As I read the stories that have been submitted to the Pink Dish! Campaign, and I look around at the vast amount of publicity breast cancer is receiving this October, I am reminded of where I was last year.

A year ago right now I was just finishing up my last AC chemo treatment for my Stage II breast cancer. All of my hair had fallen out, I was feeling nauseous most of the time and really tired but yet I would look around at the leaves changing and marvel at the energy so many people had to help find a cure and help eradicate breast cancer during this month. Alexa, my business partner at Let’s Dish!, called to talk to me about her idea to help families during breast cancer awareness month, what would become the Pink Dish! Campaign. I was so touched. Alexa was looking for a way to help me and others like me keep getting through the day, to make life just a little bit easier when I was feeling down.

Now we are back in the craziness called “Fall”… soccer games, football practice, Fall Festivals, hikes to see the fall foliage and apple picking at the local orchards to make yummy pies and goodies for treats all winter long. A year later I have hair again! I feel strong again! I just finished my last Herceptin treatment and have only one last surgery to go….I am done! I have my life back and it feels great.

The second Pink Dish! Campaign is also in full swing with more ways to get involved and a goal of providing more families with meals as they cope with breast cancer. And, this year, one family will even be given meals for a year! I love the fact that we can once again help families when they need it and I am grateful to everyone who has contributed to our efforts from coming into Dish, to making an E-Dedication, to purchasing the 2008 Pink Dish! (Antioxidant-Rich Greek Isle Chicken) which we developed with the approval of the American Cancer Society who honored me this past summer at their Pink on the Links Golf Tournament for our efforts with the Pink Dish! Campaign.

As I spoke that at the Pink on the Links dinner, I talked about the “unsung” heroes helping to eradicate breast cancer. They are people like you - those who are taking the time to listen and read the stories from survivors. They are people like you who are making small contributions from picking up the phone to check on a friend who has been diagnosed with breast cancer or who is going through treatment. They are people like you who are making sure they help spread the word about ways to help all of us fight this disease. They are people like you who are participating in races such as the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure and the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Race.

Thank you for bringing us so much HOPE. Thank you for being our heroes!

Join us in the fight against breast cancer and support Pink Dish! 2008. The more support we get, the more FREE meals we can deliver to deserving local families. Here are some of the ways you can get involved:

• Register for a Session: Enter promo code DISHPINK2008 and we’ll make a $10 donation in your honor to the Pink Dish! Campaign.
  
• Come to Our Stores: Pick up an Antioxidant-Rich Greek Isle Chicken from our Ready Made case, or buy a Let’s Dish! Pink Tote, and we’ll donate another $5 to the Campaign. (While supplies last; Pink Dish! Entree must be purchased at retail for donation.)
• Send an E-Dedication: Honor a friend and get a FREE treat. Plus, we’ll donate a dollar to the Campaign.

Pink Dish! contributions provide nutritious and convenient Let’s Dish! meals to local families coping with breast cancer. Find out more at www.letsdish.com/pinkdish