When I was 21 years old, I lost my own mother to Breast Cancer. Then in 2010, a dear friend, Lisa Rhines, was battling stage four of the disease and I felt I had to do something for her and the millions of other people fighting this horrible disease. That’s when I formed The Gaga for Tatas.
Last year the team was about $1,000.00 shy of raising the required $2,300.00 per team member for the 2011 Susan G. Komen 3-day Walk for the Cure when the Suwanee Business Alliance stepped up to help the team reach its goal with a bighearted donation to match. Shortly after that, an individual member of the SBA, Tom Vooris, made a personal donation. Then Alan VanCampen, owner of Squeaky’s Car Wash and Lube, held several fundraisers for the team and the cause.
After months of training and fundraising, and with help from lots of friends and supporters, including The Suwanee Business Alliance, The Gaga for Tatas made it to the team goal of $10,000.00. So we laced up our shoes and took on the pavement and the disease one step at a time.
As a team, we are a powerful force, and the walk forever changed our lives. We realize it would not have been possible without support from friends and strangers alike.
We were surprised and appreciative to the SBA, an organization that truly cares about doing business and doing good in our community. After being a member for several years, and now serving on its Board of Directors, I am proud to be part of this organization whose focus is building relationships in business as well as making a true difference in the community. I can’t imagine why any business person in the area would not join this group because of the benefits it offers.
Sadly, Rhines lost her battle to cancer in 2011. But The Gaga for Tatas will walk the 60 miles in three days once again in October 2012.
We’re fewer in number, but we continue to make a difference in the fight to end Breast Cancer. We are forever grateful to our many supporters and counting on you again to help us make it to the finish line.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. For more information about the walk and how you can help make a difference, visit www.the3day.org. To make a direct donation to Gaga for Tatas, go to the link and look for Gaga for Tatas.
By Julie Perdue
The SBA meets the 2nd Wednesday of every month from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at different business locations in town. For more info: Suwanee.org.
