"L"ements of Style will feature a clothing line of hip sexy apparel and accessories created by wearable couture designer Laura Dahl, Tel Aviv handbag designer Tali Epstein Segal (TES), jewelry designer Udi Behr, jeans from Honey Labrador, denim from Blue Cult, and handbags by Emmy-nominated costume designer Cate Adair. Select pieces will be sold as numbered limited editions with 100 percent of profits being donated to The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation and the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation.

You can browse and purchase apparel and accessories of The L Word "L"ements of Style collection online at The L Word website.

Beginning January 3rd, The L Word "L"ements of Style collection can be purchased at Atrium in New York City, Brown Eyed Girl in San Francisco and Marin, California, Duets in Nashville, Ultimo in Chicago, Scout and Molly's in Raleigh and Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Mitzi & Romano in Atlanta, Georgia and Lulu in Miami, Florida.

In addition, The L Word "L"ements of Style collection can be seen in a unique virtual fashion show that allows you to choose apparel and accessories in which a virtual Honey Labrador will then model for you. Very cool. Visit The L Word collection virtual fashion show to experience your personal fashion show based on items of clothing you choose.

As Larry Stewart tells it, the story begins 26 years ago, when a week before Christmas he was fired from his job. It was the second year in a row he had been fired from a job the week before Christmas. As he sat in his car at a drive-in restaurant commiserating his untimely employment fate, he noticed the car hop was not wearing a warm coat as she worked in the elements of winter cold for nickels and dimes in tips. Although his recent unemployment status made his financial security uncertain, he decided to pay for his meal with a $20 dollar bill and told her to keep the change.

What happened next changed his life and the lives of countless others who would come to benefit from the generosity of a stranger. The car hop began to cry. She told Stewart he had no idea how much the extra money would help. Touched by her reaction, he went to the bank, withdrew $200 dollars, and then drove around looking for people who might need a few extra dollars.

Over the last 26 years, the cable television and long-distance telephone service businessman, who went on to earn millions after his rocky start in the working world, has given away over a million dollars. Anonymously. Stewart never wanted anyone to know his name or the name of his company. Until now.

Stewart has been diagnosed with cancer of the esophagus that has spread to his liver. He thinks it is time to reveal the mysterious identity of the Secret Santa many in Missouri and elsewhere have wondered about for the last 26 years. Why? By speaking publicly about giving, he is hoping to inspire others to give. According to Stewart, "that's what we are here for -- to help other people out."

Preston Barden, the father of nine and grandfather of eight, told his family he will be back home at Christmas.

On June 20th, Barden began his walking odyssey to break the Guinness World Book Record for the fastest time crossing the US on foot for a round trip total of 5,900 miles. While he is doing this, he is asking for donations to benefit the National Children's Cancer Society -- and he hopes to raise $30 million dollars with his effort.

Barden, who began in New York City, said, "If I do the round trip I will be the first person to do the round trip, and then it will also be America's longest walk-a-thon."

Barden, a welder by trade and a martial arts instructor with four black belts, totes a 55-pound backpack with tokens of inspiration from those who have died of cancer. You can watch WGEM's video of the television interview they did with Barden here. For information on how to donate to the National Children's Cancer Society call Barden at 1-888-411-KIDS. For more information about Barden visit World Walkers.

According to an attorney representing a group of 9/11 first responders who have been diagnosed with brain cancer and other illness -- out of the 7,300 sick workers and family members involved in the case -- 41 have now died. The group states that the toxic dust that filled the air immediately following the September 11 terrorist attacks on the Twin Towers is responsible for their illnesses. 

In a related post, WTC Ground Zero: FDNY paramedic dies of lung cancer, we shared the story of Debbie Reeve, a FDNY paramedic, who spent several months at Ground Zero working in the morgue. Reeve was diagnosed with mesothelioma, a rare form of lung cancer. Mesothelioma is a malignant lung cancer linked to asbestos exposure. Reeve was exposed to asbestos particles in the air caused by the collapsing Twin Towers. According to her physician and her family, her work at Ground Zero is the direct link to the cancer that took her life. She died in mid-March, leaving behind her husband, David Reeve, 45, a FDNY paramedic, and two children, a daughter Elizabeth, who is ten years old, and a son Mark, who is only six years old. Her family said she suffered greatly leading up to her death, as the cancer consumed her body.

In another news story that came out today, a survey completed by the Centers for Disease Control states that people trapped in the dust and debris cloud were nearly three times more likely to experience respiratory symptoms than other building survivors not bathed by the cloud. "That was most surprising to us - the impact of the dust cloud," noted Dr. Lorna Thorpe, deputy commissioner of the city Health Department and head of the World Trade Center Health Registry, which has been tracking the health of more than 71,000 people who worked at or were near Ground Zero on 9/11.

As a nation, we owe these brave men and women whatever they need. Government, state and city agencies should step up and do what is right for our heroes, who ran upstairs into harm's way while everyone was passing them on the way down escaping danger. Who stood in the middle of dense choking dust and debris, to help the injured. Who stayed, and sifted through the heartbreak of destruction to find the lost loved ones of others. This should never have gotten so bad for them they have to go to court to see that right is done.

Gilda's Club Worldwide is launching a national art exhibition called Snapshot of Survival, an art exhibition and contest for people living with colorectal cancer and the families and friends of colorectal cancer survivors. The contest is intended as an expression of cancer survival through art. Submissions should represent the artist's vision of cancer survivorship. Selected artwork will be displayed in an exhibition in New York City and included in a traveling exhibition to select cancer centers nationwide.

Artwork in any two-dimensional medium no larger than 60 inches by 36 inches is eligible. Work must be submitted with a 3-inch by 5-inch color photograph and accompanied by an artist's brief statement offering insight into the artist's work. There is a maximum of two pieces of art per artist. Download the Snapshot of Survival - Call For Entries for more information. Deadline for submissions is May 31, 2006. What are you waiting for? Go! be creative, be expressive, be yourself, share your interpretation of colorectal cancer survivorship.

In 2001, after the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, Debbie Reeve, a FDNY paramedic, spent several months at Ground Zero working in the morgue. Two years later, she developed breathing problems. The next year, Reeve was diagnosed with mesothelioma, a rare form of lung cancer. Mesothelioma is a malignant lung cancer linked to asbestos exposure. Reeve was exposed to asbestos particles in the air caused by the collapsing twin towers. According to her physician and her family, her work at Ground Zero is the direct link to the cancer that has taken her life. She died Wednesday, leaving behind her husband, David Reeve, 45, a FDNY paramedic, and two children, a daughter Elizabeth, who is ten years old, and a son Mark, who is only six years old. Her family said she suffered greatly leading up to her death, as the cancer consumed her body.

The Daily News has already reported that 23 Ground Zero workers have died from the toxic mix of chemicals present at Ground Zero. The heartbreak of the day that changed this nation forever, continues.