Since the Marilyn B. Gula Mountains of Hope inception in 2003, we've invested more than $1 million for advanced breast cancer research.

Marilyn B. Gula founded the Mountains of Hope Foundation eight years ago as a means to raise funds for advanced stage breast cancer, providing hope for women and their families who receive the dismal diagnosis. She lost her 10-year battle to breast cancer on July 26, 2006.

Marilyn's husband, co-founder and CEO of Mountains of Hope, Allen J. Gula, Jr. carried on his wife's legacy by renaming the organization in her honor and continuing her vision to “give every woman with Advanced Breast Cancer a fighting chance.”

This year alone, we've invested $75,000 at Phoenix-based TGen and $60,000 at the University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center in Ohio. The funds were raised at the fourth annual Golf for a Cure event at the Shaker Heights Country Club in Ohio and Cookin' for a Cure at Eddie's House in Scottsdale, respectively.

In total we've hosted 10 events in Arizona, Northern California and Ohio since we began in 2003. We've invested in Advanced Breast Cancer Projects at Memorial Sloan-Kettering in New York, UCSF in San Francisco along with TGen and University Hospitals. Al is not alone in his endeavor to find a cure for the terrible disease. He has had the overwhelming support of sponsors, donors, volunteers, committee members and friends to help achieve the organization's accomplishments.

"My heartfelt thanks to each person. The Foundation cannot accomplish its mission of investing in advanced breast cancer research without everyone's continued support. I'm extremely grateful," he said.