Like my blogger friend Kristina Collins, I too just attended a Making Strides Against Breast Cancer kick-off. Kristina's New Jersey event was a breakfast. My Florida event was a dinner. It wasn't the meal that mattered, though. What matters is the enthusiasm, the spirit, the inspiration that flows through the rooms where these gatherings take place.

My kick-off celebration featured a delicious and healthy meal, a slide show of the pink-shirted crowds that assembled for last year's 5K event, a mini lesson on the topic of breast cancer, a presentation from a 27-year old wife and mother of three who has survived breast cancer for one year, and a reminder that now is the time to start raising funds for the big day -- October 20, here in Gainesville.

I went to this dinner with my husband, sat with two oncology nurses who form a fundraising and walking team each year, and choked back the emotion that wells up in me when I'm part of such a powerful group.

October 30, 2006 marked the launch of our series Cancer by the Numbers. Our intention was to give individual attention to each and every cancer, to raise awareness of the multitude of cancerous diseases that seem to consume our population, to answer questions and pose questions, and to initiate discussion among readers. I think we are accomplishing what we set out to do. Still, we have a lot of ground to cover. Since that October day last year, we have featured 13 different cancers. That's a lot. And not a lot, when you consider how many different strains of one disease really exist.

I am writing today to reaffirm our commitment to Cancer by the Numbers. These posts will appear at least twice per month -- so be on the lookout. Until the next one appears, though, take a look back at what we have to offer in one of our most comprehensive and researched Cancer Blog series. Here they are:

Cancer by the Numbers: Basal Cell Carcinoma
Cancer by the Numbers: Osteosarcoma
Cancer by the Numbers: Hodgkin's Disease
Cancer by the Numbers: Gallbladder Cancer
Cancer by the Numbers: Glioblastoma Multiforme
Cancer by the Numbers: Melanoma
Cancer by the Numbers: Mantle Cell Lymphoma
Cancer by the Numbers: Liver Cancer
Cancer by the Numbers: Rhabdomyosarcoma
Cancer by the Numbers: Cervical Cancer
Cancer by the Numbers: Pancreatic Cancer
Cancer by the Numbers: Lung Cancer
Cancer by the Numbers: Testicular Cancer

If there's a cancer you'd like to see covered sooner rather than later, please leave us a comment and let us know.

Major League Baseball and the Prostate Cancer Foundation teamed up this year to form the Home Run Challenge in honor of Father's Day. Their gift to father's across the country: for each home run hit in 60 selected games between June 6 and today, June 17, raised money for prostate cancer, the second most common cancer for men in the United States.

Some fans of this cause made pledges; some posted online tributes to their dads at Dockers San Francisco. For every message submitted, the company donated one dollar. Some messages were even shown in Times Square for all to see.

I just checked the status of the Home Run Challenge on this Father's Day morning and found the most updated total of home runs to be 91. Leading the accomplishment are Ken Griffey, Jr., Alex Rodriguez, and Alfonso Soriano. The current Team Home Run leader: the Cincinnati Reds.

Nicole Labrecque was only three years old when she lost her battle with hepatoblastoma, a rare liver cancer. That was 16 years ago and for the last six years, Nicole's father Richard has been raising money to help seriously-ill children like his daughter have their special wish come true.

Richard said his daughter died suddenly three days after the family's Make-A-Wish trip to Disney World. Richard Labrecque told reporters, "She spent a beautiful week having fun and for a few days, she was able to forget about the pain of surgeries and chemotherapy. It is priceless to see these kids have fun. Nicole was three years old and we were swept off our feet. I'm dedicated to this organization."

In the past five years, Nicole's walk has raised over $70,000, which has gone to the Vermont Make-A-Wish Foundation. The annual walk, which will be held this year on May 20, 2007 on the Toonerville Trail in Springfield, VT starts at 9:30 a.m. The trail is 6.2 miles.

All participants get a purple T-shirt -- purple was Nicole's favorite color.

Cancer Schmancer is what actress and cancer survivor Fran Drescher titled her 2003 novel. Now, thanks to this spunky gal, there's a whole Cancer Schmancer movement taking place, a movement that will culminate this June with the launch of a non-profit organization with the name of -- you guessed it -- Cancer Schmancer.

Drescher says Cancer Schmancer is all about the politics of cancer education and funding, screening tests, early detection, the removal of carcinogens from women's products, and the often-dismissed truth that young women do get cancer.

Drescher, who for two years fought with doctors who persisted she was too young for uterine cancer -- she wasn't -- says her organization will raise awareness and change health policy to better promote diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of womens' cancers.

Tears are streaming down my face. I can't stop them, and I'm not sure I want to. In a way, I want to feel the tragedy of life lost to cancer because it makes it all real. It makes it personal. It makes me realize the same tragedy could happen to me, my family members, my friends. It makes me want to make a difference even more now that I've seen the chilling pictures of a young woman dying of cervical cancer than moments earlier when I was moved mostly by my own breast cancer journey.

I first read about Heather Lyn Martin on the JANE magazine website, home of a beautifully-written story -- I Hate Tumors -- by Sara Lyle, long-time friend of Heather and senior editor for JANE, a publication for 20-something women. Sara's words powerfully depict the life and death of her friend, stricken with a disease she was sure she would beat. So sure, in fact, she asked Sara to help tell her success story.

Sadly, Heather never got to tell much. Because she died much too soon, at the age of 28. So Sara told the story through her own words and photos -- the same ones responsible for my tears -- and has just recently written a second essay, one year after her first story started reaching young people everywhere.

Sara wrote Why I Still Hate Tumors after inspiring many young women to open their eyes to the realities of a deadly disease. Her words serve to raise awareness about the dangers of cervical cancer -- and the HPV virus that causes it -- and to point women in the direction of resources critical for preventing and conquering the disease.

Sara, because of the death of her dear friend, is saving lives with her message. And she just may save yours.

To see all that Sara has to offer in the fight against cervical cancer and other hated tumors, visit her I Hate Tumors website.

Yesterday afternoon, a Canadian hockey team with a roster of seven and eight-year-old boys sported pink socks, pink jerseys, and pink hockey sticks in an effort to raise money for Breast Cancer Action of Ottawa -- a group dedicated to raising awareness and providing support for those affected by breast cancer.

The color pink was a non-issue for the little boys asked to do their best to help others.

"I'm excited about playing in pink," said one eight-year-old decked out in the breast cancer color to support his aunt, who is currently battling the disease.

One hockey mom says it was surprisingly easy to convince the boys to wear pink uniforms.

"They told me that real men wear pink," she said.

And so pink is what they wore on this special day -- it was Hockey Day in Canada, when Canada's national game is celebrated throughout the country -- and raise funds is what they did. In fact, the team was overwhelmed by the amount of donations received and the special items given for use in a silent auction. A jersey signed by Dany Heatley of the Ottawa Senators, a jersey signed by Wayne Gretzky, and two tickets to a Senators hockey game top the list of generous offerings.

These little boys reached their goal -- they raised awareness, and they raised money. Yes, indeed, real men do wear pink.

Rene Syler, member of the four-person anchor team on the CBS' morning news program The Early Show, will leave her post just before Christmas.

Syler says she will leave the show to pursue other media interests and to promote her new book -- Good Enough Mother -- that will be published next year. And she will undoubtedly continue raising awareness about breast cancer.

After doctors told Syler she had an increased risk of developing breast cancer since both her mother and father have had the disease, she kept a video diary of her experience for a story that won the 2004 Gracie Allen award. She has long been a breast cancer champion. But her personal experience with the illness upped her commitment to the cause.

Syler's final broadcast will be on December 22.

Sometimes all it takes is a small gesture to warm the heart of a cancer patient. It doesn't take anything huge. It shouldn't cause any stress or discomfort. And it shouldn't require a whole lot of thought. It should be simple. Simply simple.

A whole lot of small gestures spread a whole lot of cheer my way when I was knee-deep in cancer treatment and needed a lift. Cozy socks kept my feet and my spirits toasty. A package of brownies sweetened my sour days. Flowers brightened my dining room and my state of mind. Books left on my doorstep delivered knowledge and wisdom and a bit of humor to my world.

The options for spreading sunshine are endless. The list of possibilities could go on and on. Here is just a start -- a small list of small gestures that can make a dreary day downright delightful.

Give a hug
Send a handwritten letter
Make a homemade card
Write a poem
Give a journal
Deliver a candle
Make a home-cooked meal
Arrange for food delivery
Babysit children
Play with children
Drive to appointments
Go wig or hat shopping
Visit during chemotherapy sessions
Give something comfy -- socks, pajamas, hat
Do grocery shopping
Accompany to lunch, dinner, movie
Take a walk
Attend church
Have a picnic
Go fishing
Make a donation to favorite charity
Walk, run, volunteer, raise funds in honor of your special someone

Be specific in your gesturing. Trade a comment like "let me know if I can do anything" for "I'm going to come over and wash and clean your car on Saturday." Vague offers are rarely successful -- cancer patients are not likely to recall every general offer they receive and then manage them all into a schedule. It's just too much to consider in the midst of turmoil. But an offer that comes to life right before them is easy. It's effortless. It is truly a gift. A simple, priceless gift.

Celebrities catch our attention. They cause us to pay attention too -- which is likely why the media uses celebrities and prominent people to send messages about all sorts of issues, like breast cancer.

It's not just the real-life survivor celebrity stories -- about Melissa Etheridge and Elizabeth Edwards and Sheryl Crow -- that make headlines and attract ratings. It's also the portrayal of cancer survivors on television that raises awareness about this disease. It's not a new trend -- it started long ago when All in the Family's Edith Bunker (Jean Stapleton) experienced a breast cancer scare, marking one of the first times the issue of breast cancer was discussed openly on TV.

Tough cop Mary Beth Lacey (Tyne Daly) of the TV show Cagney & Lacey traveled a breast cancer journey. Sisters eldest sister Alex (Swoosie Kurtz) was diagnosed with breast cancer and survived chemotherapy with family by her side. Beverly Hills, 90210 character Brenda Walsh (Shannen Doherty) found a lump in her breast and shed light on the fact that young women are not immune to breast cancer. Sex and the City's Samantha Jones (Kim Cattrall) developed breast cancer and proudly pulled off her wig on television. The L Word's Dana Fairbanks (Erin Daniels) lost her battle with breast cancer. And on Angela's Eyes, FBI agent Angela Henson recently learned her mother once had breast cancer -- and that it has come back.

There are many others television story lines woven with the thread of breast cancer. They draw viewers and boost ratings. They also raise awareness -- because people pay attention to celebrities.

If you live in the San Francisco area you might want to check out the pajama party this weekend at the W San Francisco Hotel. The date is October 3rd from 6:30-9:00 pm at the XYZ Bar in the W Hotel located at 181 3rd street.

Slip on your most stylish PJ's and sip Barcardi cocktails for a party benefiting Fashion Targets Breast Cancer. There will be a runway show and also a special reading from the book Why I wore Lipstick to My Mastectomy by two local breast cancer survivors from the Young Survival Coalition.

This sounds so fun. I wish I was in San Francisco!

The UK's Cancer Research All Join Together Campaign will sell pink and white rubber ducks for breast cancer awareness month. The rubber duck will raise funds and also come with information on being breast aware.

Lesley Walker, director of cancer information at Cancer Research UK, explains "Relaxing in the bath is an ideal time for women to notice any abnormal change in either breast. It is very important for women to know what is normal for them and bath time is a great time to look for any changes"

Five British women, who are survivors of breast cancer, are portrayed in the campaign that will be displayed in over 600 Cancer Research UK shops nationwide throughout breast cancer awareness month.

Rub a dub dub....

Many college students are beginning their pursuits in higher education with private scholarships. Each year, millions of dollars are awarded to college students as a result of private gifts that flow from alumni and donors. These scholarships help universities compete for the best and brightest students. And the beneficiaries of these scholarships are many. Universities get what they want -- good students. Students get what they want -- funding for college. And the community gets something too.

Lauren Mareno, a senior at Kent State University and recipient of a Reach for Excellence scholarship, has been reaching into her community and is leading campus-wide efforts to raise money for the American Cancer Society -- an experience that has exposed her to new career opportunities. While she pursues a psychology degree and a certificate in non-profit management, Mareno -- who lost her own father to cancer at the beginning of her freshmen year -- serves as co-chair for the Relay for Life event. In April she saw the fruits of her labor blossom as more than 60 student groups participated in the 24-hour campus walkathon that raised more than $75,000.

Mareno sees more community outreach in her future and she is eager to continue raising funds for causes that are meaningful to her -- and to so many others too.

Today started Komen's 3-Day Walk in Seattle. Participants walk 60 miles in three days to help raise millions of dollars for breast cancer research and patient support. Check the website for the cities near you that have 3-Day walks in the coming months.

If you're not up for a three day walk maybe try a two day walk. I would love to do the 3-Day. I would also love to do it with my dad. Back in the spring of 2003 my dad and I did the Avon 2-day breast cancer walk in New York City. It was an amazing experience. Walking 13 miles a day when I didn't train was hard but I finished - with my legs like two bricks. My dad was fine! He is a runner so he made it look easy.

What was very special about that experience is the fact that my dad kept something around his neck from that day. On the trip we had plastic pendants to put around our neck that had a number to tell us where our tent or luggage was. I noticed last year that he still was wearing it around his neck. I thought that was sweet. Dads might have a hard time talking to their daughters about breast cancer but that said a lot.