Reality Rally

Reality Rally is a charity fundraiser for Michelle's Place Breast Cancer Resource Center. But, what exactly is Michelle's Place? If you are reading all my blogs (if you're not--shame on you!), you know that Michelle's Place was started by Michelle Watson's parents. Here's a description from the website:

Let’s Honor Her Life and the Courage of All Like Her
The tears still involuntarily flow at the thought of Michelle’s passing; but from the "pool of tears" has come a mission of service to make it better for others touched by this unrelenting disease. Family, friends, and the community have come together and created a mission to serve our community. Her parents say that more than once they have wished the treatment would have started sooner. But bitter disappointment must be given up and replaced with positive action. Michelle needed a resource center where she could go for help in coping with her challenges. Her parents, family and friends have started one in her memory so others will have an opportunity to get the help they need —it is called Michelle’s Place.

Kim Goodnough, Executive Director of Michelle's Place sent me the following statistics from 2014. Just think of how one special place helps so many special people!

• In 2014, there were 883 new women with breast cancer who walked through the doors of Michelle's Place seeking support services.
• There were 9,524 services provided FREE to the community! That number includes wigs, prosthesis, bras, books, seminars, tool kits and more.
• Michelle's Place participated in 53 health fairs and conducted 15 educational seminars. Kim Goodnough, Michelle's Place excecutive director spoke to 52 community groups and businesses about Michelle's Place and breast cancer early detection.
• Over 200 (218 to be exact!) screening and diagnostic mammograms, biopsies, surgical consults and ultrasounds were given to women with a symptom of breast cancer.
• There were 243 children with mothers fighting breast cancer helped this year. Michelle's Place supplied backpacks, school supplies and Christmas gifts.
• Over 75 volunteers worked a combined 8,117 hours in the center, at walks, health fairs, events, seminars and more.
• Over $50,000 was given in financial assistance to women going through active breast cancer treatment.

As you can see from the above, Michelle's Place is irreplaceable! The annual Reality Rally helps to insure that not only can Michelle's Place meet last year's statistics, but also do more and more to help those in need. Here's a tour of Michelle's Place with executive director Kim. I hope to get to meet you at Reality Rally 2015. While you are visiting Temecula, stop in Michelle's Place and see it for yourself. In the meanwhile...stay tuned...Bloggergal (RRBloggergal@gmail.com)