Chairman's Letter

Gillespie Fund for Life Champions the Cause of Uterine Cancer

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Fundraising: SGNO Leaps for GCF at 2002 Annual Meeting

Thank You

GCF BULLETIN

Gillespie Fund for Life Champions the Cause of Uterine Cancer

GCF recently received a blessing disguised as an e-mail. Arriving via the GCF e-mail box, the message simply stated, "Why aren’t you doing more for uterine cancer?" GCF responded with the unfortunate truth—that a lack of effort was not due to a lack of interest but rather funding constraints. This time, the truth helped instead of hurt. The reply led to several meetings and conversations discussing ways that GCF and the Elizabeth Gillespie Fund for Life could work together to aggressively educate women and healthcare professionals about the early detection of uterine cancer.

Friends and family established the Fund for Life in the memory of the dynamic Elizabeth Gillespie after she lost her battle with uterine cancer. A strategic businesswoman and personal fitness devotee, Elizabeth was diagnosed in 1999 after a year of misdiagnoses and failed remedies prescribed for her menopausal problems. Sadly, she died on August 10, 2000 following two painful surgeries and months of chemotherapy.

While battling for her life, Elizabeth herself wondered if her fate would have been different had she only been diagnosed earlier. Not willing to sit back and watch other women fall victim to this illness, she charged her family to find a way to reach out to educate other women.

"Elizabeth was an outspoken advocate for women taking an active role in their lives and their health," said Dawn Ridz, Elizabeth's niece and Executive Director of the Fund for Life. "Established in tribute to her, the Fund for Life hopes to significantly increase uterine cancer awareness and early detection through education and advocacy."

Collaborative efforts are already underway. In April, the San Francisco Bay Area chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) honored Elizabeth during its annual fundraising event. Dr. Lisa Sandles attended the fundraiser and distributed GCF literature to increase awareness of the Foundation’s efforts. It was the first of what the Fund for Life and GCF expect to be many future public education, awareness and fundraising efforts.

Shortly, GCF and the Fund for Life will launch the Fund for Life’s Web page as part of the GCF Web site. In addition, the Fund for Life will participate in the Allied Support Groups and looks forward to the benefits of the synergy and strength of this collaborative group. The Fund for Life is excited about its partnership with GCF and the opportunity to make a difference in women’s lives.

Watch for more information and future plans on the Fund for Life’s Web page.

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