In 1967, when Beverly Hlavka was 12 years old, her mother Naomi Poppe Kopke was diagnosed with breast cancer and given six months to live. She remembers how helpless she felt wanting to help her mother and not knowing what to do.

Earlier this year, Beverly lost a friend, Holly Elizabeth Remmers to breast cancer. Again, she had felt helpless because she did not know what to do for her friend as her friend struggled to survive cancer. This is when Beverly decided to create a way to help others help women facing breast cancer. Based on the Pay it Forward concept, made famous with the book and movie, she has launched Gift it Forward.

"If people have done nice things for you, don't give it back, Gift it Forward. This project is a way for people to give money to a cause, receive a fantastic piece of fabric art in return and help women diagnosed with breast cancer." From the money raised, individual women with breast cancer will receive a new mastectomy bra; visit to a wellness retreat; new wig; facial, massage, manicure or pedicure at a day spa; tank of gas to get to chemotherapy; some pretty jewelry; new outfit or makeup; phone card to call the grandkids or anything that puts a smile on her face.

Beverly's intention in Gift it Forward is to help women with the issues that surround keeping a positive attitude, self-esteem and concentrating on the idea of wellness instead of the disease of cancer. She includes instructions on how to make a fabric postcard and how to start a Gift it Forward project of your own. For more information, visit Gift it Forward.

Here's an exponential idea. What if, each time someone did a good deed for someone else, the good deed was paid back by paying it forward to three additional people? In turn, each day, each person, having received a good deed, did a good deed for three more people. According to the Pay It Forward Movement, based on the novel by Catherine Ryan Hyde, in just two weeks 4,782,969 people will have been touched by the pay it forward principle. In cancer awareness for the needs of cancer patients, there are many who live by example with generosity and giving.

• At Alvin Primary in Alvin, Texas, one of Missy Nichols third grade student class projects was collecting change for "Pennies for Patients." In three weeks, they collected over $1500.00 for a charity organization for children with leukemia.
  

• Megan Bahnmiller, age 8, decided three years ago to grow her hair out for the purpose of having it all cut off. Megan is donating her hair to Locks of Love, a nonprofit organization that gives hairpieces to financially disadvantaged kids suffering from long-term medical hair loss. Approximately 8,000 people a month nationwide donate hair to Locks of Love, with 80 percent of donations coming from children.

• Leena Bourne, age 11, started Leena’s Love Beads for Leukemia. Realizing the costs of her father's cancer treatment medications and the amount of money that is needed for cancer research, Leena started making bead bracelets and selling them. Within one year, she presented a check to the Canadian Cancer Society for $6000.

• Natalie Kehl, was 12 years old when she had a skin cancer scare. As a result of her experience, she created and distributed sun-safety kits to 117 schools. She speaks at many events, and has organized fundraisers for the purchase of a new MRI machine for the Windsor Cancer Centre.

• At Highlawn Elementary, Ms. Clemons fourth grade class donated 2,000 hats, scarves and stuffed animals to Where Love Grows, for children with cancer.

Good people, good deeds and good news deserve all the appreciative recognition the world can give them. Do you know of a person, or group project, that has benefited cancer patients or the cancer community? You are invited to share their story in the comment area following this post.