Book Giveaway Winner: Mary Lee S.

I’ve never really liked Pinktober.

I like fall and October and fundraising. But I’ve always felt like breast cancer steals the show in the disease world.

The pink ribbon cause is just a bit too popular and trendy.

Meanwhile, “old” people with dementia don’t get the awareness and research funding their memory loss deserves. The suffering of people like my mom, who died of early onset Alzheimer’s disease before her 60th October birthday, goes unnoticed, written off as normal aging.

But, in recent years, I’ve watched friends lose parents to blood cancer. I’ve seen brave and terrified young moms fighting breast and other cancers and sometimes losing that fight.

And last year, I watched my stepmom die of colon, or colorectal, cancer. I’m no longer jealous of any attention cancer receives.

Go Pink Texas Strong fundraiser for breast cancer

This Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I’ve teamed up with my sister-in-law’s close friend and breast cancer survivor, Shoni Power, to raise funds and awareness for the Breast Cancer Resource Centers (BCRC) of Texas with special edition #GoPink #texasstrong tees, tanks and hoodies:

Staffed by breast cancer survivors, BCRC strives to reduce mortality rates by assisting Central Texans diagnosed with breast cancer as they confront obstacles that stand in the way of their treatment or affect their quality of life. … Our programs include individualized patient navigation, face-to-face support group meetings, online forums, educational seminars, and special events. … With information that empowers, a community that understands, and help where and how its needed most, BCRC believes no one should face breast cancer alone.

Shoni is a member of BCRC’s Pink Ribbon Cowgirls, a social network of young breast cancer survivors throughout Central Texas.

She credits God with her continued strength, healing and bravery and wants to pay forward the support she’s found in BCRC to current and future breast cancer patients.

Through Waters Deep giveaway

One of my amazing For the Love launch team sisters and breast cancer survivor, Erin Shafer, has published an incredibly honest account of her cancer journey as a young mom:

With nothing to hide behind and nothing to hide, my Healer began to rebuild me from the ground up, and I have never been the same.

I’m so excited to give away a signed copy of Erin’s book, Through Waters Deep: Treading Water While My Shoes Dry Out, to one of my sweet readers.

For your chance to win, please leave a comment on this post letting me know why you’d like to read Erin’s story of hope.

Must be 18 to enter. U.S. only please. Winner will be announced Monday, October 19.