Dear friends, family, neighbors, co-workers & acquaintances,

If I told you I’m walking 60 miles in 3 days to help women with undetected breast cancer find out early enough to survive, would you support me?

The weekend of May 31, 2002, I’ll be participating in a very special and powerful event in the fight against breast cancer. It’s called AVON’s Breast Cancer 3-Day Walk. I’ll be walking 60 miles from Ann Arbor to Detroit with more than 3,000 other courageous people!

There are over one million women in America with undetected breast cancer. 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. A woman’s chance of having breast cancer during her lifetime is one in eight. Your chance of knowing this woman is nearly 100%. These are staggering facts, with frightening numbers. The good news is that this is a fight that we can do something about.

I’ve agreed not only to start training right away so that I will survive the 60-mile walk J, but I’ve also committed to raising a minimum of $1900 in pledges. Needless to say, I need your help! Here is where I ask you to open your heart and make a donation. No amount is too small! Any level of donation you are able to make in support of this cause will be appreciated and is tax deductible.

Attached you will find a donation form to fill out & send in to the address at the top of the form. You can also make an online donation by going to www.BeThePeople.com or you can send your check to me made out to “Avon Breast Cancer 3-Day”. In any case, please be sure to record my name and walker number: #4963 so that your donation will count towards my goal. All donations must be received by 3 weeks prior to the walk. The donation you make could help someone’s mother, daughter, or sister survive this disease.

The net proceeds from the event will fund breast cancer programs nationwide including cutting-edge medical research; support services for breast cancer survivors, patients, and their families; educational seminars; and early detection services.

So far I don’t know what’s going to be more challenging for me, getting into shape to walk 20 miles a day for three days in a row, accepting the idea of sleeping in a tent for two nights or raising my goal amount of $1900 for the foundation. However, I know that this is an important cause and one that is close to my heart.

I will be walking in honor of my mother, my daughter and myself. I hope you will share this brave journey with me in honor of the lives of loved ones lost, to celebrate breast cancer survivors and to help find a cure for the disease.

Thanks in advance for your generosity and for joining me on this incredible adventure!

I can’t do it without you!!!

Sincerely,

April A. Ellenburg
Eastpointe, MI