State Worthy President Bob Sipka has chosen the Virginia Prostate Center of Eastern Virginia Medical School as his charity.

Prostate cancer is now second only to cancer of the lung as the leading cause of death from cancer among American males.  Approximately one of every ten men will develop prostate cancer in his lifetime.

The Virginia Prostate Center is a joint program with Sentara Caner Institute, conducting multidisciplinary clinical and basic research into more effective treatments and more precise diagnostic assessment for prostate and other urological cancers.  A major focus of the VPC is on studies to develop better and earlier diagnostic tests for prostate cancer and new strategies to treat the disease.

Please visit http://www.evms.edu/vpc/index.html for more information.

Virginia State Auxiliary President's Charity

State Madam President Sharon Sipka has chosen Lake Christian Ministries in Moneta, VA as her charity.

Lake Christian Ministries is an all volunteer organization whose mission is to help, feed and clothe those in need around the lake area of Franklin, Bedford and Pittslyvania counties.  The organization provides the services to assit families in tough times.

State Madam President Sharon has also expanded her charity to include food banks and pantries throughout the state of Virginia --- all of whom share the vision of a day when every child should be able to go to school without hunger; when working families can put healthy food on the table; and when seniors don't have to choose between buying medications and buying food.

With the current state of the economy, food banks are seeing a tremendous rise in requests for help.  SMP Sharon wishes each auxiliary to donate to either the Lake Christian Ministires or their local area food bank --- donations can take the form of non-perishable items, monetary donations and holiday food baskets.

Hunger is a community issue we can't ignore.  It's everywhere we look. And allowing people in our midst to go hungry, even for a day, is a reflection on us all.