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Volunteers finish up a few of more than 200 bags given to be given to cancer patients as part of the 2004 Project Valentine.
Office of Marketing Communications
Colleen Anderson says that sometimes the day a cancer patient learns of her disease it’s like a new birthday. The battle begins and patients find themselves in an alternate world filled with discomfort, doctors, drugs, determination, and – perhaps for the better – a new appreciation of life.
When Anderson, program coordinator for continuing education in engineering, woke up from surgery to find she’d needed a radical hysterectomy to combat ovarian cancer, it was Feb. 4, 2002. When she consulted with her oncologist 10 days later to be briefed on what she was up against, it was Valentine’s Day. That’s when this tall, dynamic woman rededicated herself to learning about and defeating this disease, and inspiring others to do the same. Before the next Valentines Day rolled around, Project Valentine was underway.
In its third year, Project Valentine hopes to provide more than 200 care packages to men, women and children being treated for cancer. Last year, 140 chemo care packages were put together for adults and, in partnership with the Junior League, 65 bags were created for children. This year’s goal includes 25 bags for breast cancer patients, 25 bags for men, 100 bags for either men or women and 50 children’s bags (mostly for boys).
Volunteers are invited to help assemble the gift bags at Woodside Village Clubhouse, 8335 E. Fairmount Drive, (Lowry development area) on Saturday, Feb. 5, at 1 p.m. Last weekend, about 30 volunteers gathered at Archiver’s near Interstate 225 and Alameda to make notecards and bookmarks to include with the gifts. Archiver’s donated the use of their space and a leader for the card making workshop.
“Another reason I decided to hand out bags at Valentine’s Day was for the children at Children’s Hospital,” she explained. “Valentine’s Day is a very special school holiday and they are used to receiving valentines and cupcakes and having a party on that date, not being in the hospital.” Care packages for all ages this year will be delivered to University Hospital, Rose Medical Center, Daniel Donato’s office in the Wolfe Building and Children’s Hospital.
Anderson got the idea for the project when she received a similar care package from her boss early on in her treatments. The bag was decorated with Looney Tunes characters such as Taz and Tweety and held goodies such as “go fish” and “old maid” playing cards, a bouquet of Tootsie Pops and a sordid romance novel. “I never read fiction,” she said, laughing. “But she didn’t know that.”
The care package gave her such a boost, Anderson decided to “pay it forward to other patients who were feeling low on reserves . . . I took her idea and expanded it.”
She started Project Valentine in December 2002 for Valentine’s Day 2003, and was buoyed by the response, gathering enough useful, helpful and fun supplies for 140 gifts. Anderson stressed that the outpouring of kindness has been phenomenal among people on the downtown Denver campus and beyond. “I’ve been amazed at the response,” she said. “It just keeps growing.”
In addition to individual volunteers, some noteworthy companies are providing donations. Ford Motor Co. last year donated bandanas to the effort and this year has provided T-shirts featuring country singer Toby Keith and books for the kids. “And Ford Motor Co. doesn’t know me from Adam,” Anderson said. Noodles and Co. gave water bottles and coupons for free bowls of noodles, Panera Bread Co. donated gift cards, Timbuk Toys donated more than $300 worth of toys, Echostar gave movie classic CDs and calendars, Gold Lake Resort sent bath salts and discount coupons, Enstroms and Hammonds donated fancy candies and the Vitamin Cottage has given green tea, Balance bars and hand lotions. Although donating to Project Valentine is not tax deductible, Anderson hopes the companies that have clamored to help out will be rewarded for their efforts. “I encourage volunteers and recipients to patronize the businesses that have been so generous,” she stressed.
All gifts are appreciated, Anderson said, and some that seem to really be a hit with the cancer patients include hand and body lotions, suckers and hard candy, handmade gifts, bandanas, bookmarks and family recipes. Each of the bags is a little different and recipients are encouraged to swap with others. “It really builds community,” she said. “I have a whole new vision of regifting.”
Donations will be accepted through Jan. 31, but for planning purposes the earlier gifts are dropped off the better, Anderson said. Donation boxes are at Anderson's office North Classroom 3021A or in the CU Denver Building, Room 282, at the office of Joanne Wambeke, academic advisor for the Business School.
Visit http://www.cudenver.edu/~csanders to read more about the project and review a recommended list of items to donate. Contact Anderson at her home number, 303-321-4196, or e-mail her at cande80193@hotmail.com with questions. Write Project Valentine in the subject line.
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