September is a beautiful time of the year. The flowers start to bloom, the air gets warmer and the days get longer. It's a happy time of the year but one that's filled with both sadness and hope for me. Sadness because it's the month that I lost my beautiful Mom to breast cancer. Hope because it's Breast Cancer Awareness month and a time to reflect on the great strides that have been made in fighting this disease in the twelve years since my Mom died. (She was the inspiration behind the name of my business, Vive, a Latin word meaning 'life'. She had her own business called Vive, given the meaning of the word, it felt special to me to continue the name in memory of her life). In support of Breast Cancer Awareness month, I have designed a matching pendant, ring and earring set called 'September Hope' (the pink pieces pictured). Set with rhodolite garnet and rose quartz, they are pretty and feminine. By buying and wearing a piece, you will be supporting breast cancer sufferers and survivors and honouring those women who have lost their lives to it. Raising awareness of the disease is critical as early detection saves lives. In May this year, my life was enriched by meeting Sally who was diagnosed with breast cancer in November 2005 at the age of 35. When she approached me to help her design a range of inspirational jewellery, I was both honoured and excited by the opportunity. I was passionate about helping Sally fulfill her dream as I felt that I really connected with her when we first met and that I had some insight into what she must have been through when fighting her cancer. It seemed a fitting commemoration of my Mom's life to help Sally with her idea. After our first meeting, the seed was sewn for Sally's 'Jamilla Hope' range of jewellery. Jamilla is the Arabic word for beautiful (having spent many years living and working in the middle east, Sally wanted the identity of the range to reflect something of her past) and thought she would combine it with the word Hope, a reflection of her future. Currently, the range consists of bracelets using faceted stones such as natural rock crystal (bracelet pictured), rose quartz, black agate, amazonite, smoky quartz and fresh water pearls. Each bracelet has a beautiful solid silver clasp which is engraved with inspirational words chosen by the client to reflect qualities of themselves or those to whom they are the giving the piece. In Sally's own words 'I spent many hours struck down and immobile while receiving the life giving treatment for my cancer. It was during those dark times that my loved ones picked me up and kept me going. Giving me hope for the future and supporting me when I was lost. I couldn't find a way to express my love and gratitude adequately to these special people until I came upon the idea of designing a piece of jewellery which carried words that described the unique qualities of each person that helped me get well again. The bracelet pictured is the one I gave to my sister. It has the words 'je ne regrette rien' engraved on it. A reminder from me to her to live life with no regrets. Words such as loyalty, vitality, compassion, faith and strength are some which my friends now carry with them when they wear their special Jamilla Hope bracelets. The jewellery carries an eternal message to remind them of their own special qualities. The jewellery has longevity and holds sentimental value, something that is important to me'. By buying a bracelet from the Jamilla Hope range or a piece from the September Hope set, you will be making a difference in the life of a breast cancer sufferer. A percentage of the sales is given to Pink Link (www.pinklink.org.za). Pink Link is an awareness and advocacy organization for women with breast cancer who have set up a charity which helps women with limited financial support to receive reconstructive surgery after losing their breasts to cancer. A very worthy cause and something that is close to my heart. And last but not least...for all you women out there, make sure you practice regular breast self-examinations and book that ultrasound or mammogram that you have been meaning to do. For all you men out there, please make sure the women you love do this. It could save a life. Until next time...