Saturday morning my friend, her daughter and I made our way to the zoo for the walk while the rain pummeled the tent. The weather couldn’t dampen the spirits of the huge crowd and the participants walked the zoo and raised money for those needing financial help while undergoing treatment for breast cancer. The tent was energized by Dr Pamela Benitez and the  Shades of Pink team who work tirelessly to help those facing breast cancer in the Detroit area. Check out the Shades of Pink website to learn more and see the pictures from the walk. Congratulations to all who attended and contributed to this fundraiser.

Chris and Grace

The day was a huge success for Shades of Pink and Luna’s Landing was thrilled to be a part of the event. We donated 10% of our sales to Shades of Pink and can’t wait to come back next year.

Thanks to my friends and family for a wonderful weekend! Together we do make a difference for those needing help along the way. Rain or shine, every day brings something good for all of us.

Cancer Lifeline has a 37 year track record in our community and during the past year the calls to their Lifeline have increased by 40% over prior year. The help they provide covers the patient financial navigation, patient and family support, the 24 hour Lifeline, exercise and nutrition classes and the “share the care” program. Cancer Lifeline is one amazing nonprofit group working tirelessly to keep cancer patients focused on their health and treatment.

The Annual Luncheon is the top fundraising event for Cancer Lifeline and is an incredible opportunity to hear what they do and to see people who have benefited from their services. glassybaby has put together a beautiful set of their popular glass candle holders to benefit Cancer Lifeline. 10% of the sale of this “Refuge” set will be donated to the Patient Assistance Fund. You can ask for the set at any glassybaby store or online. The orange and green are spectacular and purchasing them will help someone during their cancer journey. The keynote speaker for this year’s luncheon is Molly Wizenberg who is a local Seattle talent. She has written A Homemade Life stories and recipes from my kitchen table. She has a popular blog Orangette which is fun and charming. Molly has been touched by cancer with the loss of  her beloved father to the disease and will be an incredible addition to the afternoon.

I would be honored to send an invitation so you can join our table at the luncheon. We will be at the Westin in downtown Seattle on March 24, 2011. For details please  contact me and I can provide the invitation and details.

Nobody should go through cancer alone. Cancer Lifeline can help.

Lindsay & Verna at the glassybaby studio

Living Beyond Breast Cancer www.lbbc.org and Young Survival Coalition www.youngsurvival.org will be hosting the Annual Conference for Young Women Affected by Breast Cancer in Orlando, Florida from February 25-February 27th. Check out the agenda and information at www.C4YW.org. This is an amazing conference with informative sessions, reunions of old friends, new friendships, support and a little pampering. We will be there too. We can’t wait to see you in Orlando.

Click here to view the embedded video.

I must admit I have little knowledge of mesothelioma other than it is caused by asbestos exposure. I was introduced to this website and found it to be informative and provides many resources for people affected by mesothelioma. Check it out and share it with those who need this important information.

In a broader sense, this journey can encompass more than just health care struggles. Those who have lost their jobs, their homes, their self esteem through this economic downturn feel many of the same burdens those facing illnesses do. Where is their ribbon and the month dedicated to their struggles?

I will leave you with this quote today.

“How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving and tolerant of the weak and strong.  Because someday in your life you will have been all of these.”  ~George Washington Carver

My husband and I have been working in breast cancer detection and treatment for over a decade and have watched many women battle the disease with vigor and grace. We have been active in the 3-Day walk, local nonprofits and have personally been touched by other forms of cancer. We wanted to give back. My husband and my dad are both cancer survivors and have been fortunate to receive incredible care and had the means to navigate the financial impacts of treatment. We know we are lucky but illness can be devastating. Our experience exposed the challenges families face when thrown into this unexpected journey. Life can be turned upside down and the complexities of life amplify as treatment starts and life continues. We want to bring a smile, an inspirational word, share resources and through our sales, donate money to our nonprofit partners who help people through these challenging times.

We have been creating products and selling them on our website, at community events and recently started offering product kits for those fundraising for their important cause but having trouble asking for money. The kit provides cool products to sell instead of asking for a donation and the proceeds go to the fundraiser’s organization of choice. We also have the ability to customize items for teams or a special event.

We created this video to share information and introduce our partners. Please take a few minutes to watch and share it with your friends and family. Unfortunately most of us have been touched by cancer in some way but the good news is there are amazing organizations to help. Click below to learn more.

Luna’s Landing in a nutshell

$26,000 was raised by the Seattle Affiliate of the Young Survival Coalition’s (YSC) on Saturday!

It was an amazing night to celebrate milestones, honor the memories of those who are no longer with us and to educate those who think breast cancer isn’t a young woman’s disease. Months of planning and procuring auction items gave the attendees a night to remember and many took home incredible items knowing their donations will help local women fight this disease.

O’Asian Kitchen graciously donated their lounge space and Sonny and his bartenders were amazing. They mixed the signature Pink Kiss cocktail and donated $2 per drink to YSC.

Brooke Fox from 92.5 FM was our host and she rocked it in her pink tights. Thanks Brooke!

Del Chinn kept the music pumping through the night and the dance floor was a sea of celebration.

To all the donors of items, THANK YOU. There is not enough space in this post to name everyone but know we could not have done it without you and your generous gifts.