Released on: May 31, 2008, 5:10 pm

Press Release Author: Echo Media Group

Industry: Non Profit

Press Release Summary: The Four Pearls of Beckstrand Cancer Foundation, which aims
to improve and enhance the quality of life of children, teens and families
struggling with cancer, today announced the launch of its new Art Therapy Support
Group.

Press Release Body: NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. (May 31, 2008) -The Four Pearls of
Beckstrand Cancer Foundation, which aims to improve and enhance the quality of life
of children, teens and families struggling with cancer, today announced the launch
of its new Art Therapy Support Group. The new program will teach adolescents with
cancer how to better cope with their diagnosis and prognosis, and aid in their
recovery.
"We are thrilled to launch this new art therapy program through our auxiliary 'Four
Pearls,'" said Lil Spitzer, executive director of Beckstrand Cancer Foundation.
"New research has shown programs with art therapy components have positively
impacted the quality of life of cancer patients, which is directly in line with the
Foundation's goal of improving the lives of cancer patients."
The Art Therapy Support Group will be open to adolescents with any type of cancer
and will use art and psychoanalysis as tools for learning coping skills. Classes
will be approximately two hours each, running for a duration of eight weeks.
Members of the group will have the opportunity to showcase their artwork at
exhibits provided by the Foundation, as well as in The Diamond & Pearl Ball 2008
gala program. Dr. Esther Dreifuss-Kattan will oversee the program, due to her
widespread experience with cancer patients and patients with other chronic,
potentially life-threatening illnesses. She holds a Ph.D. in both Art Therapy and
Psychoanalysis, and is a licensed Research Psychoanalyst with the Medical Board of
California.
The overall mission of Beckstrand Cancer Foundation is to improve and enhance the
quality of life of cancer patients and their families. Through the generous
contributions of its supporters at The Diamond & Pearl Ball 2007, the Foundation was
enabled to develop a pediatric oncology program, which includes the Art Therapy
Support Group. For more information about Four Pearls of Beckstrand Cancer
Foundation or learn how to get involved, please visit www.Beckstrand.org.
About Beckstrand Cancer Foundation
Beckstrand Cancer Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization founded in 1974 by Dr.
Grant Beckstrand and a group of doctors specializing in the treatment and care of
cancer patients. For more than 30 years, the Foundation's goal has been to "improve
and enhance the quality of life for cancer patients and their families." This
mission is achieved through an Individual Patient Assistance program, in which the
Foundation is unique in providing financial assistance, patient advocacy, supportive
counseling and practical help to patients in the midst of their cancer treatment and
struggling to cope with critical survival needs. While research is imperative to
finding a cure, approximately 1.4 million new cancer cases are expected to be
diagnosed in 2008, and little support is available to assist these victims with
day-to-day living and basic needs. This is where Beckstrand Cancer Foundation serves
as the missing link. For more information about Beckstrand Cancer Foundation or to
learn more about the 2008 Diamond & Pearl Ball, visit www.Beckstrand.org.

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Web Site: http://www.beckstrand.org

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714-573-0899
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