Race for the Cure....

I'm not certain if all of you know this, but I am a 12 year Breast Cancer Survivor. Had a double mastectomy. 8 months of chemo. 32 rounds of radiation. It spread to my lymph nodes.

Lost all my hair (was totally aero-dynamic for one entire summer!) and had 9 operations in a year.

Yadda yadda yadda.

Everyone said "Oh, you're so brave" or " you are so strong" which I really didn't understand.

What were the alternatives.

The ones who deserved the praise were the ones who supported me then and continue to support me now.

One of these is my daughter April and her family. For the past 7 years, every October, she and Chris, Alyssa and Emily walk for me.

And you.

And "our" daughters, mothers and sisters.

Every year, it is part of my birthday present from her family to me - to walk in my honor, in my Mother's and Grandmother's honor.

Every year the bank she works for "matches" her donation efforts dollar-for-dollar.

She asked if I'd be comfortable putting this out on my blog for your consideration.

Am I comfortable? I am PROUD. Proud of her, her dedication the children's love and her husband's support for this cause.

I am including a link to the Koman's site where you could, if the spirit moves you, donate any amount. We never know if it's our "dollar" that was the final dollar needed for that study..or if it get the scientists one dollar closer to a break-through.

So, yes April, I am comfortable and very very proud to include your request here.

And I love you.

And I don't want you, your sister or any of my granddaughters, any of my blogging friends, both known and unknown, not one more woman (or man) to ever have to accept the compliment

"Oh, you're doing so good............... for having cancer!"

I love you,

-Mom

I AM - raising money to cure breast cancer.

Did you know that one in eight women will be stricken with breast cancer in her lifetime? This fact has convinced me that I need to get involved and help in the fight to eradicate breast cancer.
I have recently accepted the challenge to raise funds for the 2008 Komen Denver Race for the Cure. Seventy-five percent (75%) of the funds I raise will be used for breast cancer education, screening and treatment programs in the Denver community. Twenty-five percent (25%) of the money I raise will be used for national research to find a cure for breast cancer.
A cure for breast cancer will be found, but in the meantime, many people need our help.

Fifty-five thousand (55,000) women in the Denver metro area are without access to mammograms. Twenty and one-half percent (20.5%) of Coloradoans lack basic health insurance.
Please join me in the fight against breast cancer by contributing to the 2008 Denver Race for the Cure.

Your tax-deductible contribution will fund outreach and awareness programs for the medically under served in the Denver community. Your donation will also insure that national breast cancer research continues until the cause for breast cancer is determined.

Every $100 raised helps one woman in the Denver metro area receive a mammogram. A $250 donation will pay for five clinical breast exams, and $1,000 will help pay for one round of chemotherapy drug Taxotere.

It is easy to contribute. You can make a donation on line by simply clicking the link below. If you prefer, you can also send your tax-deductible contribution to the address listed below.
Click here to visit my personal page and pledge your support.
Sincerely,
APRIL LYKE

To send a donation:
Komen Denver Race for the Cure 1835 Franklin Street Denver, Colorado 80218 Attn: Pledges