October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  In honor of all women, families, husbands, brothers, Grandpas, children, parents, Dads, friends, uncles, sisters, aunts, Moms, grandmas, and anyone who has known a person affected by this, I send you my thoughts, prayers, and hope that one day we won’t have to have a month devoted to this and that pink ribbons will only have to go around packages. 

Now men – please don’t tune out the newsletter thinking it has nothing to do with you.  It has everything to do with you.  ALL of you have some female in your life who you care very much about – share this information with her.  And, although it’s only 1% of the females affected, over 2000 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year.  Over 20% of them will die.  Please pay attention – this is important – as all of you mean the world to me.

I wanted to share with you two amazing entrepreneurs with two incredible sites that are helping us get to that goal.  Not only are these sites raising money to eradicate the need for ‘month of’ causes, but they are also two amazing entrepreneurial stories about how these sites were created…

www.galtogalwalk.org – Jeanne Fitzmaurice is an awe-inspiring entrepreneur who has built up many successful businesses over the years.  This current company was not only created to raise money for Stage 4 Breast Cancer, but is also the first EVER virtual cancer walk in the world.  Come walk with me in October – I already created my ‘gal’.  $3 and 3 minutes (actually took me 2 minutes – lol).  Along with walking with me in October – grab a ‘gal banner’ at www.GalToGo.com and post it on your About Me page, MySpace page, blog, email – anywhere you can think of.  Oh, and don’t forget to tell your friends so they can walk with us too!!

Here is a note from Jeanne herself:

Dear Gal Pals-

At last our hard work over the past 10 weeks is about to come a-live!   I can’t believe that I dared take this project on in such a short period of time and certainly next year we’ll be able to add lots more bells and whistles, but the spirit and intent is there. It takes only 3 minutes (literally!) to log onto www.galtogalwalk.org  and create your virtual walker to join this journey. 

I hope you will help us reach our goal to register 1 million walkers over the next 30 days to raise funds for Stage IV breast cancer patients through our Gal to Gal Foundation.   The donation is minimal - $3 (although we always gladly accept more!) - but the result will be priceless as they say!  So many women (and men) who are living with and going through the most critical phase of this insidious disease will benefit from your effort.   

On Monday, October 1st (the first day of breast cancer awareness month) we will begin our journey in Boston in honor of my cousin Robin (who you may know passed away at 45 after losing her brave battle to Stage IV - leaving behind a wonderful husband and a six year old daughter).   Tune in to Martha Stewart that day when she features herself joining the Walk! 31 days later we cross the “finish line” on the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco in memory of Janis Armstrong - who even during the final months of her life - helped us craft the Gal to Gal Foundation’s mission statement.  We will walk through 29 additional cities (one each day) along the way.

Our intent is to utilize the internet as the powerful and positive tool it can be.  To unite us in a way that crosses all faiths, ethnicities and belief systems.    For this journey there are no “blue” or “red” states but only “PINK” ones. The fact is, as my dear friend Carrie Dederich has said - “breast cancer is an equal opportunity destroyer.”   Please pass this email along to all your friends, business associates or anyone you should meet on the street!!   Once registered you will be able “find your friends” on the site and check in every day to watch yourself walk amongst celebrities and thousands of others. You can even create your walker on all the Design-her Gals stationery and gift products.

Although it’s not my nature to ask personal favors - I am now.   Please take the time to help us spread the word! I can’t do it without you and all of our amazing sponsors! I hope to see you at the finish line!

Faithfully yours,

Jeanne Fitzmaurice

Founding Gal

P.S. Pick up this week’s copy of In Touch Weekly where Bobbie Thomas features the Walk in her BUZZ section! Visit Bobbie’s MySpace and become one of her friends!! http://www.myspace.com/bobbiethomasonline

www.FeelYourBoobies.com – what started out as a t-shirt design amongst friends has now grown into a massive international movement in just 3 years.  The education on the site alone is worth passing on to your friends - http://store.feelyourboobies.com/knyobo.html

Also, starting October 1^st, they will be releasing their couture line of “FYB” products (currently on the site you can buy other “FYB” merchandise).  You will be able to find these at: http://store.feelyourboobies.com/index.html

Also, Leigh, the original ‘boobies’ girl, has started a blog – great reading.  She just wrote the first installment in a series of ‘myths’ about breast cancer.  http://site.feelyourboobies.com/blog/

This is another great line of products that isn’t currently being sold on eBay.  Their fun design is just begging for an eBay Store.  Nicole is who you want to talk about for wholesale orders - nicole@feelyourboobies.com

Blessings for a fabulous week,

Janelle

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