Mercedes Arenado-Melian
decided to use her 40th birthday party to raise funds in
honor of her mom, Marta Arenado, a breast cancer survivor,
and in memory of Norca Placeres, who died of ovarian cancer
and was the mother of her best friend, Maria O’Reilly.
When Maria said she wanted to start planning Mercedes’
party, Mercedes responded, “I want to have a party
with all my family and friends together, but I don’t
want presents. God has given me so much that now I want
to give back.”
At Mercedes’ party, she was
completely inspired and uplifted. She fell in love with
the cause and what they were all doing. With the support
of her friends and family members, Mercedes directed the
funds they raised to the Lynne Cohen Preventive Care Clinic
for Women’s Cancers at USC/Norris Comprehensive Cancer
Center. She is looking forward to planning more fundraisers
and to continuing to give back.
