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

What if I told you that right now there are over 1,000,000 women in the United States with undetected breast cancer? Would you sponser me to help them find out early enough that they get to watch their children grow up?

How about if I told you that 70% of those women have absolutely no risk factors for breast cancer. They don't even know they should be checking. Would you sponser me to help educate them?

Here is my last question: Would you sponser me if I told you that somewhere in the United States someone's sister, mother, aunt or very best friend is diagnosed with breast cancer every 3 minutes... and every 13 minutes breast cancer claims another life.

These are staggering facts, with frightening numbers. The good news is that this is a fight that we absolutely can do something about. I am committed to doing what I can to help wipe out this disease. That means I'll be walking in the Boston 2002 Avon Breast Cancer 3 Day during the weekend of May 17th -all 60 miles. That means I've committed to reaching a personal goal of $1900 in pledges by April 19th. That means I have gotten a team of 5 other courageous women to join me on this walk -and we will be raising a minimum of $11,400 before we walk in May because of what I started.

I need your help. You know that fundraising can be challenging -even in the best of times. Many things have changed in our world since September 11th, 2001... but one thing we cannot let those horrific events change is kindness. We must be kind without reservation. It is what makes us different than those who want to frighten us. Reaching out to help those who will never even know our name is a beautiful act of kindness.

I need to reach my fundraising goal by April 19th to be able to walk in May. Please make a tax-deductible pledge to help me reach my goal. The money raised will go towards non-profit breast health programs, state of the art medical research and to provide support for medically underserved women in the United States. Last year the Boston walk raised $4.6 million. Wow! That's 3000 walkers raising $4.6 million. What an amazing display of hope, compassion and kindness.

Please follow the link to www.bethepeople.com and use your debit or credit card to pledge. You'll need to know that I'm walker #3185 in Boston.

I hope that you choose to share this incredible experience with me. There are millions of people out there that need you and your support. If you have any questions at all, please email me at laurelbrandon@msn.com.

Thank you in advance for your generosity!

Laurel Brandon
Boston #3185