I had a very exciting weekend!  On Friday night I was so excited to help volunteer at the 2009 Gathering of FRIENDS dinner!  FRIENDS for an earlier breast cancer test is a non-profit organization founded with a unique purpose of finding an earlier test.  Since tumors can be in your body 5 to 8 years before detection, it is key to find a test to detect those tumors and prevent breast cancer.  One out of every eight women will have breast cancer, that is why this is such an important cause.  The founders of FRIENDS are located here in Greensboro, and they have worked so hard for over ten years to help save lives all over the world by donating millions to research for an earlier test.  October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, that is why this past friday I got decked out in my pink and put on a pink awareness ribbon, turned in an upward direction for early detection.  Martha Kaley, founder, survivor and friend is one amazing woman dedicated to helping others, and being an inspiration to women, like myself.  Over 500 people came to this beautiful dinner at Grandover Resort, and the same turnout with come to the Luncheon next week at Koury Convention Center.  The theme of this years events surround SHIRLEY- the image of womanhood & and the TIE THAT BINDS.  This idea is based on the simple fact that we are all bound by someone we know, love, in memory or honor of that is or has been affected by Breast Cancer.  It was the 14th annual gathering of friends, and that is was, because that night, we were all bound together by one cause, breast cancer.  We all wrote down a message or a name of a survivor or a loved one lost to breast cancer on a single pink ribbon and a room of five hundred people then tied these ribbons together to tie on Shirley.  We heard a promising medical update and we had HODA KOTB, Co-Host of NBC's TODAY SHOW, DATELINE NBC Correspondent and Breast Cancer Survivor speak to the group about her challenges and how she came out even stronger after kicking breast cancer's butt!  It was a great evening of Friends and we had the best speaker!!!  Thanks to everyone, and all the volunteers that helped with the dinner!  See you all at the Luncheon, and remember-WEAR PINK!!!  

For more information on FRIENDS please visit the website at: www.earlier.org

On Saturday morning, bright and early, I traveled to Raleigh, NC!  I was helping with the Autism Society of NC and their annual Ribbon Run!  I have been going for years, so it was an honor to go and help as Miss NC and present the awards to the winners and special awards to the dedication of these runners and families, affected by Autism, to the cause of helping support the ASNC!  Thousands came out to support the efforts of the ASNC, and I helped with awards and got to talk to the audience and families about how much this organization has meant to me over the years.  I saw my great friends there too, thank you Bill, Tina, Mark, and Baby Will!!!  The Autism Society of NC has a great ribbon run every year, I had a lot of fun!! Thank you to everyone who came out to help support and run!!