Orlando, FL Making Memories Breast Cancer Foundation, a Portland-based organization dedicated to fulfilling wishes
for terminally ill breast cancer patients, has received over 12,000 donated wedding gowns from across the country and
around the world, for its Fifth Annual “Brides Against Breast Cancer – Nationwide Tour of Gowns.” This is the second
annual event in the Orlando area for the Making Memories Foundation. Nearly 1,500 exquisite gowns will be
shown and sold at Hyatt Regency Orlando Airport Hotel, 9300 Airport Boulevard, Orlando, Fl. 100% of the
proceeds from this two-day event, Friday, June 18, 2004 10 am to 8 pm and Saturday, June 19, 2004 from 10 am to 6 pm will
benefit the organization´s “Dream Fulfillment Fund” enabling the Foundation to grant wishes for women and men with
metastatic (terminal) breast cancer.
According to Fran Hansen, Founder and Executive Director of Making Memories, since appearing on the Oprah Winfrey
Show, the organization has received over 12,000 gown donations with an estimated resale value of over 3 million
dollars. “Over 1,500 name brand and designer gowns, donated by manufactures, bridal shops and individuals from
across the nation will be available at this event” explains Hansen. “This is a very unique opportunity for brides-to-be to
find one-of-a-kind gowns at fabulous prices and help grant a wish for a woman or man with terminal breast cancer.”
Nationally, breast cancer is the number two killer of women, but a little known fact is that breast cancer is the
NUMBER ONE killer of women between the ages of 35 and 50. The long-term effects of this latter statistic are
staggering. Small children are left without their mother and young husbands are left to cope alone. Today, it is said that
2.8 million women in America have breast cancer and those numbers are increasing. Wish requests include trips to
Disneyworld for families with young children, second honeymoons, family reunions, video cameras to leave behind
recorded messages, laptop computers to keep up on current breast cancer research and medical advances. There are
many other kinds of requests. Over 70% of all wish requests nationwide are to come to Orlando and visit Disneyworld
with their families. Over 600 family members and loved ones have had the opportunity to participate in a
wish request with a terminal loved one. Please visit www.makingmemories.org and click on “Adopt a Wish” to see
some of the wishes waiting to be granted. Individuals, local businesses and companies can adopt a wish either in part
or in its entirety.
Prices for the gowns range from $49 to $599, including hundreds of beautiful, new, designer gowns valued up to
$4,000. More than half the gowns at this sale are brand new gowns. Gowns continue to pour in daily from across the
nation. The organization´s goal is to collect a total of 15,000 gowns and raise a minimum of $4 million for the “Dream
Fulfillment Fund.”
Fran Hansen, Founder of Making Memories will be available for local interviews June 16th - 19th, 2004. Set-up for this event
will begin at 5 pm on Thursday, June 17, 2004 at the Adam´s Mark/Florida Mall Hotel. Please call 503-307-5600 to schedule
interview or send email to fran@makingmemories.org with contact information. Anna Nelson, Co-founder and Wish
Director is also available for interviews during the event. She may be reached at 503-680-3730.
Making Memories Breast Cancer Foundation was formed on July 10, 1998, and is a recognized non-profit organization under section 501 (c) (3) of
the Internal Revenue Code. For more information on the Foundation, please visit their web site at makingmemories.org or call 1-503-307-5600.
# # #
|
