Keith Zars Pools to Host Fiesta Kickoff Fundraiser in Honor of Susan G. Komen and Team Finish Strong for Cindee
Keith Zars Pools is hosting a Fiesta Kickoff Fundraiser to support women affected by breast cancer. Keith Zars Pools is partnering with several notable San Antonians to raise money and awareness about the most prevalent cancer in the world today. Breast cancer affects more than 1.3 million women each year, and there still is no cure. But there is hope.
The Fiesta Kickoff event will be held on Wednesday, April 11, 2018 from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Keith Zars Pools’ Sales and Design Center located at 17427 San Pedro, San Antonio, TX 78232. Guests can register online for this free event here or donate to the cause.
Keith Zars Pools is turning our pools pink, and attending guests can show their support and enjoy pink margaritas and hors d’oeuvres poolside and listen to a presentation by Komen San Antonio. Breast Cancer Fiesta Medals will be on sale for $25 with all proceeds going to local San Antonio Susan G. Komen in honor of Team Finish Strong for Cindee.
Desaree LaMacchia, a Susan G. Komen San Antonio Board Member and Team Finish Strong for Cindee Team Captain, lost her mother, Cindee, almost two years ago to this disease and has kept her promise to her mother by helping other fighters, survivors and families who have been affected by breast cancer.
“Family and friends, as most of you know, we lost my Mama on April 30, 2016. One of the last things my Mama and I spoke about was helping others,” Desaree said. “So, I am keeping my promise to my Mama and decided to raise $10,000.00 personally in 2018 to help support breast cancer patients and bring awareness by doing something positive.”
Desaree has a goal to reduce the current number of breast cancer deaths in the U.S. by 50 percent within the next decade. Anyone who wants to learn more about her story or donate to her cause can visit her Susan G. Komen fundraiser page.
Keith Zars Pools is dedicated to helping make a positive impact on the lives of those around us. In honor of Susan G. Komen and Team Finish Strong for Cindee, we look forward to seeing everyone who attends our Fiesta Kickoff fundraising event and hope to inspire, educate and raise money and awareness. Come join us on April 11th for delicious food and drinks and the opportunity to gather with people and hear inspiring and powerful stories.
For questions or additional information on this event, please visit our website at www.keithzarspools.com or call us at 210-494-0800.
“You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, ‘I lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.’ You must do the thing you think you cannot do.”
– Eleanor Roosevelt
Eight Warning Signs of Breast Cancer
Did you know this year in the United States a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer every two seconds? According to www.komensanantonio.org, there are eight warning signs of breast cancer:
1. Lump, hard knot or thickening inside the breast tissue
2. Swelling, warmth, redness or darkening of the breast
3. Change in the size or shape of the breast
4. Dimpling or puckering of the skin
5. Itchy, scaly sore or rash on the nipple
6. Pulling in of your nipple or other parts of the breast
7. Nipple discharge that starts suddenly
8. New pain in one spot that does not go away
Although this can be frightening to think about, it is important to understand the warning signs and understand your body. Even though breast cancer is a disease with no cure, there are many survivors and there is always hope. Due to raised awareness, early detection through screening, improved treatment methods and increased access to breast health services, people have a greater chance of survival than ever before, according to Susan G. Komen San Antonio.
Survivor Stories
There are many true stories that can provide hope, comfort, inspiration and support to those in need. For survivor stories, visit the official Susan G. Komen website.
Here is a glimpse into the survivor stories from the website and into the world of some our beautiful survivors and their moving stories:
Ashley Johnston – Survivor
“After I started to lose my hair and it started to come out in clumps, I knew it was time to take control and shave it. My aunt who is a hairdresser came over and did it and ya know what? I didn’t cry. Just like the decision for the mastectomy, I felt in control of the situation and it almost felt like I was giving cancer the middle finger! I remember putting a bandana on my head and waited for my boyfriend to come over and visit shortly after and I was so nervous. I know there was no reason to be nervous because he’s been there since day one. He went with me to doctors’ appointments, scans, surgeries, and now chemo sessions. He truly is my soul mate. Anyway, he texted me he was at my house. I remember opening the door, and there he was, standing there smiling with a shaved head. He looked at me and said, “Now we both have cool new haircuts.” He asked me to take my bandana off and when I did he kissed my forehead and told me that I never looked prettier.”
Beth Carlock – Co-Survivor of Twin Sister
“I remember the day so clearly, I remember my sister Kristen calling me as Sarah didn’t have the strength or courage to call me herself knowing how hard I was going to take the dreaded news. I remember falling to the ground, numb, with tears streaming down my face. All I could keep thinking was, “Why God? Why Sarah?” I was devastated and angry, but most of all I was really scared and I lost a lot of faith in God that day. I just couldn’t understand why he would pick my sister to have to go through something like this. She was so young and she had 2 little girls at home. When I saw Sarah for the first time after her diagnosis she said to me, “I know that I was the one to get cancer and not you because God knew that I would be strong enough to beat it”.
Corean Foley – Survivor
“MY TRUTH… I used to think a “Breast cancer survivor” was a woman who had breast cancer and did not die from it. Boy was I wrong! “Survivor” doesn’t give justice to what it is we really overcome. It’s more than just “not dying.” It’s about surviving the mental abuse that cancer will put you through everyday, it’s about surviving the emotional abuse that cancer will make sure you endure day in and day out, it’s about surviving while everything you know about yourself is no longer there and you have to figure out who the new you is, it’s about surviving through every surgery that is slowly taking away bits and pieces of your body, some having their breast removed, ovaries removed and put on hormone therapy to stop the estrogen in which fuels their cancer, leaving them with the question, “If you take all of that, what says I’m a woman?”
Being a survivor is the moment we are handed the pen in which our oncologist gives us and we place our signature before we are given chemotherapy saying that we understand that chemo will kill some of us. For me, being a breast cancer survivor may not have anything to do with whether I survive or not but more about because of the fight in which I’m fighting today hopefully gives my children and your children a chance to never have to try and survive through breast cancer because we already fought the fight for them.”
Comeshia Williams – Survivor
“Cancer taught me so much. I know now that I am strong and a fighter. I learned the importance of listening to my body and focusing on what’s really important in life. Since being diagnosed, a double mastectomy, and chemotherapy, I have become a Reach to Recovery mentor so that I could help other women who are faced with breast cancer. I had cancer. Cancer NEVER had me!”