Call Me Larry, that is his name. This remarkable young racehorse came in first in the sixth race at Aqueduct Raceway. His owner Suzie O'Cain, will donate ten percent of his earnings to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

The horse is named after Dr. Larry Norton, Breast Cancer Research Foundation Scientific Director and Chairman of the Medical Advisory board, in a cute story. Suzie felt obligated not to use Dr. Norton's first name when addressing him. However, he kept urging her to 'Call me Larry'!

So the horse was named Call Me Larry in honor of Dr. Norton and to raise funds for The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Listed here are three organizations that set a strong example to help the cause of cancer research:

Men With Heart --Their mission as seen on their website:

We are husbands who are doing something constructive rather than resigning ourselves to helplessness. We are sons who have seen our mothers courageously fight an insidious disease. We are brothers who want to stand beside our sisters in this battle. We are relatives, friends, lovers, colleagues, neighbors, and admirers of the women who are struggling with, often beating, and, regrettably, sometimes losing the fight with breast cancer.

We do our best to raise awareness, funds, and smiles. We participate in a variety of breast cancer events, wearing our trademark yellow shirts, including the Avon 2-Day Walks, the Komen 3-Day Walks, and the American Cancer Society Making Strides Walk. We walk with the goals of spreading good cheer, encouraging a spirit of camaraderie, and helping our fellow walkers. We also host a gala party every year and a racing event in the fall. We support and get involved with a variety of other breast cancer causes, organizations, and events.

Since our inception in 2001, Men With Heart has raised over $600,000 for breast cancer prevention, treatment, and awareness.

Men Against Breast Cancer -- The MABC mission is to provide targeted support services to educate and empower men to be effective caregivers when breast cancer strikes the family of a loved one: as well as target and mobilize men to be active participants in a fight to eradicate breast cancer as a life threatening disease.

MABC recognizes breast cancer is a family issue that devastates the entire family. Our philosophy is to leverage the support of the whole family to help the patient, with special emphasis on the important role of the husband/partner in caring for the woman he loves. At the same time, MABC recognizes and supports that the ultimate decisions regarding treatment and care are those of the patient.

Together in Breast Cancer Survival: A Men's Caregiver Support Group --Their mission to be a presence that will give you the support and tools you will need to be a proactive and informed caregiver to your loved one. Our goal is to be here for you as you journey with your loved one through the cancer diagnosis, surgery, prognosis, recovery and beyond.

Michael Brecker, Grammy Award-winning jazz saxophonist who performed with the likes of Joni Mitchell and Herbie Hancock, died Saturday of cancer. He was 57.

Brecker, considered one of the most influential saxophonists of the past 25 years, died at a hospital in New York City as a result of myelodysplastic syndrome -- a form of cancer in which the bone marrow stops making healthy blood cells.

The Philadelphia native, who began his solo career in 1987 with a self-titled debut recording that turned into Jazz Album of the Year, was forced by his illness to stop playing music at times. So he channeled his creative efforts into raising awareness of a very important cause -- bone marrow donation.

Brecker is survived by his wife, Susan; his children, Jessica and Sam; a brother and a sister.

For 20 years, commentator Debra Jarvis has been dealing with cancer as a hospital chaplain. Last year, she herself was diagnosed with breast cancer. And she quickly discovered whenever she brought up the topic of her diagnosis, all people wanted to talk about was her hair.

Cancer is not about the hair, she says, but it's the first thing people seem to talk about.

"There goes the hair," one friend said to Jarvis just after her diagnosis. She was trying to be light and funny. Jarvis didn't find any humor in the comment -- but she did start to think about the whole preoccupation with hair, and she was able to make some sense of it all.

Cancer is really about death. People die from cancer all the time. But it's impolite to ask, are you going to lose your life? So people ask about the hair.

When we go bald, we are marked. Our bald head shoves death in the face of those around us. People really hate to think about dying, Jarvis says. So they don't ask, what's your prognosis? That would be too nosy and could lead to uncomfortable discussions. It's safer to ask about the hair.

Jarvis concludes that people focus on the hair because it's so hard to talk about fear and pain and grief. But if we can stand to talk about these issues, she says, then when we talk about the hair, it will really be about the hair.

Checkoutmybreasts.com is a webpage that shows how to do a self breast exam. It shows a woman examining her breasts so other women can learn what to look for when performing a breast exam on herself. I was shocked a bit when I saw this website, as I have not seen anything like it before. The website also tells about an organization called Rethink Breast Cancer.

Rethink Breast Cancer is an organization that was established to help young people who are concerned about and effected by breast cancer through innovative breast cancer education, research and support programs. They do this by educating young women about the importance of breast health awareness, providing a community for young people to make a difference in the fight for the cause, raising funds to advance breast cancer research and raising awareness about the unique needs of young women who are battling breast cancer.

Rethink Breast Cancer fills a unique niche in the world of breast cancer organizations in Canada by hosting dynamic fashion, music and fitness events to attract the attention of people under 40, spreading the important messages of breast cancer to a new audience.

(Thanks to Deb Kirkland for the tip)

In July I had written a post titled Raising awareness about alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, about a young adult named Karin who was diagnosed with the disease in December of 2001. Karin created a blog to raise awareness for alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma. She continues to raise awareness and now she is setting her goal even higher, to raise money to research the disease.

In October of this year Karin Isabelle Dubois founded Fit2cure. It is a non-profit organization selling stylish products and apparel. The Fit2cure team is currently in its product development phase for their online store. Karin is realizing how hard it can be to get all this going, however with the help of her family and friends the Fit2cure products will hopefully be available soon.

Save the link in your favorites and check back later to order some of Karin's merchandise to support rhabdomyosarcoma research!

Kim Taylor is a 45-year-old single mother who lives in Suwannee County, Florida and is proud to have successfully raised one daughter -- a graduate of the University of Florida. Kim enjoys outdoor activities like camping as well as sewing, crafting, and carpentry projects. She is most at peace spending time with her family, working as a youth volunteer -- and raising awareness for breast cancer. It's a interest she acquired just two years ago, compliments of a personal encounter with the disease that has taught her to let the little things go, to appreciate every sunrise, to make every moment matter.

Beginning today, these words will be broadcast on various local Gainesville radio stations. These words are about breast cancer, about raising money for this serious disease, about Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, about the American Cancer Society. These words are about me. These are my words.

I'm Jacki. I'm someone you know. I'm a mother of two young sons, a wife, a sister, an aunt, a daughter, a friend. I am a freelance writer and a preschool teacher. I like to exercise and scrapbook and watch my little boys enjoy life's simple pleasures. I like pedicures, massages and candles. I'm 36 years old. I'm someone you know -- but I'm not alone.

I was diagnosed with breast cancer almost two years ago. And the American Cancer Society was instrumental in my recovery. I was comforted by their cancer programs and events, soothed by volunteers who called me at home to lend an ear, and educated by American Cancer Society literature and resources.

Join me for our Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk on Saturday, October 14th, at the North East Park in Gainesville at 7:30 a.m. to help fund breast cancer research. Visit www.cancer.org or call 1-800-ACS-2345 to learn how you can become involved. Because someone you know has breast cancer. I'm someone you know -- I'm a breast cancer survivor -- and with the American Cancer Society, I'm not alone.

One hundred percent of the net proceeds from Warriors in Pink merchandise will benefit the Komen Foundation. The collection includes t-shirts, men's thermal wear, gear and temporary tattoos for kids. The items feature bold symbols that represent the warrior spirit of taking charge, living out loud, harnessing power and standing together.

Ford's long standing efforts to the fight against breast cancer has supported the Komen Foundation for twelve years and has contributed more than $87 million in donations.

The cast of ABC's Greys Anatomy will help Ford by appearing in a communication campaign designed to raise awareness of the Warriors in Pink. The doctors and interns of Seattle Grace Hospital show their passion for Ford's Warriors in Pink clothing with a series of ads starting September 4th. Characters such as Derek Shepherd, Preston Burke, George O'Malley, Alex Karev, Richard Webber, Callie Torres, Christina Yang, Miranda Bailey and Addison Shepherd appear in the upcoming ads.

The Ford Motor Company raised over $1.6 million dollars from its Lilly Pulitzer designed breast cancer awareness scarf in 2005. The 2006 scarf will feature Warriors in Pink symbols and is available starting in October at www.fordcares.com.

Katie Couric spent her summer traveling the country visiting with future CBS news fans and raising money for cancer awareness. Couric, whose husband Jay Monahan died of colon cancer in 1998 at the age of 42, has become a prominent spokesperson for colon cancer awareness. She underwent a colonoscopy on-air in March 2000 and inspired many others to get checked. In October 2005, in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Couric broadcast her own mammogram on the Today Show in hopes of motivating women everywhere to get schedule their own mammograms. Her influence on both cancer fronts -- known as the Couric Effect -- demonstrates the fact that one powerful person can draw much attention to important causes. And perhaps her influence -- soon to arrive on television screens everywhere -- will continue as she takes the driver's seat on the CBS Evening News beginning September 5 at 6:30 PM.

On her second day of work in her new job, Couric will interview President Bush at the White House as part of a primetime special. Other story plans include digging deeper into the stories of the day and answering questions viewers might have on all topics. Hopefully, cancer issues will continue to take priority in Couric's life so that we all may benefit from her advocacy.

Many college students are beginning their pursuits in higher education with private scholarships. Each year, millions of dollars are awarded to college students as a result of private gifts that flow from alumni and donors. These scholarships help universities compete for the best and brightest students. And the beneficiaries of these scholarships are many. Universities get what they want -- good students. Students get what they want -- funding for college. And the community gets something too.

Lauren Mareno, a senior at Kent State University and recipient of a Reach for Excellence scholarship, has been reaching into her community and is leading campus-wide efforts to raise money for the American Cancer Society -- an experience that has exposed her to new career opportunities. While she pursues a psychology degree and a certificate in non-profit management, Mareno -- who lost her own father to cancer at the beginning of her freshmen year -- serves as co-chair for the Relay for Life event. In April she saw the fruits of her labor blossom as more than 60 student groups participated in the 24-hour campus walkathon that raised more than $75,000.

Mareno sees more community outreach in her future and she is eager to continue raising funds for causes that are meaningful to her -- and to so many others too.

Celebrities have a way of motivating the public to take action. They help dictate fashion trends and set standards for mostly unattainable body shapes and sizes. They add hype to political views and philosophies and make influential statements about all sorts of issues. Like breast cancer. With its backing from celebrities like Melissa Etheridge and Sheryl Crow and Kylie Minogue -- all breast cancer survivors who are speaking out and raising awareness -- breast cancer has burst onto the media scene and is receiving powerful, positive attention. Kylie Minogue's public diagnosis spurred so many women into getting their breasts checked that the Medical Journal of Australia reports a 40 percent increase in bookings for mammograms. But sometimes, celebrity diagnoses don't elicit a response at all.

Italian tenor Luciano Pavarotti was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last month -- yet the announcement barely registered on the public's radar. Perhaps he does not command the same kind of reaction as pop singers do. Or perhaps it's the type of cancer that keeps his public battle on the sidelines.

The breasts are a visible icon of femininity -- out in the forefront for all to see. And so the issue of breast cancer is in the forefront. The pancreas, on the other hand, are hidden behind the stomach and are out of sight -- and out of mind. When Apple chief executive Steve Jobs was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2004, he didn't even know where to find his pancreas. And so this organ does not attract much fanfare -- and therefore does not attract the funding and research that breast cancer does. Which is sad because this cancer is not just hidden inside the body. It's also a hidden killer. It can't be felt like breasts can be felt. And there is no easy way to detect it, like with mammogram and other imaging techniques. Often a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer -- the fourth leading cause of cancer death in Western societies -- comes with a death sentence. And more and more, breast cancer diagnoses come with promising expectations of survival.

We may not know as much as about pancreatic cancer as we do breast cancer. But there are some behaviors that may contribute to this deadly disease. So in the spirit of prevention, consider this:

• If nobody smoked, 25 percent of pancreatic cancer cases wouldn't happen.
• Alcohol consumption can increase the risk by 15 times.
• Some studies link high meat consumption and low vegetable consumption to incidences of pancreatic cancer.
• Folate, the B vitamin in green leafy vegetables, oranges, legumes, and whole grains seem to reduce the risk. But folate supplements don't seem to have the same healthy effect.

Less than one year ago, Rep. John P. "Jack" Murtha, D-Pa., came crashing onto the national scene with his opinion that the U.S. military could accomplish nothing more in Iraq and should be pulled out of the war zone. It was a harsh opinion -- and one his Democratic partners thought might hurt their party at a time when they were trying to gain control of Congress. The fact that the Democrats had been seen as weak on national security didn't help. And then a funny thing happened.

Murtha, 74 -- a decorated Marine and the first combat veteran of the Vietnam War elected to the House of Representatives -- became one of the most popular Democrats around, despite or maybe because of his passionate beliefs. Once a behind-the-scenes kind of man, he is now in the public eye. He's out raising money for Democrats in many states. He's attending fundraising events with Al Gore and others. And he's gathering allies at every turn. And while he still faces opposition, he believes that he must make public what he stands for. And so he does. And because of his recent uncharacteristic charismatic presence, details about this once-to-himself man are emerging. Details like these: A local airport is named for him. An institute for the study of neuroscience and pain is named for him. And a breast cancer center bears the name of his wife, Joyce.

The Joyce Murtha Breast Care Center at Windber Medical Center opened its doors in February 2002. Located in Windber, Pennsylvania, this center began as a collaboration between Walter Reed Army Medical Center and Windber Medical Center and ever since its beginning has offered full diagnostic services for breast health and disease in one convenient location.

Murtha is surely raising awareness with his opinion about the military and national security and war. And even breast cancer gets a little press out of the whole frenzy surrounding this man and his efforts. Which reminds me that somehow, breast cancer seems to touch the lives of just about everyone is some way.

Pink Strokes is dedicated to making a difference today for the daughters of tomorrow.

I met Allison Roberts at one of the Young Survival Coalition conferences. I learned of her website called Pink Strokes. Pink Strokes is a non-profit organization that seeks to raise awareness and assist in providing information and support to young women diagnosed with breast cancer.

Allison was diagnosed with breast cancer in December 2002 at 32 years old. She was delayed diagnoses and was told that she had lumpy breast tissue, that she was too young and that cancer didn't hurt. Allison had been having pain in her breast and eventually noticed a lump under her armpit. She did as I did and trusted her doctors when they said it was nothing to worry about.

Allison was diagnosed with a 3cm tumor in the breast and positive lymph nodes. She needed chemotherapy and radiation for her aggressive cancer.

Allison says "It really became obvious to me that I wanted to do more when my husband signed up to walk in The Weekend to End Breast Cancer, a 60 km. walk through Toronto streets". That next year Allison walked herself with a team called Ali's Alliance of Angels and raised over twelve thousand dollars.

Together they organized their first golf tournament to raise money for the walk called Pink Strokes.

Allison's son Tyler asked his mom, "Mommy is breast cancer over yet"? Allison told him "Someday breast cancer will be over"!

Karin was diagnosed with alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma when she was 20 years old. She felt a lump in her breast in December of 2001. The biopsy showed a malignancy but it was negative for breast cancer. At first they thought this must be the result of metastasis since alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma rarely shows up in the breast as the primary tumor. After all the scans and painful bone marrow biopsy Karin was told that she had a localized tumor.

This was great news but Karin still had to endure surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. Karin created her blog to raise awareness about alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma. Karin struggles to find stories of hope for survivors of this disease. She feels hope is very important.

I check Karin's blog regularly and right now she is having what I hope is just a scare. Something showed up on her recent CT scan. It's really small and might be nothing at all. Right now they are doing the wait and see approach and she will have more tests in the coming weeks.