Kristy Lasch Miracle Foundation Joins AgentsPayingForward

Follow us on Twitter! @agentspayforwrdHow Does Somebody You Didn’t Know Touch Your Life Like This?

Memorial Day ( I wrote this last weekend) is a day when we honor those who died defending our country. For one family, in a sense though, every day is Memorial Day. I didn’t know Kristy Lasch, and I’m very sorry for that. Kristy was 22 years old when she was diagnosed with breast cancer, and 26 when she passed away from the disease. I first heard of Kristy this afternoon from a friend of her family, Cindy Papale, a breast cancer survivor. Cindy became a friend on Facebook, and she asked if I knew of any women who had contended with breast cancer. Cindy has written a book, "The Empty Cup Runneth Over" about breast cancer, and how it affects more women at a young age: Cindy has a website as well: http://www.theemptycuprunnethover.com/. A portion of the book proceeds go to the Kristy Lasch Miracle Foundation. I wrote back to Cindy to contact Gina Andrews, and Nicole Maclean: both cancer survivors and both inspirational stories in their own rights.

Cindy asked if I could help the Kristy Lasch Miracle Foundation, and I shared with her my sites Agentspayingforward.com and ACNPayingforward.com. My intention is to have the Kristy Lasch Miracle Foundation as a charity to be supported, and, when you hear the story, I hope you consider supporting their mission.

I asked the question about how somebody you didn’t know can affect your life above. I spoke to Kristy’s mom, and asked if she would provide content for this blog piece. Ms. Lasch didn’t feel comfortable doing so, and asked if I, after reading the website for the Kristy Lasch Miracle Foundation, would do it. I thought to myself how hard it must be to lose a daughter so young, but to start an organization dedicated to changing the lives of other women afflicted by this disease. Kristy Lasch, a name I did not know 12 hours ago, forced me to think about the fact that I now have been involved with a young woman, Gina Andrews who, Thank God, has beaten cancer. Gina also started the Sacramento Breast Cancer Resource Center as a resource for young women with the disease.

I then thought about a woman, Nicole Maclean, who is currently going through treatment for breast cancer. In spite of her affliction, Nicole stays positive and helps other women fighting breast cancer. Nicole also writes a blog about her experiences: http://fabulous-boobies.blogspot.com/. As I thought about it, and I’ve met one women who beat breast cancer. I met another woman who is fighting breast cancer currently, and I met, through friends who knew her, another woman who died too damn young from breast cancer. All of the aforementioned women inspired me. All of them have fought, or are fighting their disease. All of the women chose to share their experiences, and also help others fighting breast cancer. Kristy Lasch was 26 years old when she passed, but had the maturity to want to help others.

More importantly for me, I learned once again that there are great organizations that need financial help for their missions: such is the case with the Kristy Lasch Miracle Foundation. It is a great organization dedicated to helping women, women far too young to have breast cancer, beat the terrible disease. Agentspayingforward and ACNPayingforward are designed to help agents and charities network together for mutual benefit, and the Kristy Lasch Miracle Foundation is a charity well worth supporting.

The Three Day - A Breast Cancer Fundraiser

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Last night I was doing some work on the computer, but procrastinated by going over to Facebook. I came across a video post by Melanie Eatherton. I had not seen Melanie's post all day, and I was surprised to see it since Melanie is on the East Coast and it was late. Melanie's Post was about “The Three Day”, which is a breast cancer fundraiser affiliated with the Susan Komen For the Cure organization. I contacted Melanie, and was surprised when she responded at 1:00 AM her time (she doesn’t require much sleep apparently!). I asked Melanie if I could promote her event on my blog, and she was all for it.

It’s interesting to me how many people are affected by the ravages of breast cancer. In the last few months I’ve met people of all ages, ethnicitie's, and economic backgrounds who have been affected by breast cancer. As a man, I’m not likely (but could) to get breast cancer. However, many people thought they are too young to get breast cancer: then I met Gina Andrews. Gina was in her early thirties when she was diagnosed. Two days ago, I met Nicole McLean who just turned 40. Nicole is in the midst of fighting breast cancer. Another good friend of mine, Danielle, has a Mom who is about my age: she also has had breast cancer: breast cancer is everywhere.

In meeting the aforementioned people, I’m amazed at the people and their reactions to the disease. I don’t know why Melanie volunteered to help in the fight against breast cancer, but I’m amazed that she stepped up on Saturday morning at 1:30 when asked. Gina beat breast cancer, and decided to turn a negative into a positive: she started the Sacramento Breast Cancer Resource Center. Nicole, in the midst of fighting breast cancer, started a blog, Fabulous-Boobies.Blogspot.com, to help inspire others: do you think you would think of others when fighting cancer? I'm not sure I would show that kind of courage when confronting something so scary.

The aforementioned women inspire me, because they stepped up. Each of them wants to make a difference, and is not afraid to walk the walk. Please help support Melanie Eatherton with her goal to raise $2,300 for breast cancer through the The Three Day event. In addition, please help Gina Andrews and the Sacramento Breast Cancer Resource Center in her ongoing efforts to help women with breast cancer. You never know, your efforts may help save the life of somebody you know and love.

This Is How Networking Should Be

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Here's how networking, and paying it forward can really work together. Jeff Frazier with Wells Fargo Mortgage approached the California Chapter of the American Lung Association, and told them he wanted to "pay it forward" for them. After explaining to them what he was talking about, Jeannie and Robert from the organization, said great! It turns out that the American Lung Association is kicking off their "Healthy Air Walk Campaign". Jeannie and Robert told Jeff they would tell their database about joining AgentsPayingForward, and also about Jeff. If Jeff gets more business, the American Lung Association will get more donations - consider it an ethical bribe!

Read the information below about what great work the American Lung Association is doing, and consider supporting them when you join AgentsPayingForward.com. If you are looking for a loan, consider contacting Jeff Frazier with Wells Fargo Mortgage (916) 591-3268. This is now networking and paying it forward can work. More importantly, this is how you can help one of the many great charities on the AgentsPayingForward site.

The American Lung Association of California in Sacramento is thrilled to join the Agents Paying Forward movement!
Here is a bit of history on the ALA:

The American Lung Association is the leading public health organization fighting for rights to clean, healthy air through advocacy, education and research. Founded as the National Association for the Study and Prevention of Tuberculosis in 1904, we launched a nationwide effort to cure tuberculosis (TB) through education, research and advocacy, which became the model for today’s public health programs.

By 1954, the death rate from tuberculosis was less than one-fiftieth of what it had been in 1904 thanks to effective public health policies and medications, developed in part through research funded by the association. In 1956, board members voted to expand the association’s mission to include other respiratory diseases.

At that time, evidence was mounting about the health dangers posed by smoking. When the U.S. Surgeon General’s Report was issued in 1964 outlining the health risks of tobacco use, the association was well on its way to developing what would become model quit-smoking programs and public education campaigns.

Air pollution was also becoming a serious public health issue in the 1960s as more cars, trucks and buses continued to fill our newly built highways. In 1973, the organization changed its name to the American Lung Association to reflect its mission to fight all threats to lung health that we continue to fight today.

One great fact I learned just a few days ago is that we are the #1 Public Health Organization leading the fight against global warming! Fighting for environmental issues that affect our air quality is crucial to lung health.

Sacramento's premier event for the American Lung Association is the Healthy Air Walk. This year's Walk will take place on May 16th from 9:00am to Noon at Howe Park in Sacramento. Held in communities across the state, Healthy Air Walk events bring together people who want to improve life, one breath and one step at a time. Healthy air is vital to everyone. We all need it to breathe, live and thrive. For people who already have trouble breathing, like those with lung diseases such as asthma, lung cancer and COPD, healthy air is even more critical. Every step we take now toward improving air quality gets us closer to a world free from lung disease.

You can find out more at the following links:
http://healthyairwalk.org
www.myspace.com/healthyairwalksacramento
www.californialung.org

We hope you will join us to fight lung diseases and promote lung health by taking a stand against air pollution! Because we all deserve the right to breath CLEAN AIR!
In lung health, Jeannie Howell, Development Manager, American Lung Association of California. jhowell@alac.org - 916.554.5864 ext.241

Care to Cure - This is What's Right With America's Youth!

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Many people decry that America's youth are a mess, or something similar. Sadly, there is often evidence to support that contention. However, what doesn't get press are the stories of today's youth that give you hope that America's future is still bright. I received an email from Elena Lyustina, and I'm really glad I did. Elena is going to school at UC Davis, and she told me about an organization that she founded called CARE-TO-CURE Childhood Cancer Awareness Organization.

After speaking to Elena, I realized two things. First, America's youth will keep the dream alive just fine. Secondly, I want to help Elena. Below is Elena's story. Please take the time to read her information, and, if you are looking for a charity to "pay it forward to", please consider Care to Cure - they are helping St. Judes Hospital and making me proud to be an American. I have also included the link to Elena's You-Tube Video as well.

As an intern in the Child Life ward at the University of California, Davis Medical Center, I was given the opportunity to work closely with many patients. In particular, I grew extremely close with a nine year old girl who was getting her gallbladder removed. After countless weeks of visiting her in the hospital, I came to my internship knowing that her surgery was completed and she was already sent home. To my surprise, I saw her name on the patient list and I quickly walked over to her room. As I approached her room, I heard a young girl screaming in pain and there she was pressing the morphine button as tears rolled down her face. I quickly learned that she was diagnosed with a terminal cancer that had already eaten away at her kidney. A week later, she was sent home because the cancer was untreatable. Over 12,400 children, in the United States alone, are affected by cancer and over 4,000 children die of cancer each year. That means that 11 children die of cancer every single day. Childhood cancer is unbiased. It deteriorates the lives of children from various backgrounds and different age groups. It steals childhoods from children who were one day healthy enough to run around on playgrounds or play basketball with their friends. It forces them into hospitals, to loose their hair due to chemotherapy, and loosens the friendships they once made with friends. After learning the detrimental affects of childhood cancer, I founded CARE-TO-CURE at the University of California, Davis.

CARE TO CURE is the only student organization at UC Davis that is aimed at fighting against childhood cancer. We raise funds for children afflicted by cancer, spread community and campus awareness, and bring hope to these children and their families. We organize fundraisers, campus events, and create personal relationships with these children and their families by visiting them at different facilities. CARE-TO-CURE is affiliated with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and is leading the Up 'till Dawn Project on the University of California, Davis campus. Up 'till Dawn is a student run and student led philanthropic program that unites students from all walks of campus life, staff, and the Davis community with the goal to end childhood cancer once and for all. Students help raise awareness and support for St. Jude Children's Research hospital through a variety of activities.

At the end of the program campuses host an all-night Finale Event and literately stay Up 'till Dawn. Students give up a night of sleep in honor of the patients at St. Jude who bravely fight cancer. We celebrate our efforts for St. Jude and, at dawn, find out much our campus raised to advance the mission of finding cures and saving children, so that patients can grow up and go to college, too.CARE-TO-CURE is also sponsored by Caprii Media, http://www.capriimedia.com/ , an online marketing and web design company. Caprii Media has donated our brand new website, http://www.care-to-cure.com/ , which is currently under construction, and a marketing campaign, as well as funds for our upcoming events. To show an appreciation for the unbinding dedication provided by our sponsors, CARE TO CURE will dedicate a portion of our events to thank our sponsors, feature them on the home page of our website, and incorporate their name and logo on all of our brochures, fliers, and posters. Our sponsors are always welcome to discuss their venues at our events and if they are not available to make it, CARE TO CURE will be able to promote their organization for them! The events, fundraisers, and outreach programs CARE-TO-CURE wishes to accomplish cannot be done without the support and dedication of our sponsors that understand the importance in finding a cure for childhood cancer. CARE-TO-CURE is determined to raise funds to find a cure for childhood cancer, spread community and campus awareness, and bring hope to these children and their families. Please join us in the fight against childhood cancer.

For more information about Care to Cure, please contact Elena at:CARETOCURE@gmail.com while their site is under construction (thanks for Capri Media too).

Please join Agentspayingforward.com, and, if you do, please consider Care-to-Cure as one of the charities to support. It's free for both agents and charities to join. Next week, I'll tell you how one donation led to an agent getting access to a huge non-profit's database for advertising. For now, I'm off to , with a bunch of guys who went to UCLA a long time ago!

Sacramento Breast Cancer Resource Center

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Many people have been affected by the ravages of cancer. I was speaking with a friend of mine, Danielle, and we were talking about how her Mom beat breast cancer. However, now her Aunt has breast cancer as well. Breast cancer is a pervasive disease, and seems to be getting worse.

I had the privilege of meeting with Gina Andrews, and Gina is a breast cancer survivor. What's most amazing is that Gina was diagnosed when she was 29 when the cancer was diagnosed! I often like to use the phrase: "fight or die". Gina just did that, but she went one step further. Gina started Sacramento Breast Cancer Resource Center, which is a non-profit designed to "foster hope and inspiration among women facing breast cancer".

Please take a moment to read Gina's story below, and, if you are an agent looking for a non-profit to pay it forward to, please support Gina Andrews and the Sacramento Breast Cancer Resource Center. Gina turned a negative experience like breast cancer into a positive - the positive is called the Sacramento Breast cancer Resource Center:

Breast Cancer is not hereditary, racial, or age specific. It does not discriminate on any of these things. Before my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer I believed that Asian people were less at risk for it. Then when I was 29 I thought there was no way this lump is cancer, “I’m too young for cancer.” The first thing people ask me when I tell them I’m a breast cancer survivor is “ did someone in your family have it”…and then when I say yes my mom is a 12 year survivor “oh I see”, as if the reason why I got cancer is because it’s a family disease.

There are many young women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer that have no family history. And though this is not an accurate description of the world, the young survivor support group I attend averages 10 attendees and 4 of those are Asian. The reality is that cancer is none of these myths. It is completely nondiscriminatory. It can and will attack anyone regardless of family history, age, or ethnicity.

According to the American Cancer Society, only about 5% to 10% of all cancers are the inherited type. And according to the National Cancer Institute one in every 229 women between the ages of 30 and 39 will be diagnosed with breast cancer within the next 10 years. My mother and I both had cancer. My mom was diagnosed at the age of 47 and I was diagnosed at the age of 29. Both of us were diagnosed at early ages but the cancers we had were completely different, and I tested negative for the BRCA, the only known cancer gene.

These myths of breast cancer need to be changed. Because people believe they are not at high risk for breast cancer, they are disregarding the lumps they find in their breast. As a result of this disregard the disease can be found at a later and more deadly stage.

Gina's organization is having a fundraiser here in Sacramento tonight at 7:30 at the "Lounge on 20", click here for more info. If you are an agent or a charity, please join Agentspayingforward.com. There are many great causes that I want to help, so please feel free to contact me at tomash@surewest.net. I'll be happy to include your information in this blog. We are a community, and we all need to work together to help great people do great work.