For up to the minute results click here.

Wendy Cartwright looks positively jubilant in front of the Great Pyramid in Egypt. And no wonder! Read her 2010 CPC story below
(see Conquering Mount Sinai).

The Canadian premiere of the new cancer & environment film Living Downstream is next Tuesday, May 18, 7:30 pm at the Bloor Cinema in Toronto. So if you’re even close to TO, come on along – and get your tickets here! This may be our only chance to see the film, plus Toronto-based producer/director Chanda Chevannes AND author/cancer survivor Sandra Steingraber, the subject of the movie, all under the same roof at the same time. Sandra’s 1997 book Living Downstream, is now a classic, and has been updated for 2010!

Congratulations to Wendy Cartwright and hubby Bernie Grafe for completing their 2010 Cancer Prevention Challenge – in Egypt no less! If you are new to the CPC, Wendy is a veteran fundraiser (and wonderful organizer) for the CAW Durham Region Racers. She explains on her 2010 CPC page that not only did she and Bernie visit the pyramids, they also climbed Mount Sinai (yes, the same spot where Moses received the Ten Commandments a few years back). Their quest began at 1:30 a.m. with Nescafé, then a 7 km hike with guides up 2,300 metres in the dark, plus an additional 751 steps that were anything but level! (Bernie made it all the way up under his own steam; Wendy got a little help after 4K from a camel!) The prize at the top was a beautiful sunrise – then they climbed down and walked around the base of the mountain, a total of about 20K. Way to go Wendy and Bernie! (Now, the final leg of your 2010 Cancer Prevention Challenge: to encourage enough of your pals to help you top your $1000 fundraising goal! After Mt. Sinai, that should be a breeze…)

In a recent ad campaign, Proctor and Gamble thanks Moms around the globe for their everyday hard work. We can’t argue that Moms make the world go ‘round, but The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics decided to challenge P&G to further honor Moms by cleaning up some the chemicals from its products. The campaign asks “as a tribute to the health of all beings, that P&G eliminate 1,4-dioxane from all of its products, and encourage the company to make all of its brands free of toxic chemicals, including those linked to cancer and birth defects.” Great idea. According to Adria Vasil in her book Ecoholic, there are about 10,500 chemical ingredients in our personal health care products, and just 11% have been tested for safety. Click here for a list of companies committed to making products that are not harmful to our health by signing the Compact for Safe Cosmetics.

Are you concerned about the chemicals in your food but not sure where to spend your extra food $$ on organic produce? Thankfully the Washington DC-based Environmental Working Group provides us with two lists they call the “Dirty Dozen” and the “Clean 15”. These are lists of fruit and vegetables that carry the most and least pesticides. Topping the 2010 ‘dirty’ list is celery, peaches, strawberries and apples. On the clean list, you can feel a little safer buying non-organic onions, avocado, corn and pineapple. Happily, it is the time of year we Canadians can start visiting our local farmers’ markets and meet the people who actually grow our food. We can ask them questions about how they farm and if their products are free from pesticides, fungicides and herbicides. If you do have to shop in the local super market, print off the EWG Dirty Dozen list and use it to help make good shopping decisions!

Here is the most recent group e-mail that Sarah sent out to remind and encourage friends & family to support her CPC 2010 fundraising efforts. She sends one per week and each time gets a response. This week was very successful, Sarah says, raising nearly $500!

Hello (from Sarah!)
It’s the Wednesday before Mother’s Day and I am trying to wrap up all my work so I can spend some time in Southampton (or as my friends like to call it “The Hamptons”) with my Mom, sister and nieces this weekend! Speaking of mothers, The Campaign For Safe Cosmetics is honouring mothers this month by encouraging Proctor and Gamble to eliminate the hidden carcinogenic contaminant 1,4-dioxane from all its products. This was prompted after P&G launched an ad campaign titled “Thanks Mom”. You can add your name to the list on the CSC website and continue helping Cancer PREVENTION initiatives.
According to Adria Vasil, in her book ECOHOLIC, there are a potential 10 500 chemical ingredients that could be in our health and beauty products and only 11% are tested for safety. Not very pretty eh? For a list of healthier beauty products check out the extensive list provided by the CSC called Compact for Safe Cosmetics (cute). Thanks to everyone who has sponsored my Cancer Prevention Challenge Diet and Lifestyle initiative. So far so good besides the first few days without coffee! You can read about it on my blog. Your donations are greatly appreciated and helping me reach my goal of $2500.00! If you have not already donated, know that you will receive a charitable tax receipt for any pledge over $20.00! Consider pledging in honour of your MOM this weekend!!

Best wishes to all for a great week of fundraising!
– Sarah & Liz