Fires. Killings. Crashes. Attacks. Accidents. Unspeakable losses of all varieties. So many of the stories that make news are about sorrow. When you're a reporter with a front row seat to so much tragedy, it can be disheartening. I personally believe we could do a better job shining a light on good things that are happening, or at least, being part of a more solution-oriented discussion. But there's no question tragedy is real. A redemptive corollary is that tragedy often brings out remarkable compassion, the proverbial kindness of strangers. In the darkness, glimmering lights are most visible and most needed.

Despite all the tragedies I've covered in my 22 years (this month) at KGW, I'd never heard of the Trauma Intervention Program (TIP) until last week. How could that be? The program receives about 150 calls a month from the Portland-Vancouver area, dispatching volunteers who offer emotional support during and after traumatic events.

Recently, I covered the death of a 29-year-old construction worker, Edward Manley of Boring. He was working in a trench, putting in a sewer line when the trench collapsed. What started out as a routine day on the job turned out to be the end of his life. During my follow-up calls with the Gresham Fire bureau to discuss the valiant rescue efforts, Deputy Chief Jim Klum told me he called TIP soon after the accident because it was clear the other construction workers at the site were traumatized to see their co-worker critically hurt and trapped in the trench. He said three TIP volunteers rushed to the site, arriving even before investigators from OSHA got there.

Manley died from his injuries early the next day. Once again, TIP volunteers were called out to offer support to his co-workers, at the request of the owner of the construction company.

That same day, a 4-alarm fire broke out at an apartment complex in Milwaukie. Another trio of TIP volunteers arrived as displaced residents watched the fire rage through their homes.

June Vining, an employee of the Portland Fire Bureau, oversees the Portland/Vancouver branch of TIP, which now includes 160 volunteers and the first teen TIP program in the nation. Upon signing up for the program, volunteers are screened ( "We don't want any badge bunnies," says June) and fingerprinted. After undergoing 58-hours of training in 2-and-a-half weeks, they commit to being on-call for three 12-hour shifts a month.

While a few of the volunteers are mental health professionals, most are not. They simply have a heart for bringing something good to horrible situations: emotional first-aid. It's too late to sign up for the training sessions now underway. The next round starts in the spring. If you're interested in being part of TIP, here is the email address: info@tipweb.org
And the next time you see a tragic news story, think of the good people who may be lights in the darkness.

Posted by at 7:20 PM | Permalink

You've heard the saying,"everyone has a story".
There's a story behind each and every person who takes part in the "Komen Portland Race For the Cure".
I wonder what yours is.

Mine is about family.

I've written here before about breast cancer survivors close to me; my mother-in-law, Marilyn, and Step-Mother, Suzan Porter.
Sadly, I lost my Step-Mom in February, and this year I will run in her memory.
My father made a generous donation, in her name, to our KGW Race For the Cure Team, Laural's Hardy Racers.
Our team is trying to stay in the top-ten when it comes to team fundraising.

(There are nearly 900-teams right now. More than this time last year.)

Fundraising is important, because it gives "Komen For The Cure" the resources it needs to help those facing breast cancer, and to
fund research that will,we all hope and pray, one day lead to a cure.

Did you know most people who take part in the race don't fund raise?
If we all did, imagine the difference we could make.
The "Komen Portland Race for the Cure" has set an ambitious goal this year of raising three-million dollars.

Together we can do it.
If you would like to donate, you can contribute to the general race fund,or to my team, Laural's Hardy Racers.

Here's a link.
Make a Donation

This year the race is on Sunday, September 23rd. I will be there for the 7th year, and I hope to see you there,too.

I invite you to share your reasons for taking part.
Just head over to the "Komen Portland Race For The Cure" page here on Kgw.com

Laural

Posted by at 4:20 PM | Permalink

So, maybe after all these years in the TV news business, I really have developed a nose for news.
Many of you are wondering if W-C Fields, Karl Malden, or maybe Jimmy Durante have replaced me here on Newschannel 8.

I have received some very nice emails from viewers concerned about me.
I appreciate the kind way you have asked why my nose is suddenly so large!

One viewer,Stephen, wrote:

Laural. I love watching you on kgw, I watch every night at 11:00. I do not want this to sound rude or to offend you in any way but the other night when I was watching the news I noticed your nose looked kind of big, Did you get in a car accident? if everything is fine then maybe it is just my TV. I was just concerned.

Others have wondered if maybe I got hit by a baseball...
or my favorite, from the movie, "The Santa Claus".
Remember when Tim Allen suddenly gains a lot of weight... as he transformed into the Jolly Old Elf.
His explanation... he got stung by a bee, a really BIG bee.

Discussion about my nose is even showing up on local blogs.
So, I thought you should hear it straight from the horse's mouth... er nose.

I recently had surgery to correct a deviated septum. It's something that's bothered me since I was a kid.
I finally decided it would be nice to breathe through my nose.
My doctor thought I'd be good to go on the air in a couple of weeks.
In reality, I probably needed at least another week.

So, I have spackled on loads of makeup under my eyes to cover up stubborn bruises...
But, there hasn't been much I can do to diminish the swelling of my nose.

Three days, ago I hosted a "Komen Race For the Cure" Event for the Top 100 fundraisers.
I was still bruised, and my nose, well you know what it looks like.
I was embarrassed, and wondered if I should back out.
But, then I thought, hey, what I am going through pales in comparison to what breast cancer survivors endure.
They proudly show up for the "Race For the Cure" wearing pink caps over bald heads from chemo treatments.

Compared to that, what I have is a mosquito bite, or okay, a really big bee sting.

For me, this will pass. I hope.

Or I hope you can get used to W-C Fields delivering your news.
You can even call me a news hound, now.
Meantime, I'll keep my nose to the grindstone... hoping that might make it smaller.

Laural

Posted by at 3:28 PM | Permalink

Why I Race For The Cure

As we all enjoy the waning weeks of summer before our kids go back to school and the days grow shorter, it's time also to think about one of the events that will help close out our beautiful Northwest summer: The Portland -Vancouver Race For The Cure on Sunday, September 23rd.

It's one of the most powerful events I've ever been a part of, and that's one of the reasons for the fourth year in a row, I am humbled to serve as the Race's honorary co-chair.

I'd like to share with you why I run in the race, sign my entire family up for the race, form my own team, and raise money for a cure. I'd also like to invite you to join me in helping find a cure for breast cancer, a cause very dear to my heart.

Here are my reasons and I invite you to share yours here, too.

For me, it comes down to friends, family, and some numbers.

One-in-eight. Those would be pretty good odds if you were talking about chances of winning the lottery but not when you're talking about the sobering statistics of getting breast cancer.

One in eight. Those numbers scare me. I remember not too long ago, the statistics used were one in ten women would get breast cancer in her lifetime.

Now, not only have the odds grown grimmer, but the number of people I know personally who have battled breast cancer has also increased.

Two of those women are very close to me.

Both my mother-in-law, Marilyn, and my step-mother, Suzan are breast cancer survivors. I saw how they bravely battled the disease; undergoing radiation therapy, and for my step-mother a double mastectomy. They are more than seven-year survivors now, and serve as shining examples to me of grace, dignity and strength in their survival.

I now have two younger friends who are also survivors. I've seen them go through chemotherapy, losing their hair, but never losing their positive attitude. I wonder if I could do the same in the same situation.

One friend, who had always participated in the "Portland Race For the Cure" before her diagnosis, ran last year for the first time - as a survivor. Seeing her at the end of the race, proudly wearing her pink hat covering a bald head, carrying her head high as a survivor made me cry.
I cried in admiration, cried at how I hate the disease, and cried in determination to be a part of the cure.

I have four children, three teenage daughters and a son. It's my dream that we will find a cure in their lifetimes, so they don't have to worry about that one-in-eight statistic growing even worse.

In Portland and Vancouver, we have the fifth largest "Komen Race for the Cure" in the country. That's pretty good, considering there are more than 114 races nationwide.

Last year in Portland, we had 45,000 participants and raised more than $2 million. That's wonderful and thanks so much to all of you who took part. We have the most wonderfully compassionate community. I know together we can become the largest, most successful race in the country.

So, be sure to come out on September 23rd, and bring an extra family member and friend. Let's make this the biggest and most financially successful race ever. That's what it's going to take for us to finally find a cure for breast cancer.

I also head up a team, "Laural's Hardy Racers". Anyone can join, just sign up on my team under "Existing Teams".

Or you can form your own team. Even if you don't want to participate in the race, you can still be a part of the effort to find a cure. You can make a donation to my team or any other.

I invite you to join me in finding a cure. Together, I know we can do it.

I am sure there are as many stories about "why you race" as there are people who participate. So, please share your reasons with us here on our blog.
We can all find strength in sharing our stories.

This is our time. This is our place. These are our reasons we "Race For the Cure."

Fondly,
Laural Porter

Click on 'comments' to share why YOU run...and read the stories of others.

Posted by at 4:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)