Saranne Rothberg, the inspiration and founder of ComedyCures, is a breast cancer survivor. Diagnosed in 1999 with stage IV breast cancer, she made a vow to laugh at least 100 times a day. The ComedyCures foundation reflects her belief in the power of laughter to heal and the positive coping offered by focusing on a comedic perspective.

Many other cancer patients must share her perspective on the positive healing benefits of laughter on the body, mind, and spirit because, according to the ComedyCures website, she has a multi-year waiting list for her motivational, inspirational, laughter-rich performances and keynote addresses. In addition to her appearances, ComedyCures 1-888-HA-HA-HA-HA LaughLine is said to reach as many as 4,000 people per month. Approximately 30,000 of her Wellness Joke Book pages have been created and circulated around the world. The foundation sponsors Live Laugh-A-Thon, Live LaughAbout, Laughing Lunch events, and offers videos and books.

Cancer-free now, Rothberg is a profoundly compassionate woman who has worked with The Red Cross, The United Way, Gilda’s Clubs, Paul Newman’s Hole in the Woods Camp, Paul McCartney’s Garland Appeal, Susan G. Komen Foundation, Cancer Survivor’s Day, and many other organizations. She has been featured on Good Morning America, in Oprah Magazine, The New York Times, and at YAHOO. She has been honored with awards including The Hope for The Future Award, The Making a Difference Award, and The Cancer Superhero of the Year Award. Her work and awards are many, and I could fill up a half-dozen posts just telling you about them.

What is truly remarkable, is that this is the vision Rothberg had while sitting in a chair during chemotherapy treatment. Go check out Rothberg's ComedyCures, find out that James Gandolfini of the Sopranos got caught doing the ComedyCures Body Giggle, and read tips on how to add laughter as part of the healing process.

"I go in every morning and let them pour this crap into me, and feel pretty bad about it -- until I see some 17-year-old going through it all, too," says Bobby Hamilton, regarding the first two weeks of cancer treatment. While visiting his son, Bobby Hamilton, Jr., at Martinsville Speedway yesterday, he was also promoting a charity event he will participate in to benefit the American Cancer Society Relay for Life and the Victory Junction Gang Camp. On May 23, 2006, Hamilton will host a four-hour fan festival at NASCAR SpeedPark at Concord Mills.

Hamilton began treatment at Vanderbilt University Medical Center for cancer of the neck. He hopes to return for the season’s final truck race in November in Homestead, Florida. In the meantime, Hamilton is turning his truck over to his son, Bobby Hamilton Jr.

When asked how his treatments were going, he said, "The first week was nothing, I just felt different. Like I'd drunk five gallons of mud. But I felt fine. So this week, me being the arrogant guy I am, I decided I'd go to the Kentucky track with my team testing, changing springs and gears, doing my merry thing. But after a while I was about ready to have them call the ambulance. It knocked all the steam out of me. This is pretty bad stuff." Hamilton is down-to-earth real, and tells it like it is -- cancer treatment is a tough track to drive -- even for a champion.

The Victory Junction Gang Camp provides ten week-long summer camping experiences that are fun and empowering for children with chronic medical conditions or serious illnesses. The rest of the year the camps host family retreat weekends, specialized programs for smaller disease groups, sibling weekends and camper reunions. Founded by actor Paul Newman and NASCAR's Kyle and Pattie Petty, Victory Junction and each camp in the Hole in the Wall Gang Association are not-for-profit organizations.

Victory Junction primarily serves children from North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia, but because of the close relationship with NASCAR, Victory Junction accepts a limited number of campers on a national basis. The Victory Junction Gang Camp is free of any charge to the children and families during their stay at the camp. If you are interested in learning more about attending one of the camps, would like to volunteer your time, or make a donation, visit the Victory Junction Gang website.