Last Night, we had another great FORCE meeting and HoneyBaked provided food for us.  After the meeting, I sent a thank you to our HoneyBaked contacts and realized that the letter was worth sharing on a broader scale. 

Dear Wendy and Geoff,

Thank you so much for providing the delicious HoneyBaked food last night.  The meeting was fantastic and each time I have one of these meetings, I realize the true power of FORCE and the importance of the ongoing success of this organization.  Here’s a few highlights. 

One woman attended the meeting with tears in her eyes.  As a young child, she watched her mother die of breast cancer.  She lost her father to Crones Disease and a brother to a heart attack.  She is 33 years old, unmarried with not one single family member.  Completely alone in this world except for some friends.  A week ago, she found out she has the BRCA mutation giving her an up to 85% lifetime risk of breast cancer.  She is prepared to have a bilateral mastectomy but her friends think she is absolutely crazy.  The first place she found was the FORCE message board and after posting her story, she got returned messages from perfect strangers who told her they were there for her and completely supported her.  The same thing happened in the meeting last night and she walked out feeling stronger, happier and more positive about her decision.

There was another young woman there with her sister, mother and father.  She started her battle with cancer in July and is in the reconstruction phase of her breasts.  She is very uncomfortable right now and worried about the final result.  After the meeting, we went in the bathroom and I was able to show her what her breasts will look like when she is done.  She gave me a huge hug, thanked me, and walked away so much happier.  Her sister (BRCA also) has not had cancer but spent the entire meeting with tears in her eyes.

A third woman also lost her mother and most of her family members to breast and ovarian cancer.  She has two young children and intends to see them grow up.  She is currently battling with her insurance company to cover preventative screenings.  The genetics counselors in the room stepped up to tell her that they will write letters of medical necessity to get her screenings covered.  She had no idea that they would take care of this for her.  We also were able to share that prophylactic surgeries are covered by insurance–most people had no idea. 

 These are just three of the stories.  There were more and this is just one meeting in one area.  I read the message boards and know the stories go on and on.  Without funding, FORCE cannot continue. 

 In addition, I know that FORCE is 100% looking out for me and my risk factors.  They are the ones making sure that research continues in the hereditary cancer and this is so incredibly important to people like me with the BRCA gene.  I intend to live the rest of my life free of all cancers.  And I credit FORCE for making my life better in this way.

I thank you from the very bottom of my heart for what you are doing for my organization!  I am telling the world about HoneyBaked!!!  I am sending my friends and family your way, blogging about you and announcing you to my Facebook friends.  I’m asking them to do the same. 

I wish you much success always and hope this campaign is tremendously successful for all of us!

Sincerely,

Ellyn