I’ve gone pink for October, which is Breast Cancer Awareness month. I didn’t have time to create my own design, so I’ve borrowed one from the nice designers listed in my sidebar.  I wanted to pass along information about the virtual breast cancer walk taking place at https://www.galtogalwalk.org/ from October 1-31.  For $3 you can create a virtual “you” to trek cross country and raise money and awareness for breast cancer research.  Their goal is 1 million walkers; at the time of this writing they have raised $56,220.  Today we’re visiting Miami!

Here is part of the press release:

DESIGN-HER GALS™ GROUND-BREAKING VIRTUAL WALK TO RAISE FUNDS AND AWARENESS FOR STAGE IV BREAST CANCER PATIENTS

Bend, OR – The hugely successfully Design-her Gals website, designhergals.com will be making “virtual” history when they launch their interactive virtual walk to benefit the Gal to Gal Foundation, the non-profit organization dedicated to raising funds and awareness for Stage IV breast cancer patients and their families. Design-her Gals hopes to create a viral outpouring of support during October’s Breast Cancer Awareness month with a goal of registering 1 million walkers in 31 days. Pre-registration for The Gal to Gal Walk will begin September 24, with official walk dates of October 1 – October 31, 2007.

Supporters will participate in The Gal to Gal Walk by creating their virtual likeness online and then watching themselves take a virtual walk across America. The walk will commence in the Virtual World of Harvard Square in Boston, MA, and concludes on the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, visiting 29 cities along the way. The landscape walkers travel through will change on a daily basis, giving people a reason to return to see where they are walking that day. New walkers will be joining all the time – sharing their stories and building momentum as more people participate in this innovative fundraising effort.

This unique approach to philanthropy has attracted strategic partners such as Yoplait, Checks Unlimited, FTD.com, Lucy and Fodor’s who have pledged to mobilize their communities to join the walk. In addition, dozens of celebrity ambassadors such as Lynn Redgrave, Kristin Chenoweth, Molly Sims, Mena Suvari, Diane Farr, Leisha Hailey, Marg Helgenberger and Jorja Fox will lend their support and participate in the virtual walk.

“We are honored to have these notable individuals and companies enhance the virtual walk experience, which will join women from all walks of life. This initiative will help benefit a group of individuals who are facing the most difficult battle of their lives,” commented Jeanne Fitzmaurice, founder of Design-her Gals and Gal to Gal Foundation. Fitzmaurice was selected by Yoplait and Susan G. Komen as a 2007 Yoplait Champion. “As we strive to raise awareness and funds for Stage IV breast cancer patients and their families, our goal is to bring dignity and comfort to those who need it most.”

Visitors will register for the Gal to Gal Walk at www.galtogalwalk.org for a $3 donation. After designing their character, they will be added to the walk landscape where they can also invite their friends and family to join them. Supporters will receive a virtual goody bag with items donated by the Foundation’s strategic partners. Walkers may also purchase merchandise featuring their character on www.designhergals.com to support The Foundation.

ABOUT GAL TO GAL FOUNDATION

Gal to Gal Foundation honors the courage of those diagnosed with Stage IV, and forges a global community of caring, intelligent individuals who want to make a positive difference in the lives of others. In many cases, Gal to Gal Foundation is a voice for those who may lose the fight but whose courage can inspire us all.

Jeanne Fitzmaurice, founder of Design-her Gals, was personally affected by this disease when two women close to her lost their battle to Stage IV breast cancer. Jeanne discovered that although many wonderful organizations support breast cancer research, prevention and treatment for earlier stages, minimal dollars are dedicated to Stage IV needs. The reality is, until breast cancer is extinguished in all forms, there will be those who do not respond to the treatments that are currently available.

Gal to Gal Foundation currently dedicates its funds to Making Memories, an organization that exclusively grants wishes for Stage IV patients and their families. The Gal to Gal Walk will allow the Foundation to also sponsor a new global web site designed for those affiliated with or needing access to Stage IV resources.

Design-her Gals is spreading this compelling message through national media and celebrity attention and through the viral support of their community that has already grown to nearly 250,000. This initiative will increase awareness of those diagnosed in Stage IV breast cancer, and play a role in supporting hundreds of thousands of patients each year struggling to live out their lives with dignity.