Imagine a world without breast cancer.
This is my dream.

In 2005, my partner at Elite, who is also my mother and best friend, Linda Martens, discovered she had breast cancer. My initial reaction was "we will get over this," my mom is a fighter. She had over come many adversities in life -- and we would make "this" go away. My mom always had a plan and came up with one to tackle cancer -- she decided she would get chemotherapy treatments on Fridays, giving herself the weekend to recover. Because she was a stylist, she knew the best wig makers in town. She got one made to match her hair color perfectly, cut it to match her current style. Literally no one know the the chemo had robbed her of her hair. At first, really no one but Linda and myself knew she had cancer.

Soon though, the chemo started taking its toll, making her so sick that she was bed ridden for a week at a time. Then she was switched to weekly treatments, less "toxins" more often. We both hoped and prayed for the best -- scared to talk, too scared to even think about "what if" this doesn't work.

Linda fought like a "prize fighter." She endured a mastectomy, radiation, and lots more chemo. All in the hopes of being able to stay. However, round 15 came and cancer was declared the victor on September 12, 2006.

In 2007, I began a passionate crusade to honor my mother and to hopefully save at least one woman from the pain she endured and to educate many on the importance of yearly screening to try and catch the disease in its early stage when it is most curable. I have rallied the troops in South Florida and created an army of hair stylists and industry associates to continue the battle.

Thus far, $190,000 has been raised in our grass roots campaign. We continue our fight in 2009 and ask for your support in our many activities we have planned.

Every 68 seconds someone dies from breast cancer.

Change. Be part of it. Every second counts.

Sherri Martens

President, Elite Salon Systems