The Cancer Hope Network

In this episode of Planet New Jersey, we talk to Beth Blakey about books, boardwalk games and the Cancer Hope Network where patients and their loved ones can find support.

Episode Transcript

(00:16):
In place to be planning
New Jersey.
Welcome everybody to Planet New Jersey. I'm tell
your host down this trip through the Garden
State Parkway time and space. Joining me as
always are my awesome c,
Casey Sc and Randy Stevens.
And today, we are going to be joined
by Beth Blake of the cancer Hope network.

(00:40):
We're gonna get started with an ice breaker,
And if... This is a simple 1, very
New Jersey based. What's your favorite boardwalk walking
game or maybe you have some memories of
playing these things?
Beth go ahead. First of all, we wanna
have everybody hear your voice for our audio
only audience. So why don't you start?
Excellent. Thank you so much for having me.
I appreciate it. It's our pleasure for sure.

(01:02):
I am a Jersey girl. I was born
here. And went to school here and have
it left. So I have a lot of
favorites,
but I think
embarrassing enough the claw game her
so embarrassing, but I love the claw game.
My daughter is addicted to those. Like, everywhere

(01:23):
we should we go. She's gotta do it.
She's decent it, which really annoys me. Because
it means no matter what. She's walking away
with some kind of a toy.
Well, my my son did that 1 year,
we played the claw game, and I think
we ended up spending about 250
dollars or some 5 dollar something like way
over on Amazon. So, you know, it happens.
And then they really do put, like, crazy

(01:44):
expensive things in there sometimes. And you just
know. There's no chance in hell. You're gonna
pick up a your 10 switch
That's the thing you might you have to
have hope.
Exactly. You never you never know. There there
is this... I heard on Npr behavioral
economics where if you think that's yours.
Even though it's 5 dollars, and you end

(02:06):
up spending 200 dollars for it. It becomes
rational at that point because you really have
ownership on it. 500 percent think. I was
gonna say at that point, it's the sunk
cost fallacy. Like, if you don't if you
don't actually get the thing, then you've put
that money in for nothing, and and I'm
it's hard to just walk away. I think
the easiest 1 to when. I remember... I'm...

(02:26):
I'm going back to dating days here Event.
Maybe you can recall is when you, like,
shoot the water into, like, the clowns mouth
off the box.
Up. Yeah. I love Have won plenty of
those and, you know,
There's this chuck e cheese we go to,
and they have it, and it's 2 of
them, and I'll do 1 and my daughter
will do the other, and 1 of them
is like, half broken
I always make sure to take that 1,

(02:47):
and she talks like crazy smack when she
does it. It should be like.
Just like...
I let you win that
That's fabulous. I love it. How much you
Casey?
So you know the game where you... There's,
like, a frog and you would hit this
Lily play thing. And Up a Lily, we

(03:07):
would play at Hershey park, and I swear
that they would
speed it up. I felt like, I'm sure
it was just my poor marks shi, but
I would hit that frog, and I'd be
watching it because I'd be fairly obsessed with
this. And as when, I would hit it.
I'd be like, just totally gonna hit that
Lily pad, and I feel like it would
just speed up a little, or it wouldn't.
I don't know. It could've been my mind,
but I I felt like something was happening

(03:29):
there.
Don't know sports. I didn't play sports.
I am oddly really good at that. Like,
you know, I I have this way of
just... I don't know what it is. Like,
the physics of a Lily pad and a
frog and a hammer. I'm just like, yep,
This is what I got... Then you was
a natural like golf. The first time you
picked up the clothes on you're like... Sure.
You are. You're a golfer.

(03:51):
I I'll never get used to hear in
that. It's true.
I I would say for me, and this
is kind of like a new love that
I've picked up would be ski.
I always hated ski. Because when I when
I was in high school,
I was volunteering. It was sort of, like
a fundraiser.
At a major
major theme park in New Jersey, we won't

(04:12):
name any names to protect the innocent. But
I think there's only the 1 so.
But yes. I was volunteering there, and I
was doing the ski ball stuff, and somebody
threw 1 over hand.
Shade off the thing. Hit me in the
head. I have a nice little dent here
now. And I had a concussion at the
time. And so for years, like, I... I
just hated the idea of ski. Oh scars,

(04:33):
man. Yeah. Right? Recently got back into it.
I'm not awesome at it. It's not like
the frog thing, but it is fun. You
know
It is live the tickets. Yeah. It's for
your for your crazy nonsense. I I always
just prior to having a a daughter. I...
Just wound up giving the tickets away. That
was always the fun thing. Like, you know,
you find some kid. You're just like here.

(04:53):
I have just made your day with this
jumping stare
tickets. Skin out. It's worth the big goals.
Yeah.
Well, that's that's our ice breaker.
Actually, I'm up next I I completely forgot.
So we're gonna... We're gonna learn a little
bit about Beth. If you're watching this on
Youtube, you'll be able to see her back

(05:14):
around. Otherwise, you're just gonna have to take
my word for it. She has flank herself
with all of her favorite books here? And
so I'm gonna ask you to pick out
1. What would you say your favorite is?
Oh, that's hard. I love them all, But
I I think
I I love people of the book by
Geraldine Brooks. It's
a wonderful book. It crosses many different, periods

(05:34):
of time.
It's
about an illuminated H book that has been
passed on from, like,
you know, Bc all the way through it
follows the
progression of the book and how it changes
hands.
Over and over and over again until present
day, and it's just a it's a really
beautifully written story,

(05:56):
and I just love it. I love time
travel and
learning about different, you know, historic historical fiction,
but learning about different periods of time through
historical fiction. So... That's genres? That's a great
answer. Thank you.
Sure. What are you reading right now?
I am actually in between books right now.

(06:18):
I started listening to a,
another historical fiction book, the frozen river, but
I'm not deep into it. It it seems
like it's going to be good.
It has
a little bit of everything that I enjoy,
a mid midlife, a murder,
a mystery,
and it takes place. I think I'm I'm

(06:38):
trying to figure it, but I think it
takes place, like, roughly,
revolutionary times. So...
Alright. Now before we started, I I was
asking you you were saying you're also, like,
maybe a little into movies. Where you somebody
that... In, like, let's say you hear
on the, you know, the grapevine that 1
of your books is being adapted into a
film. Is that something that excites you or

(06:59):
no? The question.
It does. It does. I'm I'm always interested
to see how other people interpret
a book, you know, whether that's... Know, through
a conversation in a book club or how
they interpret un film. I really enjoy seeing
that,
and I'm not 1 of those people that
you know, such a p with the Book

(07:20):
that I get angry if it doesn't follow
the book exactly it's it's people's interpretation. Everybody
has the right to interpretation and it just
becomes a different story in my mind if
fun... If it's, you know, presented differently in
a book. But I am, I just finished
watching
the tattoo of auschwitz.
The... That was turned into a limited series.

(07:41):
And so we're
Oh, I can't remember the other 1,
similar, you know, about the the holocaust. And
both of those were
different from the book.
We were the lucky ones was the other
1. Both of them were, you know, different
from the book, but they were beautifully
done,

(08:01):
really
emotional obviously, and, just very, very interesting and
in how different they were presented cinematic. So...
Yeah. Yeah. Then can we ask that and
reverse? Can we, like, can Max that and
reverse? Like, are films that you seen Beth
that you were like, oh, I didn't read
that book and you wanna go, you know,
you know I'm saying so you watched the
film first heard about the book and then
went and pick that up.

(08:22):
I haven't done it yet, but I'm really
looking forward to reading where the cra sing.
I saw the movie and
was great, And I was like, I now
I've gotta read it. So... Yeah. So... But
III don't remember anything
recent where I did the reverse. Now Awesome.
That 1 struck me though. That was a

(08:43):
great. And the book... And just like you
said,
the adaptation is is that filmmakers
adaptation, the book is it's is the book.
So it's it's definitely worth reading even if
you watched it. Yeah. That's it's fantastic.
Historical fiction just while around real quick. Did
you read West it's for giraffes?
I did. That was such a great book.

(09:04):
That was so
fantastic. I I loved that 1. What's it
about? For it... So it's about... Now. I've
read it a while ago, but it's about...
There's AAA
guy who is...
Move... They're moving a draft from 1 coast
to the other.
It

(09:24):
yeah, I guess, it was a truck or
a train, whatever it was, but it it
was just... It was this magic story
where... You know, there's... There's a love story
and Paul, but it was this magic story
about this giraffe being
moved across the country
early on, like, you know, cars were newer,
you know, cars were newer, transportation was obviously

(09:45):
different
ease of transportation was different, but it was
just...
I was gonna say I would imagine that
would be harder to do today than then
because today, you have all kinds of under
bad isn't everything. Yeah. Good point. You gotta
really plan the round world so that you
don't hit something where you're like, off week
go in there. That's true. That's true. And...
But it was interesting right, because historically, the

(10:07):
dust bowl is also here.
And Oh, that's right. It was that time
period. Yeah. So there's lots of, like, American
in it that Yep. I'd speak to it.
And then when you go to, if you
wanna go down the rabbit find the actual
article, the drafts that made it to Arm.
That was a the Fabulous 1. Yeah. That
1 was really interesting. And then I I

(10:28):
actually write after or right before I read
4 wins, like corona. So I was kind
of in this, like, weird little dust bowl
era,
in my reading
journey. So... But, yeah, It was good. It
was very good. Yeah. That's a great 1.
Very, very cool. Randy,
if you wanna take us into a beth
professional journey, Let's hear it. Absolutely. And, and

(10:51):
Beth I mean, I know. You know, pre
show or prep production, however you would officially
say it. You were telling us that, you've
been a Jersey girl, your your whole life,
what area what region if you don't mind
sharing that with this. Sure. So I was...
When I was born, my parents were living
in Highland Lakes, which is deep up in
Sussex County,
we lived in Highland Lakes until I was
in third grade, and then we moved, still

(11:13):
in Sussex County, but we moved to Sparta,
and. That's where I went to elementary school
middle to school in high school, graduated from
Sparta High school, and then I went to
college at rutgers.
Lot. This so...
And I I went to Rutgers
in New Brunswick,
At that point in time, Rutgers Crews was
still separated into the 5 different campuses

(11:33):
in New Brunswick, so I was a Livingston
College.
Graduate. So... The the b the Bi and
us, can appreciate someone with such deep rooted
Jersey roots and, you know, keeping your career
here. Like, we we greatly appreciate
That that's good. That's good to hear.
And I'm Jersey. I love it here. So
we have everything. You've got 3 witnesses, You

(11:54):
know, we all agree.
Hundred percent. I was just having a conversation
actually, Randy the other day.
With 1 of my colleagues who lives out
in Washington.
And I was saying, you know, people don't
realize at at our office, which is in
Chester, New Jersey,
you know, we're right in the middle of
all of the different farms in the area,
and we've had some really interesting visitors.

(12:18):
To the little patch of brass outside our
window. We had a, white peacock walking around
the other day. No. And then we had
a wild turkey that really wanted to work
at Cancer Network. And he just tried to
follow my colleague in
several mornings, Turkey he wouldn't leave, and then
you decided the intersection right there by our
office was a good place to hang out

(12:39):
and cause all kinds of traffic problems.
But, yeah. It's
it's it's such a beautiful state so many
people think of New Jersey as, you know,
this, you know, Right. Urban,
you know, dirty area, and it's just it's
it's farm country. It's trails. It's, you know,
the beautiful beaches. You you really

(12:59):
can't get a nicer state in my listen.
All in favor of given Beth herb. Planner
New Jersey residency card immediately, pushing that through,
like, say, I, there you go.
Yeah. Take it.
Cock are Hilarious. I I was on a
film shoot once, and there was 1 that
was following me around and everything, And I
asked the guy, Like, what's up with this
peacock? And he goes, oh, He's got crush

(13:20):
on you and Was like what
These thing just followed me around, like, the
whole day. I think I was just me,
then. I thought I was dealing with it...
For dude.
No. No. You have a a hack to
compete with.
And you don't. Threaten their stuff.
Oh, man. That's that's that's good to hear.
It's very very interesting too. And I'll just
say this too before I move on. I

(13:41):
grew up in Mercer County so kinda of
central Jersey.
Yeah about 3 to 4 years ago, we
relocated to Southern Jersey real just farmland, like,
I'm... I've been saying this for the last
couple months to where my wife is only,
like, we do a lot of form stands
and that sort of thing. I said, like,
in a lot of our vegetables are like,
form a table now. Like, Yeah You know
I'm 1 I'm 1 of those people now,
so I appreciate a good form stand for
sure. I love Jersey. So now here's a

(14:03):
real question for you.
What do you call the little things that
you put on top of your ice cream?
Do love all sprinkles. I've always called for
share. Alright. So you haven't been ind as
a South Jersey boy white yet.
What they what what's amazing?
Yeah. When I... When I went to Rutgers,
I didn't realize that for a small of

(14:23):
a state, New Jersey is. To wildly different
North Jersey
absolutely. I learned, you know, Jimmy versus sprinkles
or
And subs. I think is a another when
you hear people kinda debate bow a little
bit. Which 1? Bogey and subs like hug
and subs? Yeah. Taylor ham yeah. Versus
have that conversation vacation. U.

(14:44):
Bow it's crazy. Right? Well, you've kept a
little of the Central Jersey and You... In
New Jersey access it immediately granted to beth.
I mean, we look we know for already.
We we love her already. So III got
a more formal question for you. I was
playing around on Linkedin a little bit and
just inspiring your career, your steps and your
paths.
So from corporate

(15:04):
positions in leadership to profit management? Like, how
was that transition? And and or was there
something that kinda led to a pivot you
know, in such different spaces.
So there were a couple of pivot.
The first, I I started my career in
in the corporate world,
and I did that. Honestly, because I didn't
know that there were any other options.

(15:24):
You know, you go to college, and they
tell you, you know, the goal is to
come out of college and be successful, make
money be successful, and I thought a job
in Corporate America was the way that you
did it.
But I never felt
connected to the work that I was doing.
I I really... I've always felt called to

(15:46):
do something that made a difference.
And
I met my husband while I was working
in the city. I I worked in the
city briefly. And
he worked in the nonprofit sector, and he
really introduced me to the nonprofit sector and
it's like, I I thought that was just
for people. Who had a lot of money
and time on their hands to volunteer. I
didn't know That was something that I could

(16:07):
do as a career.
Mh. And
who I made the transition at that point
when I was young enough to do so,
you know, financially, there's obviously a big difference.
In terms of what the compensation structure looks
like in the
corporate side versus the deposit side, especially, you
know, at the entry point.

(16:28):
But, you know, we were young. We didn't
have any, you know, financial responsibilities,
like, we have as adults and,
it worked out and at that point in
time, what I learned and what I continue
to learn through my journey in the profit
world was it was an opportunity to
allow my passions to dictate my career path.

(16:50):
Like I.
I could do the things that I loved
and those things,
you know, could align with the different organizations
I was working for. So my first job
in the non profit sector was with Lincoln
Center for the performing arts.
And I'm a huge huge proponent of the
arts,
especially the performing arts. And Right your alley

(17:12):
case, I see you smile not.
It was, you know, the idea that I
could, you know, use my skills, particularly my
right. I I love to write.
Goes along with my passion for reading. And
the idea that I could use my writing
skills to, you know,
do grant writing
for the arts was

(17:32):
mind boggling to me like, I could get
paid to do this so you kidding me.
And it was it was amazing.
And
I was with lincoln Center
through
09:11,
and
that was a pivot point for me.
It was 09:11 and then shortly thereafter the
blackout in New York City,
and I was living in New Jersey this

(17:53):
whole time I never lived in the city.
I was always a jersey girl, like I
said, I was commuting in, and
it was
it was just too much. It was too
stressful. I was afraid all the time and,
you know, I was young. I was in
my twenties. Mh. And
to
feel sick to my stomach every time I
got on a bus worrying whether or not

(18:14):
it was gonna die that day. I, you
know, it it was just very scary. So
I said, I'm gonna stay in New Jersey
now. I've had my fun.
I'm going home.
And and I did... I went home. I
went to... I went to Rutgers, and I
worked for the Rutgers University
Foundation. I worked for my alma mater. And
again, I was able to put my time
and talents towards making a difference

(18:36):
for the university that gave me so much.
And that was wonderful.
And then I missed the arts though. So
I, ultimately left
rutgers, and
I was the director of development for the
Mayo theater in Mars town for a while.
Until my daughter was born. And then at
that point, I

(18:57):
left and I started my own nonprofit consulting
business, which I did for about 13 years.
So that I could be master of my
my own calendar, and I could be home
with my children while also,
you know, have
having a career
contributing to our financial needs at home, but
I could be primarily there with my children,

(19:20):
I, I tell young professionals all the time,
and it's just just from my own experiences.
Like, there's nothing like a sense fulfillment Right?
Like, we all. There's no avoiding that unless
you... Just talk at a draw and, you
know, inherit a nice trust fund or something
like you have to work. So nothing like
a sense of fulfillment in doing what you
do. Like, an and hearing your store kinda
supports that as well. And, just before I
pass it over to Kc to dig into

(19:41):
a little bit more about cancer hope network.
I just wanted to say, like, a little
bit transparent transparent. Yeah. That's the right word
last year, I lost my grandfather to battle
with cancer. And I'm here hear. Just yeah.
The when I was starting to look up
with Cancer Hope Network and who they are
and what they do. Like, I'm like, oh,
that just amazing to be able to connect
people. In terms of offering support systems through
that process. So, that's major, looking forward to

(20:03):
a little bit more of your, your conversations
and answers in case you can take it
away.
Thank you so much, Randy. And that is
kinda perfect. I mean, me, you know, like
many people's
everywhere. Have a lot of family members that
been affected by cancer. Mh And so I
think this speaks to everybody. We all have
somebody. Absolutely. Yep.

(20:23):
So I did wanna learn a little bit
more about the cancer Hope network.
Just tell me a little bit more about
the organization itself. Sure. So, you know,
likewise,
I've had, personal... I've been personally impacted by
cancer, and that's actually how I ended up
at the organization. So when I was running
my business, and my daughter was an infant.

(20:44):
My mom was diagnosed with cancer, and
I went from, you know, being the person
receiving care from my mom
to being the person or, you know, or
1 of the people on her care
team.
And that was that was a another pivot
point, Randy where, you know, life changed very

(21:05):
quickly.
And when I was in that position of
being a caregiver with
an infant and, you know, trying to run
a business,
It was very isolating.
I had great friends. I had an amazing
family,
all of that, but nobody had relate. To
what I was going through exactly. I didn't

(21:26):
have none of my friends
had
a similar situation where they were going through,
you know, deep caring for a parent
while also caring for a new baby and,
you know, trying to run a business. And
I didn't know that 1 on 1 pure
mentorship was something that was there and available
to me. And I also didn't know that
it was something that was there and available

(21:47):
to my mom, something that I could recommend
to my mom who,
a a support group
situation just
isn't
her thing. It it wouldn't have, you know,
matched her personality or her needs at that
time.
But perhaps speaking to somebody with a similar
diagnosis who had gone through a similar treatment
experience
might have been helpful to her. Mh. So

(22:12):
I didn't know
she, fortunately, you, she went through her experience
and she ended up getting well and
you know, life life continued.
And then years later a couple years before
I joined the cancer hope network team, she
was diagnosed again.
And my kids were... I by that point,
I had 2 kids. They were in, and

(22:32):
I think middle school at the time.
And
again, here I am
running a business and
taking care of 2 kids, being a wife,
you know, mom, daughter,
concurrently, my father was dealing with some health
problems as was my husband.
So now I'm hit from all of these

(22:53):
different directions.
And I needed somebody. I needed to talk
to somebody, but I wasn't
looking for a mental health professional. That wasn't...
What I needed at at that time. I
just needed to talk to somebody who could
say,
I get it. I've been there. Mh.
You know, Guy ahead had tell me about
it. I I understand. And I didn't know

(23:15):
that that was a thing. But it is.
That's what cancer Hope Matt is. So we
were founded in 19 81
actually as a project of the Elizabeth plain
field junior league. So when there was an
oncology nurse out of
overlook hospital, Diane Paul,
who is 1 of the most extraordinary humans

(23:35):
you will ever meet. She's actually still on
our board. She's very involved with the organization.
She's the Chair of our Medical advisory board,
and I love her to pieces,
but she was getting ready to join the
junior league and Chair with the junior league,
I'm I'm sure you probably know this. You
have to do a a community service project
as part of that.
And she... She's told us the story where

(23:57):
she went in and everybody was kind of
raising their hands about what community service projects
they were going to do. And they were
lovely community service projects, you know, some people
were saying, she you know, a garden or,
you know, raising money for to beautify the
community, whatever that looked like and Diane as
an oncology nurse at the time had patients
who would come to her,

(24:17):
almost daily
saying,
I'm really afraid of chemotherapy, which was the
course of treatment most use used at that
time and say, I I'd I'd love to
speak to somebody Do you have anybody that
you've treated.
Who's gone through this experience and lift.
Because, you know, at that time, you know,
whether or not you're going to live through

(24:39):
treatment was
you know, a question.
And there was nothing out there like this
at that time, she did a research. There
were support groups,
but there were no 1 on 1 peer
mentorship programs. So for her
community service project, everybody's giving their ideas and
she raises her hand and was like, gonna

(24:59):
start a 1 on 1 peer mentorship program
for adults impacted by cancer. Well, you could
hear pin drop. I'm sure. Right? And it...
But she said it was 1 of those
moments. It was a magic moment,
where
people came together and there was other
women in that group, the who
were also healthcare professionals, and they said,

(25:20):
I'm in. Let's do it.
And cancel... So Cancer Hope network we were
originally founded as Chemo care,
and
that's, you know, that's the organization we were
part of the junior league of Elizabeth Plain
field for think about 4 or 5 years
until we became our own 05:01 c 3
nonprofit

(25:40):
organization. Right We were based in West fields
for a while, and now we're in Chester.
But it's it's such a beautiful story and
to hear her tell is just
it's really amazing. You know, when you think
about it in terms of
what opportunities were available to women, in the
late seventies and early eighties. And for

(26:03):
somebody like Diane. And if you meet her,
she's, you know, this... She's a she's a
very tiny woman
But when you meet her, it's like, you
know you're around a giant. Right. You're know
you're in the presence of
somebody who made. Just such a tremendous difference
in the world.
And
it's it's really remarkable.
But... So, you know, we are... We are

(26:24):
Jersey grown,
but we have grown into a national
organization. So while we're based here in New
Jersey,
over time in... To the early nineties, we
rebranded as cancer hope network because that's exactly
what we were by the nineties. We had
grown into a network
of to people who
had been through a cancer experience and who

(26:45):
were volunteering as mentors,
a network of providers in the cancer space,
other nonprofit who who are doing a extraordinary
work,
who could meet the other needs of people
who are going through cancer who were coming
to us for peer mentorship, but could also
use financial support or could also use help
with transportation or, you know, all of these

(27:06):
at different aspects that impact people when they're
going through a cancer journey. So really became
a network and that was intentional in the
re brand.
And
over time, we grew... So the first year
that first year that we were founded. We
helped 7 people. Since then, we've helped close
to 60000
people. Yeah so gone through cancer. So it's

(27:28):
a really
incredible
organization doing incredible work, we have about 500
mentors all across the country. And when I
say mentors, these of people who have either
gone through a cancer experience themselves and our
survivors or post treatment survivors
or the caregivers or, you know, people who
have cared for a loved 1 during a

(27:49):
cancer experience. We also have people within our
survivor community who are
metastatic patients who are on,
maintenance therapies. So what we do... We ask
all of our mentors to be at least
1 year post treatment
more on maintenance therapies so that we can
make sure that the support...
That we're providing is safe. Right? We wanna

(28:11):
make sure that our mentors are
far enough to remove from their
active experience
to be able to provide support
safely to others that they're in the right
place emotionally
and mentally,
to provide that support
you know, and that... That it's emotionally safe
for them to do so and for the

(28:32):
support seeker.
So we have about 500 people across the
country.
They range in age from 19 to 94
years old. Wow.
So it's it's really interesting. Our program is
for adults So it's you know, really runs
the gamut in terms of age.
Collectively,
our mentor speak 15 languages.

(28:53):
And
they represent about 90 types and subtype types
of cancer. So that's about... If you look
at the American cancer, society packs and figures.
It's about 98 percent of the cancer types
that will be diagnosed this year. Wow. So
it's it's very
extensive.
And it's very meaningful.

(29:14):
It's, you know, to go through a cancer
experience
with somebody who is willing to walk that
path with you,
who's been there and who can understand
can make a really big difference.
So yeah. That's that's is. It is incredible.
You know, as extensive as your network and

(29:35):
and your reach nationally is,
and and the caregivers
cancer itself is,
so far reaching, because it does reach the
caregivers and the family,
that surrounds it. I mean,
it's so, I never knew that there was
a peer network. So we. And so we
started chatting about it. I mean, my my

(29:56):
mother is the last surviving sister, all her
sisters, 4 sisters all passed away from cancer,
and she's only 65.
You know.
They... She's the oldest living sibling. Everyone passed
away from cancer before they hit 60. So
just... She was a caregiver. So just that,
kind of sharing

(30:16):
is invaluable.
Yeah. Because you need someone who can understand
like you're saying that walk, which
He's just incredible. I mean,
and it it brings me to your
you're matching process that you touched on.
How you need to, you know, you're you're
looking for safe matches.
Exactly. And that... And you're And I I

(30:38):
know we chatted a little bit before the
show, a about partnership with Atlanta Health
and and the
mentoring.
Yep. And and the and the pure process
there, if you could talk to talk just
a little bit about that. Sure. So so,
again, our
our... Program, we match
support seekers with trained peer

(31:00):
volunteers who are part of our network,
we are very proud of in in New
Jersey where our Roots are. We are very
proud of the partnership that we have with
Atlantic Health system.
It's an incredible,
partnership, and it's 1 that reflects both cancer
hope networks and Atlantic Health commitment.
To providing a whole person patient centered care.

(31:24):
The program is really focused on the breast
cancer.
Group at Atlantic Health, but we do provide
support to any cancer type. But within the
con of this partnership,
we're actually, offering an in person,
1 on 1 peer mentorship program at all
of the Atlantic health. Cancer centers in the

(31:46):
state. So it's been wonderful to work with
them.
We work with a multi
disciplinary team that includes their social workers,
breast nurse navigators,
integrative support services,
their oncology managers,
community
volunteers, and then our staff of course. So
Very proud of that work and and grateful

(32:07):
for the opportunity to work with the Atlanta
health team.
And then, you know, in terms of the
matching, process, Casey, what we do is we
can match on a number of different things.
So
oftentimes somebody will call us and say, I
have been diagnosed with you know, stage 2
breast cancer.
And they might be looking to speak with

(32:28):
somebody who's
has a similar diagnosis,
but we can also provide,
matches based on treatment
or
if they're looking to talk to somebody who's...
Considering different surgery options, and they wanna talk
about
what those experiences look like to really understand
from somebody who's been there,

(32:50):
what the implications are what the experience looks
like. So we can match on, you know,
again, diagnosis and treatment, but we also match
on psycho social factors,
So we may have somebody who comes to
us and says, I'm a single parent. I'd
like to talk to another single parent. Who's
gone through this experience to talk to them
about

(33:10):
what that looked like and what it felt
like. Or I'm a teacher, and I'm going
through Chemo, but I do have to work
through treatment.
So I wanna be able to talk to
another teacher about how to tell the kids
in my classroom
to not to be afraid when I lose
my hair or, you know, the, like, all
of these different parts of our lives

(33:32):
that are
part of, you know, the the cancer experience
or become part of the cancer experience. We
can provide connection based on those
those areas of our lives that... And
it can also be cultural,
linguistic,
spiritual, you know, any of these,
parts of our lives that are important. Wow,

(33:54):
cultural and linguistic
support is really important. To cancer hope network.
We actually have a program
called cancer hope network in
Because
making sure that culturally and linguistic accessible care
is available to the Spanish speaking community is
so so important in terms of addressing barriers

(34:16):
to care in the cancer community,
there are
exponentially higher rates of cancer,
you know, depending on the the cancer type
within the hispanic Hispanic Latino community,
and
there are just not enough resources that are
accessible

(34:36):
linguistic or culturally
for that community. So
We created this program
with some grant support from Gilead,
and we're very, very excited about it Very
proud of it We launched it in October
of last year, but
anybody from the Spanish speaking community who's looking
for support will get that support in Spanish
from their initial point of contact with our

(34:58):
organization. So our website, has been trans,
which means that the messaging has been translated
not the words on the page because oftentimes,
especially in this space or any health care
space when you do a direct translation, It
doesn't make sense. We worked with an agency
who specializes in trans creation to make sure
how our messaging

(35:19):
was culturally appropriate.
We also have,
on our programs team, which is made up
of health care and social work professionals. We
have 2 native Spanish speakers, where there to
answer the phone to do the initial intake
call for both the patient or caregiver speakers
and the mentor,
we provide our training in Spanish, and it's

(35:40):
a really important part of what we do.
It sounds like... I mean, it just sounds
like something that, you know, like I said,
so many people can relate to.
And I'm sure people would love to learn
more about it. And get more involved. I
know you have a gala coming up? We
do. I'm very excited about it. Thank you
for bringing it up on September 20 first

(36:01):
at the New Country club in B.
We are hosting our C list Gallo Royale,
a night in Monte Carlo
So it's going to be a very fun
event. It's going to include, basically the casino.
Opportunities
to engage with us. And also,
we have a strolling magician and mental who

(36:23):
will be
walking around and,
know, doing some sleigh of hand and but
they're magic I are so fun. It's so
fun. We're really excited,
and then, you will have, you know, Dj
and dancing,
live silent auction,
paddle raise,
and, you know, some other, you know, fund

(36:44):
fundraising,
opportunities to get to know the organization to
support the organization and, hope you all will
consider joining us,
for any information about cancer hope network, whether
it's... If you're looking for support,
If you are interested in getting involved in
a as a volunteer
or
joining us for our event, it's all up

(37:07):
on our website, which is cancer hope dot
org.
But I'm I'm thrilled for the opportunity to
introduce our program to your audience and really
appreciate This. Thank you. Oh, thank you that.
Thank you so much. Mh. It is just...
It's
it's new to me. And I'm sure it's
new to a lot of people that this...
Like, you were saying exists. So thank you

(37:29):
for bringing it out
and to introduce it to a wider audience.
Thank you. And we appreciate it. Alright. So
Vin, you're gonna bring us to our game
chef. I I feel
I feel so weird, like, transitioning. From what
we've just been talking about to a game.
It feels almost offensive, But this is the
format of the show I swear.

(37:50):
No. Know what... Yeah. You have to...
We
we work in a very serious industry, obviously,
and the 1 thing that I've learned,
more than anything in working in this industry
and working with just some
amazing and extraordinary folks who have gone through
a cancer experience themselves or who cared for

(38:10):
a loved 1 as you have to to
have humor.
You're right? You have... You still have to
be able to laugh and, you know, it's...
So let let's laugh. Let's have some fun.
My answers is gonna be the funniest part,
but I don't too
case.
Randy?
Do you wanna tell Beth and the rest
of our audience? What today's fabulous prizes won't

(38:32):
entail for whoever wins this? Oh, no.
Is that me? Is that me? I'm sorry.
I said, Ricky? You didn't wanna you Well,
you you you didn't say Dan. So I
kinda got little confused that part of the
show. So what we I have when we
were first starting
Randy, you know, that we're doing this on
Zoom. I'm giving you a little behind the
scenes magic. Randy has his name on the
bottom of the screen is Randy D Stevens.

(38:54):
And I caught that d out of the
corner of my eye and said Dandy, so
I started over.
All good. Yes...
Be Girl, hopefully, you can appreciate this. There's
definitely a w gift card you know, on
its way to you if you win.
We get pretty competitive with this thing. So...
Yeah. But we we make sure that our
guests always feels welcome. We we send them

(39:14):
1 regardless. So... Let's talk with you
While while opening right down the street from
me. So okay.
Speaking of pretty competitive. We ran the numbers.
So far, Casey and I are tied. You
don't have to share this vin. You you
Casey and I have 5 a piece, Randy
has 2. And actually, if you were to

(39:36):
combine all the correct answers among our guests.
The guest is technically winning at 6.
So no pressure, Beth, but here we go.
Alright. Question 1. Now, you... What you're gonna
do is you're gonna write your answer on
the piece of paper.
We'll wait a few seconds then I'll tell
you all to hold it up, and I'll
let you know which... Chance. 3 for 3
for me today. We're gonna tie this thing.

(39:57):
Alright. I I believe in you Randy. I
believe.
The light bulb, the record player, and the
motion picture projector,
we're all invented by Thomas Edison in what
New Jersey city. This is where he's known
to have his lab.
This is where we could really use some,
like, Jingle music like Generate or something line.
Mh What casey on it. Yeah.

(40:21):
Everybody have an answer locked in regardless of
whether or not It's correct?
Yes. No. 1 second Coming now.
I I wanna give you enough time to
write it down. Not enough time to Google
it. How's that? Alright. Let's go. Yeah. We're
good. Start showing me start show me what
you got.
Okay. Actually, Edison would have been, like, my

(40:42):
guess just because why wouldn't they name the
talent. But I have another... I have another
guess, but I think it's completely...
Bo baloney. Baloney. Let's hear the other guest.
I Ogden.
Is that a real tam? It is. In
Southeast County, but I think that's complete Malone
baloney. I don't know why I have that
in my head, but go ahead. Alright. So
Beth said Edison and Ogden.

(41:04):
Which... I'm sorry is not correct. Randy with
Trenton, which also is not correct. And Casey,
who has the correct answer is ben in
Park, which Oh, see my other... How'd you
know that? Thought it was down there. Okay.
I know that because my father laws is
science
supervisor in Edison in high school for 30
years. And even biggest students. So you had
shy information.

(41:25):
It's like
slum dog millionaire where the guys happen to
know, like, all the answers. Because it jail
history.
Just that 1.
The first drive in movie theater
was opened where, and I'm gonna give you
a hint. That's in New Jersey.
Oh, I looked.
Oh. 0. No.

(41:48):
Actually don't know if it's still open. I
know there are a couple in this area.
I was just at Becky,
which I wanna say is in Pennsylvania.
Maybe last month, we saw inside out too
and the new Garfield movie. And while they're
right after their answers.
I'm just gonna tell you Inside out too
is the exact same movie is inside out
1. We see. While he... Oh, they they

(42:10):
introduced new emotions, but we'll talk about that
app. Yes. And the it's the exact same
movie somehow.
Alright. What do you guys got?
God. I just heard this somewhere and I
could completely forget. Ad field.
Del Ran
and
with
Ads very park. Unfortunately, all 3 of you

(42:30):
are incorrect. The answer is Camden.
I know Jersey. I know what
I know They're, I know Warwick, the Warwick
drive. I've been up there in New York,
but I had no idea we had 1
down there.
Still there or not.
There is 1 in new Jersey that's still
going. Yeah. And it starts with it... I
drove by it when I was doing some

(42:51):
work, something with a d.
Some something. I can't remember some more thing.
Yeah.
As it sounds good. I got 1 more.
So this is this is on the origin
of the name. So
the original Jersey for which New Jersey is
named is what?
A, a peninsula,

(43:13):
b an island or c and if.
The question again, vince. Is the original Jersey,
Like, we are New Jersey, the original Jersey.
Okay. Or which New Jersey is named for
is what. A, a peninsula, b an island
or c in is. No matter where you
go at this 1. You got a 33
percent chance.

(43:34):
Right. Right. Maybe even some would say a
33.3
percent chance. I didn't there's no math involved
in this.
66
percent for me because I don't know how
to spell, so I'm... All you have to
do is right A b or c.
There you go.
Alright. Everybody locked in? I guess so. I'm
waiting for the the papers to

(43:56):
hey.
Oh, we we have a we have a
defined winner here. So it is b an
island.
I thought it was Island. Got this It's
actually called, like, the the channel aisle of
Jersey. Yeah. I was just gonna say Aisle
of Jersey. Right? And you're... I if if
you're not watching this on Youtube You missed
out? Casey, can you hold that up again?

(44:16):
She like, drew island.
Did you know that or was that a
guess?
No. So my daughter went to school like
London, and another
go he'd have to visit the real Jersey.
Just like, that is so far on an
Island and I was like, I looked it
up after the naughty. Alright fantastic. So I
I get her points for the artwork. Yeah.

(44:37):
I. Yeah. I kidding. Extra points. She got
she
tropical. I don't think it's historically accurate that
is true. I I don't think I don't
think anything out there is is too tropical.
Understanding england it's just basically, like, you know,
an overcast
rainy. I I don't know.
Yeah.
I went to London and was expecting that,

(44:59):
and the entire time I was there. It
was beautiful and sunny. Wow.
I didn't know what to do with it
because I did not pack appropriately
for.
Kinda like rain particles and raincoat codes and
umbrellas and your goes. It was beautiful. So...
Oh my god. Alright. Well, that's our game,
Beth, you... You're gonna get a a gift

(45:19):
card to Huawei. Courtesy of New Jersey. They're
ag, We we feel like the need to
say this every time. They're actually not sponsors
of this show. We just feel do it.
Speaking of sa sponsors. I I feel bad.
I forgot to mention in the beginning of
the show that this show is sponsored as
a matter of fact, by New Jersey manufacturers,
insurance,
checked out N mj for all of your,

(45:40):
you know, insurance needs, snow jingle, no mascot
all service. Right?
That's great.
Beth just 1 last question.
If somebody wants to get a hold of
the cancer hope network, maybe learn more, sign
up or check out the gala. Where can
they go for more information? Sure. So they
can go to our website, which is cancer

(46:00):
hope network dot org or they can call
us if you're looking for support or looking
to volunteer as a mentor, you can call
our toll free number, which is 877
Hope net.
Awesome.
So...
Alright. Well, that's our show. Beth, thank you
so much for joining us so much. So.
It was so nice meeting you while. I

(46:22):
appreciate it, and Make you bad. Maybe we'll
see you at our gala. Oh, Figure forget
to share that link with us or or
some sort of press so we can get
it out as well. Okay? Absolutely. I will.
Thank you so much.
Alright. So thank you to Beth. Thank you
to N j, and thank you all for
listening until next time. Night Bye.

(47:03):
Place
new