Making Strides - 2011 - Lucky Me!

Hello Everyone!

Yes, I am the lucky one because I am here today and I get to write to all of YOU out here in blog-land, and you have been important in my life whether you know it or not. You have been a teacher, a classmate, a friend, family.....someone who sent an awful joke to me, or an unknown friend who has sent me words of encouragement along my journey. For all of it, I thank you.

I know the economy is dreadful and in worse shape than most of us have ever seen, and it does no good to cast blame, it just is what it is. As a country, we will pick ourselves up, dust off our knees, and drive on, because that is what we do.

With regard to Making Strides for the American Cancer Society, I am opting for a different approach to implore you to support this cause. But first, let me tell you that because of your support last year I raised more than $2600 and my team, The SPICE RACK, raised over $4200! I am very grateful to everyone who donated. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

This year, I am requesting (praying) that everyone I know donate between $1-$5, (unless your company can afford to donate more to a charity, then please do so). From that angle I hope to raise a few hundred dollars this year. I know it is going to be tough, but this is not an option for me - it IS about survival.

As you know, this cause is very personal for me, and my sister Pam. Triple negative breast cancer patients are only just now surviving in the last 5-7 years because of research. Only a short 11 years ago, they didn't even know triple negatives like us existed and women just died because nothing helped them. They would go through heavy doses of chemo and radiation and all the medication and nothing; they wracked their bodies and died anyway. RESEARCH SAVES LIVES - I, my sister, and many other triple negatives are living proof of it.

BUT, this fight is not over because the cure has not been found. Until we find a cure, mothers, daughters, sisters, and wives will continue to die. I have seen women of all ages - 20s, 30s, 40s and up....and it is heartbreaking. I still weep for my friends who lost their lives to this disease way too young and will never meet their grandchildren.

So, today, I humbly ask you to please donate to my Making Strides campaign where your money WILL go to research and WILL help save lives.

I honestly believe that I am still here to talk to my own children and say goodnight to them because of research in the last ten years. That thought overwhelms me because I know how lucky I am and I don't take one conversation with my boys for granted; I savor every single moment.

I monumentally thank you for your time, your love, your guidance, and your friendship.......and as always, your generosity. To get to my Making Strides page, please copy the below link and paste in your browser:

http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/MakingStridesAgainstBreastCancer/MSABCFY12Florida?px=14996179&pg=personal&fr_id=35980

Much love and long life~

Arla