Shop Talk

Editor’s note: OK, so I’m a little late with this. I forgot all about posting it. Whoops! Apologies. Please be sure to check it out.  Who really couldn’t use a vacation right now?! Proceeds will benefit the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. As you will find, Ms. Small’s endeavor helped to raise money last year for LLS. ::plug, plug:: Thanks to Melissa over @ YPRP for the tip & copy!

“Make a donation, take a vacation”: Travel auction benefits cancer research

Stacy Small, who operates Elite Travel International, is launching her second annual Trips for Cancer campaign, an online luxury travel auction. All proceeds from the event will benefit The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

The auction goes live on March 1-26, 2007 at: www.tripsforcancer.com.  Major hotels/travel companies that have already donated packages to this year’s campaign, include: Continental Airlines, Montage Laguna Beach Hotel (Laguna, Calif.), Princeville Resort (Kauai, Hawaii), Park Hyatt Sydney (Australia) and Badrutt’s Palace (St. Moritz, Switzerland).

Last year’s campaign raised nearly 90k for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Please visit www.tripsforcancer.com to “Make a donation, take a vacation.”

Amy would seem like a typical fourteen-year old girl to the average person. She earns straight A’s, pursues extra-curriculars and enjoys spending time with her friends. What you don’t know is that Amy is battling cancer.

It was in 2003 that she was diagnosed with Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia, a blood cancer that is very rare in children. She receives treatment, but is in need of a stem cell transplant to help cure her. There has not been one bone marrow match for her to date.

Amy’s Army strives to not only find a match for Amy, but also to help those who have been affected by CML or other forms of leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma and are fighting to live normal, productive lives. So far, they have 7,000 registered in a donor database and have found 13 people to be matching donors.

I came across Amy’s story today as I was looking over our chapter events. To disclose, our chapter is a co-sponsor of some upcoming events in Pittsburgh that are designed to help Amy’s Army raise funds and awareness. It was touching to read and I was thisclose to tears as I sat at my desk. Unfortunately, Amy’s story is only one of many. There are so many people out there who are battling through pain and sickness, yet trying to maintain some sort of normalcy day after day. They have such a resilience about them, especially the children. I believe they are some of the bravest, if not the bravest people to walk this earth. My hat is off to them for continuously fighting for their right to live.

Information and graphic obtained from the official website of Amy’s Army.