Eat steak, lobster or shave your head to help fight cancer

When I was an impressionable youngster, I enjoyed meeting with our neighbor when he walked his dog.

I also remember the day I learned he'd stopped smoking.

After surgery for cancer of the voice box, or larynx, I recall when he appeared to apply pressure to the side of his neck in order to speak. His once clear voice had become a breathy, gargled tone, difficult to understand. He told me he blamed smoking for a variety of his health issues, including his new "funny voice."

Neither of my parents smoked, so even when teenage friends picked up the habit because their parents did, I was never attracted to cigarettes.

Life goes on and I've grown aware of many other cancers, their long, hard-to-pronounce names and options for treatments.

Your life likely has been touched by cancer, too. My dad, brother, cousins and many friends have fought types of the big C with varied success.

Considering many distinct differences of opinions about treatment, it's not an easy disease to understand -- or cure.

But we have one thing in common: if possible, we'll do anything to save the people we love from cancer.

On Friday, I watched a report about how obesity can cause cancer. I know really skinny people who fight it, too.

From my experience, cancers don't seem to discriminate much due to gender, race or homeland. Curious about when it was first documented, I discovered cancer dates back to ancient Egypt, 1500 B.C.

So all these thousands of years later, we're still fighting in historic proportions. Opportunities seem endless to raise money for modern medicine and researchers to find cures. Early detection, nutrition, diet, environment, genetics, sunscreen, attitude -- creating a list to prioritize possible preventative measures is daunting.

A Red Tie event

"Spring for a Cause -- A Red Tie Event" will begin at 7 p.m. March 1 at The Pavilion of Meson Sabika in Naperville. All guests are invited to dress up or dress down, but to wear a red tie or sash.

Spring for a Cause and its live auction will benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. All-inclusive tickets are $100 each for a steak and lobster dinner and a premium bar.

Hosts Debbie and Brad Polivka have a great start on filling up Meson Sabika that evening. Ray Kinney will liven up the auction items with his bid-winning ways.

Thanks to the generosity of Hossein Jamali, owner of Meson Sabika, 100 percent of the ticket price will go directly to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

For reservations, e-mail Debbie Polivka at springforacure@hotmail.com or call (630) 355-1029. Reservations will be accepted until Wednesday or until they're sold out.

St. Baldrick's

On Saturday, the West Suburban Irish held its annual Emerald Dinner at the Arrowhead Golf Course in Wheaton.

The group that organizes the St. Patrick's Parade in March also ran a silent auction at the dinner to benefit St. Baldrick's Foundation, known for "Shaving the Way to Conquer Kids' Cancer."

President Chuck Corrigan and Vice President Nancy Quigley will present proceeds from the Emerald Dinner during the Naperville Public Safety St. Baldrick's March 7 at the Holiday Inn Select.

St. Baldrick's begins at 6:30 p.m. with the Naperville Fire and Police Honor Guards posting the colors at 7 p.m. Admission is free for spectators to watch "shavees" go bald.

According to co-organizer Tim Jordan, training sergeant at the police department, shavees come in all ages and from all walks of life.

"One of our shavees last year was a very brave young high school freshman named Patrick, who is a cancer survivor," Jordan said. "He was just one year out of treatment when he shaved his head."

Family-friendly festivities will feature The McNulty Irish Dancers, raffles and a "Kids' Room." While professionals from Elegante Salons cut and shave, Ken Overbey and Sounds Abound will spin the music.

"The event committee continues to be humbled by the courage and generosity of everyone who comes out," Jordan said.

Whether folks are willing to part with their hair, make donations on behalf of those who are shaving, giving financially or contributing items for silent auctions and raffle prizes, all support is welcome, he said.

Since its inception in 2000, St. Baldrick's events throughout the world have raised more than $34 million to fund grants for cancer research trials, primarily through the Children's Oncology Group.

For details, visit www.StBaldricks.org.

• Stephanie Penick writes about Naperville on Tuesdays in Neighbor. Contact her at spennydh@aol.com.