October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and several local organizations are doing their part and rallying support for treatment and prevention.
The list of local activities, events and efforts is sure to grow in the coming days, but here’s a schedule that has been compiled so far. Please contact Dillon at the Flathead Beacon (406-257-9220, or [email protected]) with information about other events to announce.
— Glacier High School’s student athletic trainers, Ingrid Ericksen and Baylee Eisenman, have organized Tackle Pink Night for Friday’s football game.
Fans are encouraged to wear pink at Glacier’s game against Missoula Sentinel at Legends Stadium. Kickoff is at 7 p.m. T-shirts were sold leading up to the game with a customized ‘Tackle Pink’ design. Donations will also be accepted during the game to benefit Save a Sister, a local collaboration between Kalispell Regional Healthcare, North Valley Hospital and the Flathead City-County Health Department that supports breast cancer treatment and prevention.
— Kalispell Regional Healthcare, formerly called Northwest Healthcare, and The Summit Medical Fitness Center is hosting the Pink in Action 5K on Saturday.
The 3.1-mile event is free and open to runners, walkers or bikers. Participants are encouraged to wear pink. Registration begins at 9 a.m. at The Summit. Bikers begin at 9:45 a.m. Walkers and runners get started at 10 a.m. Healthy snacks will be provided at the finish. KRMC Oncologist Melissa Hulvat will host an awards ceremony recognizing participants with the “most outrageous display of pink attire,” according to race organizers.
There will also be free access to The Summit all day Saturday.
— Kalispell Regional Medical Center is holding four free cooking classes focused on healthy recipes that incorporate cancer-fighting foods.
The classes will offer tips and fresh ideas for dinner-table fare that will keep things interesting and healthful, according to Nancy Kimball with Kalispell Regional Healthcare. The Tuesday classes will be one hour and start Oct. 9. They will run from 5:15 to 6:15 p.m. and will be held in the Sunnyview Café at KRMC. Each class will focus on a specific area:
Oct. 9 – Salts and Seasonings of Earth
– Oil 101
– Seasoning
– Fresh herbs vs. dry herbs
– Making your own sundried tomatoes
– Making sundried tomato pesto and classic pesto using fresh herbs
– Making flavorful broth and soup
– Making curry carrot soup with roasted Washington apples
Oct. 16 – Intensify your Palate
– Vinegar and Wine 101
– Brine/rubs for roasting lean protein
– Intensifying flavors using natural seasoning
– Roasting vegetables for flavor profile
– Making basic pickled vegetables using your garden or available seasonal produce
– Making marinara and roasted vegetable spreads for healthful spreads and dips
Oct. 23 – Introduction to Fusion Cuisine
– Brine/rubs for roasting lean protein
– Protein alternatives
– Making protein-rich vegetarian cuisine
– Introduction to curry, Pan-Asian fusion
– Creating salt and pepper shrimp, sesame chicken, pad thai
Oct. 30 – For the Chocolate
– Chocolate 101
– How to temper chocolate
– Making your own cocoa for the winter, using natural sweetener
– Making hazelnut truffles, chocolate caramels and dipped fruits for parties
Register online. For more information call 751-6697.
— A panel discussion featuring a lineup of physicians will be held Oct. 10 at KRMC exploring the connection between excess body weight and an increased risk for breast cancer.
The discussion begins at 5:15 p.m. in the Buffalo Hill Conference Center. It also will be streamed live online for those who cannot attend in person but would like to listen and submit questions. The discussion will explore risk factors, genetics, individualized coaching, achieving and maintaining a healthy weight, behavior change, insulin receptors, nutritional supplements, importance of annual check-ups, breast cancer recurrence, maintaining your relationship with your primary care physician and more.
Those attending the panel discussion also are invited to take advantage of free body composition analysis screenings before and after the discussion. Screenings show the portions of body weight attributed to muscle, fat, bone and other components.
For more information about Save a Sister Montana, visit online.