I knew almost nothing about stage IV breast cancer before my sister, Liz, was diagnosed with it. Her battle and brutal death from the disease taught me all too well its meaning. Just a few months after Liz passed, I came across one of the coolest websites – designhergals.com. Being a stationery addict, I was instantly intrigued by creating your own virtual gal (with a closet full of couture clothes to chose from) to put on note cards, stickers, mugs, aprons and more. When I discovered that the company directly supported the Gal to Gal Foundation (the first non-profit that supports stage IV breast cancer patients and their family) with every sale, I knew I was meant to find this company.
Since that time, I have promoted the company to everyone I know and formed a relationship with founder Jeanne Fitzmaurice. I feel honored to know such an amazing woman as Jeanne, and to have the opportunity to make a difference as a soon-to-be board member of the Gal to Gal Foundation. Although tragedy has drawn us together, it is passion and purpose that bonds us.
Design-her Gals, Gal to Gal Foundation, Virtual Walk
Jeanne Fitzmaurice has always believed that when passion and purpose collide magical things happen! She never knew how true that was until her son was born. She waited a lifetime for that day and it was that moment she knew that he was brought into her life to make a difference. He taught her that “you can make a plan but you can’t plan the results”. From the moment Jeanne held him in her arms, she knew it was he who was going to be her teacher rather than the other way around.
Max was born when Jeanne seemed to be “at the top of her game”. She was considered a high powered entrepreneur who had built a successful resort management company. Traveling between countries and experiencing a lifestyle many would envy. The truth was that she was miserable. She found no purpose in her work and when she finally had her son, Jeanne realized that she needed to do something to change not only her attitude but her circumstances.
Through many starts and stops Jeanne wound her way down the “pot holed dirt road” and founded an interactive company online (Design-her Gals) that allowed users to create their virtual likeness and produce it in an assortment of stationery and gift items. The day she decided to do this project she heard that her best friend, Janis, was diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer. Like the day her son was born, it is one she will never forget. Jeanne knew that Janis (and the rest her friends and family) was in for a difficult journey, and it was because of that experience (on the heals of her cousin Robin who passed away of Stage IV breast cancer at the age of 45 leaving behind a husband and a six year old daughter) she knew that Design-her Gals must be put to work to make a difference.
Jeanne vowed to make the passion and purpose of Design-her Gals to be to raise funds and awareness for stage IV breast cancer patients. At the same time she founded the Gal to Gal Foundation, a non-profit organization where 100% of the resources go to stage IV breast cancer patients and their families. Before Janis lost her brave battle, she helped craft the mission statement for the foundation and Jeanne knows she and Robin would be proud of the work that they are doing. Currently the foundation grants the majority of their funds to Making Memories, a wonderful organization who is granting wishes for stage IV breast cancer patients and their families. But in 2008, it is Jeanne’s hope to launch the first global social networking website that will allow breast cancer patients and their families to connect by engaging and obtaining resources through the progression of their disease.
On October 1st, the Gal to Gal Foundation launched the first virtual walk across America which (http://www.galtogalwalk.org/) dedicates itself to Robin and Janis and all the women (and men) who have battled so bravely and lost so graciously. It is their hope that the money raised by joining together in this inspiring way will allow those currently living with stage IV breast cancer to have the opportunity to receive the resources and support that they so greatly deserve.
Jeanne was lucky to have walked with Janis in the San Diego 3-day walk the year prior to her death. She will never forget it; it seems fitting that the virtual walk is a walk that everyone can join in together. $3 and 3 minutes will allow you the opportunity to design your virtual walker and watch yourself join thousands of others (celebrities as well) walk from the virtual city of Boston (Robin’s hometown) to San Francisco (Janis’ Hometown), stopping in 29 additional cities along the way.
Let’s show the power the internet can have in making a big difference to so many in such a short period of time. Send out emails or go to http://www.galtogo.com/ and grab a banner to post on your blog or website! Please join the walk to help reach the goal to register one million walkers by October 31st.
Since that time, I have promoted the company to everyone I know and formed a relationship with founder Jeanne Fitzmaurice. I feel honored to know such an amazing woman as Jeanne, and to have the opportunity to make a difference as a soon-to-be board member of the Gal to Gal Foundation. Although tragedy has drawn us together, it is passion and purpose that bonds us.
Design-her Gals, Gal to Gal Foundation, Virtual Walk
Jeanne Fitzmaurice has always believed that when passion and purpose collide magical things happen! She never knew how true that was until her son was born. She waited a lifetime for that day and it was that moment she knew that he was brought into her life to make a difference. He taught her that “you can make a plan but you can’t plan the results”. From the moment Jeanne held him in her arms, she knew it was he who was going to be her teacher rather than the other way around.
Max was born when Jeanne seemed to be “at the top of her game”. She was considered a high powered entrepreneur who had built a successful resort management company. Traveling between countries and experiencing a lifestyle many would envy. The truth was that she was miserable. She found no purpose in her work and when she finally had her son, Jeanne realized that she needed to do something to change not only her attitude but her circumstances.
Through many starts and stops Jeanne wound her way down the “pot holed dirt road” and founded an interactive company online (Design-her Gals) that allowed users to create their virtual likeness and produce it in an assortment of stationery and gift items. The day she decided to do this project she heard that her best friend, Janis, was diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer. Like the day her son was born, it is one she will never forget. Jeanne knew that Janis (and the rest her friends and family) was in for a difficult journey, and it was because of that experience (on the heals of her cousin Robin who passed away of Stage IV breast cancer at the age of 45 leaving behind a husband and a six year old daughter) she knew that Design-her Gals must be put to work to make a difference.
Jeanne vowed to make the passion and purpose of Design-her Gals to be to raise funds and awareness for stage IV breast cancer patients. At the same time she founded the Gal to Gal Foundation, a non-profit organization where 100% of the resources go to stage IV breast cancer patients and their families. Before Janis lost her brave battle, she helped craft the mission statement for the foundation and Jeanne knows she and Robin would be proud of the work that they are doing. Currently the foundation grants the majority of their funds to Making Memories, a wonderful organization who is granting wishes for stage IV breast cancer patients and their families. But in 2008, it is Jeanne’s hope to launch the first global social networking website that will allow breast cancer patients and their families to connect by engaging and obtaining resources through the progression of their disease.
On October 1st, the Gal to Gal Foundation launched the first virtual walk across America which (http://www.galtogalwalk.org/) dedicates itself to Robin and Janis and all the women (and men) who have battled so bravely and lost so graciously. It is their hope that the money raised by joining together in this inspiring way will allow those currently living with stage IV breast cancer to have the opportunity to receive the resources and support that they so greatly deserve.
Jeanne was lucky to have walked with Janis in the San Diego 3-day walk the year prior to her death. She will never forget it; it seems fitting that the virtual walk is a walk that everyone can join in together. $3 and 3 minutes will allow you the opportunity to design your virtual walker and watch yourself join thousands of others (celebrities as well) walk from the virtual city of Boston (Robin’s hometown) to San Francisco (Janis’ Hometown), stopping in 29 additional cities along the way.
Let’s show the power the internet can have in making a big difference to so many in such a short period of time. Send out emails or go to http://www.galtogo.com/ and grab a banner to post on your blog or website! Please join the walk to help reach the goal to register one million walkers by October 31st.
1 comment:
Hi Ramona,
Adding the blog and media page to the site are really great improvements. It's very exciting to see all of your hardwork!
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