by Founder, Martine Reeh
 The yellow t-shirts actually started in 1999 when we were Team Metro Mart, it was a clever
way for us to find each other easily in the crowds. Of course it has grown into something
much bigger than that now. The Yellow Team is made up of men, women and children who want
to be a part of something special, making their mark in support of uninsured breast cancer
patients. The Yellow Team is a fun event, cancer is enough of a bummer, supporting a cure should be
festive and light!
Back in 1998, after Mickaela had beaten her first bout with breast cancer, we had a simple idea for a foundation that would help uninsured women pay for their breast cancer treatments and reconstruction. During her treatments, we met so many women who were in advanced stages; they had delayed diagnosis because they were uninsured. It seems clear, a decision of life or death. It's not.An uninsured person facing not only the fear of dying from a horrible disease such as cancer, but then also to leave the seemingly insurmountable financial burden on their families. Did you know that a cycle of Chemotherapy and/or radiation can cost upwards of $26,000? If a stem cell transplant is necessary to save their life, it can cost as much as $350,000? Imagine the decision of an uninsured person facing that choice.
After losing Mickaela in 2001, I decided to go forward with our idea, and create something beautiful and lasting in her honor. It has grown and evolved into something bigger. Bigger than Mickaela, bigger than me, and hopefully bigger than cancer. I have had a lot of help along the way, wonderful and dedicated people have joined the mission, and about 350 of them dressed in bright yellow and walked with us at the 2005 Race for the Cure.
Remaining 2007 Yellow Team Events:
Mickaela's March for the Uninsured
Sun. Sept 30th 8:00am
Community Park,
Louisville, CO
Komen Race for the Cure Denver
Sun. Oct 7th 9:00am
Pepsi Center, Denver, CO
The Yellow Team's Agenda:
• To get as many people walking together in our bright golden yellow t-shirts
as possible.
• To have so many people that the community will be forced to take notice and
do more to help the uninsured.
• To become such a huge part of the breast cancer community every year, that the people who need
us most, will know we're out here.
• To build a team that will span generations and become an annual event for
families and friends to look forward to.
|
