Miss Garden Grove 2011: "Going Pink" at Farmers and Merchants Bank

What a day! Because the "Race for the Cure" is coming up in a week, the GG branch of Farmers and Merchants Bank hosted a beautiful event to raise funds for their cause against breast cancer. As you can see from the flyer below, GG citizens were invited along with Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez and myself. It was such an honor to be able to attend and witness the passion that so many people have against breast cancer.

Back: Trinka Rowsell, Bree Morse (1st Runner-up), Myself, Sandy Thomas, Aimee Le (3rd Runner-up), and Robyn Williams

The GG Farmers and Merchants Bank will be participating in the "Race for the Cure" on Sept. 26th their mission today was to raise funds for the fight against this horrible disease. As you can see in the video below, F&M Bank will be donating $125 for every new Pink Checking account opened! On average, a mammogram costs $125, so F&M wants to be able to pay for every uninsured woman to get checked early!

Here is the breast cancer awareness promo:

F&M Garden Grove Branch Manager Sandy Thomas shared the touching story of her childhood friend who is currently battling breast cancer. She explained that this friend is the major inspiration for the passion she has for this cause. Miss Loretta Sanchez and I were able to speak as well about the importance of getting regular check ups in order to increase the survival rate of this deadly cancer.

With Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez

F&M partnered up with the YWCA branch in Garden Grove. They are so proud to advocate breast cancer awareness!

Bree, Aimee, and me :)

Why is breast cancer such an important disease to fight? Here are some unfortunate but important facts to know:
• 1 out of every 8 women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime.
• Every 68 seconds someone dies from breast cancer.
• Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women.
• Without a cure in the next 25 years, an estimated 10 million will die from breast cancer.
• Breast cancer is a random and deadly disease. With respect to age, race, religion, socioeconomic status, breast cancer knows no boundaries.
But there is HOPE: If detected in the early stages, the survival rate is more than 98% -- that is why early detection is your best protection.
• Breast cancer survivors are the largest group of cancer survivors living in the United States!

Attending events like this remind me over and over how lucky I am to be a part of Garden Grove! I see so much passion involved in community service and compassion to others. I learned an important lesson in relation to the parable of the "Good Samaritan". Robyn shared a beautiful quote for all of us to remember:

"We shouldn't think of the kind of person if we would be if we helped someone; we should think of the kind of person we would be if we DIDN'T help someone."