Blog

September 1, 2023

By Anne Dabbs, 
NCAN TN Support Group Leader, NET Patient

Fall is my all-time favorite season! 

Back in elementary school it was the anticipation of a plaid vinyl book satchel or a brand-new box of 64 crayons with the built in sharpener that had me squealing with delight. Middle school and high school held the excitement of football games and the marching band. College introduced me to a whole new world of “elective studies”. Fall will always be a time of learning, opportunity and excitement.

And Fall 2023 is no different. It is gearing up to be an exciting time for the NCAN family and Neuroendocrine Cancer Community. We are offering numerous opportunities for EDUCATION, PARTICIPATION, CELEBRATION, and COMMUNITY CONNECTION.

PATIENT CONFERENCES
We are finishing strong on a year full of NCAN highly anticipated Patient Conferences with an event in Cleveland, Ohio on September 9th and another in Miami, Florida on October 14th.

Cleveland’s slate of SPEAKERS include presentations by specialists well known to our community plus newer, up and coming NET specialists. Registration is now open and spaces are filling up quickly. Don’t miss this opportunity to listen, learn, and meet other patients who share similar experiences.

Miami’s October 14th Registration is now open, too. Check out the speaker line-up HERE. The educational and informative materials offered at these patient conferences serve as a foundation for your better understanding of our disease and relationship building with other members of the NET Community. Clear your calendars and make plans to join us!

STRIDES FOR STRIPES ZEBRA WALKS 2023
One of the more visually exciting events in NCAN is our annual fall “Stride for Stripes” Zebra Walks. This year we are encouraging patients, advocates, family, and friends to join in the fun via 3 separate opportunities:

Zebra Walk 2023 is anchored by 2 established walks, in 2 diverse locations. September 24th Zebras of all shapes and sizes will join in the fun in East Meadow, NY. On November 4th another herd of zebras will be walking in Charlotte, NC. Both in person events are certain to be fun and memorable!

For those of us who are not geographically able to participate at either of these locations, we are looking forward to the 2023 “Stride for Stripes” VIRTUAL Zebra Walk Across America! From October 1st until December 31st patients, advocates and supporters are encouraged to form their own local walks to raise awareness and additional funds to support the continued awareness and educational efforts of NCAN. Many regional NCAN support groups will organize walks in parks, zoos and other public venues. Many patients will individualize their efforts, and that’s ok too! The whole idea is to get out and show your stripes! And don’t forget those great motivational NCAN t-shirts. Registering to walk is your ticket to looking cool in black and white! REGISTER HERE for all 3 walks.

THE O’DORISIO AWARD FOR NET LEADERSHIP AND
THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION OF LIFE GALA
Fall is not complete without some celebrations. To offer tribute and gratitude for an invaluable staple in the world of Neuroendocrine Cancer, NCAN is establishing “The O’Doriso Award for Net Leadership”. Dr Thomas O’Doriso first began presenting at NCAN patient conferences in 2003. His commitment to the NET Community was evident to all and his legacy will continue via this patient nominated award to other exceptional NET Physicians. Nomination forms must be submitted by Sept 15, 2023.

The recipient of this inaugural award will be announced on November 11th at the 20th Anniversary Celebration of Life Gala in New York.
The Celebration of Life Gala is a highly anticipated annual event to celebrate all that life has to offer. Patients and advocates will join in some well deserved fun with dinner, dancing, raffles and a silent auction. And to celebrate our 20th anniversary this year promises to be bigger and better than ever! The Funds raised at this event each year benefit Neuroendocrine patients and caregivers through our extensive support and educational programs Reserve your tickets HERE.

Finally, we will also recognize November 10 as World Net Cancer Awareness Day. Individually and collectively with other Neuroendocrine advocacy groups we acknowledge this date to help increase our much needed awareness. Wear your zebra t-shirt, take a Stride for Stripes walk, catch up on your Neuroendocrine reading material, TELL somebody about your disease! Celebrate the fact that research and treatments are rapidly developing. Celebrate that we are family, and we always have HOPE.

If you have any questions about NCAN’s upcoming events, or just need some extra support, please reach out. We are always HERE for you.