My cousin sent me an email asking me to help with some fund raising she’s doing — it’s a walk for breast cancer. I am normally not one to give to random charities… we all get asked so much to give that I make a conscious decision to give to the causes that I care about, and don’t feel bad about telling people no.
This was a little different. Diane lost a good friend to breast cancer so this cause is close to her heart. And since 1 in 8 women will get breast cancer, it is very likely it will affect you at some point in your life, whether you or a loved one contracts the disease.
Please take a moment to read the letter below, and if you are able please donate to their cause.
Brandon
Five years ago on August 7, 2003, I lost my dear friend, Ann Cooper to breast cancer. Ann had a very aggressive form of the disease. When she was diagnosed her daughter Rachael was 10 and Laura was 8. She died two years later when Rachael was 12 and one day after Laura turned 11. As you can imagine it has been a very difficult five years for these two girls. Their father, Michael Curran, has done all he can but loosing your mother as maturing young ladies has been hard on the entire family.
I have made donations to many people over the years when they have undertaken 3-Day walks in support of a cure for breast cancer. I have felt too raw and emotionally spent to commit to the walk myself as a result of what I saw breast cancer do to not only Ann but my other dear friend Denise Bryant in both of their long battles with the disease. I always said that if Rachael, was ever brave enough to make this journey, then I would be brave enough too. On this 5th anniversary of Ann succumbing to this horrible disease, Rachel Curran has pulled us all together to form the Friends and Family of Ann Cooper Team and we will be walking in the Washington, DC Breast Cancer 3-Day on October 3-5.
Together, we will walk 60 miles over the course of three days with thousands of other women and men. The net proceeds will support breast cancer research, education, screening and treatment through Susan G. Komen for the Cure and the National Philanthropic Trust Breast Cancer Fund.
I have agreed to raise at least $2,500 in donations but I know I can raise even more and have set my personal goal at $5,000. So, I need your help. Please consider making a donation of any amount that you can to help us fund more research to stop this horrible disease. Keep in mind how far I’m walking – and how hard I’ll have to train. You can donate online at http://www.the3day.org/. Just click on Donate Now and search for my personal fundraising page. You can also call 800.996.3DAY to donate over the phone.
According to Susan G. Komen for the Cure, more than 200,000 American women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year, and nearly 40,000 will die from the disease. That’s why I’m walking so far. I HATE BREAST CANCER. I do not want any more of my friends becoming ill or dying from this disease. I have cried and my heart has been broken by this disease. Now it is time for me to walk 60 miles with Ann’s daughter Rachael and her husband Michael as well as thousands of others with cancer loss and survival stories. Now is the time to do something bold about breast cancer. Please help me make a difference by sharing this incredible adventure with me and by supporting me in my fundraising efforts.
Thanks in advance for your generosity.
Diane
