Hair's A Cure Breast Cancer Fundraiser
Note: Hiya! I typically write lengthy descriptions. I do this because I want to make sure nothing is left out and that everything is as transparent as I can be! Please read everything, and if you have any questions let me know!
Small Background
First off, thank you...thank you so
much for choosing to donate to my future foundation. My dream is
to decrease the percentage of African American women/men who die due to breast
cancer by partnering with different hair/body companies who support healthy
black hair and body. I also want to educate black women on the importance of healthy eating and how a poor diet will over time shorten our life span while making us increasingly prone to crippling diseases.
As African American women we spend so much time and money on our hair and what we put on our bodies as opposed to what we're putting into it...as opposed to who we allow to examine it. And as a 22-year-old, I want to change that.
Hair's A Cure is a breast cancer foundation that seeks to celebrate the love of healthy black hair & body while raising awareness and funds for breast cancer treatments -- predominantly in the African American race. As our motto goes, we strive to Promote Hair Just As Healthy As Breasts.
I know the question then becomes, Why
another organization? What about Susan G. Komen and others? The reality is
that only 77 percent of African American women who are diagnosed with breast
cancer survive compared to 90 percent of Caucasian, non-Hispanic women. An even
bigger reality is that over 50 percent of all African American women diagnosed
with breast cancer passed away last year. If 90(%) percent of all Caucasian women diagnosed with breast cancer can survive then why not the same percentage in the African American race? Simple. The money and support is not there even when people claim it
is.
Proof needed? A recent study came
out this year that cited "thousands of African American women are dying
needlessly from breast cancer because of psychosocial, cultural and economic
barriers (read the article here: Article)."
There are so many women out there who do not have the insurance to afford cancer treatments, who do not know the resources available to them for mammogram testing, who cannot afford to find wig options for the hair that has been lost due to chemotherapy; but most importantly, women who are slowly dying from breast cancer due to fear, poverty and denial. Sadly, there are even women who give up because they do not know how to cope with this reality.
You know, it's easy to say, "the Internet is available for information," or "there are plenty of resources out there," but until you have been affected by breast cancer you have no idea the fears and harsh reality you have to face. It's not only hard to fathom losing your hair and your health slowly diminishing due to radiation treatments, but also facing the world day-to-day. Even worse, asking for help.
My foundation will undue so many of these problems. We will teach women, predominantly those in the African American race:
a) The root of health goes beyond taking pristine care of your hair. It's also about taking care of the full self "“ mentally and physically;
b) Early detection is one key to fighting breast cancer;
a) Raising funds for those unable to afford cancer treatments is essential in helping to decrease the mortality rate.
Until we can find a cure, cancer treatments are needed. However, taking better care of our health and consistent mammogram testing can help lower the chances of breast cancer making women feel their life is hanging on by a thin string of thread.
My foundation will decrease the mortality rate over time, which is currently 41 (%) percent higher than the Caucasian, non-Hispanic race and any other race for that matter. We will help increase the survival rate, and teach women about the importance of our health from the soles of our feet to the ends of our hair strands <3
What Are The Funds Needed For? FAQ
The funds that I'm currently raising
are to help us pay the application fee for our 501 (c)(3) paperwork and to
have a lawyer look over all of the paperwork, sign it and submit it. We also have to apply for other mandatory state and federal licenses, and although that may seem less than $2,500, trust me, it's not.
The extra money raised will not be touched unless it is for Hair's A Cure. I'm not talking about office supplies, t-shirts and all of that other stuff. I'm talking about building a fund to one day soon afford women & men the cancer treatments/resources they need.
Do you really believe you can decrease the mortality rate?
Men believed they could walk on the moon and did, so why can't I believe in helping to decrease the mortality rate? Yes:yes times 100 million. I don't just believe:I know I can.
How will you help decrease the mortality rate?
Well, this isn't going to be a "let's do a huge fundraiser once a year" type of organization. We WILL have at least 15 fundraisers a year, partner with different organizations/companies/firms, and drive to the homes of women and men who need our help. That is my goal:that is my dream, my vision. I want to change lives; nothing more and nothing less <3
Breast cancer affects all women, so why only
help Black women/men?
I support all ethnicities and accept (not tolerate) every human being placed on this earth. This isn't a racial pursuit, but many women in my race have died due to breast cancer. I want to help decrease that number and help increase the survival rate.
Ask yourself this: Why are there
organizations out there solely for women? Why are scholarships out there broken up by racial
categories? Simple: Because everything on this earth needs special
attention. The fact that the death rate in the African American race has
increased, and the survival rate is 13 (%) lower than the Caucasian race, means
that something needs to be done.
You can't tell me that more African American women are just destined to die from breast cancer than any other race. I don't believe that at all. What I do believe is that poverty, denial, late detection and lack of knowledge play a huge role that my foundation will slowly undo.
Note: This money raised will NOT be used for the event. If you would like to
donate to our kick-off event, please send us an email at [email redacted]!
Hair's A Cure Event
The event is entitled, "Hair's A Cure: A Pink & Black Affair",
and here is the official event page: http://www.facebook.com/events/389418021111617/
Short summary: The goal of this event is to fund African American women
and men the opportunity to receive cancer treatments if they cannot afford it.
A recent study came out this year that cited "thousands of African
American women are dying needlessly from breast cancer because of psychosocial,
cultural and economic barriers (read the article here: Article)." If you want
more information, here is the official page on FB: http://www.facebook.com/HairsACure
I created this event/future foundation in honor of my great grandmother who
passed away a month before I was born due to cancer. When I was growing up, my
mother would always tell me about her. While on her death bed, my great
grandmother rubbed my mother's stomach and told her she wished she could
"be here to see her [me]." This was during the time my mother was 8
months pregnant -- with me, that is. My mom said that her grandmother knew I
was a girl before she even had a clue. She passed away not to long after that.
My great grandmother wasn't given cancer treatments. To this day, I still
wonder what she would have been like. Her death is my motivation to help other
women and men. Most importantly, breast cancer can happen to anyone, including
me. Sometimes I think to myself, 'if I had breast cancer, and couldn't
afford it, how would I live? How would I cope? How would I survive?'
Ultimately, I would want someone to help me, especially if I could not afford
it. By putting myself in these shoes, I am motivated to answer those questions
for others affected from this disease. Until a cure is found, treatment and
love has to be given.