Lake Tahoe for Ta-Tas

Hello dear friends and family,

Rachel & I are coming to you to ask you for your support. Together, we are going to swim the width of Lake Tahoe (12 miles) to raise money and awareness to support BREAST cancer research, patient care, advocacy and more. Breast cancer affects so many of us and in our cases, us directly.

Read below for our stories:

Rachel Wells owes her life to early detection and treatment, and she is swimming for the Lobular Breast Cancer Alliance.

In the Spring of 2022, Rachel W. went in for a routine mammogram which lead to an ultrasound revealing a malignancy a little over a centimeter in size. She had LOBULAR BREAST CANCER. Because of the early detection, she avoided chemotherapy, however, she did endure a lumpectomy surgery followed by radiation. Like most people, she never thought this would happen to her and was in shock and kind of numb through the whole thing. On top of it all, she had to undergo a second surgery to remove a bit more tissue as the surgeon wasn't happy with the margins which resulted in an infection at the surgical site. Once healed, she began radiation. The radiation oncologist and the techs were wonderful. As you can imagine, she was really scared, but getting to ring the bell at the end of treatment was fantastic. Rachel still suffers fatigue from the radiation, which is making training for a long swim challenging, but she is so grateful that she was able to catch things early and have a good prognosis.

Rachel Griffin owes her family's life to early detection and treatment, and she is swimming for Pretty & Pink and Tower Cancer Research Foundations.

Rachel Griffin's experience is a little different. Rachel G.'s sister-in-law Amy and first cousin, Kathleen were both diagnosed with different stages of Breast cancer. In 2022, Amy was diagnosed with HER2+ HORMONE RECEPTOR NEGATIVE STAGE 2B INVASIVE DUCTAL CARCINOMA and in the early 2000s, Kathleen was diagnosed with STAGE 3E TRIPLE NEGATIVE INVASIVE DUCTAL CARCINOMA. Combined, they went through insane rounds of chemotherapy, radiation, surgeries and more. It was heartbreaking to watch this awful cancer attack their bodies, but extremely inspiring to see them fight and never give up. Now survivors and thrivers, both Amy and Kathleen are living happy and healthy lives. In their honor, Rachel G. would love to donate to the Pretty in Pink Foundation and Tower Cancer Research Foundation.

LOBULAR BREAST CANCE ALLIANCE Inc (Lbca): This will help women find a place to get screening mammograms and may help them pay for it. Since Lobular breast cancer doesn't usually make lumps, as the cells spread in sheets - so a self-exam won't find it. The only way to detect it is with mammograms and since so many women don't have affordable health care, they delay mammograms until the disease is more advanced than mine. --- from LBCA: To make all who are touched by invasive lobular breast cancer (also referred to as invasive lobular carcinoma or “ILC”) aware of its unique characteristics and the critical need for more ILC research; to be the go-to source for information on ILC studies, clinical trials and educational tools; to foster partnerships among patients, scientists, clinicians, and breast cancer organizations to increase dialogue about ILC and research advocacy; and to fund vital ILC research. We envision a world in which lobular breast cancer is found early, treated effectively, and eradicated permanently.

PRETTY IN PINK FOUNDATION’s mission is to provide uninsured and under-insured breast cancer patients in North Carolina with financial assistance for quality, life-saving medical treatment.

TOWER CANCER RESEARCH FOUNDATION's focus is funding basic scientific research to uncover the mechanisms by which cancer develops and spreads, creating a path to effectively treating and preventing the disease. We invest in life-changing support for people affected by cancer today through Magnolia House, our in-house survivorship support program, and our local Community Partners. While our programs and funding are made locally, they are designed to maximize impact beyond the initial investment— so they not only benefit researchers, patients, and families today, they have the potential to lead to an even greater impact tomorrow, transforming lives anywhere.

So, please join us as we tackle Lake "Tahoe for Ta-Tas."

I thank you in advance for any amount that you send our way. We cannot express how much your donations and supporting words mean to us during our endeavor.

LET’S CURE BREAST CANCER!

Rachel & Rachel