Have your cake and help find a cure.

About 7 years ago, a very dear friend of mine moved to California. She still has family on the East Coast, and although it doesn’t happen nearly enough, she visits as much as possible.  These trips are always whirlwind, as she always has many people and activities to fit into a brief period of time, but we always try our best to ensure that no matter what it takes, we get to spend some quality time together.

A couple of months ago, I was surprised to receive a mid-day call from my friend. She wanted to let me know she was coming home to Boston in January, but this was not a pre-planned trip home, or one where she’d have time for catching up.

My friend went on to tell me a heartbreaking story about her cousin, a mom of 3 in her early 4o’s. 5 days earlier, her cousin had been rushed to ER with severe stomach pains. Three hours later she had undergone a full hysterectomy and had been diagnosed with Stage 4 Ovarian Cancer. As it turns out, one of her ovaries had twisted, which was what was causing the severe pain. Ironically, that twisted ovary had NOTHING to do with the cancer, and had it not happened, her cancer could have gone undetected indefinitely.

Her prognosis is good – between the hysterectomy, chemo and meds, she is likely going to go into remission. This does nothing to change the fact that within minutes, her entire world was turned upside down. She had to make a split-second decision to have that hysterectomy. She hadn’t fully closed the door on having a fourth child, but the cancer did. For this strong, independent, intelligent, and driven young woman, life as she knew it would never be the same.

No, my friend was not coming home for a “fun” visit – she was coming home to be a support to her cousin and family.

When Audrey from Mom Generations asked if I’d be willing to write a blog post helping to spread the word about helping Electrolux support Ovarian Cancer research, it was a no-brainer.

Electrolux has committed to donating $500,000 to this most worthy cause, and they’re doing so in a very unique (not to mention sweet!) way. Brand Ambassador Kelly Ripa and TLC’s “Cake Boss” Buddy Valastro have teamed up to create Kelly’s Cakery for a Cause. You can decorate and send a virtual cake to a friend and for each one you do, Electrolux will donate $1 to the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund*.  And, each day you send a cake, you’ll be entered to win every baker’s dream – a new Induction Range from Electrolux (Electrolux is also donating $100 to OCRF for each range sold this month*).

I urge you to go create a cake. You can make a friend smile (who doesn’t love cake, and love it even more when it’s got no calories?), but more importantly, you can help raise money for OCRF. Spread the word – on your blog, through Facebook, through Twitter, when talking to your friends and family.

When you get right down to it, what’s sweeter than helping in the fight against Ovarian Cancer?

*For more information about Electrolux’s commitment to supporting OCRF, please visit Kelly’s Cakery for a Cause.