Issue link: http://theflywire.uberflip.com/i/383650
Yes Young Women Can and Do Get Breast Cancer It's that time of year. I remind myself. Breast Cancer Awareness Month is in October. Oh yeah, I want to pro- mote Shay Sharpe's Pink Wishes annual fundraiser. This year's Black Tie Affair is scheduled for Sunday, Sep- tember 28th. Better yet, let's include a feature on Shay in our next issue of the magazine. I discussed my ideas with creative director and photographer Paul Greene. We were working with no time and a scarce glam team. It was everyone's last dash for a summer vacation. No time to waste, I reached out to Shay Sharpe, Madame President of the non-profit of her namesake, She called her glam team for an impromptu photo shoot and made it happen. Great timing, we can publicize her organization's Arabian Nights Black Tie Affair and Breast Cancer Awareness month. Shay Sharpe's Pink Wishes raises funds to grant wishes to young women, age 40 and under, who have been diagnosed with terminal breast cancer. Shay was inspired after surviving a brutal but victorious battle with breast cancer. She was only 26 years old when she was diagnosed with Stage III cancer. Since 2011, Shay has dedicated everyday to helping and teaching women and their families about living, fighting, surviving breast cancer. The day I texted her to set up an interview is the day I read online that her cancer had returned. "Last night, I received the phone call, that nobody wants," Shay shares on facebook. "The caller confirmed that cancer has returned in my left breast. Almost 10 years to the exact day of my initial breast cancer diagnosis, I embark on this journey again. I don't have any additional information and won't know any until I see my oncologist next week. In the meantime, I need all of your prayers! That's it! Nothing else! Just pray for my family, especially my mom. Pray. Then pray some more. #PrayFor- Shay Diagnosed at 26 & 36. Young women CAN and DO get breast cancer!" Please #PrayforShay. The hashtag is immediately reposted in messages from so many people sending Shay love, prayers and support. To understand the magnitude of Shay Sharpe's Pink Wishes is to peek into the heart of its founder. That's not hard to do because she reveals it everyday to the world. Shay's life is a ministry. She works tirelessly and has developed a communications outreach that is powerful, informative and inspiring. For years, she gives the nitty gritty details of her journey, she shares tips, explains medical procedures and posts statistics. As she learns she shares to the world. Madame President gives all she's got. She's seen in pictures baring the ugly scars of her full masectomy. Naked and fearless, teaching women to be brave. She's seen in pictures glamourous and sexy teaching women to be courageously beautiful. Her message that there is life after cancer. Now her battle with cancer is back. Yet she's still busy. In between doc- tor's appointments, she's organizing and promoting her big charity ball, raising money for her own treatment and helping other women and their families. In each message she writes #PrayforShay understanding fully that GOD got her through cancer before and God can get her through this again, Let's Pray for Shay. Let's do this together. To support, go to: http://shaysharpespinkwishes.org. Tickets are avail- able for Shay Sharpe's Pink Wishes' Arabian Nights Black Tie Fund- raiser. The event will be held Sunday, September 28, 2014, 6-10p at the Valley Mansion, 594 Cranbrook Rd, Cockeysville, MD 21030. SHAY SHARPE +spotlight