If there were not anyone in the world that has ever had Breast Cancer I would not be doing this. However, there are thousands that have been diagnosed with it this year. Breast Cancer is a disease that takes a fight to survive. Here are some quick facts:

Ø About 1 in every 8 women in the world will be diagnosed with Breast Cancer in their lifetime. The chances that you already know someone affected by it are 100%. That is why I am writing this letter.
Ø Breast cancer has affected nearly all of us in some way. Every time I mention this event, I hear stories of people's mothers, grandmothers, sisters, and friends who have this disease.
Ø Excluding skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in women, and the leading cause of death in women between the ages of 40 and 55.
Ø 182,000 American women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year alone. That's more than 500 women per day.
Ø A new case of breast cancer is diagnosed every 3 minutes. Every 13 minutes, the disease will claim another life.
Ø Currently 1 million women in the United States have the disease, but don't know it.
Ø Of the 1 in 8 women who will have breast cancer at some point in their lives, 80% of these women won't have a genetic predisposition for the disease.
Ø If the disease is detected early, the probability for survival is 97%.
I am participating in a fund raising walk for Breast Cancer. This is not just some ordinary walk for a mile or so. I will be walking 60 miles over a three day period. I will sleep in a tent and live without electricity and take a shower in a semi-truck. Why, because this is very important to me, and the other 3000 people that will be walking with me.
Thanks to the "Avon Breast Cancer 3-Day," more women will be examined early and survive. The Avon Products Foundation, Inc., is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. The Avon Breast Cancer Crusade makes the greatest contribution to improving access to quality breast care for medically under served women, and advancing breast cancer research in the United States (for more information, visit www.avoncrusade.com). I hope you'll share this brave journey with me in honor of the lives of loved ones lost, to celebrate breast cancer survivors, and to help find a cure for the disease.
I have pledged to raise over $1900.00 in donations. That is where I need your help. I am asking you to support me in the battle against Breast Cancer. The donations will go to raise awareness of the disease, to help under-insured people receive medical attention that is needed, and to help researchers to find a cure! I am asking you to give a tax deductible donation of any amount to the cause. I figure if I ask 1900 people, who all donate $1.00 I will make it, or if 390 people each donate $5, 190 $10, etc. etc.etc.
Why would I be concerned about this cause? On top of the stats listed above, my family has 3 women currently battling this disease. I have watched them lose their hair, get sick, lose mobility at times, and lose some of the essence that makes them them. I also have 4 daughters, and 1 son. I am not willing to watch any of them go through this disease for even one day. The sad fact is, I probably will watch at least one of them develop this disease. I cannot bear this! So I am walking, so that in the future, they can watch their children walk, and run, and play, and do so without pain!
The death rate from the disease is declining -- people are surviving. In fact, there are 2 million breast cancer survivors in America today. But in order to survive, they need access to medical care, access to screening, education and treatment. And we ultimately need a cure. You can mail or give the donation to me along with the enclosed donation form or you can make an online donation at www.bethepeople.com . Please include my walker #5342 in order for the donations to be credited to me. You will receive a letter in the mail confirming your donation amount for tax purposed. If you happen to work for a company who participates in a corporate matching program, please let me know what I need to do to receive the match.
My sincere thanks for your support in this. It is a cause that is very close to my heart.

Love,
Gretchen K Ippolito
ippolito@frontiernet.net