at 941-2808. ENCOREplus in Bangor - Meetings Wednesdays, 12:30pm Isaac Farrar Mansion on Union Street, Bangor. Swim time in the Means (warm water) Pool for ENCORE members who are interested - from 2 - 3 p.m. 2nd Tues of the month, 5:30 pm, Isaac Farrar Mansion on Union Street, Bangor. ENCOREplus - the evening session (on the 2nd Tues of the month) welcomes not only women with breast cancer, but also their partners, friends, spouses, or adult children to the discussion/ informational group.For more information, call Ro or Robin at 941-2808. EVENT UPDATES and 2009 EVENT Schedules BEACH to BEACH - Sunday, August 10th. Caring Connections' biggest fundraiser ever! The 2008 earnings are greater than ever! We gorssed over $20,000! We thank all of you for supporting this fundraiser. You are absolutely amazing! The money earned contributes to the Caring Connections budget and it assistns women in need of breast and cervical health screening, diagnostics, education, and support. BEACH to BEACH could not happen without you. Again, we humbly thank you!BEACH to BEACH 2009 will take place on Sunday, August 9th. ENCOREplus Retreat - Friday, September 5th through Saturday, September 6th. This event is specifically for women who are living with breast cancer. The Retreat is held at Camp Jordan on Branch Lake, just outside of Ellsworth. This year set an unprecidented record with more than 60 women signing up and attending! Some said it was the greatest retreat ever. Many are planning to return next year. Not only was this an opportunity to leave the schedule behind and enjoy the moments, but it was a chance to discuss some difficult topics with a sisterhood of women who understand. Retreat 2009 is changing the schedule and also increasing hours of operation --- in order to better serve the many women who wish to participate. Survivors' Retreat 2009 will begin on Saturday morning, September 12th and end in the afternoon of September 13th. Race for the Cure -Susan G. Komen for the Cure - Maine.Sunday, September 21, 2008. Race for the Cure earned over $250,000 in Bangor, Maine this year. More than 4,400 people registered for the Race as well. Both of those numbers are records! Caring Connections' ENERGIZERS Team received the award for the largest community teamwith over 125 team members. That's our largest team ever! With our registration money and pledges combined, we brought in over $7,000. What a Team! Race for the Cure 2009 will take place on Sunday, September 20th. Back to Health & Fitness page.