In May, I'm walking with thousands of other women and men in the "Avon Breast Cancer 3-Day" 60 mile walk from Ann Arbor to Detroit in order to bring a tremendous amount of attention to Breast Cancer and how it affects so many of our lives. I made a commitment to raise $1,900.00 and walk 60 miles for research, earlier detection, and treatment of breast cancer, but I need your help.

THERE IS NO GREATER GIFT, THAN THE ONE OF LIFE!

This crusade is very close to my heart. Not only does BREAST CANCER run in my family, it has also affected many of my friends' lives. I want a cure for BREAST CANCER, so NO child has to go through life without the support of their parent, whether it be their Mother or Father due to this devastating disease.

My first year as a nurse, I saw what undetected breast cancer can do to a person's body from the inside out. This lovely woman did not have health insurance or access for early detection. She came to ER because the pain was so intense, but by then it was too late for medical intervention. All we could offer was emotional support and pain control. To this day, I remember her spouse and children grieving for their loss, but also praying for early accessible detection, medical treatment, and a cure for all the other women and men with undetected breast cancer. They didn't want another family to go through this devastation.

My friend, Becky Poniers lost her Mother, Sue to breast cancer when she was only 17 yrs. old. Her Mother was only 40 yrs. old. Imagine going through the turmoil of being a teenager, graduating from high school, college, giving birth(first grandchild, Megan) all without the loving support of her Mother. Becky was only 12 when her Mother was first diagnosed with Breast Cancer. She went through surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. She had a few years before the disease reared its ugly face again, with metastasis to the liver. This time it claimed her life, leaving Becky and her sister, Kim. Kim (Becky's sister) has two children, Maxe and Olivia. Becky and Kim's spouses and children didn't have the opportunity to meet this courageous woman they called "Mom".

Lisa Ferguson's, (co-worker and friend) Mother Bonnie has breast cancer. Bonnie is a little tired and weak but, doing fine at this time. Lisa found a lump in her breast (scary thought when your mother has breast cancer). Had a lumpectomy in February 2002. IT WAS NEGATIVE, YEAH!! What a relief for this family.

Tom's, (a friend from work) sister, Kathy has breast cancer. Martie, a friend from the kid's wrestling days has breast cancer (double mastectomy). A friend, Faye, that I went to nursing school with, died of breast cancer.

Al's, (supervisor from work) sister, Cecelia recently lost her fight against breast cancer. I met Cecelia at a craft show, she was selling beautiful handcrafted candles that she had created. The candles were smokeless and when lit the fragrance reminded me of Grandma's house. What a tragic loss for this family.

My biological Mother has breast cancer, had a mastectomy, chemo, and radiation. At the 5 year anniversary, metastasis to her skin. As I write this we are waiting for test results on questionable metastasis to her colon and liver. These are just a few people I know affected by this disease. I'm sure we can all name someone we know who has been affected by this devastating disease.

NOW, I want you to think about 8 people who are closet to you...wife...daughter...mother...husband...father...son...sister...brother...grandmother...YOU, any one of these people will be affected by breast cancer in their lifetime. We must find a cure.

I need your help. Please look over the donation form and choose the amount that's right for you. Any amount, one dollar to tens of dollars, is appreciated. If you can't give monetary, please say a prayer for all the walkers and words of encouragement to the breast cancer survivors.

I'm doing my part by walking 60 miles in 3 days with 4,540 other courageous people. I will be sleeping in a two person tent, showering in a semi truck, using porta-john's. YUK!!

You can donate online at this address (www.bethepeople.com) or click on the Donate captian at the left of this page and follow the directions on how to donate online. Please make the donation in my name: (Lucinda Willey) (Participant Number: 4124) (Event Code: 3DMI-2002). Any problems email me: jwilley63@comcast.net and I'll send you a donation form.

Thank you in advance for your generosity and support.

Thank You,
Cindy (Lucinda #4124)

I like to use the quote from the movie Forrest Gump: (Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you are going to get).

Yesterday is past, Tomorrow is the future, Today is the present. Unwrap your "PRESENT" everyday and celebrate your gift of LIFE!!!