All over the world, people are walking or running to raise funds for cancer research.  We are joining in "the race."  Please read our story below to find out how we are contributing to "the fight." 

For every Pets For Breast Cancer purchase you make through July and August, you will receive another of that same item for FREE!  One for you and one for a friend!

Pets For Breast Cancer

Pet apparel, accessories and toys, all with the beautiful ribbon of hope on the fabric. Our goal is to donate to organizations that directly assist women at their time of need by donating to the Wig Program through the Patient Financial Assistance Program at the Alberta Cancer Board.

To date we have donated $240.00 - all thanks to you!

WHY ARE WE DOING THIS?

In 2006, I learned that a very good friend was diagnosed with breast cancer.  I will call her "Ann". 

Ann was a very good friend that I met at church in about 1998.  She and her family had moved to Alberta from another province and were a welcome addition to our church family.  I quickly learned that Ann loved anyone and everyone.  She had a wonderful Maritime accent and she would always say "Hi'ya Honey!" when we met. 

Ann & I both sang on the worship team and I loved singing with her.  When my husband & I and Ann would sing 3 part harmony together I would get goose bumps.  Sometimes I still imagine her singing with us in church and I still love that feeling.

When I learned of her diagnosis, all I could think was, "No, not Ann!"  I'm sure you know exactly the feeling I mean - you probably felt the same way when you heard of a friend or family member being diagnosed with cancer.

A few months later, we learned that my sister had cancer - a lot closer to home.  What a shock.  My sister and I had our "lions share" of arguments and disagreements over the years ... funny how all that fades when you learn that they may be dying.  We very quickly apologized to one another for bad feelings and grudges we had both been holding on to. 

My sister died soon after that.  I spent the last night in the hospital with her and one of her daughters, still desperately wanting everything to be okay.  She passed away at about 7:00 am.  After her daughter and I said goodbye, we drove home to pick up our lives where we left off 3 days earlier when we went to stay at the hospital.

After she died, I found that my mind had a hard time reconciling the fact that she was no longer here.  Every time I drove by her house, I would imagine her painting yet another design on another wall or staircase ... experimenting with every design and every color.  She even had her husband paint a rainbow all over their garage - really!!  It's still there as a reminder to us that she left a mark in this world.

About 6 months later my friend Ann died.  That was another hard day.  After I told my daughter Emilie that Ann was gone, she crawled out her bedroom window, sat on the roof and wrote a beautiful eulogy for Ann.  Emilie was 11 at the time.  Ann left an incredible impact on our two girls.

It was right around this time in our business life that my partner, Robin, and I created the Pets For Breast Cancer pet toys and apparel.  My sister was Robin's aunt, and she was a friend of Ann's as well. 

As we were trying to decide where we wanted to send donations from the profits of Pets For Breast Cancer, we were reminded that Ann received a wig from the Wig Program through the Patient Financial Assistance Program at the Alberta Cancer Board.

Being able to donate to this program has been a part of our grieving and healing process after losing our sister/aunt and good friend to cancer.  Every day wonderful people are diagnosed with cancer and losing their hair can take away their dignity and confidence. 

I still remember the first day Ann wore her wig.  I didn't even notice it for one whole hour!  It looked so much like her real hair - she finally asked me, "well, do you like my hair?"  I was very impressed.  And Ann ... well Ann was thrilled that she looked like "herself" even though she was losing her hair after receiving chemotherapy treatments.

We are thrilled everytime we can send off another donation.  And so close to home ... we will never know if the lady in front of us at the movies is wearing a wig from this program.  But we do know that everyday, women are welcome to enter this salon and choose a wig in whatever style and color they like, and have it styled for free!

All thanks to you and your purchases!

Here are 2 of the volunteers at the salon at the Alberta Cancer Board.  These ladies style the wig to suit the client - what a wonderful way to help those going through treatment!  And so cheerful!