Conquering His Medical Mountain

Mountaineer Alan Hobson thought Mt. Everest was the greatest challenge he would face in his lifetime.

Until he was diagnosed with leukemia.

“It became my medical mountain,” he told hundreds of people attending the Circle 1000 Founders’ brunch on behalf of the Hoag Cancer Center in Newport Beach.

“I’ve discovered on my medical mountain that there are few greater challenges than a life-threatening illness,” said Hobson, 43, a five-time All American gymnast and author of the book “From Everest to Enlightenment,” an inspirational account of his successful ascent in 1997 of the world’s highest peak.

Ever the risk-taker, Hobson was preparing to explore the deepest part in the ocean near the Philippines--and become the first person to visit the highest and lowest points on the Earth’s surface--when he was diagnosed last summer with acute myelogenous leukemia. He underwent several rounds of chemotherapy and received a stem cell transplant from his brother in November.

“Today, I am a 5-month-old,” Hobson said during last week’s event at the Four Seasons in Newport Beach. “And I have the peach fuzz [on my head] to prove it.”

Illustrating the challenges of an Everest ascent with dramatic photographs, Hobson spoke of the comparisons he has made between the mind-sets that can be employed by mountaineer and cancer patient.

A mountain climber tells himself: “I can climb Mt. Everest; I will climb Mt. Everest,” Hobson said, huffing and puffing onstage as he took exaggerated steps to demonstrate the rigors of such an undertaking.

And a cancer patient should employ a similar mantra: “I can get better; I will get better,” he said. “The mind is a powerful thing.”

Besides suffering the losses of health and control, cancer patients might also struggle with profound cases of the jitters when they undergo treatment. During those times, Hobson said he focused on “healing.”

“When we run from our fears, they get bigger; when we address them, they shrink,” he said.

Hobson received a standing ovation at the 14th annual event, which garnered proceeds of about $455,000, bringing Circle 1000’s total to the cancer center to nearly $4 million.

“The courage that Alan brought to [the benefit] was extraordinarily inspirational and compelling,” event chairwoman Hyla Bertea said.

KOCE’s Aristeia Awards

With no apologies for programming that ranges from “The Lawrence Welk Show” to highly researched nature shows based on zoology, KOCE-TV President Mel Rogers praised the work of the public television station Thursday at its annual Aristeia Awards dinner at the Sutton Place Hotel in Newport Beach.

In an electronic world that embraces the non-civilizing terrors of “reality TV,” “KOCE is trying very hard to be a civilizing influence,” Rogers said, noting that “400,000 students and teachers access our KOCE Classroom service” and about 10,000 in-home students annually take college courses at its partner institution, Coastline Community College.

“It isn’t cool to be civilizing,” Rogers added. “It isn’t cool to teach . . . but we do it anyway.”

Recognized at the event were Arnold O. Beckman, founder and chairman emeritus of Beckman Instruments, winner of the Jo Caines Expanding Minds Award; Jack W. Peltason, president emeritus of UC Irvine, winner of the Aristeia for Education Award; and Bernice K. Hird, former community relations manager for Hunt/Wesson, winner of the Aristeia Community Service Award.

Proceeds from the event, which was emceed by Ann Pulice and Ed Arnold--stars of KOCE-TV’s “Real Orange” news show--were estimated at $130,000. KOCE Foundation board members Peggy Goldwater Clay and Gloria Gellman were co-chairwomen. Ray Bradbury was keynote speaker.

Having a Heart

Hundreds of supporters of the Assessment and Treatment Services Center gathered at the Hyatt Regency Irvine last week to watch Jeanette Segerstrom, Susan Segerstrom Perry, Sandy Segerstrom-Daniels and Sally Segerstrom receive the nonprofit organization’s prestigious Caring Heart Award.

Also honored at the event co-chaired by Lana Chandler and Denice Mock: John and Donna Crean, recipients of ATSC’s Caring Angel Award.

Sponsored by the Sophisticates support group of ATSC, a youth counseling program that seeks to prevent children from developing dysfunctional behavior, the event featured a gourmet luncheon and show by Nordstrom at South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa. “The unique thing about ATSC is that it offers free family therapy,” executive director Grace A. Mucci said. “And that removes the barrier” for all children who need help.

ATSC recently instituted a class for parents with preschoolers that seeks to improve the quality of life for young children. Using programs that educate parents about their children’s “mental health and communication needs,” Mucci said, “the classes improve the parent-child bond.”

Typically, a child referred to ATSC by the police or an educator is 10 years old, Mucci said.

“The majority of them are referred because they are experiencing family problems such as divorce, separation, drug or alcohol abuse, domestic abuse or the incarceration of a parent,” she said.

Initially, the entire family is evaluated and the problem is assessed. “The children are usually having trouble concentrating in school, completing their work, and there are often parent-child interaction problems,” she said.

Counseling by ATSC professionals sets these children on a enlightened path. “Our program seeks to arrest the problem, not the child,” she said.

Information: (949) 675-0993.

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Ann Conway can be reached by phone at (714) 966-5952 or by fax at (714) 966-7790.