Breast Wishes Fund

Documentary filmmaker Lexie Shabel was diagnosed with breast cancer in October of 2005. She immediately consulted Google, looking for "alternative breast cancer treatments". Surprisingly, it took months of digging and help from friends to find remedies that were not in a hospital setting and empowered individuals to heal themselves, physically and emotionally. Many women opt for mastectomies and more surgery in the first week of diagnosis, leaving no time to research and consider the options.

The sources currently available are limited to home movie-like personal statements or pitches by personalities advocating the ability to remain sexy despite allopathic treatment effects. A need exists for a guide to alternative choices that don't involve or can support chemotherapy, surgery and radiation. Methods such as Well Breast Massage, European-Mistletoe injections and Somatic Experiencing emotional therapy are a few of the options Shabel has filmed in her remission story in "the ME film". The Gringa Productions website ( www.gringaproductions.com ) and treatment BLOG are sources of first hand alternative health anecdotes and resources not easily found.

The Breast Wishes Fund was created by Lexie and her friends who want to offer options in the typical internet search engines and local circles. Our goal is to create a presence in the mainstream consciousness, without obligations to pharmaceutical companies or the cosmetic and fashion industry. Tit Print Parties are organized by friends and artists who construct saleable works of art, donating the proceeds to educational outreach in the form of fun, community health events, film and internet presence. Each person involved in a party has a picture and blurb about themselves and their breast health on the website. Artists receive 50% from their sold original work and allow photographic images to be used for a line of breast print cards, calendar and promotion. The calendar will celebrate women and their breasts, highlighting the history of breast cancer and monthly suggestions for breast health. A Pasties Run tour at ski resorts would offer an entertaining contest that involves ski ability, chest ornamentation and fundraising. An accompanying health fair would inform the slopes community of wellness options while raising money by selling wearable art pieces. If given funding, we would like to launch this event at Ski Santa Fe and Taos next winter.

We are in the process of forming a non-profit for tax-deductible contributions and for grant and donations. The Breast Wishes Fund has the ability to vastly enhance a wide spectrum of peoples' quality of life by offering health options that empower women and their families versus methods that concentrate on the fear of dying.