What a wonderful day for a Making Strides event. Over 4,200 walkers attended this years breast cancer walk in Concord New Hampshire. There was $492,616 raised this year! Memorial Field was gorgeous flowing with pink, walkers and volunteer's. It was truly an amazing sight to see. I am very honored to be a member of the committee to help accomplish such a wonderful and meaningful day for all. The concord monitor wrote a fantastic article which will bring tears to your eyes. As a breast cancer survivor the event was a spectacular sight with a warm inviting feeling when you entered the survivor tent. The survivor tent is a special place where survivors and family members can go to reflect. The "BELIEVE" theme was clearly visible with balloons, engraved gold book marks and note paper that allowed people to write and display their personal thoughts. Congratulations to Concord New Hampshire Making Strides against Breast Cancer! And a huge THANK YOU to all the volunteers for all of your hard work.

I am joining many other wonderful individuals for Making Strides on Sunday, October 14, 2007. This event is a non-competitive emotional and motivating walk. I am proud to say that I am on the sub committee for the greater concord area in New Hampshire along with many other dedicated people. The event starts at Memorial Field and is a 5 mile walk with beautiful painted pink ribbons on the side walk, then through St. Paul's school with the home stretch past the Payson Center where I personally had my chemotherapy treatments along with many other cancer survivors. The walk allows everyone to reflect personal endeavors and many walk in memory of others. We are all joining in the fight to find a cure for breast cancer. Everyone should be congratulated for all efforts great and small. Making Strides are making steps forward to help in finding a cure for breast cancer through thousands of walkers in just Concord New Hampshire alone.

Join us to Encourage, To Support, To Celebrate, To Remember, To BELIEVE

Last week, I was fortunate enough to meet many inspirational women and survivors at the AVON Foundation's Global Breast Cancer Survivor Day Celebration, many of whom Kelly and I have already introduced on this site. For three years, AVON has held the Walk Around the Globe for Breast Cancer event, among others, to raise money and awareness for the cause. A large contributing factor to the company's continued devotion to the cause is CEO and Chairman Andrea Jung, who hosted and spoke at last Thursday's festivities.



Since 1999, Jung has held this title at AVON, shaping the company into not only a beauty company, but a "company for women." At 49 years old, she currently holds the ninth position on Fortune Magazine's list of 50 Most Powerful Women -- only one of a multitude of power lists she's been on. Attending the event and speaking to the women, as well as mingling with the guests of honor, showed Jung's true compassionate, down-to-earth nature.


At the end of the luncheon, Jung had all 48 breast cancer survivors in attendance stand individually to be recognized. As each said her name, country of origin and time as a survivor in various languages, Andrea looked on with pride as if each was a dear friend. After every survivor spoke -- each ending with "Thank you, AVON" -- it was announced that there was a total of 307 years of survivorship in that room alone. That number alone reflects the positive impact that Jung personally, and AVON as a whole, have had on a multitude of lives worldwide.

Finding a cure for breast cancer isn't just for walkers and the racers anymore. Meet a determined gamer named Kari Toyama from an active 'Halo' gaming community called Cavegirls. I was really intrigued by this story, and I wanted to help spread the word! Playing 'Halo' to help find a cure? What an amazing idea. Read on to see how Kari is bringing the world of competitive gaming and breast cancer together to raise money for a great cause.

1) This is the 2nd Annual Fight Like a Girl 'Halo' Tournament, which means the 1st Annual Fight Like a Girl 'Halo' Tournament must have been a success. Why did you start this event in the first place?

The first tournament was held on October 21st, 2006 in 'Halo' 2. I came up with the idea while I was working at Safeway. Safeway raises money for the Fred Hutchinson Research Center, and they asked all the employees to help out. They asked me, "Kari, would you like to participate in a bake sale?" I said, "Um, no." So they asked, "Is there anything you are involved in that could potentially raise money?" I thought, "Hey, I love to play 'Halo.' I wonder if I could hold a tournament and raise money that way." I asked my fellow Cavegirls if they would support me, and they welcomed the idea with open arms.

2) How much money did you raise and how many people participated in the event last year, and what are your expectations for this year?

We raised $777 last year with 64 participants total.

I was 32 years old when I was diagnosed with cancer. My daughter Mary was a year old and full of life. I waited until December 26, 2003 to have my mastectomy and reconstructive surgery. I wanted to have a care free Christmas day with my family. The next day was a grueling 14 hour surgery. My mom and my best friend Diane Lewis came to my rescue everyday. My mom took care of me and Diane took care of Mary while my husband Chuck went to work. I will never forget the day the Avon Walk entered my life. Mary and my mom were spending the day with me. The television was on and there was a familiar song that was playing "A thousand miles" by Vanessa Carlton.

Mary and I started to dance, well my arms were moving but Mary was twirling and trying to sing and I looked up and it was the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer advertisement. My mom and I cried because that song was Mary and my song from the day she was born and I said that is our song forever. I was one week out of chemotherapy treatments when I walked in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. It was the most inspirational event with a positive atmosphere and incredible energy in the air that makes you feel good. I have met so many amazing individuals that are dedicated in the fight for breast cancer. Stacey and Kayla Harwood attend the Avon Walk with my husband and I every year. Schrodinger Cat's band donates their time to raise money through their music at my fund raising party. Since 2004 I have had a fund raising party to raise breast cancer awareness and money for the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. The Avon Walk for Breast Cancer has allowed me to stay strong and I look forward to attending the walk every year. It gives me a chance to celebrate life and makes me proud to be a survivor. I will continue to do the Avon Walk until I can not do it any more.

You could hear her laugh from across the room. She drew everyone in and spoke to them as if they were old friends. She even made a couple of friends within moments of arriving in New York City -- both from countries other than her own. Henriette Stokes from South Africa is not only a breast cancer survivor, but a role model.

Saturday morning began the AVON Walk for Breast Cancer. We have a lot of pictures and stories from the entire weekend to catch up on, but I want to quickly share the story that kicked off the AVON walk.

If you're not familiar with the AVON Walk for Breast Cancer, let me tell you a little bit about it. The AVON Walk for Breast Cancer is a project of the AVON Foundation, and it supports the AVON Foundation Breast Cancer Crusade's mission of advancing access to care and finding a cure for breast cancer. Funds raised at the AVON New York walk will be managed and disbursed by the Foundation to support five critical areas of the breast cancer cause, including awareness and education, screening and diagnosis, access to treatment, support services and scientific research, with a focus on the medically underserved.

More that 3,900 people are involved with the walk this weekend -- the largest number in AVON walk history. Additionally, walkers raised 10.2 million dollars!

The woman who started the opening ceremonies, Cara Kealy, had an amazing story. She was breastfeeding her 6-month-old son Harrison, and noticed a lump in her breast. She was absolutely devasated to hear the news that is was cancer. With tears in her eyes, Cara looked out on the crowd and revealed, "I was only 30 years old."

She couldn't bear to imagine a world where her son would grow up without a mother. As she began receiving treatments for her breast cancer, her doctor told her that the treatments would make her infertile. Cara feels absolutely blessed that she and her husband were able to have another baby -- through adoption.

By the fall of 2005, she felt that the breast cancer was behind her. Then she started getting really bad headaches behind her right eye. The doctor told her that she had stage IV metastatic cancer.

Metastatic breast cancer is the most advanced stage of breast cancer. Cancer cells have spread past the breast and axillary (underarm) lymph nodes to other areas of the body, where they continue to grow and multiply. Breast cancer has the potential to spread to almost any region of the body. Treatment of metastatic breast cancer generally focuses on relieving symptoms and extending a woman's lifetime.

"That's it. I'm going to die," Cara thought to herself. Would her boys remember her? Today, stage IV is no longer a death sentence like it used to be. Cara wants to remind everyone that she is living with cancer -- not dying from it.

Hearing these powerful words today ... so inspirational, so real, really gives a person the strength to keep on fighting. Have you ever met anyone with metastatic breast cancer? I found this to be a really powerful story, and a really wonderful way to start the AVON event.

Zenia Alicia Celis was chosen by AVON to present her survivor story during the AVON luncheon. Since I attended the luncheon, I listened to Zenia's beautiful words and took in the story. This strong survivor stood in front of everyone and retold her story -- no matter how painful it was to relive those tough times. I hope you enjoy this touching story as it was told at the AVON luncheon.

Zenia is a survivor from El Salvador. She spoke of her three children, ages 12, 11 and 6 years old with love in her eyes. Zenia said when she was first diagnosed with breast cancer, she didn't tell everyone. When she finally found the strength to tell her family, everyone was in shock. Her friends thought she was going to die.

Zenia spoke of her confusion. More than anything she could not believe that this could happen to her. She listed the reasons why she was so shocked. She had always taken care of her health by not drinking or smoking. No one in her family ever had breast cancer. Plus, she was only 33 year old.

One fact that was reported at the AVON luncheon was that 70% of women who are diagnosed have no known risk factors. Even if you're in excellent health and have no family history of breast cancer, you can still get the disease.

Her life was in absolute disarray. Her mother had just died, she was divorced and she was a single mother. She relied strongly on her brother and sister for support. There was one person outside of her family that really supported her though. This special person was her boss. (Of all people!) Her boss went with her to talk to the doctor. She was a bit embarrassed at first, but she was thankful. Zenia was treated at the Breast Cancer Institute in El Salvador. Zenia's relationship with her boss has changed and she now views her as a second mother.

Since Zenia has conquered her breast cancer, she sees a different person when she looks in the mirror. She urges others to believe in themselves and to understand that you can fight breast cancer and survive. You don't have to believe that you're going to die.

As Zenia's story drew to a close, she thanked AVON for giving her a second chance at life. Her wish for the future is that the light in her life will light the way for others who have breast cancer. She wants to share her love of life with everyone she meets, and hopes to promote the message of early prevention and detection.

Meet the survivors from the 2007 AVON Foundation's Global Breast Cancer Survivors Day. To get to know these ladies better, we asked them to write a phrase, a quote -- anything that inspired them in their fight against breast cancer.

Olga Smirnova from Latvia -- Be brave, optimistic and never lose your sense of humour. Even bad things sometimes turn into advantages in our life.

Yoko Kameda from Japan -- Accept and go through it! Everything is a gift.

Isabelle Traeger from Finland -- There is always hope and if hope is trying to leave you, there is always a place for miracles.

Maret Maasalu from Estonia -- Believe in yourself.

Olena Iurchenko from Ukraine -- Life is beautiful. The greatest joy and value in any woman's life.

Andrea Doreen Stuart from the United Kingdom -- Routine mammograms work!

Ingrid Valles Po from United Arab Emirates -- Breast cancer is curable! Enjoy UR Life

Erika Simonic from South Africa -- The only thing I have lost is my breast. I have gained: Friends, Love, Opportunities and Weight!!

Nor Azah Adnan from Malaysia -- Nothing is more important in life than life itself.

Egle Melinauskiene from Lithuania -- I love all women from all the world. With the best wishes.

Kim Whiting from Australia -- Ladies are like butterflies. So spread your wings and fly, fly, fly.

Today I had the privilege of attending AVON's third annual Walk Around the World for breast cancer. I must say that this event is truly a global event -- 49 participating countries are linked by the Global Connection Ribbon Tour. Forty-eight breast cancer survivors from around the world attended the event today. I am proud to say that I met 12 of those 48 very special ladies during today's AVON luncheon.

Over the next few days, fellow United for Pink blogger Michelle and I will have the chance to tell you many of those survivors' stories. Each story is different; each woman has a different way of looking at her individual breast cancer journey. We met survivors who sang inspirational songs and danced to keep a positive attitude during their chemotherapy. We talked to women who found their cancer by accident, and women we assumed would be way too young to even worry about the disease.

In the coming days, Michelle and I will meet more women, with more brave stories to tell. Our hope is that these stories inspire women everywhere to take care of their health and make a commitment to finally find a cure for breast cancer.

Our first featured survivor, Katariina Rautalahti, has a particularly intriguing story of physical and mental strength that I am anxious to share.

Katariina Rautalahti is a breast cancer survivor from Finland. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1999 at the age of 41. In 2004, Katariina joined a group of European survivors and climbed the highest mountain in Argentina. She had cancer, and even though she didn't reach the top, she continued climbing the mountain between her second and third chemo treatment sessions. She told us the reason she climbed the mountain was to show the world that cancer is like climbing a mountain. To think that Katariina continued climbing the mountain even as she grew weak from the chemotherapy shows so much about her personality and character. Her determination shines through, and her actions are a true reflection of her attitude that breast cancer is a battle that can be won.

The American Cancer Society presents Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, a non-competitive walk to help fight breast cancer. Have you or someone you know particapted in this event? Find a Making Strides event in your area.

What events are you planning on participating in this year? What past events have inspired you to continue attending these life changing occasions?

Since October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, naturally there will be tons of breast cancer events. If you're not involved already, grab a friend and help support the cause.

Learn more about the Susan G. Komen foundation.

Find an event in your area during the month of October.