Mercy Home helps kids via Shamrocks campaign
Support
for Mercy Home for Boys & Girls’ Shamrocks for Kids campaign, presented by
Jewel-Osco, gives hope to abused, neglected, and troubled children.
Shamrocks for Kids is a yearly, St. Patrick’s-Day-themed awareness and
fundraising campaign that helps support the young people at Mercy Home.
Those interested can help by giving their donations to the volunteers who can be found along the routes of the Forest Park St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday, March 3; the South Side Irish Parade on Sunday, March 11; and the Chicago St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday, March 17. Donations also will be accepted at several locations throughout the Chicago area on March 17. Look for volunteers wearing special Shamrocks for Kids aprons and receive a shamrock pin for your donation.
Shoppers at Jewel-Osco also can help. Through Wednesday, March 28, ten cents from each Kellogg's and Edy's item sold will go directly to Mercy Home for Boys & Girls.
While at Jewel, register to win the Shamrocks for Kids Family Vacation Sweepstakes to Dublin, Ireland, including round trip air transportation for four, courtesy of American Airlines, and four nights' hotel accommodations.
Mercy Home also invites the public to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at the Chicago Hilton at the 12th annual Shamrocks for Kids Post Parade Celebration. The family-friendly party kicks off immediately following the downtown St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday, March 17. Enjoy live music by The Narrowbacks, Dyed in the Wool, and Shannon Rovers Irish Pipe Band and dancing by World Academy of Irish Dance and the Mullane Irish Dance Academy.
Adults will enjoy the corned beef at the complimentary hot Irish buffet and Goose Island Beer, while kids get free leprechaun lunch boxes courtesy of Blue Plate Catering. Kids also will enjoy costumed characters including Tony the Tiger and Ernie the Keebler Elf. General admission is $50 and children younger than 12 are admitted free.
Also look for ABC-7 news anchor Kathy Brock to appear in public service announcements promoting the campaign and listen to the Lisa Dent and Ramblin’ Ray Morning Show on US99.5 the week of March 12 for live broadcasts from Dublin, Ireland.
Visit www.mercyhome.org or call (312) 738-4389 for complete information. Mercy Home is located at 1140 W. Jackson Blvd.
UIC tries new brain tumor device
The University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) has enrolled the first U.S. patient in a study of a new treatment for the most common and aggressive type of brain tumor, glioblastoma multiforme.
The international, multi-center trial will compare the best standard treatments—surgical removal, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy—to a new, noninvasive therapy that directs alternating electrical fields directly to the surface of the head.
"This therapy is a totally novel approach that is, in concept, relatively simple," said Herbert Engelhard, MD, associate professor of neurosurgery and site investigator for the trial at UIC.
Following a baseline MRI to determine the tumor’s location, clinicians place several electrodes on the patient's shaved head; the electrodes are connected to a medical device, the NovoTTF-100A, that runs on a portable battery and emits alternating electric fields. The device remains on the patient 22 hours a day; patients can continue normal daily activities at home.
"Research has shown that these electrical fields rupture the cancer cells as they divide," Engelhard said.
Daniel Torres, 51, of Chicago is the first person in the U.S. to receive the novel therapy. The trial will enroll 236 patients at ten U.S. centers and seven European ones.
NovoCure, Ltd. is funding the study.
GoTime Gym opens
Chad
Robbins and Ricky Spritz grew up taking karate classes together and dreamed
of someday opening their own gym. They recently opened Go Time Chicago at
1601 S. Morgan St.
The gym offers cardio and weight training and has and has regulation-size boxing and karate rings, and offers “little perks like street parking and ice and Gatorade machines,” Robbins said.
“The gym is meant to be a family-friendly facility, offering a full schedule of kids’ classes and family rates,” he continued. “But grown-ups will be equally impressed by the space and superb staff. No one will mind if you just want your treatdmill fix, but chances are you’ll be tempted to sign up for a lesson with boxing instructor Ray Pace.”
Robbins and Spritz noted after 20 minutes in the ring with Pace, “we were sweating buckets and couldn’t wipe the smiles off our faces,” Robbins said.
For more information, call (312) 433-2333 or log on to www.gotimechicago.com.
