I was given the opportunity to help out at a fundraiser event this evening benefiting a local organization which helps fund research, education programs, and various other avenues to help in the fight against breast cancer. RITA (Research Is The Answer) was founded by our dear friend Chuck over 2 decades ago. Chuck and his wife Nancy (our resident artist) have been part of Mitzi’s village since 2017. Chuck and Nancy were always very gracious and kind to her and Mitzi loved spending time with them, (which may or may not have had something to do with the fact that their freezer is always stocked with ice cream).
Listening to Jeannie Blaylock from First Coast News speak at this event was so perfectly timed for me. She told the story of how her best friend (who had been a cheerleader) found a lump at age 29 but doctors dismissed it because she was too young. By the time they took it seriously, it was too late. Jeannie was inspired to start a movement that has since saved hundreds of women’s lives by promoting early detection.
Even though I’ve been wearing Alzheimer’s purple every day since Mitzi died, I swapped for pink for this Breast Cancer Awareness event. It gave me great hope tonight in hearing of the tremendous strides in the medical community since the 90s when Jeannie started the Buddy Check 12 movement. Perhaps in the not-so-distant future, we’ll be able to talk about a cure for Alzheimer’s in such a promising light so other cheerleader friends won’t be difficult to diagnose simply because they are too young to have a certain disease. ????????
