Sometimes it's easy to feel helpless when cancer strikes your family. In this edition of Lance's Journal, Lance introduces us to a Beaver Crossing lady that has felt that feeling and decided to do something about it.

The idea popped into Brenda Stutzman's mind about a year ago. Her youngest sister just found out she had breast cancer and Brenda wanted to do something to help fight in the battle against the deadly disease. Then in mid-December, the dream became reality, Brenda opened up a store named Country Neighbors and the shelves have been full ever since.

Everything in this store has been donated and it's priced to sell. With all of the proceeds going to the American Cancer Society. She couldn't be happier with the success of her new business, "I think the outpouring from everybody is because of the cause. We have so many people come in that have had breast cancer themselves or know somebody who has." Brenda knows far too much about it, she and 2 of her 3 sisters have undergone treatment for breast cancer. Fortunately, Brenda and her sisters are now cancer-free.

Brenda is at her best when she's helping others, "Like we had a woman come in that needed a winter coat we gave her a winter coat."

Brenda has found the giving to be addictive, "We have people in town that couldn't afford shoes for their kids so we gave them shoes that does anybody's heart good."

Brenda and her family moved to Beaver Crossing in 1970 and she knows the area is filled with good people, "But I had no idea the business would boom the way it has."

Brenda has no idea how much money she'll be donating in the fight against breast cancer in the fall. But she's already looking forward to presenting a check at the annual 'Making Strides Against Cancer Walk' in mid-October.

If you would like to help the cause Brenda says she will accept donations of any kind. Anything she can't use in her store she will send on to the Matt Talbot Kitchen in Lincoln.