OTTUMWA, IOWA -- As many know, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Most Americans know someone with the disease or knows someone who has conquered it.
Julie Engle of Ottumwa had breast cancer and is asking the public for help to raise money for those who have walked in the same shoes she has.
"I guess I always say, nobody is 100% cancer free; but all my check-ups are good and I am just about off my medicine that I have to be on for five years. This next year's race will mark my five year anniversary. Right now I am doing a fundraiser, it is called Nickels for Knockers. It is a 5 cent redeemable can/bottle drive. All the proceeds will go towards gifts for the survivors. I do a survivor luncheon every year a week before the race, and between those survivors and the survivors at the luncheon, I think they need to be honored and given special little gifts. So, I am going to help supplement the gifts with this. Also, the rest of the proceeds will go towards Susan G. Komen, and stay right here in the area. I just want to make the community feel like they can be apart of something, and times are tough right now. Not everybody has a lot of money to give, but you would be amazed that a bag of cans, that 5 cents here and there, how much that would help. I just think of having October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month helps bring a lot of light to it; and men and women alike do get breast cancer, so early detection, education and just the knowledge of thinking you know it can happen to you. It happen to me," said Engle.
If you would like to contribute to Engle's cause, her address is 1425 Silverwood Lane, Ottumwa, Iowa. You can also reach her at 641-777-5354.
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