Lee National Denim Day October 3, 2014

Hello ladies! I want to talk to you all today about something that is so very important. I always try to do my part to make people more aware of Breast Cancer and how it has touched the lives of so many women and their families and I was extra excited when I was asked to help spread the word about Lee National Denim Day.

I know when I was working in an office job I always looked forward to casual Friday and my jeans! You can take October 3rd and casual Friday to a whole new level by taking part in something that will positively affect the lives of women and their families while they face breast cancer.

Lee National Denim Day 2014 kicks off National Breast Cancer Awareness Month on Friday, October 3. To Join the movement is very easy, you wear your jeans in exchange for $5 to help the American Cancer Society finish the fight against breast cancer. The American Cancer Society, the largest voluntary nonprofit health organization in the United States, which is passionately committed to finishing the fight against breast cancer and creating a world with more birthdays, is the program’s beneficiary.

Lee National Denim Day started in 1996 and its participants have raised more than $91 million for the fight against breast cancer. While that is totally awesome they can, with your help, add millions to that total in 2014. Join Lee National Denim Day by creating a team and donating $5, or more, at denimday.com. Thank you for your support!

The overall goal is ending breast cancer, but they also focus on helping  those living with breast cancer by making everyday life better for those with the disease, with things ranging from research, to treatments, to programs such as lodging for patients and caregivers. Isn't it fantastic to know that your Denim Day teams help women rise above breast cancer?

While I have your attention I want to introduce you to the Lee Denim Day Ambassadors Catherine Alpin, Beth Borden-Goodman and Laura Renegar. These three courageous and powerful women have all survived different forms of breast cancer.

Catherine Aplin’s survival story is unlike any other. At only 19 years old, she discovered a lump in her breast but was told by her doctor not to worry. Two years, and a second opinion later, it was discovered that at the young age of 21 and a senior in college, Catherine was diagnosed with the BRCA 2 gene and stage III ductal carcinoma. She was the first person in her family to have breast cancer. After the initial shock and disbelief, she went straight into survivor mode and started her fight against the disease. And although her body took a beating during the aggressive treatment, she put up a strong front and laughed through the pain with the support of her family and soon-to-be husband. She defeated cancer with a smile and against all odds became pregnant while participating in endocrine therapy. Her beautiful daughter was born healthy, and her family has been involved in spreading breast cancer awareness ever since.

Most know her as Beth Borden-Goodman; others know her as "The Pink Diva" or "sPrINKles." She came about these names after a decision to celebrate her faith-fight method of tackling breast cancer when she was diagnosed with in 2007. Rather than letting this disease hold her back, she embraced its destruction—dressing up for chemotherapy treatments and healing with humor while constantly sprinkling cheer to everyone around her. She became The Pink Diva, and Sprinkles was a term of endearment that encapsulated her joy, happiness and encouragement. As a cancer-free woman, she infectiously celebrates life every day by "surviving out loud" and continuing to sPrINKle. She inspires others by spreading awareness through motivational speaking opportunities in some shade of pink.

Laura Renegar, a mother and soon-to-be grandmother from Charlotte, North Carolina, first discovered a lump in her breast on Valentine’s Day, 2011 and was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer and tested positive for the BRCA 2 gene mutation. Having a mother who suffered silently through her fight with breast cancer 26 years before, Laura promised herself to be open and honest, no matter how raw the details were, in the hopes of helping even one other woman with her story. With the support of her family, friends and survivors involved with the American Cancer Society®, Laura beat the disease and started looking at the world differently. “I am grateful that I have had the opportunity to stop and realize what is important in my life… to truly learn how precious life is.” Laura continues to be extremely involved in the fight against breast cancer, supporting countless women and rallying individuals to join the movement.

When I was looking for something to wear on Denim Day I was immediately drawn to the new Curvy Fit jeans. The first reason was because Jackie had been raving about how nice hers fit and the second was because I have ALL of the issues the Curvy Fit line addresses! The New Curvy Fit is different to most jeans because they have a waistband that has a little stretch, which means no gaps and lots of comfort.

Even more than that I love the tilted rise. The front is a midrise and the back swoops up to add to give better fuller coverage. The leg construction allows for more room in the back, which extends through the hips, seat and thigh. What that means to you and me is you have room to breathe but your jeans fit like a glove in all the right places. These really are designed to flatter, even a curvy woman like me who has an odd issue with a nice round belly and stick legs!

While I love the functional changes the subtle details did not go unnoticed. If you love classic looks you will appreciate the back pocket “S curve that dates back to the 1940s. Plus the inside pockets give little boosts of confidence as a reminder of the gifts you offer the world.

Pair these awesome jeans (any jeans from Lee are awesome) with your favorite pink 'support the cause' top and you are ready for Denim Day. I always found a nice button up looks extra special for work and then you can dress it as up or down as your office needs are with scarfs and jewelry. I personally love pearls with denim! While I do favor classic, even faded denim, for a more dressy office dark jeans are a must. Clean, dark denim says classic and sophisticated. I always have at least one dark blue and one black pair on hand as well.

No matter how you decide to style your jeans, I do hope you will head over and sign up your team today! Here are a few more facts that can help you spread the word about just how important this cause is. Join me and Lee Jeans in making a difference.

Additional Breast Cancer Statistics:
• Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in women (excluding skin cancer)
and second only to lung cancer as a cause of cancer death in women.
• Mammography can identify breast cancer at an early stage, usually before physical symptoms develop, when the disease is most treatable. Yearly mammograms are recommended starting at age 40 and continuing for as long as a woman is in good health.
• One in eight women will develop breast cancer during her lifetime. The American Cancer Society urges all women to get a mammogram every year starting at age 40. Mammograms
are simple tests that take just a few minutes – just a few minutes that could save your life.
• This year, an estimated 232,670 women will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer.
• In 2014, about 40,000 women will die of breast cancer.
• There are currently more than 3.1 million breast cancer survivors in the United States.

Disclosure: Lee Provided me with the information needed to make this post as well as a pair a of the new Curvy Fir Jeans in order to facilitate this post. All opinions are my own and I truly support this important cause.