October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Help me Make Strides to end Breast Cancer!
October is my favorite month of the year, as a child I grew pumpkins and I loved the tradition of dressing up in Halloween costume and walking from door to door trick or treating with my dad. 
Years later, my first child was born, October 11th. Many years later, 2004, now the mom of three, happily married and my first born ready to graduate high school I was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer.
By the grace of God, a loving and supportive family, friends and pure determination I survived not just breast cancer but kidney cancer too. I survived chemotherapy, radiation treatment and numerous surgeries, I believe breast cancer saved my life . Had I not been blessed (yes, I feel it was a blessing) with breast cancer the kidney cancer may have taken my life.
It was found during the normal treatment process following the diagnosis.
One of the biggest challenges I have faced over the years is survivors guilt. I am thankful beyond expression to be alive and to have experienced many family & personal milestones I never thought I’d see. However, every time I hear of another person dieing from breast cancer my heart breaks and the question comes up again, why did I survive?
That’s whereTeam Positive Side Effects comes in. When I signed up to attend participate in the American Cancer Society’s “Making Strides to end breast cancer” I was asked for a team name. Since I, at the time, didn’t have a hair on my head, I wanted to do something to help others avoid this disease. The breast cancer walk in October was just my opportunity. 
Making strides is an amazing event Sunday, October 16th, 2011, where survivors, their friends and family walk together for one cause, bringing an end to breast cancer. If you are able I would genuinely appreciate your donation to my team. You can mail them directly to me at 2319 Hanover Pike, Hampstead, MD 21074 ~ Make checks payable to American Cancer Society or make your donation online by logging on to Making Strides click donate (right side of the screen) click team and enter Positive Side Effects.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month!
Thank you for helping me Making Strides to end breast cancer!
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