April 26, 2012

White Dog and I looked at each other in amazement. In just a week we will write and post our 2500th post. You have watched my little White Dog and I grow and become a White Dog Army and to gather enough courage to raise our voices (and paws) at a monster who continues too claim too many of our loved ones--those whom we have wrapped in our arms...and those of you who are family of our hearts.

It has been through your support and encouragement that we have become brave enough to join the warriors against cancer (no caps for this killer; it does not deserve that kind of respect). Last year, you helped the White Dog Army raise nearly $500 for our first Puppy Up New Mexico Walk to End Cancer and that money added to the contributions of thousands of others across the country allowed 2MillionDogs to underwrite original research at Princeton University to study mammary tumors in dogs at a genome level. The hope is that since there are such similarities in terms of risk and biology between the cancer in both dogs and humans, that progress will be made in the fight for both pups and women.

The White Dog Army has set a goal of raising $1000.00 this year, independently of the Walk to End Cancer, to specifically add to the initial phase funding of the Princeton study. My beloved godmother died from breast cancer and it is the best way we can think of to honor her. So this summer we have planned a yard sale, a used book fair, a pup and me picnic. Michael has volunteered earnings from walking neighborhood dogs. Toward reaching our goal, our friend and fellow blogger, Daisy, modeled and helped me design a special limited edition t-shirt (that's Daisy in the pink boxing gloves).

All of the profits will go for the 2MillionDogs Princeton Mammary Tumor Study. The shirt pulls no punches but we think it stylishly delivers a call to action in beating breast cancer. We know times are tough and there are LOTS of deserving causes in our community...but the blogworld always seems to be united in its hatred of the c monster.

At the sake of begging, we ask a special gift for our 2500th post (in eight days).  White Dog, The Other White Dog, Another White Dog, Still Another White Dog, and Yet Another White Dog are pleading that you buy and wear our battle gear. If just 25 friends purchase one of our tshirts we will be a quarter of the way toward our goal. The $25 price (which comes with free shipping), sends $10 to further our knowledge of breast cancer. E-mail me at sehismith@aol.com for purchasing information. Thanks.

oh, and White Dog says, the TWO Puppy up New Mexico Walks to End Cancer are September 30 (the Celebration of Hope) and November 4 (In Solidarity with Walks All Over the Country at the Beginning of canine Cancer Awareness Week). We promise to make you all proud!