Girl Scouts give to Breast Cancer patients

By Melissa Maynarich, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Girls Scouts may be known for community service, but a group of girls reached out by comforting women newly diagnosed with breast cancer.

"I know some people who have breast cancer, so it's really neat for me to do something for the community and help those who have breast cancer feel more at home," said Girl Scout Emily Morton.

The troops delivered baskets full of pampering products, indulgent candies and inspirational stories, each with a message from each scout attached.

One note read, "This is a hard time where you are, but people still care, strangers care."

In 2008, an estimated 182,460 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed, 40,480 of those cases are expected to end in death.

Kelly Harrod, a breast cancer survivor, said the simple gifts can uplift spirits.

"You don't realize that during chemo, you're skin gets dried out," Harrod said. "So that was a very thoughtful thing that most patients going through it don't know what's going to happen."

Although the baskets are meant to comfort patients, they left an impression on the young women as well.

It was only the first step in the girl scouts' mission to help women with breast cancer. The troop also plans to participate in events to raise funds for breast cancer research.