Deb’s Avon Walk for Breast Cancer

Dear
Friends

It's time
for my annual participation in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. This will
be my 8th year participating and my 9th breast cancer event. This year's
walk is very important to me, not just because I will be a 21 year survivor!
But because in 2006 I had a scare when my annual mamogram found a lump
…. I had to relive all those trying weeks of MRIs, biopsies and waiting
for results – yet again. Fortunately for me, everything came back clean!
I am SO grateful.

Sadly, though,
others are not as fortunate. Last year I told you about a 34 year old
woman whose cancer did reoccur! When she passed, she left behind a caring
and compassionate husband and a beautiful 8-year-old daughter. No one
should lose a loved one to breast cancer, especially a little girl.

I first met
Tim and Barb in 2001. Barb was 33 years young and had a mastectomy, chemotherapy
and radiation. She had several years of good health until early in 2005
when the cancer returned and spread into her lungs and spine.

Her husband
Tim emailed me just before she passed: "I never realized how painful
cancer can be. When Barb was treated for cancer 4 years ago it was only
the medication that made her ill. I didn't know how painful the final
stage can be. I think most people see celebrities who are diagnosed, have
some treatment and everything is just fine. Barb was in constant pain,
paralyzed from the waist down and gasping for air.

"…
you've been such a strong breast cancer advocate and I wanted to thank
you and encourage you. Barb is leaving behind a beautiful daughter. Please
keep up the fight so women like Barbara can live and daughters like Katie
can grow up with a mom." Sincerely – Tim and Katie

This is why
I continue to support the cause! Together, we DO make a difference!

Did you know
that approximately 178,480 women in the United States will be found to
have invasive breast cancer in 2007. About 40,460 women will die from
the disease this year. The chance of a woman having invasive breast cancer
some time during her life is about 1 in 8.

Last year
you helped me raise over $24,000! This year I have set the bar at $25,000!
I can't do it without your support. Many thanks to the businesses who
have already sponsored me for this year: MouseFanTravel company and travelagents,
Passporter Travel Press, and MouseSavers.

Many of you
have supported me throughout the years. For that I thank you, from the
bottom of my heart.

It's a new
year and so I ask you to please consider supporting me now in the fight
against breast cancer!!

To donate
directly, follow the link at the bottom of the email.

If you'd
like to send a check, please make it out to Avon Walk for Breast Cancer
and mail it to:

Deb Wills
ATT: Avon Walk
PO Box 524
Rockville, MD 20848

Paypal donations
of $10 or more to: [email protected]

I thank you
for taking the time to read about the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer.

My heartfelt thanks,

Deb Wills

Click here
to visit my personal page.
If the text above does not appear as a clickable link, you can visit the
web address:
http://info.avonfoundation.org/site/TR?px=1038633&pg=personal&fr_id=1270&et=pycmbfYFDYM6ONJO_sPntg..&s_tafId=197514