This is one of those things that I always think about posting, but always forget. But thanks to Lupe, I remembered today, since she sent out an email to spread the word about this very important issue.

As most of you may know already, my mother, who had been fighting breast cancer for a long time, passed away last year. The things that she went through I wouldn't wish on my greatest enemy, and there's no worse feeling in life than knowing that someone you love is dying and there's no cure for them, nothing you can do about it.

But there are things you can do to help other people, to give them some hope that someday, there might be a cure, there might be something that we find that can lesson someone else's pain. It may not seem like much, but like they always say, every little bit counts.

As you may be aware, the US Postal Service recently released its new "Fund the Cure" stamp to help fund breast cancer research. The stamp was designed by Ethel Kessler of Bethesda, Maryland. It is important that we take a stand against this disease that affects so many of our mothers, sisters and friends.

Instead of the routine 37 cents for a stamp, this one costs 40 cents. The additional 3 cents will go to breast cancer research. A "normal" book costs $7.40. This one is only $8.00. It takes a few minutes in line at the Post Office and means so much. If all stamps are sold, it will raise an additional
$35,000,000 for this vital research.

Just as important as the money is our support. What a statement it would make if the stamp outsold the lottery this week. What a statement it would
make that we care. I would urge you to do two things TODAY:

1. Go out and purchase some of these stamps.
2. E-mail your friends to do the same. We all know women and their families
whose lives are turned upside-down by breast cancer. It takes so little to do so much in this drive. I think we can all afford the additional 60 cents the new book costs.

Actually, this stamp has been around for more than 6 years, first being launched in 1998 and it was actually the first stamp created for fundraising reasons. You don't have to wait in line at the post office to get it, most stamp machines also carry the stamp, as well as a a receipt (because it's tax deductable). I've been getting this stamp for a while now, and that small amount of extra money that you pay goes a long way. And everyone needs stamps anyway, right? It's not like you have to go out of your way to donate, you just have to pay a little more.

I'm sure that you know someone out there who has or has had cancer, or someone that has passed away from it. You know how it affects the lives of those who have it, the lives of their loved ones. One thing that crosses my mind every now and then is that someday, I might have it - since my mother had it, the chances of me having it are higher. Or a relative might have it, or a friend. So this isn't just for the people who have breast cancer now, but those who will have it, as well.

So please, think about this the next time you're at the post office.

Feel free to copy this out and send it to your friends and family, the more people that know, the closer we get to a cure.

For more information, please check out www.curebreastcancer.org.