Tuesday, April 21st - TLC Survivorship Session: Survivor Spotlight on Rachel Darling!
Rachel Darling was diagnosed with papillary thyroid cancer in December of 2018. She has always enjoyed an active lifestyle and attended her first ST&BF Gentle Yoga for Cancer Survivors session in the spring of 2019. Soon after, she completed the LIVESTRONG at the YMCA program. She has participated in a variety of ST&BF activities along with our TLC Survivorship Sessions. In early 2022, Rachel shared some news with us that we don’t often hear - she and her husband Nate were expecting their first son. A couple years later they welcomed their second son. Rachel also appeared on the cover of Coping Magazine’s 2023 National Cancer Survivors Day issue (see photo right)! Despite her busy schedule and growing family, Rachel continues to make TLC & Survive, Thrive & Be Fit a priority!
For a link to view Rachel's story
Tuesday, April 21st - TLC Survivorship Session: Amelia Raml - Sheboygan Cancer Support Network!
We were also joined by Amelia Raml, a junior at Sheboygan North High School who has created the Sheboygan Cancer Support Network a website called the Support Circuit. Amelia aspires for this website to be a means of communication for individuals with cancer, survivors, and impacted family members and friends.
For a link to Amelia's comments
Thursday, April 16th - ST&BF at the CF&G: Project Tweety B.I.R.D.!
We excitedly welcome our FIRST BLUEBIRD EGGS of the season!!! Leah discovered these two eggs in the Cook House South nest box! Additionally, Corn Dog West nest box has a completed nest (w/bowl) that appears to be another BB nest! FOUR additional nesting boxes show signs of next building (at least a few blades of grass). Last year at this time we had observed ZERO signs of nest building!
Contact Tim if you are interested in learning more about Project Tweety B.I.R.D. or watch the Local Cancer Community Update for more info!
Monday, April 13th - ST&BF at Sheboygan Cancer & Blood Specialists: We're Back!!!
ST&BF returned to the Sheboygan Cancer & Blood Specialists 2nd Floor Conference Room following the recent remodel! Activities included the Indoor Row Group at 3P, Energizing Flex & Flow at 4P, and Gentle Yoga for Cancer Survivors at 5P! It was good to see familiar faces doing healthy activities in our fresh space!!! Join us!!!
Watch the Local Cancer Community Update for a wide variety of ST&BF activities or contact Tim for details!
Thursday, April 9th - ST&BF at the CF&G: Project Tweety B.I.R.D.!
We have one established nest (that appears to be a Bluebird nest) and additional signs of nest building! Get involved now and be a part of this enjoyable project!!!
For current details on this year's Project Tweety B.I.R.D.
Wednesday, April 8th - Energizing Flex & Flow at Generations (Plymouth)!
Hannah (Held) Krahn, ODT, OTR/L, who created Energizing Flex & Flow, facilitated the EF&F class at Generations (Plymouth) to mark the 2-year completion of her Capstone Project with SCCCF/ST&BF (we weren't able to commemorate the 2-year anniversary of the very first Energizing Flex & Flow class which was offered on February 12, 2024)! This evidence-based class designed to alleviate cancer-related fatigue (and is also an excellent cardio/strength workout) is offered at Sheboygan Cancer & Blood Specialists several times each week as well as at Generations on Mondays and Wednesdays. Join us!
Watch the Local Cancer Community Update for a listing of upcoming Energizing Flex & Flow opportunities or contact Tim!
Wednesday, April 1st - ST&BF at the CF&G: Project Tweety B.I.R.D.!
We conducted our first Project Tweety B.I.R.D. (Bluebird Investigation, Rejuvenation & Discovery) trail monitoring of the year on a chilly and blustery day. We were excited to see some nesting activity in one of the nesting boxes (Cook House South). In past years, the earliest sign of nest-building weren't observed until April 24th (2025) and April 8th (2024)!
Contact Tim to learn more about Project Tweety B.I.R.D. and become one of our Bluebird Trail monitors!
Watch the Local Cancer Community Update for a wide variety of "ST&BF at the Christopher Farm & Gardens" opportunities or contact Tim for details!
Tuesday, March 24th - SCCCF "Giant Chocolate Bunny" Raffle Drawing!,
Thank you to Dr. Bettag for donating this “Giant Chocolate Bunny” for what has become an enjoyable spring tradition! This year we raised $839 to benefit SCCCF!
1st Place: Serology’s 25 lb Chocolate Bunny
WINNER: Gary Reinholtz - Earlier this week I asked Gary the same question I have asked previous winners, “Now that you have a 25-lb Chocolate Bunny, what are you going to do with a 25-lb chocolate bunny?” Gary explained that he has already broken it into pieces to share with others. “We started with the ears because that was the easiest to get to.” He and his wife are packaging it up and in baggies and he has already brought some in to the clinic to share with Dr. Bettag and the staff at Sheboygan Cancer & Blood Specialists. “We are chocolate lovers, and this is really good chocolate. So, of course, we will be saving some for ourselves as well!”
Congratulations Gary!!! And THANK YOU (to all who participated to support SCCCF)!!!
2nd Place: Kwik Trip $50 Gas Card
WINNER: Dave Ebert
3rd Place: Kwik Trip $25 Gas Cards (2 Winners)!
WINNERS: Jill Popp and Karen Wollenzein
Saturday, March 14th - ST&BF & LIVESTRONG Complete Lake Michigan Crossing!
Above Photo (those present when we finished) - Front Row Seated (L-R): Dennis S, Lisa G, Sue Z. Second Row (L-R): Melissa S, Cindy B, Mike B, John S. Back Row: Tim R, John Z (statistician), Maryellen K, Carrie G, Kathy B, Rachel D
Finishing Time (100 kilometers) - 9:40:45.5!
Twenty area cancer patients/survivors gathered at the Sheboygan YMCA’s Lakeview Center on Saturday, March 14th for the Lake Michigan Crossing!
Participating survivor-athletes representing Sheboygan County Cancer Care Fund’s Survive, Thrive & Be Fit and the Sheboygan County YMCA’s LIVESTRONG at the Y Program combined to form our biggest crew of 20 survivor-athletes in this our 11th annual event, beating the previous record of 19 survivor-athlete/rowers in 2016!
Survivor-athlete/rowers took turns rowing 105 legs of 500m, 1000m, 1500m, or 2000m and finished in a time of 9:40:45.5!
Participating Survivor-Athlete/Rowers: Beth S, Brett G, Carol V, Carrie G, Cindy B, Dale G, Denise Q, Dennis S, Jennifer K, John S, Kathy B, Kathy L, Lisa G, Maryellen K, Melissa S, Mike B, Nancy B, Rachel D, Sue Z, Tim R, Tom S
Special Thanks to the Sheboygan YMCA for hosting us once again and to John Zalewski, our event statistician!
Tuesday, March 19th - ST&BF Energizing Flex & Flow and Gentle Yoga at 3 Sheeps!
Special thanks to 3 Sheeps Brewing for allowing us to use their space as the SCBS Conference Room gets remodeled! We had a nice turnout for Energizing Flex & Flow (4P) followed by Gentle Yoga (5P)!
Afterwards, many of us gathered in the 3 Sheeps Tap Room for some rehydration and a chance to socialize (along with a preview of the game "A Gentle Rain", which we will be playing next Tuesday at our TLC Survivorship Can Be Fun Session (615P) that will follow our TLC Survivorship Session (5P) featuring our Survivor Spotlight Speaker Rachel Darling (to be held in the 2nd floor conference room of the Landscape Barn at the Christopher Farm & Gardens)! Contact Tim for details (including parking instructions) and to RSVP!
Tuesday, March 3rd - ST&BF at the Christopher Farm & Gardens!
This visit was scheduled to coincide with the full moon. Folks enjoyed a chance to either “Wander the Wonderful Gardens” or play some “Screwball Golf” before gathering along the bluff for a “Bonding Bonfire” to keep warm and enjoy watching the full moon rise over the lake!
Full Moon Rising (with the Glow of the Bonfire)! Submitted by Linda Ansay
Full Moon over the Lake! Submitted by Mike Ansay
Thursday, February 26th - ST&BF at the Christopher Farm & Gardens!
We returned a second time to install two new Wood Duck Boxes (one on the Perch Pond and one on the Farmhouse Pond) while the ponds were still frozen. Plus, two new Owl Boxes were installed (one at Turkey Trot and another near the main entrance to the property. Additionally, the PTB (Project Tweety B.I.R.D.) Bluebird Boxes were prepared to welcome new tenants for the 2026 season!
Photo Submitted by Rob P
Watch the Local Cancer Community Update for a wide variety of "ST&BF at the Christopher Farm & Gardens" opportunities or contact Tim for details!
Monday, February 16th - ST&BF at the Christopher Farm & Gardens!
A group of cancer patients/survivors and co-survivors took the opportunity to clean out several Wood Duck Boxes on the property, replaced one of the old mesh-style with a wooden box and scouted out other locations for Wood Duck Boxes and/or Owl Boxes! There have been discussions about adding a Kestrel Box at some point this year.
This non-viable egg was a remnant for last year and evidence that the Wood Duck Mesh Houses are being used!
Watch the Local Cancer Community Update for a wide variety of "ST&BF at the Christopher Farm & Gardens" opportunities or contact Tim for details!