Sat Sri Akal / Namaste / Hello / Bonjour,

I, an Indo-Canadian of the Sikh faith, a true Canadian Desi am participating in a 60 km walk, to be held August 25-27, 2006, here in Montreal, called the "Weeke-end to End Breast Cancer". I'm currently in training, walking and exercising to get into top shape. I am willing to do this to support breast cancer research at the Segal Cancer Centre at the Jewish General Hospital.

I have formed a team called "Enhancing Lives" with a good family friend/aunt, Kulwant Jutla. I would like to highlight how Indians are contributing to Canadian society and encourage your readers to join, volunteer and make a donation.

I am writing to you for 2 reasons:
Firstly, to discuss having an article published about breast cancer and this walk in your newspaper. Cancer is a topic that our community rarely discusses, it's almost "taboo", but, so many South Asians can get this disease. I'd like to discuss awareness and education about this issue. By keeping this disease hidden, we are hurting ourselves as we live in fear and shame. I believe that this is a very important social, cultural, health-related issue that needs to be addressed in our community. I'd be happy to collaborate with a reporter and provide any background material that would be needed for the article.

1 in 9 Canadian women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year, irrespective of race or religion. That's more than 21,000 women, of which over 5,000 will not survive. For 16,000 men and women, there is hope. Let's fight together to give those remaining 5,000 a chance.

Secondly, as a participant, my personal goal is to raise $5,000. I'd like to ask Canadian Desi to make a corporate contribution. It can be done using either of these 2 ways:
(1) Online with Visa or MasterCard (visit the endcancer.ca website, choose sponsor a participant, enter my name, MAHAL, and click to go to my page)
(2) Send a cheque by downloading and printing a donation form (make sure my name MAHAL and my ID# 401577-8 are on the form)

Please support your fellow Indians.... Please consider publishing an article about what Kulwant auntyji and I are doing and please consider making a donation. We want to do our part in eradicating this terrible and vicious disease.

God Bless You All,
Paramjit Kaur Sidhu-Mahal (aka Pam Mahal), team "Enhancing Lives"

Click here to visit my personal page.
If the text above does not appear as a clickable link, you can visit the web address:
http://www.endcancer.ca/site/TR?px=1097940&pg=personal&fr_id=1101&fl=en_US&et=xNkuAi2egEYm0SGz8D6LbA..&s_tafId=1526

Click here to view the team page for "Enhancing Lives" Team
If the text above does not appear as a clickable link, you can visit the web address:
http://www.endcancer.ca/site/TR?team_id=15880&pg=team&fr_id=1101&fl=en_US&et=4-qupKZVV5itZApQAOxi1Q..&s_tafId=1526