Welcome to My Personal Page
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Lisa Mugavero
Goal: $2,000.00 |
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My Story:
Why am I doing this? It’s simple. Her name is Tonya Sophia (Johnson) Borla. She is a very dear friend of mine, someone I have been very close with since seventh grade and who was the Maid of Honor at my wedding and is the Godmother of my first born son, Anthony. She was very recently diagnosed with breast cancer and will be undergoing a mastectomy and consequently grueling reconstructive surgery in March with the potential for follow up radiation and/or chemo-therapy treatment post op. Subsequently, she will be put on a hormone drug for the next 5-years to prevent more cancer from building in her body. Tonya is married to a wonderful man and together they've been blessed with two very special children. Because we live 400+ miles from each other, I cannot be there physically with her while she endures this journey. Thankfully she has a considerable amount of family and other amazing friends there by her side.
I felt that by getting myself involved in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer I COULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE for Tonya as well as
For all other women - and men - who are currently undergoing treatment,
For all those who have passed away from breast cancer,
For all those, like my own Godmother, who have survived the battle, and
For those who have yet to be diagnosed...
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I’ve committed to participating in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer on May 1st and 2nd in Washington D.C this year. It’s a big commitment, one that will require me to spend the next couple of months training and fundraising. But breast cancer is a big disease, one that still affects far too many people, and I’m determined to do everything I can to help put an end to it. The money I raise will be managed and disbursed by the Avon Foundation Breast Cancer Crusade to help provide access to care for those that most need it, fund educational programs, and accelerate research into new treatments and potential cures. I’ll be just one of thousands of people that will walk 39-miles (1.5 marathons) over a weekend, raising awareness of the cause and educating even more people.
I can’t do it without your help. Though my goal is to raise at least $2,000 in donations, I truly hope to raise much more!
I hope that I can count on your support.
How can you support me?
It's really easy! You can make a donation to my fundraising campaign right here on the secure website by clicking on the pink "Donate Now" button.
If you prefer to write a check, just contact me by phone or email (Lisa@Mugavero.com) with your address and I'll send you the necessary information and form .
Does your company gift-match?? If so, it could double or even triple your contribution! And, it's simple and even better, it doesn't cost you another dime to what you've already contributed. Just ask your HR representative. If they do participate in such program, they will have the form(s) needed which, once completed, can easily be mailed directly to me for handling/processing. The Avon Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public charity.
As I prepare for this exciting event, I plan to update this page frequently so that all my supporters can follow my progress, so please visit often. While you're here, you might want to spend some time on the site to find out more information on why this event is so important, and the organizations and people that will be helped by the money we all raise.
Thank you in advance.
Lisa
*** ran out of "blog updates" room ***
4/27 : Just on the heals of sending out a big "thank you" to all my supporters, Tonya faced an enormous set-back in her recovery. She was back in the hospital last week to have her internal sutures removed/replaced along with new expanders in prep for her final surgery. The procedure went better than planned, however it just puts her back at square 1 in terms of recovery. She's taken it in stride and still dealing with things as they come; keeping up that incredible spirit. I can't say it enough - she's an inspiration. I could only hope for 1/2 her strength if I am ever put in her shoes.
4/21 : Can't believe the WALK is just a week away. I've been on some long walks, but nothing to this degree. At this point I'm just hoping for good weather. I'm thrilled with the amount of money I've raised in support of this Cause and am so very thankful for all my supporters!!!
Tonya continues to recover and is gearing up for the final reconstructive procedure in the next month or so. She and her doctors have established a long-term plan for her; at this point, she will not require radiation or chemotherapy treatment!! She will be placed on a hormone supressant drug for the next 5-yrs in hopes to prevent future cancer growth and will be monitored very closely. In the meantime, Tonya maintains her very optimistic attitude and is taking things day-by-day; becoming a Breast Cancer Awareness advocate and participating/raising funds for the Amer. Cancer Society. She is an inspiration to anyone who may suffer through a hardship.
3/22 : Tonya had her surgery and has been recovering well, though not without a few hurdles (ie. allergy to one of the meds). Her attitude towards her circumstances is one to be learned from. She remains very optimistic and just dealing with things as she needs to. I'm amazed at her strength and ability to press on as if cancer was just an ugly word. She did receive some inconsistent results from the surgery and has been referred to the Dana Farber Cancer Inst. for a 2nd opinion. She's since visited with promising news that the cancer has not attacked her lymph nodes, however there may have been a small area that was missed during the initial surgery. She is waiting to hear what steps she needs to take next. In the meantime, life goes on in the Borla household! She's got an amazing family ... each of them with tremendous strength.
Blog Updates
3/: ***** reached my goal ***** but am certainly not going to stop here! Still hoping to blow this goal out of the water ...
Got 12miles in this wk'end & feel great! Met a lot of walkers at an Expo on Sat & am more motivated than ever to accomplish what I set out to do. It's humbling to hear everyone's "story" of why they've decided to Walk. I met survivors, friends & family of survivors, friends & family of lost loved ones & yes, husbands of lost wives doing it in their memory. And that was just from a handful of Walkers who attended the Expo. I just cannot fathom what the 2-day wk'end Walk will be like.
Unfortunately I did not get a chance to talk to Tonya this wk'end as I had hoped. I did talk briefly w/her mom though, and it sounds like she is recovering as well as expected.
3/3: Got a chance to speak to Tonya this afternoon!! Although she was super drowsy from the meds & our conversation was short, it was awesome to be able to talk to her. She was in very good spirits - already up & walking earlier!! Talk about endurance! She's a fighter & will come out of this stronger than ever. It's amazing that she'll be able to go home tomorrow - just 48 hrs post op!
Went to my first spinning class this evening ... loved it! I need to cross-train in order to build up my endurance (& keep things interesting) while I train for my 39miles. I can't wait to go back next week to burn more muscle!!
3/2: VERY relieved to hear from Tonya's husband this evening that the surgery went very well & that her lymph nodes were clear. This is very good, promising, news!! I'm looking forward to being able to talk to Tonya once she is in the comforts of her own home.
2/28: hit the pavement pretty hard this week - thus, officially kicked off my training! Coordinated a few training walks on the Avon org training site for my area. It was really great to meet some new people who share a similar goal - hoping to recruit more in the coming weeks.
Amazed & truly touched by how much I’ve been able to raise in this past week. I do hope to blow my goal out of the water. I need to raise the $2k to participate, but it's really just an arbitrary goal considering there is an endless need to keep the research going & awareness on the forefront. I am so thankful for all of you supporting not only me, but especially the thousands of women (and men) who are fighting, have fought... or will fight this ugly disease.
And on that note ... thinking of Tonya & sending lots of Love, Prayers, Strength & Hope her way as she gets ready for her surgery in 2days.
2/23: trying to see the positive in having two MD's see two different things when looking at the same thing; as if looking at a piece of art. Which, I suppose, some might argue the human body is "art". Just frustrating when it's in reference to understaning ones health. I'm sure everyone has been put in that position before - just so unsettling & a reminder that we've still got a long way to go in understanding breast cancer ... any cancer! I'm proud to be playing a part - however tiny - in raising awareness & funds for research in hopes that our future generations won't be dealing with such ambiguity.
My thoughts are with Tonya tonight as she is one week away from her surgery & onto the road to recovery!
2/22: saw this quote posted boldly on a store front this afternoon & couldn't help but think how it about sums up how I feel regarding my contribution towards the breast cancer campaign as a whole .... "I AM ONLY ONE, BUT STILL I AM ONE. I CANNOT DO EVERYTHING, BUT STILL I CAN DO SOMETHING; AND BECAUSE I CANNOT DO EVERYTHING, I WILL NOT REFUSE TO DO SOMETHING THAT I CAN DO." - Helen Keller
2/21: WOW, I am blown away by the support I've already received! You guys are amazing!! I guess I needed to be a tad more optimistic in setting my goal! I am so very thankful to everyone. This is overwhelmingly wonderful to see. :-)
2/20: YEAH, received my first donation! Although you're "anonymous", I know who you are! :-) Thank you for taking the lead. I've got a long way to go and a lot of miles to tread, but keeping things in perspective, raising the money & doing the walk is nothing in comparison to what Tonya and so many others have to endure as they battle this awful disease.
2/19: finally able to access my personal campaign page. Very excited to get started, but anxious about meeting fundraising goal. Thinking about Tonya all the time, not able to truly imagine what she's feeling. Her surgery is less than two weeks away. Wishing I lived closer to be with her.
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PINK RIBBON CORNER
Fighters : Tonya, Jackie, Nancy
Survivors : Dodi, Eda,
About the Avon Foundation
Since it was founded in 1955, the Avon Foundation has been committed to the mission to improve the lives of women and their families. Now past the half century milestone, the Avon Foundation brings this mission to life through two key areas of focus: breast cancer and domestic violence. From an initial $400 scholarship in 1955, Avon philanthropy has expanded globally and through 2008 exceeded $660 million raised and awarded worldwide. The Avon Breast Cancer Crusade launched in 1992, and Avon breast cancer programs in over 50 countries support advancing access to care and finding a cure for breast cancer, with a focus on the medically underserved. For more information about the Avon Foundation visit http://www.avonfoundation.org/ or call 1.866.505.AVON.
The Avon Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) public charity. Our IRS tax-exempt number is: 13-6128447.
If you have any questions or inquiries regarding our website, please contact the Webmaster.
