There are over one million women in America with undetected breast cancer. If I told you there was something you could do to help them find out and survive, how far would you be willing to go?

· This year, approximately 182,800 women in the United States will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer. That's 500 per day. More than 40,800 will die. 80% won't have any genetic predisposition to the disease.

· More than almost any other serious disease, breast cancer touches nearly all of us, whether we're women or men, old or young. A woman's chance of having breast cancer during her lifetime is one in eight. Your chance of this women being your grandmother, your mother, your wife or girlfriend, your daughter, your sister, your close friend, or possibly even yourself is almost 100%.

· In America this year, a new case of breast cancer will be diagnosed every 3 minutes. Every 13 minutes, the disease will claim a life.

· Fewer than a third of American women follow the recommended guidelines for self-examination and regular mammography. Many of them are underserved, don't have access to a doctor or are too afraid of the results to find out. But finding out is critical -- more than 97% of women who are diagnosed with breast cancer at an early stage survive for more than five years.

· Excluding skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer in women.

· Men can get breast cancer too. Every year, about 1,500 men will be diagnosed with the disease. 400 of these men will die.

· The death rate from the disease is declining -- people are surviving. In fact, there are 2 million breast cancer survivors in America today. But in order to survive, they need access to medical care, access to screening, education and treatment. And we ultimately need a cure.

Because of the above statistics, and because this disease has directly touched the lives of my friends and family, and because I have been presented with this opportunity to make a difference, I have challenged myself to participate in the Avon Breast Cancer 3-day walk.

I will set out the morning of July 12, 2002 in the suburbs of San Jose under the heat of the summer sun. I will walk 20 miles per day, for three days, towards my distant destination of the San Francisco marina. I will walk along side my mother and 3000 others who are striving to help win the war against breast cancer. I will eat, sleep and breathe hope, and love, and sacrifice, and for possibly the only three days of my life, I will unselfishly put myself out there with the prayer of saving someone else’s life.

I’ve already committed myself to this challenge...now I extend the challenge to you. Are you willing to make a generous sacrifice to help save the life of a stranger...or possibly a loved one of your own? I will give up my time for the months of training required ahead of me, and put myself through the sheer pain which will undoubtedly be afflicted on my body...all I ask for in return is your generous donation that will go directly towards the crusade against breast cancer. Your donation will also be a part of the strength that I will need to complete this mission, and I will carry you with me via your name on my official Avon Breast Cancer 3-day T-shirt. Your support will be the encouragement to keep me going when I feel that I have nothing else to give of myself.

Giving up just one night out to dinner per month can help save the lives of so many. I have hopes of raising over $5000...and I am asking for your help in meeting this goal. Your donation is, of course, 100% tax deductible.
All donors will receive a letter after the event with details and pictures of my experience. The highest donor will also receive an official event videotape so that you will see exactly what your financial sacrifice was a part of. I urge you to be a part of this experience, not only for me, but also for yourself, and for the life of someone else. You and I and the rest of my donors will walk together as a team...and together we will make a difference

I await your response with fond and sincere appreciation.