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Winner of the Avon Hello Tomorrow Fund - September 9, 2008
Karena Thek Lineback Honored with $5,000 Avon Hello Tomorrow Fund Award
September 9, 2008

Valencia, California Resident Wins Cash Award To Provide Breast Cancer Patients And Survivors With Theraputic Exercise


(New York, NY, September 9, 2008) - Valencia, California resident Karena Thek Lineback, 40, is one step closer to fulfilling her dream of creating a better tomorrow for her community. Karena was named this week’s winner of the Avon Hello Tomorrow Fund, a weekly $5,000 cash award program from Avon Products, Inc. to support individuals in their work to empower women. She is the fifth recipient of a Hello Tomorrow Fund award in California since the program launched in 2007, and was selected by a newly expanded panel of judges that now includes Sarah Ferguson, The Duchess of York and actress Phylicia Rashad. Karena will use her award to launch Pilates for Breast Cancer, a program that will provide therapeutic exercise using low-impact Pilates techniques to breast cancer patients and survivors.

The benefits of exercise for breast cancer survivors and patients are not only physical, but mental as well. Recent findings by the Nurses' Health Study suggest that after a diagnosis of breast cancer exercise can reduce the risk of recurrence. The Mayo Clinic also stated that as a common side effect of chemotherapy and other cancer treatments is often depression, the feel-good endorphins released during exercise help to reduce the levels of stress hormones and enable mood enhancement (mayoclinic.com). Not only does movement improve the range of motion decreased by surgeries, but it also increases stamina and energy levels, improves self-esteem and gives a woman a sense of control over her body.

Karena has been an avid Pilates enthusiast since age 24 and was an instructor for nine years. She opened Pilates Teck four and half years ago as a means to merge her love for Pilates into a solid career. Through Pilates Teck, Karena has witnessed the benefits, both physical and mental, when a breast cancer patient or survivor starts incorporating low-impact exercise into her daily routine. When her dear friend was diagnosed with cancer nearly four years ago, she wanted to spring into action and “do something,” so Karena spearheaded local fund raisers with proceeds going to Circle of Hope. Now, she would like to work with breast cancer survivors and patients on a more personal level and came up with the idea to offer Pilates to breast cancer patients and survivors exclusively so they can not only reap the physical benefits, but also form friendships and support one another through this difficult and traumatic time. She hopes that the program’s group setting will also help to reduce the feelings of isolation and depression among the members.

With support of the Hello Tomorrow Fund award, Karena will be able to offer one class, per week, for the next year at Pilates Teck. Through support from the local media, Karena will be able to advertise the Pilates for Breast Cancer program and also through the Pilates Teck Web site. She will also work in conjunction with two local cancer treatment centers who can inform patients of the program’s existence. The Hello Tomorrow funds will go to operating costs for each one-hour class that include, yoga mats and materials, space rental, and instructor fees. Thanks to her Hello Tomorrow Fund award, Karena will be able to launch Pilates for Breast Cancer and provide breast cancer patients and survivors with beneficial exercise, and, more than that, introduce them to other women in the community who have faced similar challenges and support them in the quest to rebuild their lives.

Karena’s winning application to the Avon Hello Tomorrow Fund met the criteria of clearly presenting unique and achievable objectives to empower women or girls and ultimately improve society. It was selected from a pool of strong contenders by an expert panel of judges, including personal finance expert Suze Orman, actress Phylicia Rashad, Sarah Ferguson, The Duchess of York, and experts in business and grantmaking. “Treating the whole person, not just the cancer, and introducing or returning someone to a comfortable fitness routine is so important for recovery,” noted renowned makeup artist and judge Jillian Dempsey of Linda’s proposal.

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