My first wife, Gayle, passed away a number of years ago from breast cancer.

The particular type of breast cancer Gayle suffered from is somewhat rare and one of it’s characteristics is that it rapidly spreads to the bones and the brain. Another characteristic is that it is that the likelihood of having developing it is genetically passed along from generation to generation.

Gayle’s mother, Elvina, also passed away from the same cancer a few years later. Her sister, Jurene, developed a similar cancer. Luckily, Jurene’s cancer was diagnosed early enough that with a mastectomy along with chemo and radiation treatment, she has now been cancer-free for several years.

My only daughter Tracy, who is 32, has the genetic make-up that makes a similar cancer a very real possibility in her future. So much so, that doctors have recommended that she have a proactive double mastectomy by the time she reaches the age of 40. I also have three granddaughters with a fourth one due within a week.

Quite frankly, the prospect of what they may have to cope with in the years ahead scares the hell out of me.

Every year, The Susan B. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, holds what is know as the Breast Cancer 3 Day in several cities across the US. Participants in the 3 Day walk 60 miles over the course of three days to raise money for breast cancer research. To be eligible to participate, each walker must either raise, or donate, $2200 for cancer research.

For the last few years Tracy has raised money through donations and walked in the 3-Day held in Minneapolis/St. Paul. Her first year, Tracy and a friend from college planned to walk together, but the first day her friend severely sprained her ankle and Tracy spent the remainder of the day solo. Early on the second day she began walking with a mother and daughter - Laura and Tanya. The three of them have walked together in every 3-Day since.

This year, when the Minneapolis/St. Paul 3-Day takes place on August 24-26 only one of the trio will be walking - Tanya.

Tracy is pregnant and due July 28 so she hasn’t been able to do any training. Laura won’t because of an illness she has.

Laura Klatt was a medical volunteer at the first Twin Cities 3-Day, and spent the weekend popping a lot of blisters and offering other aid to the walkers. The 3-Day is extremely important to her, and she has walked in every Twin Cities 3-Day since, but she will miss this year’s.

This past winter Laura was diagnosed with Guillian Barre Syndrome, and now just recently that diagnosis was changed to CIPD–a chronic form of the disease. You can read more about Laura and her disease on the CaringBridge website Tanya is keeping.

Tanya, her daughter, has already raised $2200 to participate. Now she would like to be able to raise another $2200 for her mother so that Laura will be able to enter the the camp each evening to have supper with her and spend some time with friends from previous walks. (Only registered walkers are allowed into the camp each evening).

Ordinarily, right now I’d be on my knees begging for your assistance in raising money for Tracy, but she’s not walking this year. However, I’m not going to let you off the hook that easily.

Both Tracy and I would like to see Laura and Tanya have supper together Friday and Saturday evening and I’m asking for your help to insure that they are able to do that. It’s easy and painless to do (and tax deductible) through Laura’s Donation Page.

There are buttons on the left-hand side of the page for donations of specific amounts but you aren’t limited to them. Below them you will find a box in which you can enter whatever amount you feel comfortable contributing.

Yesterday I wrote that “My goal for The Auction Rebel isn’t that it make money for me, but rather that it provide information that will help make money for you.”

Today, I ask that, if you find the information in The Auction Rebel useful and helpful, you contribute to something that is extremely important to me. Even if we can’t raise enough to allow Laura to have supper with her daughter and friends, the money will go to a great cause.

God Bless you for whatever you wish to contribute.

Gary & Tracy

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