The Power of One

“Few will have the greatness to bend history itself, but each of us can work to change a small portion of events. It is from numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped. Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.”  ―  Robert F. Kennedy 

October was Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the community of Bolder Band decided they could make a difference in this disease that affects millions by changing the life of one. 

Local Breast Cancer Survivor, Jennifer, a mother of two young children, ages 2 and 9, learned she had the disease when she was pregnant with her youngest daughter. She has been fighting ever since, she recently finished her second round of chemotherapy and radiation. 

According to the National Cancer Institute, breast cancer occurs in both men and women, although male breast cancer is rare, and there are an estimated 232,340 new cases in women and 2,240 news cases of the disease in men this year alone.  Early detection is the key to stop this disease, according to NCI, “Results from randomized Clinical trials and other studies show that screening mammography can help reduce the number of deaths from breast cancer among women ages 40 to 70, especially for those over age 50.”

For women in the U.S, breast cancer death rates higher than any other cancer, except lung cancer., according to  breastcancancer.org. About 85% of breast cancers occur in women who have no family history of breast cancer. About 1 in 8 women (just under 12%) will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime.  One in 8 of our friends, our family, our co-workers will like develop this disease. 

Powered by  your support, the BOLDER Band community rallied behind one to make a difference by purchasing 224 headbands with $2 from each headband to be donated to Jennifer. An amazing  $500 went directly her and her family enabling them to spend some much-needed time away together. 

“Oh my!  I'm just blown away by this!  I told (my husband) Eric and he said ‘Amazing how the Lord provides!’ Thank you!  Thank you!  Thank you! Thank you to all of your customers! Oh my goodness, thank you!”

Sometimes I get overwhelmed by the need of many, and forget that the sum of a few can make a difference to one. And that one is important. We didn’t cure breast cancer or pay for her medical bills but we made her life a little bit better. And I know we made our lives a lot better by the act of giving.

Who is next? What small steps can our BODLER Band sisterhood take to make a difference? How will YOU change someone’s life today, and therefore change your own? Share with us your story of great impact by the power of one on our Bolder Band Facebook Page. 

“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 

For more information on how to get screened, or how to help, see  http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org or  http://www.cancer.gov. 

Thank You for helping Jennifer...

~Amy