Raising Money for Breast Cancer Research with Lynn Sage Foundation

my grandmother! Elaine Catherine Hartline

While this isn't exactly my story to tell, it's a story that has greatly impacted the core of my family and shaped the foundation my future before I was even born.

My Dad remembers being 17 and overhearing his mom telling a friend how she felt a lump, but didn't do anything about it for awhile. They simply did not know then what we know now about breast cancer. She ended up getting a full mastectomy, and doctors told her if she made it 5 years cancer free she would be in the clear.

It was only a couple months short of 5 years of being breast cancer free that the cancer came back aggressively. She was in and out of the hospital, and happened to be home when my Dad found her. He carried her down 3 flights of stairs and put her in the car (a Chevy) to take her to the hospital. She never came home. And to this day my Dad will never buy another Chevy.

My grandmother (who I was loving named after) died of breast cancer when she was 47 years old. She left behind 7 children, ranging from the ages of 7 to 27. My Dad was 22. He stepped up to take care of his younger brother and sisters to ensure they all stayed together.

I'm writing this email as I'm literally talking to my Dad to make sure I'm getting all the info correct. 50 years later he still gets choked up sharing the part of carrying his “ma” down the stairs. And I can't help but cry too because I can't imagine the feeling of having to replay that moment in your head for the rest of your life… not to imagine the immense pressure he must of felt as a young man with the weight of the world on his shoulders trying to keep his family together & afloat. At 22 I could barely take care of myself, let alone an entire mourning family.

I NEVER HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET MY GRANDMOTHER, BUT SHE HOLDS A GIANT LEGACY ON MY ENTIRE FAMILY.

So why the hell am I telling you this story??

October… Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Unfortunately breast cancer haunts women (and their families) all year round, not just in October. And I know we ALL have a story of how breast cancer has impacted our lives in some way.

When I came back from UPP (Ultimate Product Party) I felt like a deep desire to have Kitty Meow stand for something more. Something that made a bigger impact. Some more than just inspirational quotes and stylish typography. I've been searching for a cause that I could give back to that made sense. Something I could really get behind. I reached out to local Chicagoland companies that empowered young women entrepreneurs (and one I really loved didn't even reply back to me even though I sent THREE emails telling them I wanted to give them money!), but nothing clicked. It was the universe telling me these just weren't the one.

But I found the one…

Chicago's LYNN SAGE BREAST CANCER FOUNDATION

I was signed up to run the Chicago Marathon for this foundation when it was cancelled in 2020 due to Covid. One of my very FIRST Kitty Meow customers, turned dear friend, sits on the Board of the Lynn Sage Foundation. It just all makes sense.

So to wrap up this very long email, I made a $1,000 donation to the Lynn Sage Foundation and now I would love YOUR HELP in donating more. 10% of all Kitty Meow product sales in the month of October will be donated back to the Lynn Sage Breast Cancer Foundation. This includes wholesale orders as well! And if this proves to be a good fit then I'll continue to partner up with Lynn Sage well after October.

From the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU for supporting Kitty Meow. It truly means the world! It's a tiny stride in the direction of making a difference, but if we all continue to focus on tiny, positive strides it will have a GIANT impact on the greater good of the entire world.

If you’re ready to create a confident, personality filled brand while building your revenue through wholesale & memorable client experience, then click here and let's work together to grow your product based business in ways you never imagined!

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