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Auto Repair Technology has been nominated for best auto repair in Cleveland. Last year we got into the race late. We don’t want to play catch up again and really need your help this year. We finished 1st in 2008, 5th in 2009, 3rd in 2010 Help us reclaim 1st place. Help make us the first shop to come in first place twice!

Please feel free to pass this along to your family and friends. Thanks in advance for your help! Just copy and paste the link below. ~Laura

http://fox8.cityvoter.com/auto-repair-technology/biz/122731?for=auto/repair

Click Here to Vote!

Thanks for all of the great comments from last month’s article. And yes, my in-laws are still talking to me. If you read my August article, you know that my family is helping my mother battle ovarian cancer. So, when I was approached by a friend who has a repair shop in Medina about the idea of running a program for the month of October to support Breast Cancer awareness, I jumped at the chance. Why?

One reason is because breast cancer and ovarian cancer are linked genetically by the BRCA1 gene. Even though every case of these cancers is not genetically tied to this gene, I believe that any discovery in that area of the BRCA1 may aid in answers to ovarian cancer. Also, I know so many people, as do many of you, who have been affected by breast cancer.

So, we have some really exciting options for you if you choose to participate and support this cause.

We have secured PINK METAL WIPER BLADES! Yes, Pink Wiper Blades! With every purchase we make, the blade manufacturer, AutotexPink, donates a percentage to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc. If you are interested stop by the shop and check them out. I know I can’t wait to put them on my car!

In addition, we are offering a win/win for you with our Brakes for Breasts. We are offering FREE brake pads with every brake service for the month of October. So, make an appointment to get your brakes checked. You can save money and at the same time help put an end to breast cancer. That’s right; we have decided to donate 10% of every brake service we perform in the month of October to the Cleveland Clinic’s Breast Cancer Vaccine Fund. If you are interested in more information about their research the website is: http://giving.ccf.org/site/PageServer?pagename=vaccine .

As I write, we are in the planning process of some other give-aways, etc. so check out our website for any updates – don’t miss out!

Some of you may know that Gerry and I are always educating ourselves to help Auto Repair Technology be the best it can be. Every year we attend a mast mind meeting / seminar in Las Vegas. Last year there were about 20 of us attending the mastermind meeting portion of th eevent. Our mentor talked about being out of your comfort zone and the personal growth that occurs when you are there. After which he divided us up into two teams; our assignment: to go out on the streets of Vegas and collect as much money as we could for breast cancer research. Really! To walk up to complete strangers on the streets of Vegas and ask for money?! Talk about being out of your comfort zone! So we planned our strategy and off we went. Our strategy – We carried a pad of paper. As we approached people and asked for a donation, we asked if they would like to make that donation in somebody’s name. On that paper we wrote the name and story. These people were filled with such passion, sadness and strength. The next day when we stood on stage for the main seminar, in front of several hundred people and read the names and told the stories, it was hard to find a dry eye in the place.

So, what I would like to do, I don’t have enough space to tell every story but, I am sure I can make enough room in next month’s newsletter to list every name for anybody who wants to come to the shop and dedicate a pink ribbon by donating $1 or more.

‘Til next month ~ Laura

Talk about writers block… It has been quite a while since I wrote my personal corner. Well, I am back to write about something that has touched mine and most peoples lives—knowing, living with, caring for, or loving an acquaintance, friend or family member diagnosed with cancer. I am one daughter of a brave and strong woman who is fighting ovarian cancer and winning many, many battles in the war.

I was there when she “felt” there was something wrong. I was glad when the doctors told her she was ok. A year and a half later Mom was visiting my brother in Florida. I was concerned when I got a phone call that he took her to the ER with severe abdominal pain. Our world was rocked when she came home and had to see an oncologist. I cried while talking with her patient oncologist when she came out of surgery. I watch the dedicated nurses administered her chemo treatments. I watch her force down the last gulp of that orange stuff before her CT Scans. I watch her listen intently to her doctor as he discusses her test results and plan the next step of her treatment. Many of you have similar stories. I also watch her live: her walking group, Severence Hall, all of the grand kids activities, gardening, riding her bicycle—Her social calendar is busier than mine! Through it all she has been strong, an inspiration. Through it all, one of her wishes has been to get the word out about ovarian cancer and the symptoms. As in many cancers, early detection leads to a higher chance of being cured. I don’t know if I am writing this more for her or me but, as I watched her visit doctors offices and hospital staff to try and get the word out about the symptoms of ovarian cancer, I had a nagging feeling that I had to do something to help. So for anybody with a mother, daughter, aunt, grandmother, sister, niece or any other woman in their life, I am printing the symptoms of ovarian cancer below. In addition, August is the month that OROC holds their annual run, participation info is also below.

• This year, 28,000 women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer
• A Pap smear is NOT a test for ovarian cancer: A Pap smear detects cervical cancer
• There is no reliable screening method for detecting ovarian cancer
• Currently, most women are diagnosed with an advanced stage of the disease
• If ovarian cancer is detected early; it is a manageable disease with a much higher survival rate
• Family medical history can provide essential clues to a predisposition to ovarian and other female cancers
• The risk of ovarian cancer increases with age, especially around the time of menopause
• Symptoms are subtle, persistent and usually increase over time

Ovarian cancer usually presents with a constellation of symptoms including:

• Abdominal pressure, bloating or discomfort, feeling “full”
• Constipation, diarrhea/changes in bowel function
• Frequent urination/changes in bladder patterns
• Nausea, indigestion and/or gas
• Abnormal bleeding
• Shortness of breath
• Unusual fatigue/backaches
• Unexpected weight gain, increased abdominal circumference
• Unexpected weight loss

Symptoms may be experienced by women at some point in their lives, and usually do not indicate ovarian cancer. However, if symptoms persist for three weeks or more with no diagnosable cause, contact your doctor and ask about ovarian cancer.