- My goal:
- $2,000
- Raised so far:
- $3,615
- # of Donations:
- 39
Welcome to my Team Bright Pink fundraising page for the 2012 Bank of America Chicago Marathon being held October 7, 2012.
I recently turned 36 years old, but in my 35th year, I had my first mammogram and was tested for the BRCA mutation (a recently identified gene mutation known to dramatically increase the risk of breast and ovarian cancer). In my family there are over five generations of cancer. It took my aunt’s ovarian cancer diagnosis this past year at the age of 53 (she was also diagnosed with breast cancer at the young age of 28 and opted for a double mastectomy then) to initiate the BRCA testing for my entire family; my dad, uncle and two aunts are BRCA positive. I had a 50/50 chance of facing a prophylactic double mastectomy, hysterectomy and oophrectomy (removal of my ovaries) just to give myself a chance at a “normal” life.
By the grace of God, I am negative.
Truth: breast cancer is a leading cancer diagnosis in women, and ovarian cancer is the deadliest cancer in women.
Truth: all women have a 1 in 8 lifetime risk of developing breast cancer.
Scary Truth: women who carry the BRCA mutation can have up to an 87% lifetime risk of developing breast cancer and up to a 54% lifetime risk of developing ovarian cancer.
My heart beats a little faster and my palms sweat as I sit here and write this. Even though I did not inherit the mutation that runs in my family, the rest of my family (whether they have been tested or not) is still at risk. That left me with a great deal of “survivor’s guilt." I began to ask myself “how did I get so lucky?” and “what can I do to help, support, and spread the word?”
I decided to lace up my sneakers and run the Chicago marathon with Team Bright Pink. Hey, if my aunts can go through physical scarring, chemotherapy and radiation, I can run 26.2 miles!!
Bright Pink is the only national non-profit organization with an exclusive focus on the prevention and early detection of breast and ovarian cancer in young women. With ten chapters nationwide, nine diverse educational and support programs and a network of more than 50,000, Bright Pink engages young women in potentially lifesaving conversations about their breast and ovarian health, while arming them with knowledge and empowering them to take control of their health.
Please help me support Bright Pink by making a donation. The process is fast, easy, and secure. I truly appreciate any support you can provide as it will benefit a great cause! If you can’t make a donation at this point, please help me reach my goal by sharing this page on Facebook and Twitter! Or, even better, send an e-mail to friends you think might be interested in contributing and include a link to my page!
Thank you so much for your generosity!
Warmest wishes,
Julie Gordon
Visit BeBrightPink.org, Like us on Facebook at Facebook.com/BrightPink and follow us on Twitter @BeBrightPink.
Welcome to my Team Bright Pink fundraising page for the 2012 Bank of America Chicago Marathon being held October 7, 2012.
I recently turned 36 years old, but in my 35th year, I had my first mammogram and was tested for the BRCA mutation (a recently identified gene mutation known to dramatically increase the risk of breast and ovarian cancer). In my family there are over five generations of cancer. It took my aunt’s ovarian cancer diagnosis this past year at the age of 53 (she was also diagnosed with breast cancer at the young age of 28 and opted for a double mastectomy then) to initiate the BRCA testing for my entire family; my dad, uncle and two aunts are BRCA positive. I had a 50/50 chance of facing a prophylactic double mastectomy, hysterectomy and oophrectomy (removal of my ovaries) just to give myself a chance at a “normal” life.
By the grace of God, I am negative.
Truth: breast cancer is a leading cancer diagnosis in women, and ovarian cancer is the deadliest cancer in women.
Truth: all women have a 1 in 8 lifetime risk of developing breast cancer.
Scary Truth: women who carry the BRCA mutation can have up to an 87% lifetime risk of developing breast cancer and up to a 54% lifetime risk of developing ovarian cancer.
My heart beats a little faster and my palms sweat as I sit here and write this. Even though I did not inherit the mutation that runs in my family, the rest of my family (whether they have been tested or not) is still at risk. That left me with a great deal of “survivor’s guilt." I began to ask myself “how did I get so lucky?” and “what can I do to help, support, and spread the word?”
I decided to lace up my sneakers and run the Chicago marathon with Team Bright Pink. Hey, if my aunts can go through physical scarring, chemotherapy and radiation, I can run 26.2 miles!!
Bright Pink is the only national non-profit organization with an exclusive focus on the prevention and early detection of breast and ovarian cancer in young women. With ten chapters nationwide, nine diverse educational and support programs and a network of more than 50,000, Bright Pink engages young women in potentially lifesaving conversations about their breast and ovarian health, while arming them with knowledge and empowering them to take control of their health.
Please help me support Bright Pink by making a donation. The process is fast, easy, and secure. I truly appreciate any support you can provide as it will benefit a great cause! If you can’t make a donation at this point, please help me reach my goal by sharing this page on Facebook and Twitter! Or, even better, send an e-mail to friends you think might be interested in contributing and include a link to my page!
Thank you so much for your generosity!
Warmest wishes,
Julie Gordon
Visit BeBrightPink.org, Like us on Facebook at Facebook.com/BrightPink and follow us on Twitter @BeBrightPink.
The Campaign:
SUPPORT THE TEAM BRIGHT PINK RUNNERS FOR THE 2012 BANK OF AMERICA CHIC
The Organization:
Be Brilliant. Be Bold. Be Bright Pink. Bright Pink is the only national non-profit organization
