Kelly Jo Dowd, mom of 14-year-old golf sensation Dakoda Dowd, died of breast cancer in her Palm Harbor, Fla. home Thursday night. She was 42.

Dowd spent years battling the disease that had spread to her bones, liver, and brain. She also spent years waiting to see her young daughter play in an LPGA event. Her wish came true last spring.

"I'm prouder today than I was yesterday that my daughter has the courage and strength to play with these LPGA professionals," Dowd said after the Ginn Clubs & Resorts LPGA tournament. "And I feel great right now. I feel great. My dream came true out here."

Sue Padulo has always been crazy about hockey, but when she had to quit her favourite sport at 26 to undergo intense treatment for her Hodgkin's Disease, she vowed to get back on the ice. But she did more than that ... she started up Puck Cancer, a cleverly-named organization that raises money for cancer and families affected by it through tournaments, the sale of mechandise and more. The women participating in the tournament are pitted against each other, but yet united in their ultimate goal -- shutting out cancer.

Two Puck Cancer tournaments have been held so far, with another one coming up in early August. To find out more about supporting the cause, visit the Puck Cancer website. And, as the ladies at Puck Cancer say, thanks for giving a puck.

Toby Keith has been touched by childhood cancer. One of his original band mates lost his daughter Allison in August of 2003 to a form of kidney cancer called Wilm's tumor.

The country singer is sponsoring the fourth annual charity golf tournament that will once again benefit the families of children fighting cancer. The event will begin with an auction and party in downtown Oklahoma City on April 27, and continue with the golf tournament the following morning.

The proceeds will benefit Ally's house, which Keith helped establish in memory of his friend's daughter. The charity helps pay for medical bills, prescriptions, housing, transportation, toys, food, clothing and other expenses for families that have children with cancer.

Some of the items to be auctioned off are:

• Trip to see Keith in concert in Las Vegas
• Memorabilia from Garth Brooks, Sammy Hagar and Bob Seger
• Sports memorabilia autographed by Tiger Woods and baseball Hall of Famer Mickey Mantle

Toby Keith comments about Ally's House -- "This is a special charity to me. I saw firsthand how a child's cancer diagnosis can devastate a family. Please join me in supporting these kids through Ally's House."

Ever since Kay Yow returned from a 16-game leave of absence for cancer treatment, her North Carolina State women's basketball team has won 12 of their last 14 games. And now the Wolfpack is headed for the Sweet 16 -- after beating Baylor in overtime -- where the fourth-seeded team will play Connecticut on March 24 in Fresno.

This will be the first trip to the NCAA tournament in 16 years for Hall of Fame coach Yow who is battling breast cancer for the third time. First diagnosed with the disease in 1987, Yow had a recurrence during the 2004-05 season. And now this season too.

Yow, still enduring treatment and still working hard on the court, credits her team for their sweet victory.

"I know they want to win for me in that sense," she says. "I really am grateful and appreciate the fact that they do, but I think they're a real team. I think they can play with that kind of spirit every time they go out."

To read previous posts about coach Kay Yow, click here.

Right now, its World Poker Tour's Ladies Night IV at The Bicycle Casino, where ten percent of participants buy-ins will be donated to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, in addition to a large donation from the World Poker Tour.

On August 31, the winner of this ladies-only event will play against defending champion Jennifer Tilly, Vanessa Rousso, Erica Schoenberg, Anahit Galajian and JJ Liu. This tournament will air on television October 28 during Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

During this weekend's events, World Poker Tour co-founder Robin Moder, and celebrity poker player Sarah Rue, WPT Ladies Night III defending champion Jennifer Tilly, Camryn Manheim, Victoria Pratt and Poker-Babes.com's Shirley Rosario, who is currently fighting breast cancer, will be on the pink carpet to meet with people who attend the event.

As part of this event, the World Poker Tour is Going All-In for the Cure and hosting an online auction of items and experiences with well-known faces of the Travel Channel and World Poker Tour. You are invited to view the lots and make a bid here. In addition, they provide a way to donate online to benefit the Komen Foundation. The auction runs to September 6.

Pink Strokes is dedicated to making a difference today for the daughters of tomorrow.

I met Allison Roberts at one of the Young Survival Coalition conferences. I learned of her website called Pink Strokes. Pink Strokes is a non-profit organization that seeks to raise awareness and assist in providing information and support to young women diagnosed with breast cancer.

Allison was diagnosed with breast cancer in December 2002 at 32 years old. She was delayed diagnoses and was told that she had lumpy breast tissue, that she was too young and that cancer didn't hurt. Allison had been having pain in her breast and eventually noticed a lump under her armpit. She did as I did and trusted her doctors when they said it was nothing to worry about.

Allison was diagnosed with a 3cm tumor in the breast and positive lymph nodes. She needed chemotherapy and radiation for her aggressive cancer.

Allison says "It really became obvious to me that I wanted to do more when my husband signed up to walk in The Weekend to End Breast Cancer, a 60 km. walk through Toronto streets". That next year Allison walked herself with a team called Ali's Alliance of Angels and raised over twelve thousand dollars.

Together they organized their first golf tournament to raise money for the walk called Pink Strokes.

Allison's son Tyler asked his mom, "Mommy is breast cancer over yet"? Allison told him "Someday breast cancer will be over"!

Here is a charming way to spend a summer afternoon. As part of Wyevale Garden Centres commitment to raising money for Breast Cancer Care, the garden center will be hosting the Strawberry Tea Fortnight. The tea is timed to take place during the Wimbledon tennis tournament. If you live in Britain, and would like to attend or host a Strawberry Tea, Breast Cancer Care will provide you with a packet of information containing recipes, fundraising tips, stickers and more to make your tea a success.

But what if you live half-way around the world and think an afternoon tea shared with friends, family, co-workers or classmates to raise money for breast cancer is a very lovely idea? The Breast Cancer Care offers some ideas to help you get started planning a Strawberry Tea of your own.

• Plan an afternoon tea party with strawberry cakes and tea.
• Get together after work to enjoy strawberries and cream and a glass of champagne.
• Throw a Wimbledon-themed party in the garden for your friends and family.
• Get your friends together for a picnic and fun tennis tournament.
  

Not into tennis but love tea? Create a theme of your own built around an event that is normally celebrated by family, friends and co-workers. In the United States, tea time is not a mainstream activity, but I think we could all use a little more time to stop and enjoy the company of the people in our lives -- and an afternoon tea seems a splendid way to do it.