The search for the 2013 Pink Power Moms has begun!

Women who are diagnosed with breast cancer usually do one of two things, they go through treatment and get back to their lives, or they go through treatment, get back to their lives and also get involved in some aspect of breast cancer. Either path is just fine, and I know women who have gone both directions. I needed to get involved. The primary reason I chose to do so was that when I was diagnosed in 1986, there were very few young women out there who were advocating for support once treatment ended. We know now that survivorship services are more than nice, they are essential to our emotional and physical health and well being. I just knew that for me when it was supposedly over – it wasn't over. I had a 1-year-old and I spent the majority of my time reading the obituaries and wondering when I would wake up with a lump somewhere that it wasn't supposed to be. I learned fear was much scarier than surgery. And I also found that when I was doing something for someone else, I wasn't as consumed with fear of recurrence. I also spent a lot of time angry, and being busy tended to keep that under control. At first I was angry at the healthcare system that wasn't providing what I saw as essential, equal services for all women. Then I was angry at cancer when I found out that my daughter might be at risk for breast cancer. When I learned I didn't carry the breast cancer genes, I was just angry that cancer took the lives of so many young women and that we weren't making much headway in learning why. Then I was angry that there weren't any survivorship services. By then the anger had dissolved into passion about educating women and helping women get treatment. Then in 1992 my mother was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer. She died six months later and I got angry all over again. In 2008 I learned I had been named a Pink Power Mom by The Bright Starts division of Kids II®, national baby and children toys and gear creator that has lines such as Baby Disney and Baby Einstein as well as Bright Starts and Ingenuity. This organization decided to name eight women a year from communities across the nation Pink Power Moms and help support their 501c3 nonprofits with a $5,000 check. I was in the class of 2008 and since then they have named a class each year. Now with six classes, the Pink Power Moms are coming together to support each other in their endeavors with advice and support in their various causes. We also help get the word out when nominations are open for the next class of Pink Power Moms, which is what today's blog is doing. So, this is your chance to get some recognition for that breast cancer survivor mom who has turned her energy toward making a difference. If you are wondering if she is a worthy candidate just go to the Kids II web page and read what the other Pink Power Moms have been up to and decide for yourself. If you think she would make a good Pink Power Mom, nominate her. The eight selected will each get $5,000 for the nonprofit of their choice plus $1,000 a year for five years. They will also get a weekend of pampering in Atlanta in February 2014 where they will meet and discuss their directions for the year.They will also meet the recently formed steering committee to talk about plans for the future. So, get those nominations in.