I once knew this girl with a very big heart, a bright smile and an incredible soul.  She was the life of the party, she had a great attitude, she loved life, she loved people, she adored her family.

I once knew this girl who was passionate about everything, she understood life, she was warm, thoughtful, inviting.  SHE taught ME how beautiful MY life was, not with words, but by living her life.

I once knew this girl who was a mother, a wife, a daughter, a sister, a friend.  She valued everyone in her life.  She valued the big and the little things.  She loved birthdays.  Her birthday falls on May 25th and every May was "her birthday month."  This girl, she celebrated life. 

This girl, at the age of twenty-six was diagnosed with breast cancer.  Her son had just turned one, but she was a fighter and she fought.  And she won, for a little while, and then cancer returned.

This girl, her name is Rachelle, died when she was thirty-three years old.  This mother, wife, daughter, sister, friend is gone.  She was only thirty three and she died of breast cancer in 2003.  To this day, my heart aches, I remember her, I remember her spirit, her courage, I feel her love and I didn’t really even know her that well.  That’s how amazing she was.  She affected everyone who was fortunate enough to cross her path.

Rachelle
May is still her birthday month, even though she’s not here.  Rachelle is my best friend’s sister, my soul sister.  Rachelle’s family, although their hearts are broken and not a day goes by where they didn’t wish she was here by their sides, they live life fully and with love, this is how they honor her. 

This family that I am SO PROUD to know and love, raises money every year for the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer, this family, to date, has raised over $50,000 in four years, in honor of Rachelle, but also so other families do not have to experience a loss as tragic as theirs.  The Rock Star Fans are so close to reaching their goal this year of $14,000!

She was a Rock Star.  She’s still a Rock Star.  And she has many, many fans.  I am just one of them, sitting in the audience, continuing to be amazed by her grace, her strength, her love.

To my readers, I wish you could have met Rachelle, I wish you could meet her family and some of you have and you know what I am talking about when I say "they are incredible." Rock_star_fans_2008_3

To read a little bit more about Rachelle and learn a little bit more about this courageous family, you can visit their fundraising page
.  Feel free to donate and help save lives – whether you knew Rachelle or not, more than likely you yourself are a breast cancer survivor or you know one, or maybe someone you love lost their battle, and if you haven’t, you will.   

To Rachelle’s family, I admire and love you all, I am so proud
of you and I am so proud to know you.  This weekend, whether you are
walking with the Rock Star Fans, or cheering on the sidelines, I know
that Rachelle is so proud of all of you.  And she’s not the only one.

The reason I am telling you about Rachelle is not only because I’d love for you to donate to this cause, but also because I think her life and the way she lived it should be shared with everyone I know and also because you need to understand that you are not in control of your own life and what happens in it, the one thing you are in control of, is how you live it. 

Live it well. 

 

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