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Dear MBCC Supporters, The first snowflakes of the season always seem to bring a little bit of magic packed inside their beautiful, intricate forms. Feeling those icy cold crystals melt on my skin brings warmth within me in knowing the season of giving has arrived. Each holiday season for me is unfortunately also a painful reminder of irretrievable loss. In the same year that my wife and I celebrated our 25th anniversary of marriage, I lost this most important person in my life forever to breast cancer. The holidays feel like a persistent scar that may heal over but never goes away, always leaving a trace of hurt. However, with that comes a responsibility to do all I can to make sure that others never have to feel this way. With their mother no longer with us, I must do my part to protect my two daughters from undergoing the same suffering their mother did. Those first flurries of snow do not discriminate who they touch, and sadly neither does breast cancer. Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers and the second leading cause of cancer death for women in America. One in eight women will face a diagnosis of this terrible disease in her lifetime. I will be the first one to say that no one would wish this disease upon another person. However, less than 7% of funds that are raised for breast cancer research by non-governmental organizations are dedicated to research specifically on prevention. The breast cancer movement is long overdue for a transformation. You can help make this change. The Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition is dedicated to preventing environmental causes of breast cancer through community education, research advocacy, and changes to public policy. We need your help in order to do this work. Please consider a gift to MBCC during this special season. Also consider making a donation in the name of a loved one in the place of gifting another superfluous trinket, and we will send you a downloadable holiday card. If you are interested in our planned giving program or your workplace providing a matching gift, contact us for details. Your contribution before the end of 2013 will help us as we strive to end this epidemic long after the holiday season is through. Please also subscribe to our email blasts, view our educational video series and connect with us on Facebook and Twitter. I hope you cherish this holiday season and let those special snow flurries bring you warmth and an open heart. Let those struggling with breast cancer know they are not alone, and help us make sure those not yet diagnosed never have to be.
Donations made via check can be mailed to the following address: Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition 333 Weymouth Street, #13 Rockland, MA 02370 Warm wishes for a happy holiday, Gerry Swift MBCC Board of Directors Member Pursuant to IRS guidelines, your contribution is tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law. |
