Focus group
Howard County General Hospital's Center for Breast Care is looking for women who are living with metastatic breast cancer to participate in a focus group to help determine the services and resources needed by this population. Women interested in participating should contact Tina Evans, 410-884-4650 or cevans@hcgh.org.
The center guides women dealing with cancer through diagnostic and treatment options and includes personal support and counseling.
Blood donations
The Greater Chesapeake and Potomac Region of the American Red Cross is requesting blood donations. Eligible donors can call 800-GIVE-LIFE to schedule an appointment. Platelet donors should call 800-272-2123.
Calendar
Heart and Sole Stroll Sponsored by the Claudia Mayer Cancer Resource Center and The Red Devils, a breast cancer support group founded in 2002 in memory of Jessica Cowling and Ginny Schardt, will be held 9:30 a.m. Sunday, June 13, at Centennial Lake, in Columbia, to support breast cancer patients in Maryland. Information: heartandsolestroll.org, 410-740-5858 or http://www.the-red-devils.org.
WomenFest Free wellness event sponsored by the Howard County Office on Aging and Howard County General Hospital will be held 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, June 16, at the Glenwood Community Center, 2400 Route 97, Cooksville. The program will focus on lectures, health, fashion and beauty. Information: 410-313-6410.
Graduate school open house Event at Tai Sophia will be held 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, June 19. Meet with admissions counselors and participate in panel discussions with faculty, students and alumni. Tour the institute's healing arts library and wellness clinic. All events will be held at the Laurel campus, 7750 Montpelier Road. RSVP to the office of graduate admissions, 410-888-9048, ext. 6647, or e-mail admissions@tai.edu.The school is now enrolling for the following programs: master's programs in acupuncture, science in herbal medicine, arts in transformative leadership and social change. Graduate certificate programs include health coaching, herbal studies, medical herbalism, transformative leadership and wellness coaching. The institute is a nonprofit, accredited educational institution for wellness-based studies. The institute is at 7750 Montpelier Road, Laurel.
Community health fair Activities include seminars on spirituality and health, fitness and nutrition, healthy relationships and a variety of health screenings, sponsored by St. John Baptist Church health and wholeness ministry. The fair will be held 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 26 at 9055 Tamar Drive, Columbia. Information: 410-992-6977.
Support groups
Teens Together Support Networking group for teens who have or have had a friend or family member diagnosed with cancer will meet from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. the third Sunday of each month in The Medical Pavilion, 10710 Charter Drive, Columbia. Contact Kelly Schwab at kschwabfam@gmail.com
Support/intervention programs Offered at Laurel Regional Hospital, 7300 Van Dusen Road, Laurel:
•Alcoholics Anonymous, 7 p.m. Sundays
•Bipolar, 6 p.m. Thursdays
•Narcotics Anonymous, 7 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays
•Parkinson's, 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays. Information: 301-776-3426
•Rehabilitation Sharing — strokes and long-term illness, 6 p.m., the second Thursday of the month. Information: Physical Medicine, 301-497-7901 or 410-792-2270. All programs are free. Information: 301-497-7914 or 410-792-7636.
Cancer support group for caregivers meets at 7 p.m. the second Wednesday of every month at the Claudia Mayer Cancer Resource Center, 10710 Charter Drive, Suite G050, Columbia. Mary M. Dowling will lead the discussion. Registration: 410-964-9100, ext. 5. Walk-ins are welcome.
Widows and widowers group will meet from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. the first Tuesday of every month at Jilly's, 10300 Baltimore National Pike, the Enchanted Forest Shopping Center, Ellicott City. Information: 410-740-5858.
Parkinson's education and support group will meet at 7 p.m. the third Monday of every month, 8180 Lark Brown Road, Elkridge. Information: 410-955-8795.