We all know a statistic in the breast cancer battle

Most people know at least one person who has battled breast cancer. I know four. There's Irene, a colleague from a former job; my husband's Aunt Sue; Christine; a former colleague from my current job; and Shelley, a friend I met through a home crystal party several years ago. My former colleague Irene found her cancer herself, in the shower. I clearly remember her telling us that she found what felt like "a little pea" one morning. She had a lumpectomy, and came to work every day during her treatment, leaving early or coming in late to get her radiation. Going strong in her 60s, she's now a 20-year survivor. I don't know how the cancers of the other three were discovered. I didn't even know about Aunt Sue's cancer until after her surgery. Now in her 70s, she's a 20-plus year survivor. I found out about Christine's cancer by accident. Another colleague mentioned it in passing one day, in reference to the Rays of Hope walk. I knew she walked on our Reminder team every year. I didn't know she was walking because she was a survivor. My friend, Shelley, is a different case. In the seven years I've known her, her cancer has recurred. She's also been unlucky enough to have it show up in other forms. To look at her, you wouldn't know she was still battling for her life. Shelley is a beautiful woman, a self-employed self-starter and an upbeat, positive person. She says her doctors have told her that her attitude is part of the reason she's been such a survivor. I have a lot of respect for Shelley and keep her in my prayers. In fact, she's part of the reason I chose to write about the Rays of Hope walk this month. Though we're winning the war on breast cancer, there are still more women out there like my friend Shelley who desperately need us to keep raising money and keep looking for answers. I'll be making a donation to Rays of Hope soon. I hope, if you can, you'll do the same this year. Debbie Gardner PRIME Editor 280 North Main St. East Longmeadow, MA 01028 dgardner@reminderpublications.com