Hello Everyone,

For most people, you know my story. For anyone else reading this for the first time, thank you for taking time to read my message and I hope you will consider joining friends4dawn to raise money, increase awareness and support those diagnosed with breast cancer and for the family and friends that are on the journey supporting loved ones.

Cancer is a bitch and, while my diagnosis caught me off-guard, it did not win and while it did change me, it has been for the better in so many ways. 

I was diagnosed on July 3, 2013 and had just turned 45 the week before. The next 12 months were challenging, traumatic, emotional, invasive, destructive and stretched limits in so many areas of mine and my family's lives. Those struggles gave me hope, appreciation, new friends, a sense of peace, understanding, strength and love that I did not know was possible.

It was also a year that I was able to prove, with the support of friends, family, strangers, acquaintances, doctors and nurses that I could rise for the challenge ahead. I had more power and control that I had ever imagined. Getting to the other side felt amazing. The lessons and learnings stay with me to this day and I want to share, with anyone that will listen, all intimate details of the fight to inform and advise, to the best of my ability, what might happen, how to do your best to prevent it and how to navigate the path. Every journey is unique and every decision must be the right one for each person, but the shared experiences make us all stronger.

If you have already joined my team (established in 2013 by my beautiful and amazing friend, Liz Phillips), thank you. If you have not yet, please join us. This cause is one that is just and needs ongoing support. One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer, most with no family history. The money raised is for research, diagnosis and support for individuals and families supporting those diagnosed. 

Thank you to everyone for being on my team. My heart is always full of love seeing the engagement and results and you make it happen. All my love to you.