When the First Lady of Surfing, Rell Sunn was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 32, she was told she had months to live. She lived each day as if it were her last -- with complete passion and compassion -- and lived another 15 years.

When I posted that each year during the Luau & Longboard Invitational event to raise money for the Moores UC San Diego Cancer Center, the Rell Sunn-Queen of Makaha Award in memory of Rell Sunn is given to honor the person or organization that best displays the qualities of compassion, unselfishness, aloha spirit and dedication in the fight against cancer -- I went in search to learn more about Rell Sunn.

Suzanne Pleshette's agent reported on Friday that the actress is currently undergoing treatment for lung cancer. The cancer was discovered during a routine X-ray and was no bigger than a grain of sand. Pleshette apparently feels very lucky and is in great spirits as she receives outpatient chemotherapy at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center -- where the cancer was diagnosed.

I'm in the market for a new vacuum cleaner. Mine is 11 years old -- it was a wedding gift -- and although it still picks up the dirt and sand and grime that often litters my carpet as a result of two busy little boys, it's been through the ringer. Maybe that's because all I do is vacuum, or so my 5-year-old Joey thinks. He was asked in preschool one day to talk about his daddy's job and his mommy's job. He told his teachers that his daddy "plays the keyboard" which is true but while he meant a computer keyboard, his teachers conjured up the image of a musician and wanted to invite Joey's daddy to join the class for a jam session. And Joey said that his mommy "vacuums." Of all the things I do in a day -- as a mostly stay-at-home-mom -- Joey seems to think vacuuming sums me up. I think this justifies the purchase of a new vacuum cleaner.

There's a pink vacuum cleaner on the market, and I think it's just what I need. Made by Oreck Corporation -- a company that intends to offer the finest products for a cleaner, healthier home -- this vacuum also benefits the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation by donating $50 for each consumer who tries for 30 days this special edition Clean for the Cure product. This hypo-allergenic vacuum weighs just eight pounds and comes with an eight-year guarantee and eight free annual tune-ups. And you can't beat the pink color and pink breast cancer ribbon displayed prominently on this product that can tidy up the messiest of messes while helping to power the fight against breast cancer. I'm sold.

It's a local story not likely to get worldwide coverage. If you don't live in the Cheshire Oaks area where the Blue Planet Aquarium is located, you will not be able to participate or watch others do it. But the Rosemere Cancer Foundation is hosting a shark dive to raise money for services provided to cancer patients at the Royal Preston Hospital -- and frankly I am impressed at the ingenuity in the ways people find to raise money for cancer charity.

"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to go eyeball to eyeball with a 10 foot sand tiger shark, but it's his 250 teeth you want to keep an eye on," states Ron McAndrew, events coordinator for the Rosemere Cancer Foundation. Make a donation and you can swim with a shark. Oh mama! I'd give money not to end up swimming with the sharks. But if you lived in the area, and interested in helping donate to a good cause, would you dive at the chance to swim with a shark? Are you thinking about it? You have to admit, of all the cancer fundraisers we have talked about, this is one of the more fascinating ones.