Get to know Brides Against Breast Cancer

Today I wanted to share some background info on Brides Against Breast Cancer and the Making Memories Foundation. The below info has been pulled from the Making Memories Website.

Mission Statement

“To provide an opportunity for metastatic breast cancer patients’ dream or wish to be fulfilled by providing a special time of 'Making Memories' together with their families, a chance that might not have become a reality without the assistance of the Making Memories Breast Cancer Foundation."

"To advance the awareness of breast cancer and to educate the public about the vast resources and support available to breast cancer patients and their families."

Message from Making Memories

It is estimated that this year alone over 200,000 women and nearly 1,200 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer. Sadly, breast cancer will take the lives of almost 40,000 people this year in the United States and over 300,000 worldwide. In the United States one person will be diagnosed with breast cancer every 2½ minutes, and one person will die of breast cancer every 12 minutes. Many know that this disease is the second highest killer of women in the United States, but a little known fact is that breast cancer is the number one killer of women between the ages of 15 and 54.

The human toll of these statistics is staggering. Small children are left without their mothers. Husbands are left to raise families on their own. There are now 2.8 million women in America diagnosed with breast cancer—this number is increasing rapidly.

The tragedy of this illness, as with any terminal disease, is not limited to the physical and emotional impact. In many cases an enormous financial strain is placed on the family. The staggering cost of treatment must be paid, all the while hoping to buy time until a cure is found. When the insurance is exhausted and the hospitals are paid there is often no money left for extras. This means that many families cannot afford special moments together that might lift spirits and ease the turmoil of “saying goodbye.”

It is our intention to “make a difference” in the lives of those suffering from this devastating disease. Our wish-granting service helps put the realities of this terminal illness aside, if just for a few days, while providing the opportunity for a family to spend quality time together. Our hope is that every metastatic breast cancer patient will be able to pass from this world comforted with the joy of having left his or her family a final beautiful memory—something the family will look back on and remember for a lifetime.

Corporate Sponsorship, businesses, family memorials and private individual sponsors are urged to help support and grant wishes. At this time our primary fundraising branch is Brides Against Breast Cancer. We accept thousands of new and used wedding gowns every year from private and corporate donors, then sell these beautiful gowns to brides at exceptional savings over retail prices. Dozens of these gown sales events are scheduled annually in major cities all across the country. Other fundraising activities include Diamonds for Dreams and the Pink Envelope Project.