Hello!

Janene and Mary Kate here! Here's a quick introduction of us and Cookies for the Cure.

I'm Janene. Last June I was diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer. I am happy to report that I am doing just fine. After my diagnosis, I felt that it was important to help others who might be facing this disease. The Susan G. Komen Foundation does a tremendous job in supporting research and providing mammograms locally for women who might not be able to afford them. I feel so blessed that my illness was caught in such an early stage.

And I am Mary Kate, her daughter. We had never had breast cancer in the family until my mom was diagnosed. It was suprising and very scary. My mom is so very important to me and I feel extremely blessed to still have her here with me. Just like Mom, I feel that we can find a cure for breast cancer and in the meantime provide mammograms to catch the cancer early and stop it!

We decided to participate in the 2011 Susan G. Komen 3-Day Walk for the Cure. For those of you who are unfamiliar, it is a 3 Day event in which participants walk 20 miles each day, sleep in tents, meet new people, and raise LOTS of money for breast cancer research. The idea came to Janene late this summer and Mary Kate decided it was too good an opportunity to pass up. It will be a nice bonding experience for both of us before MK goes away to college just a couple days afterwards. We started our training walks early in October, increasing in miles and speed as the winter drags on. We do a lot of walks at the mall, so if you see us, just know that we are really serious.

We are now taking on a whole new battle: fundraising. In order to even walk in the event, each person must raise $2300 (That's $4600 together! YIKES!) Truthfully, the only thing we have worth sharing with others is baked goods. Not to toot our own horns, but, we make a mean batch-o-cookies, or so people say! So, we have put on our aprons, fired up the oven, and sent out order forms for our favorite flavors, selling them by the dozen for $3-4. Please don't remind us how many dozen it will take. After 2 days we are up to $93!! Wow! After the cookie phase is over, we will do even more baking for our Pink Parties. Stay tuned for more details on those. For now, just wish us luck and check for change under your couch cushions to buy a dozen "Cookies for the Cure!"