Joining the Army

Today marks the beginning of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month & I've chosen to join in with thousands of other bloggers to write about the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation and Avon's combined effort, a non-profit breast cancer research foundation, Army of Women that is taking on the ground-breaking challenge of conducting studies to try to determine the CAUSE of breast cancer, in an attempt to stop it before it even starts in our future generations of women and men.

The foundation is looking for women (and men!) of all ethnicities, ages 18+, to participate in studies which will range from sleep and other behavioral studies to tests for genetic markers that increase risk. As a registered participant, you will receive emails regarding upcoming studies and choose to participate (if your qualify) on an entirely voluntary basis, on a study-by-study case, as you see fit. What a truly amazing way to contribute to the future health and wellbeing for generations to come.

I don't ask for much from my readers; a couple of comments here & there are so greatly appreciated, of course, but I'd be so very grateful if you'd take a moment to click on the link about for the Army of Women, join the cause and spread the word. As a mother, and a friend to mothers of so many amazing young girls (and boys), I would love nothing more in this life than for there to be a breakthrough in breast cancer research that ensures none of them have to endure the fear and pain of breast cancer in their lives. I believe that the work the Love/Avon Army of Women is doing can help make that a reality.

I know thousands of other women are going to take to their blogs today to share their own stories of battling breast cancer, or of the gaping holes left in their family trees, or circles of friends as they've lost mothers, sisters, grandmothers, aunts, best friends to the disease. I am so fortunate and blessed in my life, thus far, to not have lost anyone I love to breast cancer. I have watched a couple of friends and co-workers fight bravely and thankfully win their battles; I have been so lucky to only see survivors in my immediate life. But I'm not naive; I know that at some point, given that 1 woman dies of breast cancer every 69 seconds, this disease's ugly finger will reach out and point to me, or my mother or my best friend or someone else I love. I am joining Avon's Army of Women to do my part to make sure that never happens. I hope you'll join me.

Please go to: www.armyofwomen.org to sign up to volunteer for research participation opportunities. You can also encourage friends and family to join the Army of Women by sending them this link: https://www.armyofwomen.org/invitefriend. Please consider joining the Army with me; the study you participate in may be the one that helps researchers, doctors and women all over the world end breast cancer forever.