Walking For Breast Cancer With La Vie de Laurie

My friend Laurie Brosius from La Vie de Laurie is walking the Susan G. Komen 3 Day For The Cure for the second time on next year. She recently took part in the 2009 Dallas Race for the Cure with her husband. She inspires me not only for walking 60 miles in 3 days and 5 Kilometers in a day, but for working throughout the year to raise the $2300 necessary to take part in the 3 Day.

Why does she do it?

My husband lost his mother to breast cancer in 1996, and although I never met her I wanted to do something in her memory that would help ease the pain of their loss and mine.  I felt cheated to not get the chance to know her and have her in my life, and I wanted to do what I could to help find a cure.  He has a sister and we have three nieces, and breast cancer is hereditary.  I don’t want them to ever have to experience it.

I planned on writing about Laurie before we learned about my mother’s breast cancer diagnosis. I believe that being so involved in a non-profit that you are willing to walk until your feet bleed, until exhaustion, until you feel that you are part of the fight, is one of the best types of fundraising there is.  The Susan G. Komen Foundation gets an exceptional rating from the Charity Navigator and their goal is “Ending Breast Cancer Forever”.

I planned on writing about Laurie before we learned about my mother’s diagnosis of breast cancer, but now I am even more aware of how this type of cancer does touch everyone in some way. I am grateful to Laurie for what she is doing and asking you to help her by making a donation to her 3 Day so she can walk in honor of her mother-in-law and in hopes of finding a cure finally.

Laurie has held garage sales, begged on Twitter, blogged about it, held raffles, bake sales and benefit dinners. She volunteers at conferences to spread the word about the Susan G. Komen Foundation and even raise money for other walkers. Even a few dollars will help her.

There are other ways you can help too. You can volunteer for the races and walks, take part in cheering on the walkers, send letters of support for the walkers of the 3 Day to receive when they reach camp after their 20 miles. Just ask laurie_pooh on Twitter and she’ll be happy to give you some more ideas.