I have watched my sister-in-law struggle with breast cancer - she was given a 20% chance of survival and nearly lost custody of her son. Her ex-husband was going to take custody away because she was not fit to take care of him. She knew in her own mind that she was not of sound health or mind because of her illness, but her son was all she had; all that made her life worth living. Her son was her life and now it was being taken away from her. It almost made her want to give up and stop her fight to live.
With only 20% chance of survival, she survived and she still has her son by her side. Watching all that she has been through has been so emotional for me. It is her story that inspired me to put together the Cruise for the Cure, a cruise to raise money for the Komen foundation as well as get more awareness out in the world about what cancer patients go through when they have this disease.
Right after I got approved with the Denver Affiliate of the Komen Foundation, I met Lynda Larson. She and her husband have a coffee business. When she found out that she had breast cancer, she created The Bald Lady Coffee to raise money for Cancer patients that are in need during their treatment. Lynda told me that when she went public with her story, she got thousands of letters, but not one person asked how her husband was doing or said, "Thank You" to him for being her caregiver. The majority of the public have no idea just how much caregivers give to the cancer patient. Lynda would like to be on the Cruise for the Cure to share her story and to recognize not only survivors, but their caregivers.
I immediately set a goal of getting either enough passengers signed up to be able pay her way, or to find a sponsor willing to send her and her husband.
And then I received a call - "Did you know that your grandmother had died of breast cancer? You were just a little girl. It devastated all of us, but especially your grandfather. One day shortly after your grandmother's death, your grandfather was driving on a busy highway and pulled over and just laid his head down - and that is where they found him. He had gone to join his bride in heaven."
And then there was Johnnie Velasquez. In addition to being a breast cancer survivor, Johnnie also cares for a disabled son. She wants to go on the cruise and take her mother, but she can't afford it. She has such a passion for raising money and awareness and just wants to be around others who know what she has been through - to have someone really recognize all that she has been through and that she survived!
There are so many people touched in one way or another by breast cancer and there are so many that are survivors - that have come so far and been through so much. I know that out there, somewhere, there are people, businesses, corporations - someone that has a way to sponsor these and others so that they can go on this cruise and be rewarded for all that they have gone through, for surviving, for living!
That is what I want to see happen, and I believe it can happen!
DETAILS:
Event: Cruise for the Cure
Cruise event where portions will go to the Komen Foundation, Denver Affiliate.
Date: October 28, 2007
Destination: Depart out of Los Angeles and stop at Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan, and Puerto Vallarta.
Who: Everyone is welcome. Everyone that goes benefits the Komen Foundation.
(We are also hoping to free resources as well as recognition for survivors and caregivers).
Cost: Inside cabin: $559 per person (+ $192.60 fees/taxes), ocean view: $649 (+ $192.60 fees/taxes), Balcony: $999 per person (+ $192.60 fees/taxes)
Contact: QueensLander Tours, 1-877-865-6711, Website:
www.qltours.com, Email:
sherry@qltours.com