Breast cancer survivor and Grammy-winning artist Sheryl Crow is headlining a benefit for Back in the Swing at 8 p.m. Saturday, July 14, at the Johnson County Community College’s Yardley Hall. The musician, mother and Missouri native will perform select songs from her legendary career and share personal reflections from the heart. Merry and Ed Prostic and Sherry and Gary Forsee are serving as honorary chairmen of the event.

The non-profit Back in the Swing is dedicated to improving and protecting the health of breast cancer survivors through education and awareness. As another way to enhance the life of these survivors, and all women in general, Barbara Unell and Judith Fertig wrote “The Back in the Swing Cookbook: Recipes for Eating and Living Well Every Day After Breast Cancer” ($29.99, Andrews McMeel Publishing, 2012). The book will be launched at this summer celebration.

Unell, who is a 14-year breast cancer survivor, describes the book as one that is life-affirming and full of 150 feel-good, easy-to-prepare recipes.

“As the woman’s guide to making delicious meals and embracing a positive lifestyle, ‘The Back in the Swing Cookbook’ will make mind, body and spirit feel energized and empowered,” she said. The book will be released nationwide on Aug. 7. A portion of the proceeds of the book will benefit Back in the Swing.

Recipes include Citrus Sesame Chicken Salad, Strawberry Agua Fresca, Mushroom and Broccoli Risotto, and Gingersnap-Crusted Pumpkin Pie. Each recipe also includes a complete nutritional analysis. Unell said in addition to fabulous food and drinks, the book’s beautiful pages include luscious photographs and “Recipes for Life” — tips on exercise, nature, meditation, relaxation, positive emotions, pets, friendships, and more — that set it apart from other cookbooks.

“But it’s more than a cookbook. It will basically share the essentials of what every breast cancer survivor, and every woman, really needs to know about how to take care of herself and be informed as a consumer of health care and also how to enjoy every day without that kind of fear that they should be doing this or they should be doing that because this information is right there in the book,” she continued.

As a lifestyle book, Unell said it promotes the message that it takes all women to raise their voices and ask for survivorship care. For the past 10 years, Back in the Swing has worked to create education and events with the mission of raising funds to start and benefit wellness programs, research and medical services for breast cancer survivors, as well as raise awareness about survivorship as a critical component of life after a breast cancer diagnosis and treatment.

“We also train other providers locally and around the country to deliver this care,” she added.

Unell said the book focuses on how each individual can ask for and receive the personalized, multi-disciplinary kind of care that providers now are expected to provide.

“I think both sides, the consumer and the professional, need to work together to make sure that the survivor can improve and protect her health,” she said.

The book, according to Unell, features more than 500 “fascinating pieces of research” on everything from prevention of primary breast cancer to preventing the occurrence of breast cancer. It also gives tips on bone health and heart health and others areas concerning women’s health.

“All the research that oftentimes gets miscommunicated to the consumer is all between the two covers of this book,” she said.

Unell said it takes powerful voices to share Back in the Swing’s powerful message, brought to the forefront by this book. That is one reason why Sheryl Crow was chosen to headline the event. Crow was brought on board by Rachel Beller, a member of Back in the Swing’s board of directors, a nutritionist (bellernutritionalinstitute.com) who wrote the forward to the book.

“Rachel has the combination of common sense and science in the way she looks at nutrition and empowering people to get the health care they need. She is based in Los Angeles and is a nutritionist to Sheryl Crow and works with other survivors in a breast center that Sheryl Crow helped to fund in California. So it is a very exciting partnership to bring together Rachel and Back in the Swing,” Unell said.

Unell said Crow represents someone who has discovered that she needs to have information to improve and protect her health just like everybody else does.

“Besides having a fabulous voice, Sheryl believes in what we are doing and understands what we are doing first hand. But also, I think, she will help us that evening by sharing some of her personal experiences,” Unell said.

Sheryl Crow Summer Celebration

A benefit evening for Back in the Swing® takes place at 8 p.m. Saturday, July 14, at Yardley Hall at Johnson County Community College.

Tier/Terrace/Balcony are available for $75 for an individual ticket, which includes a copy of the new book, “The Back in the Swing Cookbook,” or $50 for a ticket only.

Both ticket prices include a dessert reception, inspired by the new “Back in the Swing Cookbook,” after the performance, compliments of Dean & Deluca.

Grammy-winning artist Sheryl Crow will be performing select songs from her legendary career and sharing personal reflections from the heart.

Tickets can be purchased at the JCCC box office, which is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and one hour before curtain. Tickets can also be purchased online at www.jccc.edu or by calling 913-469-4445.

Sponsorships are also still available through Back in the Swing. Contact Bob Unell at 913-481-6364 for more information. Information about the event, and links to the ticket office, can also be found at backintheswing.org.