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Amy Hayes - a young, single mother- is a breast cancer survivor who continues to Pay IT Forward to other women with the disease.
Her children are Sophia,6, and Ayrton, 5.
In 2007, Amy was diagnosed with breast cancer for the second time. "I told the volunteer from the Sharon L. Bassett Foundation that I wanted something that would include my parents and my kids," Amy said.
The Foundation, with an amazing gift of a donated week's stay from Tommy and Cathy Richardson of Zionsville, were able to fulfill Amy and her family's wish. The whole family took the trip of a lifetime for a week in Sedona, Ariz.
Since Amy and both of her parents are artists, they felt that Sedona would be a nice, artsy, and healing place to visit. "We did all that we could in Sedona," Amy said, "including taking an off-road jeep tour into the mountains in a bright pink jeep, courtesy of Pink Jeep Tours."
Six weeks into her chemotherapy treatments back in 2005, Amy used her skills as a graphic designer to develop a line of breast cancer note cards. They are sold at numerous retail outlets and on her Web site at www.hazforhope.com. The Web site also relates her story and gives supportive information to other cancer survivors.
Amy plans to become a cancer coach - someone who can help other cancer patients navigate the diagnosis and treatment maze. She is also working on a holiday card line in support of breast cancer patients.
Amy has helped the Sharon L. Bassett Foundation with the Parrot Party, and she was the featured speaker at the Pay it Forward event last year. She also took the name of a woman with breast cancer whom she can personally help. |
