Breast Cancer Awareness Month - How Will You Help

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and like too many women, my family has been touched by the disease. Two of my mother's sisters are breast cancer survivors and I've had my own personal brush with the monster. We have come a long way from the days when being diagnosed was an automatic death sentence, but we still have a long way to go to becoming a cancer-free zone.

Naturally that takes money - lots of money and there are so many ways that we can contribute. Recently in Toronto (like many North American cities) there was a Run for the Cure. My daughter Sharron did it and wore the names of her great aunts and me on her shirt.

The Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation has some wonderful options for fundraising and great places to shop where portions of the sales goes directly to supporting research. In the UK, check here for some events.

And one of my favorites fundraising ideas...KitchenAid's Cook for the Cure. You host a party in your home. It can be simple or elaborate, that's up to you, but instead of your guests bringing a bottle of wine or some other hostess gift, they make a contribution. How great is that! Good company, good times and a wonderful feeling of being part of finding the cure.

I was driving this morning and heard on the news that Garth Brooks (I love his stuff ) is coming out with a new CD and a portion will go to Komen for the Cure . Chefs in the UK are doing their bit. I know there are many other celebrities out there doing the same.

When I wrote my cookbook Every Kitchen Tells Its Stories - Recipes to Warm the Heart last year I decided to donate $2.00 for Breast Cancer Research for every copy sold. Because the book is peppered with short stories from my childhood and that of my girls and because all the stories center around food and family, it naturally centers around the women. What a sad world it is when that center, that core is gone. My goal for this year is to be able to write a cheque (that's check in the US) for $1000. I'll let you know how it goes. And if you're interested, you can purchase the CD or eBook right here!

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