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In This Issue
A Story of Support
Angels Abound at BB!
A Calendar to Live By 2015
No Gym Required
Amazon Smile
Calendar Model of the Month

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Calendar This! 

BB! Signature Events

 

Annual "Breast" Ball Golf Tournament

April 17, 2015

Williamsburg, Va

 

Join Us For the Fun!

How to Reach Us

757-645-2649

 

BB! Headquarters

1311 Jamestown Road #202

Williamsburg, VA 23185

 

checkthemout@beyondboobs.org

 

 

Did you know that Beyond Boobs! now has 12 Not-Your-Typical Support Systems in four states?

Check 'em out!

 

Support Gatherings

For More Information on Days/Times, Contact:

 

VIRGINIA SUPPORT GROUPS 

 

MIDDLE PENINSULA 

-(Gloucester, Mathews, Middlesex Area) 

4th Tuesday of month at 6:30 

Holly Siegle

(c) 540-818-3139

NORFOLK - (Portsmouth, Virginia Beach, Hampton) -
Starting January 5th - on the 1st Wednesday of the Month at 6:30 p.m.
Michele Yepez
(c) 757-289-2177
michele-y@beyondboobs.org 
  

PENINSULA - (Yorktown, Newport News, Hampton)2nd Thursday of month at 6:30 p.m.

 

Martha Bennis

(c) 757-369-9851

marth@beyondboobs.org 

  

RICHMOND
2nd Thursday of month at 7:00 p.m.
Melissa Powell
(c) 804-363-4334
SUFFOLK - (Suffolk, Franklin, Smithfield)
3rd Monday of month at 6:30 pm

Kelly Black

(c) 757-358-2999

kelly-b@beyondboobs.org 


 

COVENTRY SUBDIVISION-

4th Tuesday of month at 6:30 p.m.

Shani  Twyman

757.285.6968

shani@beyondboobs.org 

 

 

TRI-CITIES - (Hopewell, Petersburg, Colonial Heights) 4th Wednesday of month at 6:30 

 

Raymon Bessix
(c) 757.729.1138
raymon@beyondboobs.org 
  

 

WILLIAMSBURG

3rd Wednesday of month at 6:30 p.m.
Elaine Whiteley
(c) 757-532-1957

elaine_w@beyondboobs.org 

 

BEYOND 'STATIC (Serving young women with metastatic cancer) Meets in Newport News

3rd Monday of month at 6:30

Susan Kinkoph 

(c) 757-810-6031

susan_k@beyondboobs.org 

 

  

NORTH CAROLINA SUPPORT GROUPS

CURRITUCK, NC - (Moyock, NC - Chesapeake, VA) 1st Thursday of month at 6:30 

 

Susie Rash
(c) 757-647-4866

susie@beyondboobs.org 

 

SOUTH CAROLINA SUPPORT GROUPS

SUMMERVILLE, SC 

1st Thursday of month at 6:30
Fran Hanebrink
(c) 843-771-3348
 


FLORIDA SUPPORT GROUPS
MELBOURNE, FL -
1st Thursday of the Month
Shelly Gardner
(c) 636-485-1082

Amazon Smile

During the Holiday season and every day after you can continue to support BB! when you shop at www.smile.amazon.com, Beyond Boobs! receives a small percentage of the sale. 
Every item. Every day. At no cost to you. 
All you have to do is log on to Amazon via www.smile.amazon.com and enter "Beyond Boobs!" as your charity of choice. Every time you log on, Beyond Boobs! will automatically pop up, so it's easy peasy!
Click on this link: http://ow.ly/D7Iwq
 

Social Media

Like us on Facebook 
For local notifications on Facebook, you can now LIKE your regional pages too, such as Beyond Boobs! Williamsburg and Beyond Boobs! Southside
 
TELL ALL YOUR FRIENDS TO LIKE US TOO! 
 
Follow us on Twitter 

Beyond Boobs! is dedicated  to healing and saving lives by supporting young women diagnosed with breast cancer while providing breast health education for all.

 

See how we are living life with an exclamation point by watching our newest video courtesy of INC Films.

 

 

 

Click on the picture above to watch now!

 

Join Our Mailing List
     December 2014 Newsletter 
Dear Friends of BB!
During the hustle and bustle of the holidays, there are still many who view this season as a time to remember those who are not with us and to support those who are still in our lives. At Beyond Boobs!, we know that supporting others is key to overall health and that life itself is the most precious gift. What better time than now to tell a story of support from our BLOG series 'Beyond The Boobers!' where not just any husband talks about his journey with the love of his life and our co-founder, Mary Beth Gibson.  Enjoy this story of support, and when you are done, read  more from this BLOG series by Jamie McAllister.  We wish you the very best this season and extend big Boober! hugs to your family from our family!

Vicki Vawter, Event and Marketing, Beyond Boobs! Inc.


More than Words: Husband's Support Speaks Volumes 
By: Jamie McAllister

Bo Gibson admits he is a man of few words. Yet he doesn't need to say much to convey his deep love and affection for his wife, Beyond Boobs! co-founder Mary Beth Gibson. His tender tone when he describes the moment he first saw her says it all for him. "I took one look at her dark hair and fair complexion and I fell in love," Bo said. He even remembers what she was wearing that day - a long dress with little flowers on it. "That dress is still hanging up in our closet after all these years," he said.  Bo and a buddy were doing landscaping work in Richmond when the woman in the house next door came over to ask them if they would remove a shrub from under her deck. The two agreed and after the task was complete Bo knew he couldn't just walk away. "When I see something I want I go for it," he said. "I knew that I might never have the chance to speak with her again, so I asked her out right then and there."

Bo and Mary Beth had their first date at a restaurant called Mulligan's. The man of few words suddenly found himself talking with Mary Beth for hours. That night they ignited a spark that flared during the good times - 16 years of marriage and three sons, and lit their way through the bad times - a breast cancer diagnosis and a double mastectomy. Bo was terrified when Mary Beth was diagnosed with breast cancer. She had encountered the disease before when her grandmother and mother were diagnosed, but for Bo it was his first time helping a loved one face the disease. "Whenever I had been confronted with a problem in life before I always fought it head on," Bo said. "With my wife's cancer diagnosis I felt vulnerable, like everything was out of my control."

Even though Bo struggled with putting his emotions into words, he vowed to be there for Mary Beth in any way he could. He went to every chemo appointment with her and the two would watch funny movies to help boost her spirits and keep her focused on recovery. "I wanted to be there for her during her treatment," Bo said. "The physical stuff didn't bother me at all." When Mary Beth chose to have a double mastectomy, he was by her side. She did not elect to have reconstruction surgery, but her scars could never alter Bo's opinion of the beautiful woman he fell in love with. "I didn't marry her for her boobs," he said. "When she had her surgeries that was the last thing on my mind."

The couple's direction in life took another turn when Mary Beth started Beyond Boobs! in 2006. She wanted to provide support for young breast cancer survivors and promote breast health information for all and Bo supported her completely. "I thought Beyond Boobs! was a cool idea," he said. "She enjoyed being with other women who all had something in common." Like many couples, Bo and Mary Beth do their best to keep the spark alive while juggling work and kids. Their three sons, Cole, Clay, and Lance, keep them on their toes. "When it comes to staying connected, we're still trying to figure that out," Bo admitted with a laugh.

Bo's experiences with his wife's breast cancer reaffirmed his belief that family is the most important thing in life. "From the bottom of my heart, there is nothing I wouldn't do for my family," he said. "After everything that we have been through, my love for Mary hasn't changed. Every day is a good day for us and I can't imagine being married to anybody else."
A Calendar to Live By 2015


 Give the Gift of Inspiration & Health This Holiday!

We recently launched our eighth Beyond Boobs! calendar at the annual Pink Carpet Gala held in September.  Shades of Gray is the theme of A Calendar to Live By 2015.  Featuring beautiful images and moving stories of our survivor models, it examines the depth, texture, and beauty within the spectrum of gray created from black and white photography.  The most vital tool we have to advance our breast health education mission is our calendar, and it remains a significant source of our program funding.  Please support our efforts by purchasing a calendar for yourself and all the women in your life.  One or two are $20 each.  Order three or more for just $10 each, and if you really want to helps us spread the Boober! love and message far and wide, purchase 100 or more for only $5.00 each.  We hope this stunning calendar helps you appreciate the shades of gray that in your own life.  To see and hear the women in Shades of Gray, click here. To purchase your own copy of this unique and educational calendar, click here!
 

Holiday Exercise: No Gym Required

Courtesy of MD Anderson Cancer Center By: Laura Nathan-Garner


Forget the excuses for not exercising this holiday season. Even if you're too busy for your usual workout, you can still get the 150 minutes of weekly moderate physical activity that help you to maintain a healthy weight and lower your cancer risks. All it takes is adding some heart-pumping twists to the tasks already on your holiday to-do list. Read More here...

Angels Abound at Beyond Boobs!

Please help us with our annual Angel Appeal by making a year-end donation in memory or honor of an angel in your life, and your gift will be doubled. To read this angel story click here.


Beyond Boobs! has a host of earthly "angels" who so strongly support our mission that they very generously  have offered to match donations (up to $10,000) made to  us in the month of December.

We hope you are inspired to make your own year-end gift to Beyond Boobs! knowing that it will count twice. Your donation will enable us to GIVE HOPE to more young women and their families in more communities as they travel the difficult, isolating journey of breast cancer.  On behalf of all the women served by Beyond Boobs! now and in the future, we thank you.

 

(Please provide contact information if you wish us to notify someone of this dedication.)

December 2014 Calendar Model of the Month
Shawn
47, Diagnosed At 42
No Family History

Sales wiz and mother of a young daughter, Shawn was at her annual exam when the doctor found a small lump. Having had a clear mammogram three months earlier, Shawn was not concerned but her doctor was and pushed her to get the necessary tests that determined breast cancer. Chemotherapy, radiation, and a bilateral mastectomy were followed by several reconstructive surgeries. Her relationship and self-esteem were casualties of the cancer, but Shawn is taking steps to regain her swagger. Shawn says this image represents the fighting spirit that helped her beat breast cancer. She knows that yelling, screaming, and punching can release anger, frustration and grief by unleashing your inner warrior so you can really go kick gl(ass)! Now cancer free, Shawn says that "being with my Boober! sisters is one of the happiest, 'sunshinyest' places I hang my hat these days. They understand what it takes to fight for your life."
   Read more and hear her story too 
Calendar Sponsor of the Month
  
James F. Roark, M.D.
Carrot Coconut Soup
Courtesy of:  Mercola.com

 
Ingredients:

1 large onion, chopped
1 Tbsp. + 3 cups bone broth (vegetable broth)
2 Tbsp. fresh ginger, sliced
4 medium cloves garlic, chopped
1 tsp curry powder or turmeric
2 cups sliced carrots, about 1/4-inch thick
1 cup sweet potato, cut into about 1/2-inch cubes
5 oz. coconut milk
Salt and white pepper to taste

For Instructions, click HERE !
 
Special thanks to this year's sustaining sponsors
 


     
If you are interested in becoming a sustaining sponsor, call our office at 757.645.2649