Cancer Survivors Tell Moving Tales

On the day her mammogram revealed her tumor,create and donate hand-made quilts to find a cure for
Linda Peters came home to some bittersweet news.breast cancer. The quilts are submitted to eBay and
A message from eBay revealed she had won ago up for auction with all proceeds sent to Komen for
coveted hand-made quilt from the Quilt Pink project?athe CureÂ(R). Neither the magazine nor the
collaborative charity auction supporting the largestfoundation anticipated that the number of donations
breast cancer awareness effort in the world. Sincewould exceed what was expected - by nearly five
Quilt Pink was launched a year ago by Americantimes! Nor were they prepared for the touching events
Patchwork and Quilting Magazine and the Susan G.set in motion by the powerful connection Quilt Pink has
Komen for the CureÂ(R) Foundation, anforged among women of all ages, all walks of life,
astonishing 4,000 hand-made quilts have beenquilters and non-quilters alike - for a common cause.
submitted for auction on eBay. Hundreds of thousands"For the past 25 years, Komen for the CureÂ(R)
of dollars have gone to Komen for the CureÂ(R),has been on a mission to end breast cancer forever,"
and for every quilt made and donated to the cause,said Katrina McGhee, Vice-President of Marketing for
there is a woman with a stirring story.Susan G. Komen for the CureÂ(R). "Programs
In Cottage Grove Wisconsin, Tania Russow runs tosuch as Quilt Pink are an integral part of that mission,
her mailbox to retrieve the Quilt Pink quilt she'd workedhelping us to reach millions with life-saving breast health
on while undergoing chemotherapy. A stranger outbidmessages, and raising funds that support research and
her for it on eBay, but sent it back to Tania when shecommunity outreach.
heard of its heart-rending origin. In Nashua NewEvery major advance in breast cancer research has
Hampshire, two teenagers die in a car crash and asbeen touched by a Komen for the CureÂ(R)
their classmates mourn the loss, they complete thegrant, resulting in significant scientific breakthroughs and
Quilt Pink project they started and submit it to eBay. Inmajor cancer-fighting discoveries. Right now, celebrity
Steamboat Springs Colorado, a family is startled byquilts are on auction on To view and bid on these
the accidental discovery that someone they've neverremarkable, one-of-a-kind quilts visit
met has dedicated her Quilt Pink quilt to their mother,"The minute it sinks in that you've decided to give up a
who unfortunately lost her battle with breast cancer.breast to save your life," says Linda Peters, "well, that's
And in Kissimmee Florida, a healthy grandmothera very hard minute." Today, Peters is cancer-free and
makes it her goal to buy as many Quilt Pink quilts ashas purchased 12 more Quilt Pink quilts for women
she can so that her daughter will live to become arecovering from breast cancer. "Sometimes," said
grandmother.Peters, "things happen in your life - not necessarily for
Launched in September of 2006 on Quilt Pink Day,the lessons they hold for you - but so you can support
1000 quilt shops across the country invited patrons tosomeone else.