DECEMBER 22-28, 2010 –THE VOORHEES SUN 7


Teen Cancer Week Jan. 16 to 22


By ROBERT LINNEHAN The Voorhees Sun


The Alicia Rose “Victorious”


Foundation received good news last week from the state as New Jersey will now annually hold a Teen Cancer Awareness Week from Jan. 16 to 22. Gov. Christie signed the resolution into law on Dec. 10. The week will annually be cele-


brated every third week of Janu- ary. The third week of January was the date of an embarrassing incident for Alicia Rose DiNatale, Giselle DiNatale’s teenage daugh- ter who died from cancer in 2002. Alicia Rose DiNatale returned


to school for the first time after her treatments with her head cov- ered by a bandana to hide her hair loss from chemotherapy. Several teachers asked her to


remove her bandana in accor- dance with school policy, DiNa- tale said. Unbeknownst to the teachers, this caused her shame and em- barrassment making a difficult day even worse. The foundation is asking “citi-


zens of New Jersey to host events aimed at raising awareness of teens suffering with psycho-so- cial issues related to their diagno- sis and journey to cure their dis- ease.”


According to the foundation,


representatives will be visiting 11 hospitals throughout the state to commemorate Teen Cancer Awareness Week, by hosting a so- cial to honor the journey of these young teens. DiNatale formed the Alicia


Rose “Victorious” Foundation, a group dedicated to improving the lives of local teenagers in hospi- tals that are struggling with life threatening illnesses. The foundation installs teen


lounges in pediatric hospitals as a refuge for teens undergoing treat- ment for their illnesses. Alicia Rose was diagnosed with cancer in September of 2001 and passed away 10 months later in October of 2002.


She spent the majority of her time in the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, but she and her mother both realized the hospital didn’t have much social program- ming developed for teenagers. The first lounge was developed


and built at CHOP in 2003, DiNa- tale said, and the next year four more lounges were built. Now, the Alicia Rose “Victori-


ous” Foundation has built 51 lounges across the country, eight lounges of which are here in New Jersey. To learn more, visit the Web


site at Victoriousfoundation.org. Call 856-784-0615 for more infor- mation as well.


Call for Volunteers!


Lourdes Ambassador Program Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center is looking for volunteers to help us create a great hospital experience for all who enter our doors. The hospital experience begins the moment a patient or visitor arrives. At Lourdes, we strive to create a warm and inviting arrival impression for everyone, but we need your help.


Are you, or do you know someone, who can help us greet visitors with the Franciscan mission to “treat all in a simple, joyful and hospitable manner”? Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center seeks volunteers who are


compassionate, accountable, respectful and enthusiastic while providing excellent service as a greeter or patient/visitor escort.


If you are interested in becoming a volun- teer greeter or a patient/visitor escort, please contact the Volunteer Office for an inter- view. Call 856-757-3784. We are looking to fill these important volunteer positions by January 1, 2010.


Visit us on the Web at www.voorheessun.com


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