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2003
If I told you that I’m walking nearly 80 miles over 2 weekends to help women with undetected breast cancer find out early enough to survive, would you support me? What if I told you that right now there are over 1,000,000 women in the United States with undetected breast cancer? Would you sponsor me to help them find out early enough that they survive to watch their friends and family grow up and grow old? How about if I told you that 70% of those women have absolutely no risk factors for breast cancer. They don’t even know they should be checking. Would you sponsor me to help educate them? What if I told you that the only reason I am here to ask these questions is that a cautious doctor spotted something odd during a routine check-up and thus set into motion the events that saved my life? I’m here because I have access to regular medical care. Millions of women in the United States do not. Would you sponsor me to help save the lives of these medically underserved women? Here’s my last question. Would you sponsor me if I told you that somewhere in the United States someone’s mother, sister, aunt or very best friend is diagnosed with breast cancer every 3 minutes…and every 13 minutes breast cancer claims another life. These are staggering facts, with frightening numbers. The good news is that this is a fight that we absolutely can do something about. As a cancer survivor I am committed to doing everything within my power to help wipe out this disease. That means I’m walking in both the San Francisco and Portland Avon Walk for Breast Cancer this summer–nearly 80 miles. That means I’ve committed to raising a minimum of $3500 in pledges by May 30th. It means that I’m doing everything I can think of to get the word out that we can win this fight against cancer. I need your help. Fundraising can be challenging – even in the best of times. Many things have changed in our world since September 11th and more recently. The one thing we cannot let these events change is our kindness. We must be kind without reservation. It is what makes us different than those who fight so diligently against us. Reaching out to help those who will never even know our name is a beautiful example of kindness. I would never ask you to do something that I wouldn’t do myself. I have started my fundraising with a personal pledge of $500. I’m asking you to add your pledge to that as I work towards $3500. The money raised will go towards non-profit breast health programs, state of the art medical research and to provide support for medically underserved women in the United States. To support me please go to www.avonwalk.org and click on “Support A Walker.” I am walking in both San Francisco and Portland. Enter my name and follow the directions to pledge online with either a debit or credit card. You can even spread your pledge out over three months! The other option is to mail your check made out to “Avon Walk for Breast Cancer” directly to me at the address below. I will do the paperwork and submit the pledge on your behalf. Whichever method you choose I hope that you will choose to share this incredible experience with me. There are millions of people out there that need you and your support. You have the unique opportunity to be their hero. If you would like to learn more about this event and my progress, please log onto http://pennys.pledgepage.org. Thank you in advance for your generosity! Penny Kellam kellam83@att.net PS: Please feel free to share this letter and message with your friends and family. |